‘Snow squalls’ – powerful bursts of wind and snow – expected to hit Wednesday afternoon

Chicagoland is bracing for a wind-powered snow storm on Wednesday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

With an Arctic cold front approaching, experts are predicting gusty snow showers between 3-9 p.m. for northern Illinois with a wind advisory beginning at 2 p.m. Wind gusts may reach 50 mph, the NWS says.

The weather will likely reduce visibility for travelers and result in slick roadway conditions, snarling the evening commute.

“(The weather) will cause sharply reduced visibility and at least localized slippery travel. Snow shower activity will persist into the evening as temperatures plummet well below freezing, which may continue to cause travel impacts,” according to the NWS.

A NWS map shows that most of Cook and Lake counties will face “snow squalls,” or short but powerful winter storms, between 3-6 p.m. The area can reportedly expect brief (10-20 minutes) bursts of snowfall through the evening.

At about an inch, snow accumulation is not expected to be a primary concern, but temperatures are forecasted to fall into the teens in the late evening.

Forecasters say the snowfall will dissipate Wednesday evening, but the blustery conditions will continue Thursday morning as sub-zero wind chills remain. The weather will warm as the weekend approaches with highs of 31 on Friday, 42 on Saturday and 50 on Sunday.

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