Bring on the Frigid Temps — Oh, And More Snow
A winter storm watch has been issued by the National Weather Service for a six-county area, including Cook County. The watch begins early Friday and is expected to last into the evening.
Photos
Winter weather has officially arrived, bringing with it plunging temperatures Thursday and up to 5 inches of snow on Friday.
Although there's just a 20 percent chance of snow before noon in Oak Forest today, temps are expected to dip below 10 degrees by 4 p.m., with wind chills as low -5, according to the National Weather Service. Friday comes with a 90 percent chance of snow with accumulation expected to be between 3 and 5 inches.
A winter storm watch is in effect from Friday morning through Friday evening in a six-county area, including Cook.
Commuters should plan for longer travel times than usual, as much of the snow is expected to fall during Friday's afternoon rush. Roadways may also become slick Thursday with the sharp plunge in temperatures.
Monitor per-gallon fuel prices and travel times on Oak Forest Patch using our traffic and gas tab. And as more of the white stuff blankets the area, be sure to post your own snow pics to our local gallery.
Dave
10:55 pm on Thursday, January 19, 2012
As of 9:26 pm CST it has been upgraded to a Winter Storm Warning
*SNIP*
MCHENRY-LAKE IL-KANE-DUPAGE-COOK-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WOODSTOCK...WAUKEGAN...AURORA...
WHEATON...CHICAGO
926 PM CST THU JAN 19 2012
...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM FRIDAY TO MIDNIGHT
CST FRIDAY NIGHT...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHICAGO HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM
WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM FRIDAY TO
MIDNIGHT CST FRIDAY NIGHT. THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS NO
LONGER IN EFFECT.
* TIMING...SNOW WILL DEVELOP DURING THE MID TO LATE MORNING
HOURS FRIDAY AND CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY ENDING FRIDAY NIGHT.
THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL WILL OCCUR DURING THE AFTERNOON FRIDAY.
* ACCUMULATIONS...SNOWFALL TOTALS OF 5 TO 8 INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED.
* HAZARDS...SNOW COULD FALL RATHER HEAVILY AT TIMES RESULTING IN
REDUCED VISIBILITIES AND SNOWFALL RATES OF AROUND ONE INCH PER
HOUR AT TIMES.
* IMPACTS...ACCUMULATING SNOW WILL CAUSE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED
TRAVEL TIMES...RESULTING IN A PARTICULARLY TREACHEROUS AFTERNOON
COMMUTE FRIDAY. IN ADDITION...VERY COLD TEMPERATURES IN THE
TEENS WILL MAKE SALT LESS EFFECTIVE AND COMBINE WITH HEAVY
SNOWFALL RATES TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR ROAD CREWS TO KEEP ROADS
CLEAR OF SNOW AND ICE. THE SNOW WILL ALSO RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT
DISRUPTIONS TO AIR TRAVEL AS WELL.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
*SNIP*