‘Watch for black ice:’ Snow, sleet, freezing rain and graupel fall across Chicago area

Many in the Chicago area Friday woke up to snow showers, with freezing rain, sleet and even graupel hitting the ground, with “bursts” of snow in some parts as the busy rush hour commute continues.

“To the west and south, freezing rain,” NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Alicia Roman said about 5:30 a.m. In some areas, hard sleet was falling, with others seeing softer precipitation.

“Sleet is hard, graupel is mushy,” Roman said.

Live Doppler 5 radar showed one band of snow across portions of McHenry and Lake Counties, with another to the southeast and in northwest Indiana.

“Chicago down through Thornton, a burst of heavy snow,” Roman said. “Joliet, Frankfort and Monee, a bit of that mix, sleet and freezing rain.”

Temperatures were flip-flopping above 32 degrees and below, which was leading to the mixed conditions.

“Snow may mix with or change to graupel or snow pellets at times,” the National Weather Service warned. “Plan accordingly for the morning rush hour.”

The conditions may also lead to slick and slippery conditions.

“Watch for black ice,” Roman advised.

Check Illinois winter road and driving conditions here

Later this morning, conditions are expected to improve, Roman said, noting the system was “racing” out of the area. Conditions were expected to clear about 9 a.m.,though there may be a light flurry about 2 p.m. for some. Temperatures would be in the upper 30s and close to 40 degrees today Roman said, before dropping back down into the 20s Saturday.

Sunday, the high temperature is expected to be 32 degrees. By Monday, a high of 40 degrees was expected.