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Winter Third Snowiest for Chicago Thanks to Latest Storm

<p>Chicago's snow tally stands at 79.1 inches, making this winter season its third snowiest since 1884, meteorologists say.</p>
Image: As Brutally Cold Winter Drags On, 80 Percent Of Lake Michigan Frozen
CHICAGO, IL - FEBRUARY 18: Snow and ice covers the shoreline of Lake Michigan on February 18, 2014 near Chicago, Illinois. This winters prolonged cold weather has caused more than 88 percent of the Great Lakes to be covered in ice which is near the record of 95% set in February 1979. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)Scott Olson / Getty Images, file

The storm that hit the Chicago area overnight Tuesday dropped up to 6 inches of snow — moving this season into third place for snowiest on record.

The flakes had been falling at a rate of 2 inches per hour, and was expected to be gone by late Wednesday morning, forecasters said. Wind gusts were reaching up to 40 miles per hour.

The snow total for Chicago stands at 79.1 inches, still more than 10 inches shy of the record of 89.7 inches in 1978-79, reported NBC Chicago.

The latest storm, meanwhile, was wreaking havoc for travelers. Illinois State Police reported spinouts and crashes overnight from the snow and slush.

More than 140 flights were canceled and 41 delayed at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on Wednesday morning, according to FlightAware.com. Chicago’s Midway International also reported dozens of cancellations.

— Erik Ortiz