Chicago Weather

Chicago Snowstorm Timeline: How Much Snow Your Area Could See and When

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Parts of the Chicago area could see more than a foot of snow as a major blast of winter weather hits the region again starting Monday.

How much snow could you see and when? Here's a breakdown of what's in store:

Monday Morning: Winter Storm Warning in Effect

Several winter storm warnings and weather advisories took effect across the Chicago area late Sunday into early Monday.

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for Kankakee, Kendall, Will, Grundy, Livingston and DuPage counties in Illinois, along with Lake, Newton and Jasper counties in northwest Indiana that began Sunday evening and will remain in effect through 9 a.m. Tuesday.

A winter storm warning for Cook County took effect at 3 a.m. Monday, according to the NWS, while a winter storm warning for Lake County in Illinois will take effect at 12 p.m. Monday. Both will last through 12 p.m. Tuesday.

A wind chill advisory continues for the Chicago area through 12 p.m. Monday, while a winter weather advisory is also in place for LaSalle and Kane counties in Illinois as well as LaPorte County in Indiana. A winter weather advisory for McHenry and DeKalb counties begins at 3 p.m. Monday, with both lasting through 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Monday starts overcast, breezy and bitter cold with periods of light to moderate snow across the metro area and lake effect snow showers, heavy at times, for areas closest to the lake. The dangerous cold snap continues with morning wind chills between -15 to -25 degrees.

Monday Afternoon: Heavy Snow Develops

Lake effect snow continues while a steady, moderate to heavy snow develops to the south and moves north through the evening.

Heavy snow and cold temperatures are expected, making for low visibility and dangerous travel conditions in particular. The NWS notes that the worst conditions are expected late Monday afternoon through Tuesday morning, impacting commutes both to and from work.

Afternoon highs range from 8 degrees in northwest counties to 18 degrees in northwest Indiana.

Monday Evening and Overnight: Snow Moves North, Tapers

The snowy system moves north through the evening hours before tapering to a lighter snow overnight. But heavier lake effect snow continues close to the lake. The winter storm warning for Cook County warns that total snow accumulations of 8 to 13 inches are expected, with even higher amounts possible, especially by the lake.

Overnight lows will range from -2 well inland to 10 above zero in northwest Indiana, but wind gusts up to 20 to 25 mph will make the wind chill readings between -5 to -15 degrees.

Tuesday Morning: Light Snow Continues, But Heavier Lake Effect

Tuesday morning will still see some light snow across the area. But heavier lake effect snow will continue throughout the afternoon, primarily in Cook County, before tapering to a few light snow showers in the evening.

Snow totals will vary considerably from one location to another, with 3 to 5 inches expected in far west and northwest counties, 5 to 9 inches in counties south and east in northwest Indiana but potentially more than a foot in Cook County.

Outside the lake effect snow, and once the system tapers off, Tuesday looks to be mostly cloudy, breezy and quite cold the rest of the day. Highs will be in the teens but with wind chills in the single digits.

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