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.
Drivers 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.
Temperatures 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.
Snow will spread eastward across parts of north central and northeast Illinois late in the day Friday into the early Friday evening. This snow will then expand area wide later in the evening. Impacts to the evening commute are possible, mainly along and north of I-88. #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/JMCgeQnRSQ
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) January 17, 2019
Snow, Snow and blowing snow, then bitter cold conditions. Be prepared for real Midwest winter! #ilwx #inwx pic.twitter.com/eEUTSKT9e1
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) January 16, 2019