Several Chicago-area counties will be under a winter storm warning starting Monday evening, as the region braces for its first major snowstorm of the season, with about a foot of snow possible in some areas and travel expected to be significantly impacted.
A winter storm warning will begin at 8 pm Monday in several Illinois counties while the rest of the Chicago area remains under a winter weather warning.
For some, snow totals could reach more than 10 inches, with forecasters predicting “heavy, wet snow” coupled with winds of up to 35 mph. The advisory states that snowfall rates of more than one inch per hour are also possible with visibility down to a half-mile.
“Travel will be extremely difficult. Hazardous conditions will impact travel Tuesday morning and Tuesday evening,” the warning states.
In DeKalb and McHenry counties, 7 to 11 inches of snow is possible, according to the winter storm warning. In other counties under the warning, 5 to 8 inches of snow is expected.
Additionally, a winter weather advisory has been in place for the rest of the Chicago area, effective Monday evening, with a snowfall warning of 1 to 3 inches.
Here's a look at the alerts for different counties:
DeKalb, McHenry, Lake (Illinois), Kane, and LaSalle Counties: A winter storm warning is from 8pm Monday to 12am Wednesday.
DuPage and Northern Cook Counties: Winter Weather Advisory from 8pm Monday to 12am Wednesday
Kendall, Grundy, Kankakee, central and southern Cook and Will counties in Illinois and Lake and Porter counties in Indiana: Winter weather warning from 8pm Monday to 12pm Tuesday
Newton and Jasper Counties in Indiana: A Winter Weather Advisory is from 8 PM Central Time Monday to 9 AM Central Time Tuesday
Kenosha County, Wisconsin: A WINTER WEATHER WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM MONDAY UNTIL 6 AM TUESDAY. The winter storm warning begins at 6 a.m. Tuesday and lasts until 3 a.m. Wednesday
Snow is expected to develop Monday and throughout the overnight hours, where it will become more widespread, according to the NBC 5 Storm Team.
Illinois officials are urging drivers to “avoid non-essential trips” and exercise caution.
“Our team at IDOT spends the entire year preparing for the snow and ice season, but the public’s cooperation is essential to ensure everyone’s safety,” Omar Osman, Illinois Secretary of Transportation, said in a statement. “The safest option during winter weather is always to avoid unnecessary trips. If you drive, expect slow travel and build plenty of extra time into your schedule throughout the week. Conditions can be dangerous at times. Please make room for our plows and trucks to work during Any storm and after the snow stops falling.
With dramatic changes expected in snow totals across the region, the Department of Transportation has warned those who must travel that “the destination may have much higher amounts of snow than where your trip originated.”
Snow will continue to fall throughout Tuesday, especially in northwestern Illinois.
During the mid-morning hours, snow is expected to turn to rain in the southern and southwestern regions, where total snowfall is expected to be less.
MORE: Chicago residents warned not to use excess salt amid snowfall
However, heavy wet snow is expected to continue to fall in the north and west.
Winds will pick up Tuesday night, and areas to the south that turned to rain could turn to snow again. West or northwest winds may exceed 30 mph at times overnight.
Additional rounds of snow are likely throughout the week before a blast of Arctic air is set to move in over the weekend and early next week.
