A “burst of accumulating snowfall” hitting Chicago Thursday morning into early afternoon will likely lead to slippery travel conditions, according to the National Weather Service.
Kevin Doom, a meteorologist with Chicago’s weather service, said the snow — which is expected to be heavy at times — will spread north to south throughout the metro area. It will accumulate at a rate of about one inch per hour during the heaviest bursts in the morning and possibly stretching into the afternoon, he said.
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A winter weather advisory is in effect across Chicago and much of northern Illinois from 7 a.m. Thursday until 1 p.m. for snow accumulations of two to four inches, and wind gusts up to 45 miles per hour. A wind advisory is also set to go in effect from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.
“We’re already seeing wind gusts of 25- to 30-plus miles an hour,” Doom said. “By this afternoon, we’re gonna be talking 40-plus miles an hour, and then outside the city, deeper into the suburbs, into the outlying areas, maybe even closer to 50 mile-an-hour gusts this afternoon, which will really kind of help blow the snow around.”
The combination of snow and wind will quickly worsen travel conditions on the roads, with reduced visibility and slush covered roads, Doom said.
“Just make sure you’re taking extra precautions, taking it slow,” he said. “Be aware of the other drivers around you, just like you normally would in snow.”
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There’s a decent chance that the snow will become rain in the afternoon as the temperature rises to the low 40s. The weather service forecasts dry conditions through the weekend with near average temperatures.
The Department of Streets and Sanitation sent out salt spreaders overnight in response to the snow, according to a city news release. Crews will monitor DuSable Lake Shore Drive, bridges and overpasses and other streets to ensure safe travel, the news release said.
