A winter storm watch is in effect for northern and central Illinois and northwest Indiana from late Friday through Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.
A regional winter storm is expected to move across the lower Great Lakes on Saturday, bringing the potential for heavy snow during one of the busiest travel weekends of the year, said Brett Borchardt, a senior meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Chicago, Thursday morning.
Forecasters say the first flurries of snow are expected late Friday night, but the most significant snowfall is expected Saturday between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. That 12-hour window is when snow is expected to fall the steadiest and where “the majority of the accumulations” are likely to occur on roadways, Borchardt said.
Snow is expected to continue after sunset Saturday, but it is not expected to accumulate as quickly as it might during the day. Conditions should begin improving sometime between sunset Saturday and daybreak on Sunday, with the rate of snowfall tapering off overnight. Some lingering snowflakes are possible on Sunday, but the most impactful period should be over by the early morning hours.
The winter storm watch notes that snow totals in excess of six inches are possible. Borchardt said some areas may exceed that amount, but it’s still too early to pinpoint which areas may get the most snow. Even locations that see four or five inches may experience disruptions because of the high-volume holiday travel, he said.
While strong winds were a concern earlier in the week, Borchardt said winds with this system are expected to be lighter than what the area experienced Wednesday, with occasional gusts around 20 mph.
Borchardt urged travelers to expect longer travel times, drive at safe speeds, keep extra distance between vehicles and, if possible, consider shifting travel to Friday or Sunday.