Winter Storm Timing: When To Expect Snow, Ice, Heavy Rain

ILLINOIS — An active weather weekend is expected for the Chicago area, which could include snow, rain, freezing rain and flooding. Wintry weather will begin around 9 p.m. Friday night for much of the area, according to the National Weather Service. It's expected to start with rain and change over to snow by Saturday evening. The winter weather is expected to stick around until 6 a.m. Sunday

The Rockford area will see snow, ice and sleet Friday night and early Saturday, while the Waukegan, DeKalb and Elgin areas will see an icy mix. The Joliet area and Chicago are expected to see only rain on Friday night.

The weather service said heavy rain is possible Friday night, especially south of I-88, where 2 to 4 inches of rain could fall.

Wind gusts near the lake shore overnight and Saturday could also result in significant lake shore flooding, according to the weather service.

By Saturday afternoon, all precipitation will have changed over to snow, except to the far south near Kankakee, the weather service said. The highest amounts of snow will be in north central Illinois and the north and west suburbs.

Snowfall accumulations could hit two to four inches across the Chicago area by Sunday evening.

A winter weather advisory is in effect for much of the Chicago area until 3 a.m. Sunday.

Meanwhile, a winter storm warning has been issued through 3 a.m. Sunday for Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, Ogle, Lee and DeKalb counties.