Blizzard!

Strong warning from the National Weather Service for Chicago:

1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR
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POSSIBLE LOCALIZED TOTALS UP TO TWO FEET
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GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH LIKELY TONIGHT
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EVEN STRONGER WINDS ARE LIKELY NEAR THE IMMEDIATE LAKE SHORE WITH SUSTAINED WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS BETWEEN 50 AND 60 MPH
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VISIBILITIES TO NEAR ZERO AT TIMES
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ISOLATED SNOW-PRODUCING THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP TONIGHT... RESULTING IN LOCALIZED INTENSE SNOWFALL RATES. IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR SNOWFALL RATES TO EXCEED 4 INCHES PER HOUR IN THUNDER SNOW MAKING TRAVEL NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE
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PLAN ACCORDINGLY FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF A PROLONGED DISRUPTION IN COMMERCIAL POWER.

* OTHER IMPACTS... THE HEAVY NATURE OF THE SNOW WILL MAKE SHOVELING VERY DIFFICULT... AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY. DURING AND IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE BLIZZARD OF 1999 OVER 40 PEOPLE IN THE CHICAGO AREA ALONE LOST THEIR LIVES TO HEART ATTACKS WHILE SHOVELING THE HEAVY SNOWFALL. TAKE FREQUENT BREAKS INDOORS AND DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE TASK AT HAND WHEN SHOVELING.
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A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS... MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL! IF YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST TRAVEL... HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET STRANDED... STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.
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... DANGEROUS MULTIFACETED AND LIFE THREATENING WINTER STORM...

I remember the 1999 blizzard (it was over Shabbat).  I even slightly remember the 1979 blizzard (I walked to someone's home across the street with snow up to my chest).  I don't remember the 1967 blizzard, but I heard it was bad.  Many are saying that this is going to be the worst ever.  Hashem Ya'azor.
I don't know if this has to do with the recent decision by Governor Quinn to allow same-gender civil unions, which is known to cause punishments.  It seems that other states are getting hit too, so only Hashem knows the reason.

Regardless, stay safe out there wherever you are.