THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHICAGO HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM
WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY
EVENING.
* TIMING...SNOW IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVER NORTHWEST ILLINOIS
AROUND DAYBREAK FRIDAY AND QUICKLY SPREAD ACROSS NORTHERN
ILLINOIS...INCLUDING THE CHICAGO METRO AREA...BY LATE FRIDAY
MORNING. THE SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING...
TAPERING OFF TO LIGHT SNOW OR FLURRIES BY EARLY SATURDAY
MORNING.
* ACCUMULATIONS...STORM TOTAL SNOW AMOUNTS IN EXCESS OF 6 INCHES
ARE POSSIBLE.
* HAZARDS...THE HEAVIEST SNOW IS LIKELY TO FALL FROM FRIDAY
AFTERNOON INTO EARLY FRIDAY EVENING...WHEN SNOWFALL RATES OF UP
TO ONE INCH PER HOUR ARE POSSIBLE. ROADS WILL BECOME SNOW
COVERED AND DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN IF THESE SNOWFALL RATES
MATERIALIZE. TRAVEL ACROSS NORTHERN ILLINOIS WILL BECOME
DIFFICULT AND PERHAPS DANGEROUS.
* IMPACTS...ACCUMULATING SNOW WILL CAUSE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED
TRAVEL TIMES FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT. THE HEAVIEST SNOW IS
EXPECTED TO BE FALLING DURING THE FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND FRIDAY
EVENING EVENING RUSH HOUR COMMUTE. DELAYS AT CHICAGO AREA
AIRPORTS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT
SNOW...SLEET...OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL.
CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.
