Lake-effect snow sparks winter weather advisory, commute concerns in NW Indiana

Bands of lake-effect snow are expected to impact northwest Indiana for a prolonged period, leading to a winter weather advisory in the area.

According to the National Weather Service, that advisory will include Porter and LaPorte counties, and will run through early Monday afternoon.

Several inches of snowfall are possible in the area, with current estimates of 2-to-4 inches of snow with locally heavier totals possible in some locations.

What’s more, wind gusts in excess of 40 miles per hour could cause blowing and drifting snow, especially on Monday morning, leading to hazardous travel conditions.

Motorists are urged to use caution when traveling on area roadways, especially in eastern Porter County and in northern LaPorte County, and to be aware of the possibility of occasional visibility impacts and slick conditions because of heavy bursts of snow.

Those conditions could impact the morning commute on the Indiana Toll Road and on Interstate 80, with officials cautioning residents to drive more slowly in response to the weather.

Heavier snow is expected in LaPorte County and into southwest Michigan, with some locations seeing up to six inches of snow before the lake-effect system begins to ease Monday.

Another round of snow could occur on Thursday in the area, with impacts also felt closer to Chicago as a low-pressure system dives through the upper Midwest.

Stay tuned to the NBC 5 Storm Team for all the latest weather news and information, and be sure to download the NBC Chicago app for real-time weather alerts sent directly to your phone.