Snowy conditions set to continue through the weekend

Thursday’s snowy conditions led to a winter weather advisory being put into effect and area high schools canceling after school activities.

Huntley High School announced on its website Thursday extracurriculars and athletic practices, contact days, and games or contests scheduled for that evening were canceled because of inclement weather. Crystal Lake-based Community High School District 155 and McHenry High School District 156 announced their cancellations in Facebook posts.

This weather is expected to stretch on through the weekend with some light flurries on Friday and a good chance of snow on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, according to the National Weather Service.

Snow continued to fall intermittently Thursday evening, potentially causing hazardous conditions for Friday morning commuters. A winter weather advisory will remain in effect until at least noon Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

Temperatures dropped sharply Thursday night from mid-30s to the single digits and that cold air mass will remain in place through the weekend and into next week with subzero temperatures forecasted for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

This cold front likely will lead to rapid ice formation on the Fox River and other rivers, which could cause ice jams and flooding in some areas, according to an alert from the Fox Waterway Agency. Ice jams and flooding are known to occur under these kinds of conditions and often come with little warning, the agency advised.

ExpandAutoplay

Image 1 of 11

Nicolle Robey walks Moose, her St. Bernard and Italian Mastif mix, downtown as snow falls on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021 in Crystal Lake. (Matthew Apgar/Matthew Apgar)

The city of McHenry Municipal Center, located at 333 S. Green St., will be available as a warming station for those in need, starting at 5 p.m. Friday and continuing for several days, the McHenry Police Department said on Facebook.

Those looking to remain at the municipal center will need to check in with the records division or dispatch center upon their arrival, according to the post.

Friday’s forecast shows cloudy weather with temperatures in the low teens and some light snow, with periods of blowing snow possible. Friday night will be mostly cloudy with lows near zero, but temperatures could get down to -2 degrees.

Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Chief Paul DeRaedt advised local residents to have a plan in the event that they lose power or heat. For those who may have to travel this weekend, he recommended bringing along essential items, such as a blanket, water, first-aid kit and a weather radio.

Woodstock Fire/Rescue District Chief Michael Hill stressed that residents should avoid travel if at all possible and, if they do need to go out, to slow down and drive with caution.

DeRaedt and Hill also asked residents who have a fire hydrant on their property to consider shoveling the show around the hydrant so that fire rescue personnel can easily find it in the event of a fire.

“It takes us time to, one, locate those hydrants and then to be able to dig them out enough to be able to make the connections with our hoses,” DeRaedt said Thursday. “We would recommend that a path be cleared from the street to the fire hydrant as well as clearing out the snow for three feet around that hydrant.”

ExpandAutoplay

Image 1 of 6

Road crew members load their vehicles with a salt mixture a little after 7 a.m. at the McHenry Township Road District on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021, in Johnsburg. The National Weather Service, as of 8 a.m., was predicting about 3 to 5 inches of snow. (Matthew Apgar/Matthew Apgar)

The Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department has been digging out hydrants found near highly populated building such as schools or nursing homes but, with more than 3,000 fire hydrants in the city of Crystal Lake, help from the public is appreciated in Crystal Lake and other municipalities.

Residents also are encouraged to clear snow away from their gas meters on their homes, DeRaedt said. Residents with high-efficiency furnaces that have an air intake and a vent on the exterior of their home near the ground should also keep snow from building up there as this could cause the furnace to go out, he said.

More snow is predicted in the afternoon Saturday with highs near 8 degrees, according to the NWS forecast. A 60% chance of snow in the afternoon is expected to drop to a 30% chance Saturday evening. Weather will be partly sunny during the day, with more clouds coming in Saturday evening as temperatures drop to a low of -11 degrees.

Sunday will be partly sunny and cold with highs in the single digits and a low of -4 Sunday night. A 50% chance of snow Sunday afternoon could stretch on into Sunday night.

The area could see more snow on Monday, but that will likely taper off on Tuesday when a slight chance of snow remains, according to the National Weather Service forecast.