Heavy snow will continue in most areas of Chicago overnight with the rain eventually turning to a bit of snow to the south.
Travel during this time could be dangerous due to the rate of snowfall, as well as low temperatures causing some patches of ice on the untreated roads.
The snow is expected to have abated between 7 am and 8 am this Friday, but some scattered snow showers could linger in the area, putting a final touch on the snow accumulations.
Live Radar: Follow the winter storm as it approaches the Chicago area
The largest accumulations could occur near the state line, with a chance of 4 to 7 inches of snow north of Interstate 88.
Other areas could see between 2 and 4 inches of snow, with some locally heavier totals possible, but those accumulations are expected to lessen as one travels further south, and the city of Chicago could see between 1 and 4 inches of snow. at most.
Most areas south of the city will likely see less than an inch of snow before the system leaves.
What does the outlook look like for the remainder of Thursday?
A winter weather warning for northern Cook County went into effect at 3 p.m., instead of 6 p.m., as a storm system approaches that is poised to create hectic and dangerous overnight travel in parts of the region. , particularly in areas near the Wisconsin border.
Additionally, a winter weather advisory is now in effect for DeKalb County, where it will remain in effect until 7 a.m. Friday.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), a winter weather warning was issued for McHenry and Kane counties at 3 p.m. Thursday and will be in effect until 7 a.m. Friday.
Lake, DuPage and central Cook counties are also under a winter weather advisory, effective 6 p.m. Thursday through 10 a.m. Friday.
The approaching system is expected to bring rain and snow to the entire area beginning Thursday afternoon, with more showers anticipated for the southern portions of the Chicago area.
Breaking through from the east, the system is expected to bring wet, packed snow to parts of the Chicago area, with heavier snowfall and higher snow totals expected near the Illinois-U.S. border, according to the First Warning team. Wisconsin.
However, in counties along Interstate 80 and Interstate 88, and far south counties, the system will bring mostly rain, forecast models show, with a possible sharp cut of snow in north county. Cook.
Here’s a breakdown of when and where the system is expected to arrive, and how much snow the Chicago area could see.
When would the storm come?
According to the First Alert team, rain is expected to turn to snow to the north. In far south counties like Kankakee, precipitation is likely to remain rain.
Later in the evening around 8 pm A mix of rain and snow is possible in much of the Chicago area, with snowdrifts and wet snow closer to the Illinois-Wisconsin border.
According to the NWS, the worst conditions for northwestern Illinois are expected between 6 p.m. and midnight, while the worst conditions for northeast Illinois are likely to occur later, between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m.
“Snow rates are likely to peak near an inch per hour early tonight,” an NWS alert reads. “The expected heavy and wet nature of the snow will make shoveling dangerous.”
Additionally, untreated roads could make travel difficult, especially during times when the heaviest snow is expected to fall, the NWS says.
According to the First Alert team, just before midnight, most areas with rain are expected to transition to receiving snow, with scattered snowfall continuing overnight, creating a potentially slippery ride on Friday morning.
How much snow could fall?
According to the First Alert team, it is likely that the snowfall depends on the temperatures. Since early Thursday, the highs have remained in the upper 30s to the upper 40s.
“Above freezing temperatures will initially result in some melting, but higher snowfall rates (up to one inch per hour) will result in accumulations on roads tonight,” the NWS says.
Based on forecast models, snowfall of between 3 and 6 inches is likely in Lake and McHenry, as well as Northern DeKalb and Kane counties, with potentially higher totals near the Illinois-Wisconsin border.
In DuPage and Central and Northern Cook counties, where a transition from rain to snow is expected, snow accumulations ranging from 2 to 4 inches are expected.
To the south, in Kankakee County and parts of northwestern Indiana, less than an inch of snow is expected as precipitation is likely to remain in the form of rain. However, Lake and Porter counties in Indiana could see between 1 and 3 inches.
Areas are likely to remain snowy until early Friday, with a few scattered snow showers still possible at that time.
