A "quick hit" of early morning snow moving from west to east Tuesday could lead to slick and slippery road conditions for the rush hour commute, the NBC 5 Storm Team said.
As of 5:20 a.m., NBC 5 Live Doppler Radar showed light snow falling across most Chicago-area counties. More moderate snow was falling across Kendall, LaSalle and Grundy Counties, NBC 5 Meteorologist Alicia Roman said.
The snow was expected to last in Northeast Illinois through the mid-morning hours, Roman said, before moving into Northwest Indiana. Some reduced visibility was possible.
"The morning commute is shaping up to be slow and slippery due to a quick hit of snow early this morning," the National Weather Service posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. "Prepare for slippery road conditions and bundle up when heading out."
The morning commute is shaping up to be slow and slippery due to a quick hit of snow early this morning. Temperatures will fall after snow ends, leading to below zero wind chills (coldest north of I-80). Prepare for slippery road conditions and bundle up when heading out. pic.twitter.com/rgi3XqnDl8
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) January 14, 2025
Around 5:30 a.m., NBC 5 Traffic Reporter Kye Martin reported a ramp crash on the outbound Dan Ryan Expressway to the inbound Stevenson Expressway.
Weather
Chicago-area snow totals
The quick-moving system was expected to lead to some minor accumulations of "white, fluffy snow," Roman said, though how much snow could see will depend on where you live.
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According to Roman, some areas could see between one and two inches of snow, while others, including counties to the north, may just see a dusting.
The next chance for snow comes Friday night and into Saturday morning, with a wintry mix of rain and snow for some, Roman said.
Plummeting temperatures
Tuesday morning also started out bitter cold, with highs in the teens and single-digit wind chills. Through noon, temperatures will fall, the NWS said, as a cold front races across the area.
"Temperatures will fall between daybreak and noon, causing wind chills to drop to -10 to -15F," the NWS warned. "Such cold temperatures may make snow removal efforts even harder after snow is done falling."
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Temperatures remain cold Wednesday, but a warming trend begins towards the end of the week, Roman said, with temperatures expected to reach the 30s Thursday, and 40s on Friday.
"That will feel pretty balmy out there," Roman said of the warmer temperatures to come.
But it will get better before it gets worse, Roman said, with temperatures expected to plummet back down to the teens by Sunday, followed by bitter cold in the single digits Monday and early next week.