Major snowstorm will affect part of the state – NBC Chicago

Parts of Illinois, Indiana and other Midwestern states could see the heaviest snowfall in more than a decade, with a major winter storm likely to bring heavy snow, conditions near blizzard and freezing rain.

The “significant” snowstorm is expected to begin Saturday evening in the Great Plains, dropping at least 8 inches of snow in areas between central Kansas and Indiana as it moves east. Parts of southern and central Illinois will be hit with a wintry mix of snow, sleet and wind gusts up to 35 miles per hour.

As a result, a winter storm warning has been issued for approximately the lower half of Illinois, where localized snowfall could range between 11 and 16 inches. The National Weather Service office in St. Louis warns of major effects beginning in the latter part of the weekend, urging drivers to avoid unnecessary travel — and homeowners to expect possible power outages .

As residents hunker down and prepare for Mother Nature to unleash this winter storm, here’s what’s expected to happen and when:

Saturday evening

Although most of the snow accumulation will occur Sunday, minor impacts could begin as early as Saturday evening, according to the NWS. Drivers in the St. Louis area, including west-central Illinois, are advised to avoid traveling beginning Saturday evening as conditions deteriorate from west to east.

Sunday morning and afternoon

A winter storm warning goes into effect for much of central and southern Illinois starting at midnight Sunday, ahead of the expected burst of snow. Counties along the Illinois-Missouri border in the central and southern parts of the state will see the first snowfall, before 3 a.m. Impacts will be visible west of a line from Rushville to Effingham before sunrise as the storm moves east, according to the NWS. .

Snowfall along the Interstate 74 corridor, including areas such as Peoria and Bloomington, is more likely later in the morning. Heavy snowfall is expected across much of the region in the afternoon. However, some areas will experience freezing rain.

Freezing rain and ice accumulation will be confined to areas near and south of U.S. Highway 50 in southeastern Illinois, meteorologists said.

Much of the snow accumulation will occur during the day, when snowfall rates can sometimes exceed 1 inch per hour. Travel could be “very difficult,” the NWS warned, noting that areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility.

Sunday evening and Monday

Heavy snow and blowing snow are expected to persist across much of central Illinois Sunday evening and early Monday.

Hazardous driving conditions will likely persist throughout the morning commute, as some areas could wake up to more than a foot of snow.

The situation will likely improve by late morning, as the NWS expects to lift the Winter Storm Warning at noon.

What about the rest of the Chicago area?

The Chicago area won’t be entirely safe from snow.

Drivers could face risky travel Monday morning and evening, with the possibility of lake-effect snow causing problematic road conditions, according to the NWS. Slippery conditions are expected in parts of several counties in northern Illinois and northwest Indiana between midnight and 7 p.m.

Motorists are advised to slow down, increase the distances they travel and allow extra time.

As the wind picks up late Sunday and begins to blow across Lake Michigan, bands of lake effect that could produce between 1 and 3 inches of snow could appear, said NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Kevin Jeanes . Snowfall will be localized, with much of the region seeing accumulations of an inch or less. The city and southern suburbs, meanwhile, will likely see around 1.5 inches of snow.