Chicago, IL – A strengthening winter storm is expected to spread heavy snow across northern Illinois and northwest Indiana late Friday night, threatening difficult travel from Rockford to Chicago and across northwest Indiana through late Saturday night. Forecasters say snowfall could turn heavy at times, with more than 6 inches possible in the hardest-hit areas.
According to the National Weather Service Chicago office, a Winter Storm Watch remains in effect for much of northern and central Illinois, including Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Winnebago, La Salle, and Kankakee Counties, as well as Lake and Porter Counties in Indiana. Snow is forecast to arrive after midnight Friday and intensify into Saturday morning. Rapidly deteriorating pavement is possible along I-90, I-88, and I-55 as heavier bands develop. Forecasters also note the potential for narrow corridors of higher totals, especially west and northwest of Chicago where colder air moves in sooner.
According to IDOT and INDOT officials, weekend travel may slow considerably on major corridors, including the Dan Ryan, Eisenhower, Tri-State Tollway, and the Indiana Toll Road. Slick roads, brief drops in visibility, and quick re-covering of plowed lanes are likely during peak snowfall Saturday morning and again Saturday evening as the system pivots east. Pretreatment may be less effective due to early wet snow.
According to county emergency managers, residents should wrap up preparations Friday afternoon and plan for delays if traveling for post-holiday events. Drivers are encouraged to carry winter gear, reduce speed, and allow extra braking distance. Widespread power problems are not expected, but isolated outages may occur where heavier bands bring down tree limbs or where blowing snow briefly increases wind load.
