ByABC7 Chicago Digital Team 
Thursday, January 29, 2026 5:14PM
CHICAGO (WLS) — ABC7 meteorologists are keeping an eye on the next round of lake-effect snow forecast to impact parts of the Friday morning and afternoon commutes.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
Meteorologist Tracy Butler said the incoming system will have a scattered impact across the area on Friday.
Starting at 5 a.m. a band of snow will begin to set up to over Lake Michigan.
By 9 a.m. north-northeast winds are forecast to push the system over the Chicago area.
The band of snow will then make its way over to northwest Indiana.
Winter Storm Watch will take effect for Porter County and Lake County (Ind.) starting Friday at 3 p.m. until Saturday 6 p.m.
As of Thursday morning, the National Weather Service had not issued any weather alerts for the Illinois side.
As for weekend temperatures, Saturday kicks off a “less cold ” trend with highs in the mid-20s.
A person rides a bicycle through blowing snow, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Evanston, Ill., a suburb of Chicago.
AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato
Cook County Radar | DuPage County Radar | Will County Radar | Lake County Radar (IL) | Kane County Radar | Northwest Indiana Radar
Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.