Scattered snow showers were creeping into the Chicago area Wednesday morning starting in the western suburbs, with more light snow expected to fall throughout the day, the NBC 5 Storm Team said.
The snow comes as northeastern Illinois sees yet another icy cold morning, with temperatures in the single digits and wind chills below zero.
How long to warm up your car in the extreme cold? It's different than you may think
As of 7:30 a.m., snow had already begun in parts of the Chicago area, with Illinois doppler radar showing scattered snow falling in Aurora and Joliet. By around 8 a.m. snow showers were becoming more widespread.
Snow timing
Snow from Iowa had already begun to move into parts of Illinois during the morning commute, the National Weather Service said. The agency warned of reduced visibility and accumulating snow on roads, creating potentially slippery travel conditions.
Local
"Give yourself extra time in your commute," the NWS said, noting areas north of I-88 would see the biggest impacts.
Snow in Iowa is moving east into Illinois. As it moves in, expect reduced visibilities and accumulating snow on roads, creating slippery travel conditions. Give yourself extra time in your commute if you are traveling within the area on the map (north of I-88). #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/Z9LXAMWrUa
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) January 22, 2025
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Snow was expected to continue through the mid-morning hours, the NWS said. A lull in the afternoon was possible, with more snow chances returning by evening, the NWS added, potentially impacting commutes.
By Wednesday night, it was expected to move out.
Periods of snow are expected today through tonight. While amounts will be light (up to about an inch, locally higher north of I-88), very cold ground temperatures will lead to slippery travel on untreated roadways. #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/v7fcLLjNeG
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) January 22, 2025
How much snow could Chicago get?
Accumulations of between one and one-and-a-half inches of snow were possible, Roman said, before snow gradually comes to an end Wednesday night.
While snow totals may be light, "very cold ground temperatures will lead to slippery travel on untreated roadways," the NWS warned.
According to Roman, lake effect snow in Porter County in Northwest Indiana was possible Thursday.
Chances for snow increases north of I-80, and particularly I-88 this morning. There may be a lull in the afternoon, but snow chances return tonight. For areas south of I-80, chances for snow do not increase until this evening and linger into early Thursday morning. #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/1XjOa5rZOf
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) January 22, 2025
Meanwhile, in the southern part of the U.S., including parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, winter storms brought as much as 11 inches of snow this week.
"Some parts of the south have seen more snow than Chicago has seen all season long," Roman said.
According to the NWS, the city of Chicago receives an average of 11.3 inches of snow during the month of January, making it the snowiest month of the year.
This year however, the city of Chicago is tracking well below that threshold, having reported 3.9 inches of snow at O’Hare International Airport.
It is also a far cry from the 16.1 inches of snow the city saw in January 2024, according to NWS historical data.
If the city stays around its current snowfall levels, it will be the lowest amount of snowfall recorded in the month of January since only 0.6 inches fell during January 2017.
For those curious, the snowiest January on record in Chicago occurred in 1918, when the city saw 42.2 inches of accumulation.
