CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A major winter storm is expected to move through Chicago Friday night, bringing freezing rain, 20-foot high waves and — later Saturday — possibly 3 inches of snow.
A winter storm watch lasts from Friday night through Saturday night, according to the National Weather Service.
A winter storm will affect the region tonight into Saturday night, bringing a period of mixed precipitation and snow for most locations. Here are the latest forecast amounts. Continue to monitor the latest forecast at https://t.co/nBzIfRWqJP. pic.twitter.com/hctnE7JwyJ
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago)
January 10, 2020 The watch affects northern Cook County and north and west of downtown.
“The main thing is to be aware of when conditions will change,” said weather service meteorologist Jake Petr.
A maximum of 2 or 3 inches of rain is expected to move through Friday and turn into a quarter inch of ice overnight as temperatures dip below freezing in the north suburbs, he said.
Chicago is expected to stay above freezing Friday night, so there’s less of a chance of ice.
“I would avoid driving,” Petr said. “If you’re driving, give yourself extra time.”
A complex major system will impact the area with 1.) accumulating wintry precip tonight & Sat A.M. & then again as snow late Sat afternoon & eve, 2.) heavy rain tonight & at times Sat, & 3.) strong gusts up to 50 mph near the lake & resulting lakeshore flooding. #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/m9ikeDpiyw
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago)
January 10, 2020 By Saturday evening, though, snow in excess of 3 inches is possible, with the highest amounts over northern Cook County, he said.
Wind gusts could reach 45 mph Friday night and Saturday, and waves as high as 20-feet tall may hit the shores of Cook County.
That could lead to significant flooding along the lakeshore, Petr said.
“It would not be wise to be walking anywhere along the lakeshore,” Petr said. “The waves could easily knock someone over.”
Lakeshore Flood Watch has been upgraded to a Warning Friday night through Saturday evening. Significant lakeshore flooding likely. pic.twitter.com/tOduSVFupc
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago)
January 10, 2020 Lakefront paths were already closed Thursday due to high water, according to the Chicago Park District.
The pedestrian paths at Fullerton, and from North and Ohio were closed until further notice.
Heavier precipitation is expected farther northwest, with Rockford expecting up to 7 inches of snow, Petr said.
Airlines in Chicago were anticipating the storm and allowing passengers to change their flights at no cost.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire & Chicago Sun-Times 2019. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
