The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for the region, which expired at noon in Illinois and continues until 3 p.m. for areas in northwest Indiana.

The storm is expected to drop about 1 to 3 inches of snow in Illinois and 3 to 5 inches of snow in northwest Indiana. It is expected to end in the city by early afternoon but will continue into northwest Indiana.

Recent snowfall has forced the city to activate its phase two snow program for the second time in two days.

Currently, many main roads and side streets are improving after the winter storm passed through the area in recent days.

As of 11 a.m., 2.7 inches of snow fell in Sugar Grove, with 2.5 inches of snow in Glen Ellyn and 2.5 inches of snow in Arlington Heights. In northwest Indiana, Dyer and Crown point both received 3.5 inches of snow.

FULL 7 DAY FORECAST

The Chicago Streets and Sanitation Department said more than 200 salt spreaders were working to keep streets clear, focusing on major thoroughfares. On Monday afternoon, the DSS announced that it was sending vehicles to clear the side streets.

The winter blast blew during the morning commute. Snow plow trucks remain on the roads Monday afternoon after a muddy start to the day.

“I have rear-wheel drive, so my car slides everywhere,” said commuter Rodney Ephraim.

Mike Zobitz gave his family an extra 15 minutes to get where they needed to go.

“I did, actually. I just dropped my daughter off at school, so we did about 15-20 minutes, enough time for her to play in the snow and throw snowballs. “

WATCH: Driver spinout on I-94, Illinois Route 394

The Kennedy Freeway was full of slush as people drove through the heart of the city.

Rodney Ephraim has had a rough ride.

“Well, I have rear-wheel drive so my car slides all over the place, but I thought the city would have at least cleared the streets by now, but it’s kind of hectic,” he said.

WATCH: Owner goes dog sledding in Little Italy

As people return to rush-hour traffic, area snow removal crews will remain on the roads to ensure drivers get to their destinations safely.

Buildings in the loop had crews trying to clear part of them.

“I’ve noticed a lot lately that the ice is the scariest part and it’s a bit dangerous to walk around with ice underneath and snow on top. You have to take a a little longer,” commuter Courtney Krznarich said.

From the city to the suburbs, efforts to shovel homeowners’ driveways and sidewalks are supported by volunteers from local police departments.

“We saw the need for it,” said Sgt. John Oakley of the Skokie Police Department. “Doing it on a voluntary basis, just trying to help the community. So we put it on Facebook and got a lot of responses.”

Nearly 40+ people have asked for help so far, including Cindy Adler, who made her request while watching these officers at work next door.

“I need help,” Adler said. “I didn’t know how I was going to get rid of it. And then there are the police.”

WATCH: Long Grove boy, 5, helps clear snow with a custom plow

While this winter blast can prove dangerous on the roads, it also shows how people can come together and volunteer their time to help others.

“It’s a wonderful show! It’s a great thing what they’re doing and I wanted to jump on it,” Adler said.

Warming centers open in suburban Cook County

Warming centers are opening in suburban Cook County as wind chills are expected to drop to 25 below zero on Tuesday evening.

Residents without adequate heating in their homes are encouraged to visit a warming center to ensure they stay safe, according to the Cook County Regional Safety and Emergency Management Department.

A complete list of warming centers is available at: https://www.cookcountyil.gov/service/warming-centers

The Cook County Emergency Management Department shared the following recommendations:

Airport delays, cancellations

At Chicago airports, 103 flights were canceled at O’Hare and 52 flights were canceled at Midway as of 7:30 a.m.

After the snow on Monday, the biting cold will set in on Tuesday and Wednesday.

School Closures: Full Chicago Area List

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