Strong winds and a lot of snow are predicted for Chicago this weekend.

Chicago had an unsettling calm late on Friday night, the type of silence that precedes a storm. The cold air was filled with the dull glimmer of streetlights. The city's pulse continued to beat with the typical Friday-night bustle, despite a few early flakes dancing in the breeze. Unaware that nature was preparing one of the city's largest November snowstorms in years, residents inside houses turned on fires or opened tea cups.

By Saturday morning, the serenity had evaporated. Heavy clouds started to swirl across the sky. Just after midnight, the first true snowflakes emerged; they were initially sluggish, timid, and seemingly bashful. However, as the night became darker, the snow became determined and began to drift gradually over pavements and roofs, making well-known sidewalks slick.

A city changed as morning broke. The once-cold, crisp night turned white, with automobiles capped, lawns covered with soft snow, and rooftops covered. The flakes quickly became more intense, and by the middle of the morning, the slow drift had become a determined fall. According to meteorological projections, this weekend's storm has the potential to dump six to twelve inches in Chicagoland.

For many, the weekend's plans—errands, Black Friday shopping, and those last-minute Thanksgiving leftovers—quickly appeared unattainable. The snow fell quickly and forcefully. Snow piled up quickly in several locations, particularly north and northwest of downtown, to the point that known roads and street lines were obscured. As many stayed close to home and waited out the storm, buses dropped to cautious speeds, vehicles paused, and silence descended upon communities.

The visibility decreased during the afternoon. Streets vanished behind white veils as snowflakes whirled in wind gusts. According to local meteorologists, snow occasionally fell with astonishing intensity, sometimes at a rate of almost an inch per hour.

Salt trucks throwing grit on key highways and plows fighting to keep important arteries open were examples of city workers working quickly. Deep piles of snow caused numerous side streets, driveways, and minor roads to go quiet. For several, the day concluded with shovels and groans rather than Black Friday deals, as they cleared paths, dug out cars, and wondered when the snow would stop.

The cold persisted even after the snow stopped falling late on Saturday night. Forecasters warned of extremely cold temperatures and potential ice on untreated surfaces on Sunday as winds intensified the cold. Overnight lows were predicted to be below freezing, and the possibility of black ice was present due to the recent snow piled on uneven roads.

Travel got dangerous in the evening after being difficult in the afternoon. In the hopes of a peaceful evening, many closed their windows and turned on their furnaces. Time seemed to have stopped for those who had to-do lists. This was a silent lesson for anyone who are new to the city or who are accustomed to warmer winters: Chicago doesn't simply dip into winter—it dives, and quickly.

The snowfall had mostly stopped by Sunday morning. A stillness had descended over the city, broken only by distant plows and the scrape of shovels cleaning sidewalks. The roads appeared clearer, though they were still slippery in some places. In certain areas, kids crept outside, bundled up, and met the whiteness with timid snowballs and giggles. Others, fearing what frigid dawns could bring, prepared for Monday's cold front.

This storm will probably be remembered for days to come. Silent streets, snow-covered rooftops and trees, and a sort of silent resiliency. This past weekend was more than just snowfall for a city used to winter; it served as a reminder of what winter can accomplish when allowed a weekend to manifest.