CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) – A "real Midwest winter" is on the way for the Chicago area, with heavy snow expected Friday night before temperatures plummet by Sunday, the National Weather Service is warning.
The snow could fall an inch per hour starting late Friday afternoon or evening, with 4 to 9 inches expected by Saturday morning north of I-88, according to preliminary forecasts. Areas south of the interstate could see between 3 and 7 inches.
After the snow Friday evening into Saturday, additional lake effect snow will occur Saturday night into Sunday for northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana. If planning to travel in these areas then, expect impacts from snow-covered roads and potential blowing/drifting snow. pic.twitter.com/hpwiteAxTm
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) January 18, 2019Drivers can expect a dangerous Friday evening commute, with the worst hazards, including reduced visibility, ice covered roads and gusts up to 35 mph, mainly north of I-88, the weather service warned. The storm should taper off by noon Saturday, but lake effect snow will occur Saturday night into Sunday morning.
Daytime high temperatures were forecast in the low to mid-20s until Saturday. Nighttime Saturday temperatures could plummet to 12 degrees, and only reach as high as 17 on Sunday, the weather service said.
Snow overspreads region later today, peaking tonight/Sat AM. Winds ramp up tonight, with gusts 30-35 mph resulting in blowing/drifting. Snow tapers from west Sat, except lake effect snow that persists near Lake Michigan into Sun. Bitterly cold temps arrive Sat night. #ILWX #INWX pic.twitter.com/XdcrG0TEx7
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) January 18, 2019Winter Storm Warning for nrn IL/NW IN. Snow N of I-88 by late afternoon/eve, then remainder of the area through the eve. Winds gusting 30 to 35 mph develop tonight & will result in blowing/drifting. Snow diminishes Sat, except lake effect in far NE IL/NW IN Sat/Sun. #ILWX #INWX pic.twitter.com/LaUb1xQkyD
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) January 18, 2019Temperatures could dip into the single-digits Sunday night, with a high near 19 expected on Monday, the weather service said. Wind chills could plummet to 18 degrees below zero over the weekend, with temperatures staying below 20 until at least Thursday.
In anticipation of the snow, Amtrak canceled Saturday service of its Capitol Limited and Lake Shore Limited lines, which connect Chicago to Washington D.C. and New York.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire & Chicago Sun-Times 2019. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
