“It is cold outside … and that is a serious understatement,” Aurora officials said Friday morning as the area dealt with strong winds and very low temperatures.
Aurora Fire Department Battalion Chief Jim Rhodes said the department responded to several small car crashes Thursday evening and Friday morning, but no major crashes.
The department typically averages 60 calls a day but is dealing with more since the winter storm rolled in Thursday, Rhodes said.
“We’ve been responding to nothing significant, but some slips and falls, which happens when we get into this type of weather,” he said.
Kane County Sheriff’s Office officials said they have responded to many crashes Friday afternoon from cars sliding off the roads and spinning out.
Temperatures are expected to stay below zero for the rest of Friday with high winds of up to 50 mph, Aurora officials said.
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Aurora’s snow plow fleet has concentrated on primary roads, officials said. Due to the high winds, the snow is continuously drifting into the streets, keeping the plows focused on primary roads for the rest of Friday.
The city’s warming center remains open at the Aurora Transportation Center, 233 N. Broadway, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. through Tuesday morning.
While several events and government buildings were closed Friday, Aurora officials said they plan to reopen the Festival of Lights drive-thru at Phillips Park on Saturday and Sunday from 5 to 9 p.m.