A winter storm could hit part of the Chicago area this week, bringing with it the potential for a swath of accumulating heavy snow and the return of powerful winds.
While the exact track of the storm remains unclear, it appears the system will move into the Midwest Wednesday.
Because the storm’s projected path could change dramatically over the next two days, exact snow total predictions are vague across much of the area.
As of early Monday, some models predict the heaviest snow could stay to areas east of Chicago, with northwest Indiana seeing up to 6 inches. Under these models, Chicago would likely see anywhere from 1-3 inches of snowfall by Thursday morning.
But should the system’s path shift west, the city could see significantly more snow.
“Over the next day or two, some adjustments to the forecast storm track remain possible, which would have big implications on where the band of heavier snow sets up,” according to the National Weather Service. “A sharp cut off in snowfall is likely on the northwest side of the storm with some areas possibly getting 6"+, while locations only 30 or 40 miles to the north have little or no accumulation. The expected sharp cut-off to the snow further complicates the snowfall accumulation forecast.”
In addition to the snow, much of the region is expected to see very strong winds, with gusts of more than 40 mph possible.
Most of Chicago saw dangerously strong winds Friday, with gusts reaching near-hurricane levels, causing damage across the area.
