18 Inches Of Snow Possible In Some Parts Of Chicago Area Overnight

CHICAGO — Fast-falling snow forecast overnight for the Chicago area could yield as much as 18 inches of precipitation, according to the National Weather Service.

Cook, Lake, Kankakee and part of Will counties were under a winter storm warning overnight and into Monday, while DuPage, Iroquois and part of Will counties were under a winter weather advisory, according to the weather service.

A “very intense arcing band of lake effect snow,” likely with thunder and lightning, is expected to hit the area overnight, weakening westward but falling at rates of as much as over 3 inches per hour with winds as high as 35 mph, possibly causing near white-out conditions, according to the weather service.

The heaviest snowfall rates are predicted to be along and east of interstates 55 and 355, according to the weather service, which forecast lighter snow in the far west suburbs.

“This band is going to drop some very heavy snow and some hairy scenarios for the Monday morning commute,” said weather service meteorologist Kevin Doom in Romeoville.

Meteorologists said conditions for road travel in northeast Illinois would be “dangerous to impossible.”

To check for school delays or closings, visit https://www.emergencyclosingcenter.com/.

The snow doesn’t seem likely to stick around long, however, with warm and drier conditions and high temperatures in the 60s forecast for later in the week, according to the weather service.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.