Freezing rain, snow squalls could make for dangerous commutes ahead in Chicago area

Dangerous travel conditions are possible in the coming hours as threats of freezing rain and possibly even snow squalls could impact commuters across the Chicago area.

The National Weather Service warned there is “increasing confidence” winter weather could cause travel impacts starting Tuesday evening, when rain may “briefly overlap with freezing pavement, potentially causing slick travel conditions.” This could impact much of the Chicago area, particularly the north, northwest and western suburbs, though some areas southwest could also see it.

The rain is set to transition to snow heading into the Wednesday morning commute and, when paired with the gusty winds forecast for the morning, wind-whipped snow and snow squalls could reduce visibilities.

Wind gusts in excess of 40 mph are possible Wednesday morning.

Highs Wednesday are expected to climb above freezing before dropping dramatically in the days that follow as chances for snow continue with a “parade of systems” expected to hit.

Thursday, highs drop back into the 20s and continue falling from there, with more snow dusting chances in the evening.

On Friday, more snow could arrive, according to NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Pete Sack.

“We could get a couple inches out of it,” Sack said, with some areas seeing between two and four inches.

Then comes another arctic blast as highs drop into the teens and near single digits, with below-zero wind chills possible by the weekend.

Snow chances continue Saturday, with a high of just 10 degrees, Sack said.

The multiple chances for snow throughout the week and weekend could lead to as much as five inches of snow by Sunday, forecast models showed, with even higher amounts possible to the southeast and in northwest Indiana.

The area’s snowy start to December has been unusual. So far, 17.1 inches of snow has been recorded in Chicago as of Dec. 7. During the entire 2024-25 winter season just 17.6 inches of snow fell in the area.

It marks the snowiest start to winter since 1978, according to NWS. That year, 24.1 inches of snow had fallen by Dec. 7.