Chicago weather: Wintry mix of freezing rain, snow to bring icy conditions
A wintry mix of freezing rain, sleet and snow is expected to descend over the Chicago area Monday through Tuesday morning, bringing icy conditions and slippery roads.
Ice accumulations are predicted to reach 0.1 to 0.25 inches in the city and in most of Illinois, according to the National Weather Service. South of Interstate 80, more than 0.25 inches of ice could accumulate.
A winter weather advisory is in place across Illinois until noon Monday and again from midnight to Tuesday morning. Both O’Hare International Airport and Midway Airport recorded freezing drizzle Monday morning.
“There’s a bit of a lull in the central and northern parts of the city into the afternoon,” meteorologist Ricky Castro said.
If temperatures rise above freezing, ice accumulations will decrease, Castro said. The forecast for the city’s collection site at O’Hare was 31 degrees Monday morning.
“Temperature trends are really important in terms of ice accumulating on trees and power lines,” Castro said. “There’s still a lot of uncertainty on how that plays out.”
Untreated roads, especially bridges and overpasses, are likely to become hazardous overnight. Commuters are advised to check road conditions before traveling, the weather service said.
“Just in general, if the road looks wet, take it easy, and leave some extra travel time,” Castro said.
Temperatures are expected to warm to the high 30s beginning Wednesday through the rest of the week. Light rain is forecast Wednesday and Thursday in the Chicago area.
A flash flood watch remains in place in parts of Will, Grundy and Kankakee Counties along the Kankakee River. Last week’s freezing temperatures led to significant ice jams, leading to historic flooding in the region.
