Scattered rain showers transitioning to snow and even freezing rain at times could lead to a slick Wednesday morning commute in the Chicago area as temperatures as warm as 40 degrees quickly fall, the NBC 5 Storm Team said.
“The high temperature for today has already occurred,” NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Alicia Roman said at 5 a.m. Wednesday.
As of 5:30 a.m., light rain showers and pockets of drizzle were scattered across the area, with temperatures in the upper 30s and low 40s. By 7 a.m., that drizzle could freeze, leading to light snow showers by 10 a.m.
In addition to the slick and slippery roads, winds gusting as high as 40 miles per hour could lead to “wind-whipped snow” and hazardous travel in some parts, the National Weather Service said. About 8:45 a.m., the NWS warned of a heavier snow band stretching across the southwest, south and southeastern counties.
“Expect to encounter snow coated roads along with poor visibility,” the NWS said.
Areas near and south of I-80 are expected to be impacted the most “over the next few hours” as temperatures drop, the NWS said.
As the day goes on, temperatures will plummet Roman said, with readings by 5 p.m. in the mid 20s.
Thursday’s high temperature was expected to be 25 degrees, with another “clipper system” set to move in overnight and into Friday morning.
“We’ll watch that for the morning commute,” Roman said, of the snow expected.
Another clipper system bringing snow will move in Saturday through the afternoon, Roman said.
“By the time we reach Sunday, it should be gone,” Roman added.
Temperatures Friday will reach back up slightly to 30 degrees Roman said, before dipping back down into the the teens and below over the weekend.
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