Chicago remains stuck in a prolonged cold stretch, with spotty snow chances before a late-week and early-next-week warmup.

Friday morning snow squalls in the Chicago weather forecast could make the commute extremely dangerous and result in 1 to 3 inches of accumulation before Northwest Indiana gets clobbered by lake effect snow this weekend.

A ground stop remained in effect for departures at O'Hare Airport, due to snow or ice, according to the FAA. Delays to departing and arriving flights are increasing at O'Hare and Midway, officials said.

A quiet, dry day is in store for the Chicago area Thursday, but things will start to change overnight as lake effect snow begins to build in western Michigan, leading to a “prolonged” period of snow for northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana Friday and Saturday.

Another round of lake effect snow that will be potentially very heavy near Lake Michigan prompted winter weather watches and advisories in Chicago and Northwest Indiana.

Emily Wahls has your weather update!

Several inches of snow hit the Chicago area Sunday, causing hundreds of flight delays and cancellations and more closures at school districts across the area for Monday.

The finalists for the Chicago snow plow naming contest have been announced!