Snow and falling temperatures could make commuting difficult in Chicago – NBC Chicago

Evening commutes in the Chicago area could be impacted by an “Alberta Clipper” system that will bring snow and falling temperatures to the region.

According to the NBC 5 Storm Team, this system is expected to arrive widely early Wednesday afternoon, with snow showers developing in the northern suburbs and mixed precipitation possible in the city’s southern suburbs.

As the clipper system arrives, wind speeds are expected to increase, with gusts of 30 to 40 mph possible, with the front pushing south, forecast models say.

Not only will this mix of snow and blustery winds cause temperatures to drop quickly, with readings dropping by around 20 degrees in just a few hours, but it could also impact area roads as the slippery conditions impact motorists and the strong winds lead to problems with high-profile vehicles, particularly on east-west routes.

No heavy snow accumulations are expected with the system, with traces of up to about a half-inch of snow possible before the front moves through the area late Wednesday evening.

Temperatures will continue to drop overnight and into Thursday morning, and while readings will be in the teens, the wind chill will be significantly colder, falling as low as 10 to 15 degrees below zero for the morning commute, according to forecast models.

High temperatures will be in the mid to upper 20s on both Thursday and Friday with wind chills likely to dip into the teens, but another warm-up is in store for the weekend. Highs could reach the upper 30s and lows into the 40s across the region on Saturday, and it will be even warmer on Sunday and into Monday, when forecast models show highs in the 50s across the region. could exceed the mark.

Another storm system could bring some rain to the region, but temperatures behind that front are not expected to drop quite as dramatically, with seasonal temperatures expected into the new work week.

Stay tuned with the NBC 5 Storm Team for the latest weather news and information.