CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Snow will start falling in Chicago during the Wednesday evening commute, dropping between 2 and 3 inches by the next morning and making for "slick" and "slushy" travel, forecasters say.
Initially mixed with rain, the snow will move northward across Chicago between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. as temperatures drop below freezing, according to the National Weather Service meteorologist Kevin Birk.
A strong cold front moves in late tonight-Thursday AM & could result in bursts of moderate & blowing snow as winds increase. This could cause further reduced visibilities & hazardous travel for the Thurs. AM commute, but uncertainty in exact timing/placement exist at this time. pic.twitter.com/pH9Y2ElYiw
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) February 12, 2020"After about 6 p.m., roads will start to get really slick because of accumulating snow," Birk said.
Between 1 and 2 inches of snow is expected Wednesday evening, but could be in the 2- to 3-inch range by Thursday morning, he said.
The snow will taper off Thursday morning, followed by a cold shot of air in the 20s that could fall into the teens by afternoon and single digits overnight, Birk said.
Bitterly cold temperatures are still forecast for Thursday Night into Friday morning as wind chills dip into the 10 to 20 degree below zero range, locally colder in spots where the winds stay higher. Be sure to dress in layers and prepare for the upcoming biting cold! pic.twitter.com/PLQQc4wkp3
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) February 12, 2020Winds of 10 to 20 mph — with gusts up to 25 mph — will bring wind chills possibly 10 below zero in Chicago and as low as minus 20 west of the metro area, according to the weather service forecast.
There's also a risk of lakeshore flooding, with waves in Cook County between 8 and 11 feet, Birk said. A lakeshore flood advisory is in effect in Cook County between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Thursday.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire & Chicago Sun-Times 2020. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
