Winter storm strengthening as it hits Midwest

A massive winter storm is reportedly gaining strength as it goes through the Midwestern U.S.

According to the Chicago Tribune, nearly 900 flights from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport have been cancelled. Midway Airport has cancelled over 200 flights, while Southwest Airlines have cancelled flights from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In addition, many schools throughout the city have cancelled classes for Tuesday.

A winter storm warning is currently in effect through midnight. High winds and snow fall of over an inch per hour are predicted, with a total of nearly eight inches in the area by Tuesday evening.

Trucks from the city’s Department of Streets and Sanitation began salting and clearing Chicago’s roads Tuesday morning.

The storm is also expected to impact traffic in Washington D.C., according to the AP.

To that end, the Maryland Transit Administration plans to monitor power lines for ice accumulation.

Three to seven inches of rain and later snow are expected in Washington, with roughly 16 inches in western Maryland.

"It'll be windy everywhere Wednesday, especially during the afternoon and into the evening. Whenever you're talking about that much heavy, wet snow and those winds of 20-30 mph with some higher gusts, there's a concern for numerous power outages," Jared Klein, meteorologist for the National Weather Service, said.