Chicago weather: Snow falling on cold, windy Halloween

CHICAGO, IL -- A frightful start to Halloween! The first snowfall of the season brought howling winds to Chicago and led to more than 300 cancellations at O'Hare Airport.

Travelers at O'Hare are experiencing delays of around one hour, although Midway reports normal operations as of 11 a.m. Friday.

Snow began falling early Friday morning in the northwest suburbs. People in the city saw some flakes. It hasn't snowed on Halloween since 1993, and it was only a trace amount of snow that year.

But .10 inches of snow was recorded at O'Hare just before 9 a.m. Friday, marking the first measurable snowfall on Halloween in Chicago history. The average date of the first measurable snowfall in Chicago is Nov. 16.

PHOTOS: Snow falls in Chicago area on Halloween

High temperatures are only expected to reach the upper 30s on this cold and blustery Halloween. Parents will have to bundle up their trick-or-treaters as they head out to collect candy in their neighborhoods. Bob Debolt, a Latin School of Chicago parent, had to throw a coat over his little astronaut Friday morning.

"A little frightening on this Halloween to see snow coming down so early in the season," Debolt said.

"I brought out the NorthFace for the first time today, because I'm not going to trick or treat for hours without it," Beth Manning said.

Along the lake, wicked wind gusts up to 60 mph are possible. Waves could top 20 feet on Lake Michigan.

A Lake Effect Snow Advisory for northwest Indiana will be in effect from 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Friday, according to the weather service.

Snow showers are expected to develop Friday and continue into the evening in Lake, Porter, Newton and Jasper counties, where the weather service said 1-3 inches of slushy snow could accumulate. Thunder and lightning could accompany heavy bursts of snow showers and visibility could be reduced at times as strong winds whip through the area.