Timeline: What to expect and when with daily snow chances, winter storm warnings in the forecast

Daily clipper systems bringing several rounds of snow are headed to the Chicago area, the NBC 5 Storm Team said, along with plummeting temperatures expected to last for days.

The forecast comes as winter storm warnings, snow squall warnings and weather advisories Wednesday morning stretched from Kenosha County in Wisconsin to LaPorte County in Indiana, with dangerous road conditions and near-whiteout travel as the snow blew across the Chicago area.

In Illinois, snowfall was expected to end in the late morning hours, NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Alicia Roman said. In northwest Indiana, it would continue through Thursday afternoon, with the National Weather Service warning of major travel impacts.

As the snow continues, here’s a breakdown of what to expect and when.

Wednesday afternoon

Snow squalls could continue in some parts through the early afternoon in northwest Indiana near the illinois line, with winds up to 50 mph and a winter weather advisory in effect for Lake County, Indiana until 3 p.m., the NWS said.

“Travel will become difficult and potentially dangerous within minutes,” the NWS warned.

In Illinois, the gusts were expected to gradually come to an end by around lunchtime.

“And that should be it for northeast Illinois,” Roman said.

Wednesday evening

Winter storm warnings and advisories will remain in effect through Thursday for northwest Indiana and in Berrien County Michigan.

There, heavy lake effect snow will fall “pretty much all day” Wednesday, Roman said, with between six and 12 inches of snowfall possible in LaPorte County, and between two and five inches in Porter.

“Winds gusting up to 40 mph will cause blowing and drifting which will lead to dangerous travel conditions,” the NWS in northern Indiana warned. The “worst travel conditions” were expected to come during the Wednesday evening and Thursday morning commutes, between 5 p.m. and 8 a.m.

“Alter your travel plans if possible,” the NWS said.

Thursday

The winter weather advisory for Porter County will expire at 9 a.m. Thursday, according to the NWS, with the winter storm warning ending at 1 p.m.

After that, a “wintry pattern” and several clipper systems will bring daily chances for snow, blustery winds and cold temperatures.

“We’re watching another fast-moving system that will bring us more snow area-wide Thursday night,” Roman said, starting at about 5 p.m. That system could bring up to two inches of accumulation, Roman added.

Friday and into the weekend

Temperatures will be in the 20s Thursday and 30s Friday, before dropping into the teens over the weekend and for Sunday’s Bears-Rams playoff game at Soldier Field.

Also on Friday, another brief round of snow showers could occur, but some of it may fall in the form of rain. There is also a possibility of snow in the forecast for Sunday across the entire area, though timing remains unclear.

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