Brace for another bout of snow, Chicago.
A winter weather advisory was set to go in effect Friday for much of the morning into the afternoon as a burst of accumulating snow sweeps through the Chicago area.
Issued for central and southern Cook County from 9 a.m. through 3 p.m., the advisory warns that snow could, at times, fall at a rate of up to an inch per hour and make for slick travel conditions, according to the National Weather Service. Total snow accumulations could reach 2 to 3 inches within just a few hours, weather officials say, noting heavy lake-effect snow could bring up to 6 inches near Lake Michigan.
Daytime highs Friday will hover around the mid- to upper teens. The brisk temperatures combined with snow could make it difficult for crews to treat roads for the inclement weather, according to Gino Izzi, a senior meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Chicago.
By Friday afternoon into the evening, an intense band of heavy lake-effect snow is expected to develop over southern Lake Michigan, which could affect portions of central and southern Cook County. Weather officials have issued a winter storm watch from 3 p.m. Friday through 6 a.m. Saturday.
Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management & Communications is alerting travelers to expect dangerous conditions for their morning and evening commutes on Friday. Visibility may dip below a quarter-mile between falling and blowing snow, the office said, urging travelers to slow down and use caution.
As of Thursday afternoon, more than 28 inches of snowfall had been observed at O’Hare International Airport, Izzi said. This time last year, O’Hare had accumulated 9.9 inches of snow, putting accumulations to date nearly three times higher so far this winter.
Last week, a massive winter storm hit over 200 million people across the country, covering the Chicago area with several inches of snow. The extreme weather hasn’t let up, with bitter cold gripping the region since.
Chicagoans can expect conditions to thaw — slightly — with forecasts calling for highs Saturday and Sunday in the high 20s. Through early next week, highs will remain just below freezing, as lows dip down to the high teens.