A powerful winter storm is set to hit the Chicago area on Saturday, bringing with it significant snowfall that could drop 5-9 inches across northern Illinois. A Winter Storm Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service, effective from 3am Saturday until 6am Sunday.
The worst of the storm is expected to begin Friday night and intensify on Saturday morning, with the heaviest snowfall occurring between noon and 8pm. Forecasters warn that the rate of snowfall could peak at an inch per hour by Saturday afternoon, posing hazardous driving conditions for those planning to travel.
Illinois State University has announced that it will close its campus on Saturday due to the impending storm, which will also postpone the Illinois High School Association football state championships scheduled for the same day. Motorists are being advised to prepare for hazardous driving conditions, including low visibility and slippery roads, by filling up their gas tank, packing winter essentials, and avoiding travel whenever possible.
As millions of people return home from the holiday weekend, officials are urging caution and emphasizing the importance of planning ahead to ensure safety. Illinois Transportation Secretary Gia Biagi cautioned that "hazardous driving conditions" could arise, advising drivers to stay off the roads when conditions are at their worst and to remain safe inside their vehicles if stranded during a crash.
With temperatures expected to dip into single digits on Sunday and Monday nights, residents can expect bitterly cold weather to accompany the storm.
The worst of the storm is expected to begin Friday night and intensify on Saturday morning, with the heaviest snowfall occurring between noon and 8pm. Forecasters warn that the rate of snowfall could peak at an inch per hour by Saturday afternoon, posing hazardous driving conditions for those planning to travel.
Illinois State University has announced that it will close its campus on Saturday due to the impending storm, which will also postpone the Illinois High School Association football state championships scheduled for the same day. Motorists are being advised to prepare for hazardous driving conditions, including low visibility and slippery roads, by filling up their gas tank, packing winter essentials, and avoiding travel whenever possible.
As millions of people return home from the holiday weekend, officials are urging caution and emphasizing the importance of planning ahead to ensure safety. Illinois Transportation Secretary Gia Biagi cautioned that "hazardous driving conditions" could arise, advising drivers to stay off the roads when conditions are at their worst and to remain safe inside their vehicles if stranded during a crash.
With temperatures expected to dip into single digits on Sunday and Monday nights, residents can expect bitterly cold weather to accompany the storm.
! 5-9 inches of snow is a lot for one weekend, and I hate how it's gonna affect travel plans. I feel bad for all the people who have to commute or get around on Saturday - it's just not safe out there 
. And can we please talk about how Illinois State University making campus closure decisions? It seems kinda sudden... just saying 
. On the bright side, at least everyone is being warned and officials are advising caution, so fingers crossed that no one gets hurt during this storm 
! 5-9 inches of snow is no joke! i'm thinking of drawing a map of the city with all these different zones marked out for safe vs not safe driving conditions 
. and i'm all about that stay off the roads life, especially when temps are gonna be single digits 
and it's a shame too, because who doesn't love football? 
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. Still, it's good that the transportation sec is sounding the alarm and advising people to stay safe on the roads. Filling up gas tanks and packing warm essentials is a no-brainer for this kinda weather 
. This storm is definitely not looking good 
I was thinking of taking a road trip out there but now I'm like "no way" 
. The university is closing and the high school football championships are getting postponed... that's just gonna mess with everyone's plans, you know? 
And with the heavy snowfall and low visibility, it's just not worth the risk to drive around. Stay safe, Chicago! 
- everyone's trying to get back home after a long holiday break, but Mother Nature's all like "nope, not happening" 
. And poor Illinois State University students getting their campus shut down - what about their finals? 
️. But nope, people still get caught off guard and end up stuck in their cars for hours 
it's not gonna be fun driving with all that snow and wind. hope everyone stays safe and cozy at home 
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. But seriously, 5-9 inches of snow? That's a lot! I hope people are prepared with their winter gear and stuff 
. And ugh, Illinois High School football championships being postponed too... that's no fun for the teams and fans 
And what's the deal with the temperatures going to single digits? Brrr...
Still, I guess it's not all bad. A good excuse to stay indoors, drink some hot cocoa, and catch up on some Netflix shows 
Filling up on gas and winter goodies, checkin' in with fam, that's what we should be doin'. Can't wait to hunker down with a warm cuppa when this storm passes 
. Illinois State University closing down? Bummer for the students, but good call, they gotta prioritize safety. And with those icy roads, stay off 'em if you don't have to! Single digits by Sunday? That's cold 
. and don't even get me started on those poor high school kids - football championships are getting cancelled too? 
. anyway, make sure to fill up your gas tank and grab some snow boots, 'cause this thing is comin' for ya! 
. And yeah, hazardous driving conditions are no joke, gotta stay safe out there 
️!
And, man, those football championships... I'm gonna miss my fantasy football team 
. Bring on the snow day vibes 
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. The good thing is, my university has canceled classes, so I won't have to deal with traffic or anything stressful like that 
. But still, it's always sad when you can't explore your surroundings during winter months 
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! A Winter Storm Warning in Chicago? That's like, common sense right now. It's been winter for a few months already 
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i swear it's like we just got out of summer and now we're already dealing with snow in chicago? anyway, i'm not surprised the university is closing up shop, these storms are always a bummer for classes and stuff. and yeah, it's gonna be a real mess on the roads, gotta make sure to fill up that gas tank and have all the essentials ready