KANKAKEE, Illinois – Commuters on I-57 and Route 45 face a dangerous 5 a.m. Friday deadline as a shifting weather system threatens to coat untreated overpasses with a mix of snow and freezing rain. National Weather Service data confirms a 50% chance of precipitation beginning after 2 a.m. tonight, with freezing rain likely to glaze infrastructure just as the morning rush begins. The transition from snow to ice-heavy sleet hits the region during the peak travel window, significantly increasing braking distances on major local arteries.
According to the National Weather Service, a volatile transition period Friday morning will see snow and freezing rain persist before 9 a.m., followed by a slight chance of snow showers through 3 p.m. Northwest winds will intensify throughout the day, sustained at 15 to 20 mph with gusts reaching 30 mph. These high-velocity winds, combined with falling temperatures, create a high risk for sudden visibility drops and drifting on north-south routes like Highway 52 and I-57.
Impacts extend into the weekend as an Arctic air mass settles over Kankakee County. Wind chill values drop to -1 tonight and stay near zero through Saturday morning, creating hazardous conditions for outdoor workers and travelers stranded on roadside shoulders. Infrastructure risk shifts from ice to extreme cold Saturday night as the mercury dips to 17 degrees under mostly cloudy skies. Conditions remain frigid until a significant pattern shift early next week.
The threat of frozen precipitation expires by late Friday afternoon, giving way to a dry but bitter Saturday. Temperatures begin a steady climb Sunday, eventually peaking in the low 50s by Tuesday.
Five Day Forecast
- Friday: Breezy. Chance Wintry Mix then Isolated Snow Showers. High 36.
- Saturday: Mostly Sunny. High 24.
- Sunday: Partly Sunny. High 32.
- Monday: Mostly Sunny. High 41.
- Tuesday: Mostly Sunny. High 51.
