Winter Storm Watch Issued: 6 Inches Of Snow Possible For Chicago Area

ILLINOIS — The first major winter storm of the season is set to hit the Chicago area on Wednesday, bringing possibly 6 inches or more of snow, according to the National Weather Service.

Hazardous travel conditions, especially during the Wednesday afternoon and evening commute, are likely.

The weather service has issued a winter storm watch for Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, Lake, Ogle, Lee, DeKalb, Kane, DuPage, La Salle, Kendall, Grundy, Kankakee, Livingston, Cook and Will counties, starting at 9 a.m. on Wednesday until 3 a.m. on Thursday. The watch states that heavy snow is possible, with snowfall rates of an inch per hour.

The snow will spread across the entire area starting Wednesday morning, and continue hrough the evening, ending after midnight, the weather service said.

"The favored area for the highest snow totals is currently near and north of a Pontiac, IL to Valparaiso, IN line with a mix of sleet and freezing rain possibly reducing snowfall totals farther to the south," the weather service said on its Facebook page.

After the winter storm on Wednesday, colder temperatures are expected on Thursday and another winter system could hit the area Friday night and Saturday.