A Winter Weather Advisory and a Winter Weather Watch have been issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) in Chicago for Central Cook and Southern Cook Counties. The advisory will be in effect on Friday, January 30, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., while the watch will last from Friday afternoon through late Friday night.
According to the NWS, roads are expected to become slick and hazardous during this period, with dangerous conditions likely affecting both morning and evening commutes. Visibility may drop below a quarter mile due to falling and blowing snow. The public is advised to slow down and use caution while traveling. Updated road conditions for Illinois can be found at www.gettingaroundillinois.com, and further weather information is available at http://www.weather.gov.
A burst of accumulating snow is anticipated mid-to-late Friday morning through early afternoon, with snowfall rates potentially reaching up to one inch per hour. This could result in slick travel conditions. Later on Friday afternoon into the evening, an intense band of heavy lake effect snow is expected to develop over southern Lake Michigan, possibly impacting portions of central and southern Cook County near the lake for several hours before moving eastward into northwestern Indiana later that night.
Heavy snow rates of more than two inches per hour are possible within this lake effect band, which could lead to localized accumulations exceeding six inches, especially near the lake from the city southward. Residents are encouraged to monitor forecasts for updates as weather conditions can change rapidly during lake effect events.
The Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) will coordinate closely with the National Weather Service to monitor weather conditions around the clock and alert the public if necessary changes occur.
“During lake effect snow, the weather can vary from bands of locally heavy snow to dry weather just a few miles away. Visibilities can also vary greatly. Be prepared for rapid changes in weather, visibility, and road conditions.”
For real-time updates and preparedness resources, residents are encouraged to download the Chicago OEMC App via Apple App or Google Play stores or visit Chicago.gov/OEMC. The app provides safety information, preparedness tips, emergency alerts, current forecasts, radar data, public safety notifications, and access to tools such as the DSS Snowplow Tracker.
Residents can sign up for NotifyChicago alerts at NotifyChicago.org or receive text alerts specific to lakefront notices by texting “CHILAKE” to 7-8-0-1-5 or business-related alerts by texting “CHIBIZ” to 6-7-2-8-3.
The City of Chicago Emergency Management and Communications oversees public safety communications throughout Chicago and coordinates responses during emergencies in collaboration with federal and state partners such as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (official website). Its responsibilities include incident management, event coordination, operation of communication systems like 9-1-1 response services (official website), technological support for city services (official website), community education on preparedness (official website), volunteer training programs (official website), severe weather initiatives (official website), traffic management (official website), non-emergency support via 3-1-1 (official website), maintaining an all-hazard alert warning system with audible tones for public notifications (official website), disaster preparedness efforts (official website), operating citywide as lead coordinating agency during emergencies (official website) and enhancing resilience through training resources for effective emergency handling (official website).
For additional emergency preparedness information or winter safety tips residents are urged to download the OEMC app or visit Chicago.gov/OEMC.
