(WBBM NEWSRADIO) – Much of the Chicago region dodged significant snowfall earlier this week, but a winter wallop delivering up to a foot of snow is expected to arrive in the next day.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for Friday morning through Saturday morning for the Chicago area, including Northwest Indiana.
At its worst, beginning early Friday morning, blizzard-like conditions with heavy snowfall and strong winds with gusts of up to 40 miles per hour are possible.
The NWS says the severity of the storm is dependent on its track and temperatures. The track will dictate location of the rain/snow line, and warmer air off Lake Michigan could limit the snow-to-liquid ratios and accumulations. Precipitation in areas closer to the the lake could be rain at times.
The heaviest amounts will fall in the morning hours, when, near and north of I-80, 1 to 2 inches of snow could come down per hour.
The most dangerous conditions will be Friday afternoon and evening, the NWS says, with fierce winds and plunging temperatures resulting in fluffier and blowing snow.
A total of between 8 inches and 12 inches of snow could fall by Saturday morning.
The holiday weekend weather will only become more challenging, as the Friday storm will be followed by a deep freeze.
The NWS says a blast of arctic air will come by Sunday. High temperatures will reach single digits, and wind chills could be as low as 30 below zero.
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