Active AlertsMelrose Park, IL

What: For the Winter Weather Advisory, snow expected. Total snow accumulations 2 to 3 inches, within a few hour period. For the Winter Storm Watch, heavy lake effect snow possible. Total snow accumulations locally in excess of 6 inches possible, mainly near Lake Michigan.
Where: Central Cook and Southern Cook Counties.
When: For the Winter Weather Advisory, from 9 AM to 3 PM CST Friday. For the Winter Storm Watch, from Friday afternoon through late Friday night.
Impacts: Roads will likely become slick and hazardous. The hazardous conditions will likely impact parts of the Friday commutes. Visibilities may drop below 1/4 mile due to falling and blowing snow.
Additional Details: A burst of accumulating snow is expected mid to late Friday morning through early afternoon. The snow during this period may briefly fall at a rate of up to an inch per hour and make for slick travel conditions. Then, later Friday afternoon and evening, an intense band of heavy lake effect snow will develop over southern Lake Michigan, and may impact portions of central and southern Cook county near the lake for a period Friday evening before focusing eastward into northwestern Indiana later Friday night. While the residence time of this lake effect band over Cook county may only be 3 to 5 hours, the potential for heavy snow rates of 2+ inches per hour could result in localized accumulations exceeding 6 inches, particularly near the lake from the city southward.

Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation. During lake effect snow, the weather can vary from bands of locally heavy snow to dry weather just a few miles away. Visibilities can also vary greatly. Be prepared for rapid changes in weather, visibility, and road conditions.