Up to 8 Inches of Snow Possible by Saturday Morning

Here comes another one!

Frigid weather in the single digits Thursday night will give way to a "warm-up" to 24 degrees on Friday, but along with that we can expect to see 5 to 8 inches of snow.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning, effective  through midnight Friday for most of Northern Illinois. Looks like the snow will start around 10 or 11 a.m. in Elmhurst.

This is the same storm we've been hearing about that dumped between 6 inches and a foot in metropolitan areas of the state of Washington.

According to the weather service: "Snow will develop during the mid to late morning hours Friday and continue through the day. The heaviest snowfall will occur during the afternoon Friday."

Chance of snow on Friday is 100 percent, and accumulation in excess of 8 inches is possible in some areas, with rates of up to 1 inch per hour possible.

It would probably take more than that to close Elmhurst public schools, however, since accumulation will peak later in the day. But a quick glance at the Emergency Closing Center web site shows a few Chicago area private schools are planning to close early tomorrow. Search for information about any Elmhurst school closing here.

Two years ago, District 205 implemented a "late start" program when overnight storms hit and snow conditions are expected to improve later in the morning. While the timing of this storm doesn't seem right for a late start, you can read all about it here.

Accumulating snow will cause significantly increased travel times, resulting in "a particularly treacherous afternoon commute Friday," according to the weather service. If you're a Tollway driver, the Illinois Tollway has released its plans to deal with roads under its jurisdiction.

"The Illinois Tollway is ready to put our snow removal plans into action as soon as the snow hits the pavement," said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur. "The safety of our customers is our top priority, and we are well-prepared to respond to the snowfall expected throughout the day (Friday)."

The Tollway will have more than 200 staff and supervisors per shift to ensure that roadways are kept clear and has cancelled all temporary lane closures from 7 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 20, to 7 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21.

Here are some travel tips:

• Clear snow and ice from all windows, mirrors and lights on your vehicle before you travel for maximum vision and to reduce ice and snow buildup as you drive.
• Reduce your speed.
• Be extra careful on ramps and in cash lanes at toll plazas. Switching lanes close to the toll plaza is unsafe, especially during winter weather.
• Increase the interval between your vehicle and the one in front of you and avoid unnecessary lane changes.
• Keep away from snowplows and do not try to pass them on the shoulder. They travel at a speed of approximately 30 mph, so traffic delays should be expected.
• Call *999 for roadway assistance and stay in your vehicle if you are stranded. It's the safest place to be.

Call 1-800-TOLL-FYI (1-800-865-5394) to get road condition information. It is updated every two hours or as conditions require during winter storms. The Tollway's Traffic and Incident Management System also provides real-time travel times and roadway conditions via the Illinois Tollway's website.

Also, be sure to check out local travel times on Elmhurst Patch's real-time traffic map.

What's next?

Saturday should be partly cloudy with a high of 28, and Sunday will feel like a heat wave if the predicted high of 41 degrees is reached. The next chance of snow will be Monday, but only a few flakes are expected, along with a high of 35 degrees.

Just in case you're wondering, it will be 80 in Miami on Saturday, 72 in Phoenix, and 52 in Denver. We live here because … ?