Chicago snow and school closings today: winter storm warning, updated totals, and what’s open (Nov. 11, 2025)

An early-season blast of lake-effect snow kept the Chicago area under a Winter Storm Warning through the overnight, dropping several inches across the metro with locally higher totals north and near the lake. The banding was sharp: some neighborhoods woke to hardly a dusting, while parts of the north and northwest suburbs, Lake County, IL, and northwest Indiana measured 6–12 inches, with pockets topping that where the lake band parked longest. Gusty winds around 30–35 mph produced brief whiteouts and slick commutes.

Are schools closed today?

• Chicago Public Schools (CPS): No classes today (Tue., Nov. 11) for Veterans Day as scheduled on the district calendar. Today’s CPS “closure” is a planned holiday, not a weather shutdown.

• Suburban Illinois districts: A number of districts announced closures, late starts, or e-learning on Monday as the storm ramped up; some remain on delayed schedules today where plows are still catching up or buses face drifted rural routes.

• Northwest Indiana: Several corporations used two-hour delays Monday and again this morning in heavier lake-effect zones, including communities along and south of the lakefront.

Parents: district status can change before first bell. Check your district alert system (texts/app/email) and the school website for the latest call.

How much snow did Chicago get?

• City of Chicago: Generally 1–4 inches citywide, lowest southwest and on the far South Side where the main band missed; higher on the North Side and lakefront.

• North & Northwest Suburbs (Cook/Lake/McHenry): Commonly 4–8 inches, with 10–12 inches in band maxima.

• Northwest Indiana (Lake/Porter/LaPorte): A broad 6–12+ inches, with the most persistent banding near the shore and along typical lake-effect corridors.

• Far west/south suburbs: Trace to a few inches, highly variable by neighborhood.

Totals will be refined through the day as spotter and highway reports come in; expect final tallies to cluster tightly along the lake-effect track.

Travel and flights

Monday’s combination of heavy bursts and crosswinds triggered hundreds of flight cancellations and delays at Chicago’s airports, with schedules stabilizing gradually this morning. On the roads, main expressways are mostly wet to slushy, but ramps, bridges, and untreated side streets remain slick—especially where drifting covered refrozen patches. Give plows room, and treat parking-lot berms and alley ruts as hidden ice risks.

What the forecast says next

• Snow: Intermittent lake-effect snow showers linger early today, then gradually weaken and shift. An additional 0.5–2 inches is possible in favored zones before tapering.

• Wind/visibility: Northwesterly gusts ease through the afternoon, reducing blowing snow issues.

• Cold: Early winter chill hangs on; wind chills stay subfreezing. A slow moderation arrives midweek.

(Always defer to the latest statement from the National Weather Service for warnings and timing updates.)

School closings and delays: quick checklist for families

1. Verify status twice: Check again one hour before you leave; bus routes can change after plow updates.

2. Plan for a late bell: Many districts are using 2-hour delays to clear lots and sidewalks; confirm breakfast and before-care adjustments.

3. Bundle and label: With wind and single-digit wind chills possible before sunrise, add named outerwear for younger students.

4. Bus stop safety: Stand back from curbs; drifting can narrow lanes and reduce driver sightlines.

5. Attendance policies: Weather-related absences are often excused if conditions are unsafe where you live—check your school’s handbook.

Commute tips for today

• Leave extra space: Slush hides potholes and can grab tires at lane changes.

• Watch the refreeze: Shaded arterials and bridge decks may glaze over again after sunrise.

• Clear the car fully: Snow sheets flying from roofs and hoods reduce visibility for everyone behind you.

• Side-street etiquette: Don’t push driveway snow back into the roadway; it becomes a frozen ridge by afternoon.

Great Lakes pattern: why the banding was so uneven

This event was classic early-season lake effect—cold air pouring over the relatively warm surface of Lake Superior and Lake Michigan, organizing into narrow, intense snow bands. Small wobbles in wind direction swung the heaviest snow back and forth, which is why one suburb tallied double-digit inches while a town ten miles away scraped a coating. Add a burst of convective “thundersnow” in the strongest cores, and you get rapid accumulation in short windows.

What’s next for schools and the city

With CPS on holiday today, city buildings and crews are using the daylight to finish curb-to-curb clearing and reopen side streets. Most suburban districts aim to return to normal schedules Wednesday, barring fresh band development or refreeze problems. Expect make-up plans only if a district exhausted its flexible e-learning options or lost an entire instructional day outside today’s CPS holiday.

Chicago proper saw lighter, variable totals, while the north suburbs and northwest Indiana took the brunt under a stubborn lake band. CPS is off for Veterans Day, and suburban status remains a district-by-district call. Check your alerts, take it slow on untreated streets, and watch for a gradual improvement as winds ease and plows catch up.