Elgin-area residents woke up Tuesday morning to find their lawns covered with wet, heavy snow but most streets and sidewalks relatively clear in what might be the best weather of the coming week.
Wary local officials said they are anticipating more snow per predictions for Wednesday and later in the week, followed by a prolonged cold snap.
“We’re preparing for a long, lingering slog,” South Elgin Public Works Director Mike Millette said.
West Dundee Village Manager Joe Cavallaro said his staff believed temperatures would remain high enough that snow still wouldn’t accumulate Tuesday but a smaller storm was predicted for Wednesday night into Thursday followed by potential bigger storm hitting Friday night.
All of that is to be followed by a blast of Arctic air and single-digit temperatures, according to the National Weather Service.
Carpentersville was preparing for all possibilities as well.
“We are ready for any event (Wednesday and Thursday) and the predicted Friday event,” Carpentersville Village Manager John O’Sullivan said.
East Dundee Public Works Director Phil Cotter said the area received a break when the snow accumulations predicted for Monday into Tuesday didn’t materialize.
“Actual snow conditions overnight did not end up being what they forecasted. We are ready for the afternoon snow today and also for what is forecasted later this week,” Cotter said.
In Elgin, police Sgt. Mike Martino said things were calm but the department was ready for any potential driving condition problems and was waiting to hear if or when snow routes might go into effect.
Jamie Legner Mueller said she was happy the forecast for Tuesday morning was off the mark because it meant her midmorning commute from south of St. Charles to East Dundee was easy.
“I had zero problems coming in (to open Rosie O’Hare’s Public House, which she owns with her husband, Gary),” she said.
Classes were held as scheduled at U-46 and D300 schools but Central CUSD 301 and St. Edward Central Catholic High School in Elgin had canceled classes, activities and programming. A post on the Central 301 Facebook page said the move was made out of a “deepening concern that conditions will worsen as the day goes on.”
As for what may be in store, National Weather Service Chicago meteorologist David King said the Elgin area received 1 to 2 inches of snow Tuesday morning and another 1 to 2 inches would likely fall later, but most will only cover grassy areas.
A weaker storm is due Wednesday night into Thursday, King said, and a bigger storm was expected Friday night.
“There’s uncertainty at this point about snow accrual totals Friday, and there will be strong winds. We can also expect single-digit temperatures by Sunday,” King said.
Given the potential conditions, South Elgin Deputy Police Chief Brett Czechowski reminded residents that his village, like most towns in the area, prohibits on-street parking when two inches or more of snow accumulates and for 24 hours after a snow event. Vehicle owners will be ticketed if they don’t move their cars, he said.
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“This is not just to help plows. The buildup can narrow the passage of the street for emergency vehicles and garbage trucks,” Czechowski said.
Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.