Blizzard

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One additional note about parking and snow removal in Chicago - there are 2 different 'snow routes'. On some streets you can't park after midnight from Nov-April because of the high likelihood of the need to plow - these are the main-main-main roads (like Chicago Ave and Western Ave).

The secondary routes, however, just have signs that are posted 'snow routes' which means that IF the city gets more than 2" of snow and decides to plow you will get a ticket or towed at their discretion.
So, watch where you park if you have street parking.

Also - they plow in this order: primary, secondary, alternate, secondary alternate, and very last is residential side streets. Although they are usually really good about plowing.

Enjoy it! Take the advice of all the moms on here, and then go out for a walk in the falling snow at night. There is nothing like it!

(I'm near you in Bartlett. Trust me, you'll be fine. The streets get plowed here almost instantly and even if we get dumped on, you'll be able to get out in no time. You might not want to though. People don't know how to drive in snow, even if they've done it for years!)

K.,

You are NOT silly! Tell your sweet husband to hush up :)

I've lived here for 10 years and usually find that T-Skillz (my nickname for Tom Skilling on WGN - ha!) is full of hyperbole. HOWEVER...this impending storm really has me concerned. My commute is approx 45 miles one-way and my record for sitting in traffic during a snowstorm is 6 hours...yes, it took me six hours to get home.

If I moved here from the west/south I would be freaking out too! You're not weird to be thinking ahead. I would do the following things:

-Avoid leaving your house after noon tomorrow and be prepared to hunker down until evening Wednesday or Thursday. If you have to go out to work or have an emergency, fine, but really try not to be out there.

-The interstate system will be an absolute mess. Avoid it at all costs. You know how they post the 'times' to certain exits on the message boards? Well, be prepared for numbers higher than you've ever seen! I take pictures with my cell phone and post them on my FB page for posterity lol. (and, no making comments about me using my cell phone during this...the traffic will be at a roll, if that!)

-If you do have to leave the house (and maybe this is a bit much) you may wish to pack a blanket, water, some snacks, the car charger for your phone, and anything else you might think you would need in the event you get stuck in a ditch or in an accident. There is no way on God's green earth (well, white snow-covered earth in this case) that a tow truck will be able to come get you in a timely manner. Be prepared to wait perhaps 5 hours or more for help, so plan accordingly.

-Tomorrow, fill your car with gas and windshield wiper fluid.

-Realize that people in Chicago cannot drive in the snow. Fortunately (if you can say that) if you are out in it and it is a massive storm, no one will be going faster than like 5-10 MPH anyway so it is actually safer.

-The good thing is that we will all come out of this alive with fun 'remember when' stories to share. Me? I'm just hoping for a rare snow day on Wednesday, since we never get them!

ADDED - Deb H: I wish I could upload those pics here! Unfortunately I do not have my FB page linked with Mamapedia, so I have no way of doing it. It's rather amusing though, to see a travel time that is normally 20 minutes show up as 220 lol! Talk about a double take!

If you do not have to get out in it likely don't worry too much. If you do think that there are things you'll need you don't currently have in your house go out this afternoon or evening to the store and get any necessities to get you through a couple of days. The snow, from what I understand, is supposed to start mid-day tomorrow and go through morning on Wed. Likely by Thursday the streets will be passable. it's a good time to snuggle up in a warm house!

Yeah when you're used to it it's not big deal. Just be sure to have enough food in the house so you don't have to run out and expect traffic to be slow if you go anywhere.

haha you're adorable! Just make sure you have enough food, drink, diapers for a few days. We have so many resources here for the cold and snow that it would be very unlikely that you would go longer than that being stuck inside.

We have an emergancy kit that we keep in the kitchen that has a couple of lighters, a flashlight with extra batteries, candles and a radio in case the power went out. I am a worry wort (and I have lived here my whole life!) and thank goodness have never had to use it.

Stay warm!

It would take alot for me to consider something a blizzard, but I suppose to someone who didn't grow up around snow! LOL It would be a different story!

We just make sure we have gas in the truck and car and for the snowblower. I hate going out in it (I do home childcare, so work comes to me)..so if I know any snow at all is coming, I make sure I planned for meals. Chili is looking good this week (as I watch the snow fall here!).

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the snow..as an avid mountain snowmobiler...and occasionally I will ride in my own state of MN....but I prefer 12 feet in the mountains! I just don't like to drive with all the other idiots...get the bottom of my pants all wet trying to push a shopping cart thru the snow, etc.

Have some emergency stuff in case the power goes out. 4 year olds LOVE flashlights! I have a sort of flashlight addiction, so my daycare kids have a blast with them, altho we never seem to lose power at my house (we have buried power lines, none of those above ground things from house to house).

If its warm enough without the wind..go out and play! Learn to enjoy the snow, as it will always come back if you stay in Chicago!

just make sure you have plenty of supplies to last long enough for the blizzard to come and go. Go grocery shopping, get your illness remedies, get any house hold supplies you might need within a week before the blizzard sets in and enough to last long enough for blizzard....bundle up, get some popcorn and have a pj, movie and pop corn day with little bit....get you a snow sled and go have fun.

if you have to get out in the blizzard make sure your tires have plenty of tread for friction, put a blanket or 2 or 3 in your car in case you wind up in a ditch (seriously-hit happens) make sure cell battery is FULLY charged. put a bag of concerete in your trunk to help weigh your car down (helps with friction)......TAKE YOUR TIME if you have to get out

other than that, go make a few snow men and take pictures with the kiddo...wb fun :) heck find something with smooth surface and go sledding around the yard.............that's a blast :)

I grew up in the Chicago suburbs and I can remember not being able to even go out side because the snow drift covered out door, my brother had to climb out a window. I can also remember not being able to leave the house for 3 or 4 days.

Hubby is used to this so I'm sure he's already prepared.

Of course many people seem to panic when they hear the word snow and it just makes it worse for everyone...
make sure you have a few working flashlights and maybe some candles, it's not unusual to loose electricity
have food available, remember in the electricity goes out you may not be able to cook
keep a hand held can opener on hand
make sure you have a shovel
charge up your cell phone

Keep the following in your car...
a blanket
a shovel
at least 1/2 tank of gas
your car should have snow tires, or tires with very good traction
in the rare event that you should get stuck in a snow bank, it will take several hours for help to arrive

Let it snow!

Apparently (at least in Pittsburgh) people tend to go out like locusts buying more bread, milk and toilet paper than they could use in a year!

As long as you have the basics, you'll be fine.

Candles, matches and flashlights (WITH batteries) aren't a bad idea either in case you lose power.

Bread, milk and toilet paper sell out first (although I never could figure out why people need all that toilet paper for a few days of snow).
If you have a fire hydrant in or near your yard, be sure to shovel it clear.
Stay warm and go out and play in it tomorrow.

Make sure you have groceries and enough water. Gas tank filled up.. not like you're going anywhere but if you had to do you really want to stop for gas? Shovels and a game plan on how to make a pathway out of your driveway. Bundle up if you want to go outside and play.....

I am actually looking forward to the blizzard if it happens...The midwest has been very fortunate these last few years that the winters have not been that bad.

stock up as the other mom's have told you. It's a great time for baking. If you have a fireplace be sure to have wood. Enjoy the peace.

Get to the grocery store and make sure you have milk, bread, water (in case the power goes out or a water line freezes) and enough food to last until about Thursday. I was just at the store, the lines are really long!

Make sure you have a shovel--but good luck finding one! I had to go to Walgreens to even find one!

Charge up your cell phone and anything else you might need tonight. The power can be touchy! Cable and satellite might go out too along with internet.

Just snuggle up with your family! It's a great time to enjoy being together!

I'm from Florida and this is my first big snow fall since I've moved here. It dawned on me this morning at the (really busy) grocery store that it's like preparing for a hurricane. Don't know if you can relate. Just have what you will need to survive a couple of days without being able to leave the house. Including entertainment for your 4-year-old.

I live near Springfield, so central Illinois. We hardly get any snow, which makes my snowmobiling husband very sad.

Chicago is usually fabulous about snow removal. You might get dumped on and not really be able to go anywhere tonight, but they have it down to a science. With so many people commuting, I wouldn't be suprised if you could drive tomorrow morning with very little trouble.

Some great ideas here so I won't duplicate. One thing, though, if you have well water and are at all concerned that you'll lose power (here in MA it usually happens with heavy, wet snow or ice & lots of wind), fill your tub part way. If power goes out, so does your electric well pump and it's helpful to have some water available for everything from brushing your teeth to flushing...

Other winter survival essentials (and outside my kitchen we have about 3.5 FEET of practice!!!): plenty of hot chocolate and board games & books. Might as well have fun! And, by the way, there's nothing as beautiful as the next day, when the sky is blue and the snow is fresh. Take pictures!

Don't worry. Relax, stay warm, listen to the wind howl and enjoy!

You already got lots of great answers - enjoy your first big Chicago snowfall!

I did the same as others - went to the grocery store this morning for a few things I needed, filled the car up with gas and stopped at Ace for salt for the driveway.

Just make sure you can go a couple of days without running to the store. Safer to be off the roads, but they should be travel-able by Thursday :)

Just make sure you are stocked with anything you might need over the next day or so, because you won't want to go out and be on the roads. Make sure you have candles/flashlights and extra batteries handy, in case the power goes out. Get your cell phones charged up too. It's also helpful to get some bottled water or jugs of water just in case of a water line freeze. Games, crafts, and books for the little one, because the TV might be out too. Also, make sure your gas tank in the car is full. Let's just hope they are wrong and we don't get dumped on quite as bad as they are forecasting!

Bust out the sled (or buy one now!) and the snow pants and have a lot of fun!! Make sure you take a lot of pictures and send them to your family that won't have the fortune to experience all the snow!! Personally, I can't wait... however, I am not going to be driving anywhere either!

Oh Chicago winters...they are cold and snowy!! I lived there briefly and now am back home in Kansas City and even just this much further south I thank my lucky stars each winter that I'm not in Chicago! ;) Sorry, but it's true!

Like someone else said, they are pretty good about snow removal but just be prepared for it to linger on the grass and in piles until at least March maybe even April, especially if you really do get what they're calling for. Other than that, I'd just be prepared to watch a lot of TV and do some art projects. Baking is another good suggestion, I feel like it's a wintery thing to do plus it keeps the little one entertained and the house warm! Also, a flashlight, candles, etc. is also a good idea, especially if there's supposed to be ice, that will take the power lines down faster than anything. Lastly, I would suggest maybe some snow boots if you don't have them! ;) If nothing else you can use them to play in the snow with your kiddo!

the only thing we really do is make sure we have plenty of toilet paper, milk and bread. and stuff to be able to cook in the fireplace in case the electric and or gas goes out for any extended amount of time. other than that just plan for long days.

I don't even want to talk about snow! We already have 3 feet on the ground and have another 16+ on the way! I make sure that I always buy extra of the basics when I do my regular grocery shopping because the stores are always a mad house the day before a storm. Mask sure have foods you can eat that don't need to be heated like pb sandwiches incase the power goes out otherwise the snow is no big deal. I guess when you grow up with it's just one of those things an you deal with it.

Make sure you have an extra 1/2 gal milk, some bottled water, a box of cereal, couple extra blankets, cell phones fully charged & flash lights with extra batteries on hand. Aside from that, enjoy :)

I've never lived up north (I'm in Alabama lol), but as others have said, make sure you have enough food in case you can't leave your home for a while. Also think about having foods that you don't have to cook, in case you lose power. Also have flashlights, candles & matches handy!

We're getting it after you do. Between tonight thru Wednesday night we are suppose to get 18+ inches.

I bought some extra groceries last night (water, milk, easy to cook stuff). I'm planning on being stuck in the house for atleast 2 days. I am hoping the power doesn't go out tho, because then I'd be screwed, since I don't have a generator and I won't be able to drive anywhere.

MR - any way to post those pics here? bet there are some good ones during snow times up in Chicago!