Winter Weather Advisory - 20131210

After having the recent change in temperature and single digit temperatures hit the area last night, it shouldn't be a surprise we are going to start having our true winter weather affect the area now.  The NWS Chicago office has recently issued a Winter Weather Advisory for our area and surrounding counties involving the possibility of moderate to heavy snow which will affect the morning commute.  Please be sure to monitor the forecasts (links to the NWS site at the bottom) and plan your trip accordingly.  

Safety tips, be sure your car is fueled up (usually 1/2 or better on your tank).  Snow delays can cause you to spend an extended time in your car and during the winter is a bad time to have the car run out of gas and you become stranded without a way to heat the car.  Have blankets in the car in case you become stranded.  The NWS website has information and links on preparing for winter weather situations.
While driving remember to give a longer distance for stopping and be more cautious on curves.  (I can go into some stories on my drive home from college [NIU] one day down I-88 during a blizzard where I set the pace at 25-30 mph and cars that passed me ended up in the ditch about another mile or 2 from when they passed me, 7 cars in all that trip home were in ditches).  Though you shouldn't do it in normal weather, there is more emphasis during snowy and icy conditions to not cut off semi-trailers.  
Again allow more time or expect to be late arriving at work, and monitor the forecast over the remainder of the day.  Be safe driving.

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WWUS43 KLOT 100946
WSWLOT

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO IL
346 AM CST TUE DEC 10 2013

...ACCUMULATING SNOW LIKELY LATE TONIGHT THROUGH RUSH HOUR WEDNESDAY...

ILZ008-010>014-019>022-INZ001-002-101800-/O.NEW.KLOT.WW.Y.0009.131211T0600Z-131211T1600Z/
OGLE-LEE-DE KALB-KANE-DUPAGE-COOK-LA SALLE-KENDALL-GRUNDY-WILL-LAKE IN-PORTER-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...OREGON...DIXON...DEKALB...AURORA...WHEATON...CHICAGO...OTTAWA...OSWEGO...MORRIS...JOLIET...GARY...VALPARAISO
346 AM CST TUE DEC 10 2013

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 10 AM CST WEDNESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHICAGO HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 10 AM CST WEDNESDAY.

* TIMING...SNOW WILL SPREAD EAST ACROSS THE ADVISORY AREA BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 4 AM...PEAKING IN INTENSITY OVER NORTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS BETWEEN 3 AND 6 AM CST...AND OVER THE CHICAGO AREA BETWEEN 5 AND 8 AM CST.

* ACCUMULATION...TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION OF AROUND 2 TO LOCALLY 4 INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED IN THE ADVISORY AREA.

* MAIN IMPACT...SNOW WILL RESULT IN TREACHEROUS TRAVELING CONDITIONS FOR THE WEDNESDAY MORNING RUSH HOUR...WITH SNOWFALL RATES OF UP TO A HALF INCH PER HOUR POSSIBLE WITH THE MOST INTENSE SNOW.

* OTHER IMPACTS...VERY COLD TEMPERATURES WILL MAKE REGULAR NON-TREATED ROAD SALT LESS EFFECTIVE...WITH THE CURRENT BITTER COLD RESULTING IN SNOW IMMEDIATELY ACCUMULATING ON ROADWAYS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT SNOW WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED ROADS...LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND VERY DIFFICULT TRAVEL CONDITIONS.

&&

$$

IZZI

VISIT US AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/CHICAGO (ALL LOWERCASE)

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