Parts of northern Illinois to receive 2 to 4 inches of snow by end of Tuesday

The first snow of the season to actually stick is due to arrive in northern Illinois around midnight Monday, a National Weather Service metrologist said.

Early Monday morning, the National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather outlook for portions of northern Illinois, northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana, cautioning that “limited snow risk” would impact road surfaces overnight and could affect Tuesday morning’s commute.

That was followed by a winter weather advisory for dozens of counties across northern and central Illinois, warning of “slippery road conditions” and urging caution on roadways.

While light snow was expected on and off in the morning hours Tuesday, heavier snowfall was forecasted for Crystal Lake and the northwest suburbs beginning at sundown Tuesday, said Brett Borchardt, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s office in Romeoville.

The forecast as of Monday afternoon predicted 2 to 5 inches for the Crystal Lake area with “higher amounts expected locally” by the end of Tuesday.

The northwest suburbs, including McHenry County, the western half of Lake County, and the northern portion of DeKalb County is forecasted to see the highest snowfall totals due to the lake effect, Borchardt said.

“I think we will see it stick a little bit throughout the day tomorrow,” Borchardt said on Monday. “Any elevated surface, deck or patio, is where it will start sticking first. Once the heavier snow starts, it’ll stick everywhere.”

Will, Kane, La Salle, Whiteside and Lee counties were on track to potentially see snow accumulation of less than a half inch Monday evening, another inch or two during the day Tuesday and less than an inch Tuesday night, according to forecasts Monday afternoon.

Other counties – including Kendall – had less snow in their forecasts: Less than half an inch Monday night, around an inch during the day Tuesday and less than half an inch Tuesday night.

Borchardt cautioned that as one of the first snows of the season, drivers should be extra careful Monday evening and Tuesday and be mindful of road crews doing their work.

The weather outlook forecasted scattered snow showers through Wednesday evening.

Joseph Nordman, City of Joliet roadways engineer, said he’s not expecting a whole lot of snow for Tuesday but his division will be prepared regardless.

“We’ll stay in touch with what’s going on in case it does take it turn,” Norman said.

He said temperatures are still too high for snow to stay on the ground.

“The first snows are typically not going to stick and it doesn’t look like this will either,” Norman said.

The main areas of concern in the city will be bridges, overpasses and hills, he said.

Maria Castaneda, spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Transportation, said their department will be watching weather conditions but they’re not expecting heavy snow.

“We’re aren’t going to be full plowing if there’s nothing to plow,” Castaneda said.

If that changes Tuesday, IDOT will switch to plowing the roadways, she said. If plows do hit the roadways, she encouraged motorists to give them space and not drive in front of them.

“Don’t crowd the plows,” Castaneda said.

Castaneda also encouraged motorists to factor in the extra time they’ll need to travel and not drive too fast.

“If there’s snow, you want to go slow,” she said.

Even if motorists do not see, she said the roadways could still be wet and slick.