The weather service has issued a winter weather advisory for northern Illinois and northwest Indiana, Fairfield County that will remain in effect until midnight Thursday to at least Saturday.

Wednesday Snow Storm blows in trouble for roads and schools either canceled classes or canceled all after school activities causing considerable blowing and drifting, along with frigid temperatures and bitter cold wind chills.

Later Wednesday, the Joliet Township High School District canceled all after-school activities and athletic. The district also canceled Thursday classes as a result of the weather. Plainfield School, School District officials announced that classes will be dismissed at the scheduled time.

Interstates 80 and 55 in Will County had many cars in roadside ditches during Wednesday morning's heavy snow, with I-80 and Houbolt Road apparently being one of the worst-hit areas.

The I-55 northbound bridge over the Kankakee River was shut down due to accident and ice and I-80 was virtually impassable between Joliet and Tinley Park due to the number of cars sliding off the road.

The Morris Grade School District, White Oak Elementary and Shabbona Middle schools, Laraway School District started and St. Mary Nativity and Holy Cross Learning Center were to close.

The Valley View School District canceled after-school activity buses as well as after-school staff-faculty meetings and staff training and in-service sessions, said Larry Randa, director of school and community relations.

Romeoville High School students, who had finals this morning, were dismissed at 12:55 p.m. rather than 12:40 p.m. because many arrived late due to the weather.

Stamford, Greenwich and Norwalk public schools opened on time Thursday, but New Canaan Public Schools delayed their start 90 minutes, and Wilton by two hours.

Airlines at O'Hare have canceled more than 300 flights due to weather, according to a release from the city Department of Aviation. Delays at O'Hare as of about 10:30 a.m. were averaging 60 to 90 minutes.

The heaviest snow is expected between 8 a.m. and noon, totaling between 2 and 4 inches throughout the area, according to an advisory.