How much to expect in the coming days and when – NBC Chicago

Multiple snowfalls could cause accumulations in parts of the Chicago area, but what you’ll see depends on where you live.

After severe weather Wednesday morning, two more potential snowfalls could hit parts of the Chicago area on Thursday and Friday, according to the NBC 5 Storm Team. And it could have a bigger impact on commuters.

Here’s what to expect:

Thursday

While Thursday initially appears to be dry, the first waves of snow could occur in the afternoon and evening hours.

According to NBC 5 Storm Team meteorologist Kevin Jeanes, isolated showers will move from the northwest to the southeast, although it is still unclear where the snow will ultimately hit.

“It should be a little spotty. Therefore, accumulations would be small, perhaps just a dusting in the first half of Thursday evening,” Jeanes said.

Temperatures will continue to hover around 30°C on Thursday, with dry conditions in the morning but a chance of snow forming around 5pm

Snowflakes were expected to move further east around 7 p.m. Thursday evening, with light, isolated snow showers expected across Chicago.

Friday

The greater chance of snow comes just before dawn on Friday.

“There’s a better chance of more snow accumulating if there are a few heavier bands of snow that maybe only last an hour or two,” Jeanes said. “But on Friday morning, this could impact the morning commute.”

This system could see a few heavier snow moves in before it exits during the afternoon hours.

Lake effect snow showers are also possible across northwest Indiana and parts of Cook County. The threat of lake effect snow continues into the weekend.

Snow buzzes

According to Wednesday morning’s forecasts, Thursday’s totals are expected to remain minimal. But Friday morning totals could range from 1 to 3 inches, with areas farther north — like northern Cook, Lake and McHenry counties — having the highest totals.

Look ahead

While temperatures will remain in the mid-30s on Friday, they will drop into the 20s on Saturday, NBC 5 meteorologist Alicia Roman said. But the cold spell won’t last long as temperatures rise again on Sunday and readings will be in the 40s by midweek.

“After (the weekend) we warm up. It’s getting warmer every day until Christmas Day and even after that we’ll still be around 50 degrees,” Jeanes said.

The high temperature on Christmas Day this year is expected to be 43 degrees, Roman said. Temperatures of over 40 degrees are expected by the end of Christmas week.

Will Chicago have a “White Christmas”?

According to the NWS, a holiday is considered a “White Christmas” if there is at least an inch of snow on the ground on December 25th.

But there haven’t been many of those in Chicago in recent years. According to the NBC 5 Storm team, there have only been three since 2010, the last time being in 2022.

According to Roman, the Chicago area is expecting above-average temperatures Dec. 25-31 with a partly sunny and dry Christmas Day. While showers could occur the day after Christmas, temperatures well above freezing will ensure precipitation in the form of rain continues.