Winter storm blankets Chicago, Milwaukee reducing visibility during morning commute

Watch: Snow falls in Chicago as winter storm ramps up

A video shared from FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray shows snow falling in Chicago on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. The region is being blasted by a potent winter storm that's expected to bring snow and beneficial rain to parts of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast through the end of the workweek and into the weekend.

CHICAGO – Heavy snow began pushing 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.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, the winter storm unfolding across the Northeast, Great Lakes and mid-Atlantic is happening a week before Thanksgiving and 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.

On Thursday, the National Weather Service in Chicago issued a Winter Weather Advisory for northeastern Illinois.

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

Snowfall increased throughout the morning, reducing visibility across Chicagoland. Between 2 and 4 inches is forecast throughout the day. 

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop for O'Hare International Airport until 11:45 a.m. CT because of visibility issues. 

NOAA's Storm Prediction Center said areas of snow will continue to move south across northeastern Illinois and into northwestern Indiana.