Spring weather is in full swing in the Chicago area, with both snow and storms in the weather forecast over the next two days.
Tuesday morning for some started out wet, with pockets of drizzle and rain to the west and north, the NBC 5 Storm team said. Later Tuesday morning and into early afternoon, periods of rain across Western Illinois was set to move east, Roman said, along with the potential for high winds and some isolated storms.
Around 4 p.m., some of those showers could quickly transition into or mix with light snow. According to NBC 5 Meteorologist Alicia Roman, some minor slushy accumulations could form across Chicago's far northern counties.
Between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., counties to the north and west are expected to continue seeing rain mixing with slushy snow, potentially snarling travel for the afternoon commute, Roman said. During the Wednesday morning commute, more snow was expected to fall areawide.
"Wednesday morning at 6 a.m., we could see snow showers as this area of low pressure will continue to rotate this colder air in," Roman said, adding that rain mixed with light snow could last through Wednesday afternoon.
Earlier this week, the NBC 5 Storm Team predicted the spring snow set to come could measure up to 3 inches in some parts.
Storms, rain also in the forecast
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Further south, strong winds between 45 and 55 mph could be expected beginning around 12 p.m. Tuesday and lasting through the afternoon. Even stronger winds were expected to pick up in the afternoon, Roman said, particularly to the south and in Northwest Indiana, where a wind advisory will be in effect from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
"Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects," the NWS said in an alert. "Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result."
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In those same parts, some isolated afternoon thunderstorms with frequent lightning and winds up to 60 miles per hour could occur.
Thursday, rain stays in the morning and afternoon forecast, Roman said. Friday however, things are expected to be clear.
"Finally after Thursday, that's what we should start to see a break in this very active weather pattern," Roman said.
Temperatures Tuesday and Wednesday were expected to remain in the mid to upper 30s, Roman said, with some areas to the south staying closer to 40.
