Two upcoming rounds of snow threaten to bring more than a foot of snow to some places in the Chicago area, but exactly what you’ll see with these systems depends on where you live.
Tuesday night and into Wednesday will bring the heaviest snowfall of the systems hitting the area this week.
Forecasters from Storm Team 5 broke down what to expect in the Chicago area.
When will the snow start and how long will it last?
Precipitation is set to start, likely as rain, Tuesday afternoon as temperatures can climb into the mid-40s. This will mark the beginning of the first winter system.
The rain is likely to change to snow shortly after sunset as temperatures begin to drop. Snow is expected to develop throughout the Chicago area, remaining heavier to the south and lighter to the north.
The heaviest snowfall will likely occur on Wednesday morning, with snowfall rates as high as 1 inch per hour during that time in many places. That is likely to cause serious travel problems across the region, according to forecast models, and residents are urged to postpone unnecessary travel.
Snowy and potentially dangerous driving conditions are expected during the morning commute on any road south of Chicago, especially in areas like Kankakee County and parts of northwestern Indiana.
By Wednesday afternoon, the snow is expected to be reduced to light snow or flurries, but it may not be completely over when the first wave leaves.
Another system could closely follow the first wave Wednesday night and into Thursday, again largely for areas south of Chicago and into northwestern Indiana.
This system could continue to dump several additional inches of snow in places through Thursday afternoon, before ending in the overnight hours.
When do weather alerts start?
LaSalle, Grundy, DuPage, Kendall, as well as parts of Cook and Will counties will be under a winter storm warning from 8 p.m. Tuesday through 6 p.m. Thursday, the National Weather Service announced, as it is expected to accumulate 5 to 11 inches of snow. throughout the area.
Kankakee County, along with Lake, Porter, Newton and Jasper counties in Indiana, will be under a winter storm warning from 10 p.m. Tuesday through 6 p.m. Thursday.
A separate warning goes into effect at midnight for LaPorte County and continues through 6 p.m. Thursday.
A winter weather advisory also begins for parts of Cook, DeKalb and Kane counties at 8:00 p.m. and continues through 6:00 p.m. Wednesday.
How much snow is expected?
NBC 5 Storm Team forecasters say snow totals will vary dramatically in the area.
In the first storm, 4 to 8 inches are possible in the metro area, while up to 14 inches could be seen in far southern suburbs and parts of northwestern Indiana.
In the northern suburbs, 1 to 3 inches is expected.
If the second storm follows a similar path as the first storm, which is likely, counties in the far south could get 15 inches or more total by Thursday night, though those totals don’t take compaction into account, which which could cause problems on the ground. totals appear less.
Meanwhile, far northern counties will likely get 1 to 3 inches or less by the time both systems move in.
For areas along Interstate 80, the totals appear to remain between 5 and 10 inches.
The winter storm warning for LaSalle, Grundy, Will and parts of Cook County warns of 5 to 11 inches possible through Wednesday, though additional snow is possible outside the warning window. In DuPage and Kendall, the advisory calls for 4 to 8 inches of snow.
In Kankakee County in Illinois and Newton, Jasper, Lake and Porter counties in northwestern Indiana, the advisory calls for accumulations of 8 to 12 inches with the first system and an additional 3 to 6 inches since Wednesday morning. night until Thursday.
The advisory for DeKalb, Kane and northern Cook County calls for total snow accumulations between 1 and 5 inches.
What about the trips?
The National Weather Service says travel may become “very difficult or impossible” on Wednesday and residents are urged to postpone any unnecessary travel.
Morning and afternoon travel on Wednesday and Thursday is expected to be affected by both systems.
The Chicago Office of Communications and Emergency Management urged travelers to exercise caution on the roads during storms.
The department issued the following winter safety tips for drivers:
- Allow extra time to get to your destination.
- Leave enough space between vehicles.
- Fill up the gas tank and let your friends and family know where you’re going.
- Make sure you have an emergency kit in your vehicle.
- Yield to emergency vehicles, as well as Streets and Sanitation salt spreaders and plows.
Meanwhile, the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Getting Around Illinois website offers a look at current winter conditions across the state.
Using a map, the site tracks which roads are clear and which are partially, mostly, or completely covered in ice or snow.
If you must travel, IDOT recommends:
• Take it easy, especially when approaching intersections, ramps, bridges, and shaded areas that are prone to icing.
• Make sure your gas tank is full.
• Keep a cell phone, warm clothing, blankets, food, water, a first aid kit, washing up liquid and an ice scraper in your vehicle.
• Check the forecast and make sure someone knows your route and schedule.
• Carry a cell phone and dial *999 in the Chicago area for emergency assistance.
• Reminder: The use of cell phones while driving is illegal in Illinois, unless it is an emergency situation.
• If you are involved in a crash or breakdown, stay inside your vehicle, which is your safest form of shelter. Getting out of your vehicle into traffic alive can have fatal consequences.
• Always wear your seat belt, whether you are sitting in the front seat or the back seat. Is the law.
As for flights, the weather service noted that O’Hare Airport “appears to be right on the edge of the heaviest snow.”
“If the snow ends up over the airfield, low visibility would be a good bet,” the NWS tweeted. “Airlines and local officials make the final decisions on how flights would be affected.”
Will my child’s school be closed?
Want to see if your child’s school is closed?
There’s a way to track school closures in Illinois and Chicago, from public schools to private schools to day care centers and more.
The Emergency Closing Center tracks closings of Chicago-area schools, businesses, day care centers, and other organizations.
Here’s how to check.
How can I track snow?
Track the system as it moves through the live area using our Live Doppler 5 radar.
The NBC 5 Storm Team will continue to monitor weather systems as they develop, and the latest information can always be found on the NBC Chicago app.
www.nbcchicago.com
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism