Weather
Illinois-Indiana Weather Alert: 3+ Inches of Snow Friday, Nov 13
Chicago, IL – A narrow but potentially intense band of lake effect snow could blanket portions of the Illinois Indiana border with 3 inches or more by Friday morning. Drivers across Chicago's southern
By Dylan Reeves · 2026-11-12T20:27:38.664Z
Chicago, IL – A narrow but potentially intense band of lake effect snow could blanket portions of the Illinois Indiana border with 3 inches or more by Friday morning. Drivers across Chicago's southern suburbs and northwest Indiana face rapidly changing visibility, slippery highways and a potentially hazardous commute.
According to the National Weather Service in Chicago, a Winter Weather Advisory has been expanded into southern Cook and eastern Will counties in Illinois.
The advisory also remains in effect for Lake County, Indiana.
Both advisories begin at midnight Thursday, November 12, and continue until 10 a.m. CST Friday, November 13.
3 Inches or More Possible Near Illinois Indiana Border Forecasters expect accumulating wet snow, particularly away from the immediate Lake Michigan shoreline.
Localized snowfall totals of 3 inches or greater are possible where persistent lake effect bands develop.
Illinois communities included in the advisory are Orland Park, Oak Forest, Lemont, Park Forest, Crete, Beecher, Peotone and Calumet City.
Across northwest Indiana, Hammond, Gary and Merrillville are among the communities facing potential accumulation.
The greatest snowfall may occur in relatively narrow corridors, making exact totals difficult to predict.
Lake effect snow can produce sharply different conditions within just a few miles.
One community could experience accumulating snow while another nearby location receives little precipitation.
Friday Morning Commute Could Turn Hazardous The most significant travel concerns develop after midnight and continue through Friday morning.
Drivers using Interstate 80, Interstate 94, Interstate 294 and Interstate 57 should prepare for potentially slippery conditions where snow bands cross those routes.
Bridges and overpasses are particularly vulnerable to slick surfaces as temperatures and pavement conditions change.
The National Weather Service specifically warns that hazardous conditions will affect the Friday morning commute.
Visibility could deteriorate quickly beneath heavier snow bands.
Motorists should allow extra travel time, reduce speed and avoid sudden braking.
Pedestrians should also watch for icy stairs, sidewalks and driveways.
Why Lake Effect Snow Can Be Difficult to Predict Lake effect snow develops when cold air passes over comparatively warmer lake water, allowing narrow bands of precipitation to form.
These bands can shift position, producing substantial snowfall differences across short distances.
The Chicago weather office emphasizes that conditions can range from locally heavy snow to completely dry weather just miles away.
That uncertainty makes monitoring updated radar and road conditions especially important.
The advisory does not indicate that every location will receive 3 inches.
Instead, totals of 3 inches or greater represent localized potential where the heaviest snow develops.