See it: Winter storm disrupts travel across Chicago, blankets Indianapolis in fresh snow

02:58

Winter storm reduces visibility in Chicago, Milwaukee

A winter storm is causing delays across the Great Lakes, including at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport where a ground delay is in place on Thursday afternoon. FOX Weather's Robert Ray reports snow rates between 1 and 2 inches and winds dropped visibility down to a quarter-mile, creating a mess for the morning commute in the Windy City. 

CHICAGO – Heavy snow pushed into Great Lakes cities, including Chicago and Milwaukee, on Thursday during the season's first winter storm, reducing visibility down to a quarter-mile during the morning commute before bringing more travel impacts across Indianapolis. 

After receiving 2.7 inches of snow at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Thursday marks the snowiest November day in five years. More than 700 flights at Chicago's Midway and O'Hare airports were delayed or canceled on Thursday, according to flight tracker Flightaware.com.

FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray was in Chicago where morning commuters faced blustery conditions. 

"I think Chicagoans were caught off guard by the rapid fall of snow that has happened here just a week before the holiday season kicks off," he said. "This is snowball-packing weather, no doubt about it."

Snowfall increased throughout the morning, reducing visibility across Chicagoland. Between 2-4 inches fell before changing to rain in the afternoon. 

The winter storm continued to move south across northeastern Illinois and into northwestern Indiana.  

Indianapolis is included in a Winter Weather Advisory that covers most of central Indiana through Thursday night. The NWS warned of slick roads and bridges as the snow continued to move southeast through the region. 

At Indianapolis Airport, 2.5 inches of snow fell by 1 p.m.

00:11

Watch: Snow falls outside FOX 6 Milwaukee studio

FOX 6 Milwaukee Chief Meteorologist Rob Haswell shared this video showing snow falling outside the studio on Thursday morning. Forecasters warned residents that travel conditions were quickly deteriorating due to the winter storm.

Snowfall rates between 1 and 2 inches per hour and gusty winds up to 45 mph were observed long the Interstate 94 corridor, including Madison, eastern Dane and Milwaukee counties, leading to travel impacts.

A semi-truck crash on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024 during a winter storm. 

(Wisconsin State Patrol  / FOX Weather)

Wisconsin State Patrol said troopers have been responding to "many crashes" and vehicle runoffs throughout the morning.

According to the National Weather Service in Milwaukee, visibility dropped to between a quarter- and half-mile on Thursday morning as heavy bands of snow moved through West Bend and Sheboygan. 

The winter storm happens during Wisconsin's Winter Weather Awareness Week. 

The NWS Milwaukee office posted some wintry scenes, saying with tongue in cheek that it was now "aware."

The snow was the first part of a winter storm unfolding across the Northeast, Great Lakes and mid-Atlantic. With it happening a week before Thanksgiving, it could impact holiday travel. 

A potentially record-breaking 80 million people are expected to travel more than 50 miles from home this year, according to the AAA.