As much as 9 inches of heavy, wet snow expected Monday

Winter is finally coming, according to the National Weather Service.

Although it’s been in full swing for more than a month, the most visually recognizable symbol of the season has been noticeably absent — not just this winter but last year, too, said Matt Friedlein, a meteorologist with the service. But an expected storm system Monday into Tuesday night is expected to finally change all that, blanketing the metro area with as much as 9 inches of heavy, wet snow.

“This is not the type of snow you want to be shoveling,” Friedlein said.

The storm is forecast well into a winter season in which Chicago has yet to see large accumulations of snow, he added. The period of plentiful precipitation will launch Sunday with consistent drizzling throughout the day, as well as the possibility of patchy, light snowfall. Temperatures are expected to remain below freezing with a high of 33 degrees and waning clouds.

Then, a storm watch is officially in effect beginning at 4 p.m. Monday through 5 p.m. Tuesday, Friedlein said. The system is moving south to north.

“It will be a mix south of the city,” Friedlein said of the rain and snow combination. “As that creeps northward, some of the intensity near the north and heart of the city may drop off a bit. (But) Chicago is not going to missed by this, Chicago will be hit with several inches.”

Friedlein estimated anywhere from 6 to 9 inches of snow will fall across the metro area, with areas farther south, near Will County, receiving somewhere between 4 to 8 inches.

“We haven’t had much for accumulating snow, even last winter was void of major winter storms,” Friedlein said.

With heavy, wet snow comes the potential for lakeshore flooding, he added.

Wind gusts as strong as 40 mph by the lakefront may cause minor to moderate flooding, building waves on Lake Michigan as high as 12 feet, he said.

Residents should avoid bike paths and use caution along the lakefront as the potential for flooding is monitored, he added.

“These are pretty good winds and they are going to last a while,” Friedlein said.

Keep up on the latest weather news by visiting the Tribune’s weather page.

@JessicaVillag