Road Conditions Worsen as Snow Continues to Fall

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It could be a treacherous commute for many taking to area roads this evening. 

Roadway conditions continue to worsen as heavy snow falls and strong winds whip through the area. A winter storm advisory remains in effect through 9 p.m. tonight for McHenry County. 

As of 2:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, 5.5 inches of snow had fallen in Bull Valley in McHenry County with 2.1 inches of snow falling in one hour, according to the National Weather Service. As much as four inches of snow has been reported in Elgin, according to Tom Sklling's Facebook page. 

• READ MORE: Preliminary Snowfall Totals

Motorists were reporting white-out and blizzard conditions, accidents and cars in the ditch and snow-covered and slippery roadways throughout the area Tuesday afternoon, according to comments on the Crystal Lake-Cary Facebook page.

"I drove home from Rolling Meadows and all I could ask was, 'am I even in a lane?''" wrote one commenter on the Crystal Lake-Cary Patch Facebook page. 

Traffic on Route 14 from Woodstock to Crystal Lake was at a standstill around 2:40 p.m., according to one Facebook comment. 

"I'm in Woodstock and was at the light in front of Walmart and you cant see the building at all," according to a Facbook comment around 1:43 p.m. Tuesday. "Very dangerous with stupid people trying to drive normal and swerving all over the road."

A commenter on the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Patch Facebook page said a typical-35-minute drive to O'Hare took him one hour and 15 minutes while another said that at 2:30 p.m., traffic was "bumper-to-bumper" on Route 62 west from Schaumburg. 

"I ran a short errand to Lake in the Hills and back down to Algonquin. Pyott is getting bad," according to a comment on the Algonquin-LITH Patch Facebook page around 1 p.m. Tuesday. "Hanson is going to be impassible at this rate. It's piling up quick and visibility is awful."

Police encouraged motorists to take extra caution when taking to the roads. 

The Crystal Lake Police Department issued a Nixle advisory message at 12:30 p.m. today regarding the winter weather and asked residents to avoid unnecessary travel. For those who must drive, police said to slow down and allow for more stopping distance. 

The McHenry County Sheriff's Office told the Northwest Herald that many accidents were being reported throughout the county. The article also reported that area plows were struggling to keep up and area municipalities, including Algonquin, Crystal Lake, Lakewood and Cary, have enacted their emergency snow plans. 

Meanwhile, the Illinois Department of Transportation is reporting snow- or ice-covered roadways throughout much of McHenry County and northern Illinois and the Illinois Tollway has mobilized its full fleet of 182 snow plows in response to the snowfall. 

Several area school districts have cancelled after-school activities and some businesses have closed early due to the weather. 

• Read More: Weather-Related Closings

The Illinois Tollway offers the following tips for driving safe during winter weather: 

• Slow down and leave enough time to reach your destination
• Remember to always wear your safety belt and ensure children under the age of 8 are securely restrained in child safety seats
• Yield to snowplows and emergency vehicles
• Don’t text while driving. It’s illegal.
• Dial *999 on your cell phone to report incidents

Do you have photos of the winter storm? Post them in this article by clicking on "Upload Photos and Videos" or e-mail them to amie.schaenzer@patch.com.