More than 800 flights canceled as blizzard warning takes effect in Chicago; worst conditions forecast around midnight for city

The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for the Chicago metro area Sunday 

afternoon. The warning is in effect from 6 p.m. Sunday until 9 a.m. Monday.

Issuing a blizzard warning is not common, said National Weather Service meteorologist Ricky Castro.

“The last time we had one out for Cook County was in February 2015, and then the one before that was February 2011,” Castro said. “So it’s really not a common thing to have a blizzard warning around here, especially this time of year.”

The weather already is responsible for the cancellation of more than 800 flights from area airports, and transportation officials said car travel will be hazardous as well.

At the height of the storm, more than 2 inches of snow an hour is possible, according to the weather service, combined with winds gusting 40 to 50 mph. The far northwest suburbs could see about 12 inches of snow, according to the weather service, with 10 inches possible at O’Hare, 6 inches possible at Midway and then several inches likely for the immediate shoreline and downtown Chicago.