Drivers could encounter challenging conditions beginning late Tuesday night and lasting through the Wednesday morning commute as the first of two rounds of winter weather leads to slick, snow-covered roads.
A clipper system will bring accumulating snow near and north of I-80 beginning in the late evening, the National Weather Service said in a social media post.
Ahead of the winter system, more Chicago-area counties were added to a winter weather advisory due to the potential for several inches of snow.
With several inches of accumulation expected, here’s what you should expect and when.
Tuesday night
As additional clouds move in this evening, dry conditions will persist before the latest taste of winter weather arrives.
Snow will move in during the late evening and overnight hours, NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Alicia Roman said. The heaviest snowfall is expected in Lake and McHenry counties, which are under a winter weather advisory beginning at 8 p.m. until 6 a.m. Wednesday.
A separate advisory was issued for DeKalb, Kane, DuPage and northern and central Cook counties, beginning at 10 p.m. Tuesday and continuing through 8 a.m. Wednesday.
Snow will continue for several hours across a wide swath of the region, leading to measurable totals in many communities.
Wednesday morning
Snow is expected to continue for several hours before letting up in the late morning.
According to the NWS, an initial band of snow is expected between 8 p.m. and 1 a.m., and after that, more widespread snow will arrive through around 9 a.m. or so.
Untreated roads will likely become snow-covered and slick into the early Wednesday morning commute, meteorologists said. With travel impacts expected across most of the area, you’ll certainly want to leave extra time for the morning drive.
Snow accumulations of between 2 and 5 inches are possible in Lake and McHenry counties, with the highest totals expected near the Wisconsin-Illinois state line.
For the remaining counties, anywhere from 2 to 4 inches of snow are possible, with the greatest snowfall amounts expected to occur “near and north of Interstate 88 and 290,” meteorologists said. Amounts could then taper down to two inches or less in the subsequent hours.
Wednesday afternoon
Partial sunshine and dry conditions are expected in the afternoon, but the break won’t be long.
Another winter system will move in for the afternoon and evening commute, Roman said.
Wednesday evening
A cold front will push through in the evening, bringing snow showers and gusty winds of around 35 miles per hour, the NWS stated. As a result, blowing and drifting snow are possible, meteorologists said.
This one is another “quick mover,” Roman said, noting the snow will be finished by around midnight to 1 a.m.
Thursday and beyond
Conditions are set to improve by Thursday morning into Thursday afternoon, when temperatures reach a high of 20 degrees.
But don’t get used to it – another blast of arctic air will move in ahead of the weekend.
Air temperatures will be as cold as negative six degrees, Roman said, but wind chill temperatures could be dangerously cold, dipping as low as negative 35 degrees.
