Hundreds of flights canceled as winter storm hits Chicago

CHICAGO - Hundreds of flights have been canceled on Saturday as a rare late winter storm hit Chicago area.

The US National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for the upper Midwest, impacting parts of Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin states.

Snow, mixed with rain, started to fall in downtown Chicago at 10:00 am local time. Total daytime snow accumulation is expected to reach 2 to 5 cm, and 5 to 10 cm during the night. In some areas, heavy snow may lead to 20-cm accumulation.

By early afternoon, more than 580 flights have been canceled at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, the air hub's management tweeted.

According to Flightradar24, a live air traffic website, some 71 percent of flights departing from the airport were delayed by an average of 40 minutes due to adverse weather condition.

The snow is expected to end early Sunday morning, said weather forecast.