Brutal Cold Brings Up To 8 Inches Of Snow Friday
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Thursday's brutal cold temperatures were expected to usher in as many as eight inches of snow Friday for some areas.
A winter weather advisory will go into effect Friday morning, with the heaviest snowfall expected in the afternoon. Snow is expected to start falling during the morning rush hour and could increase to 1.5 inches per hour by midday.
CBS 2 Meteorologist Mary Kay Kleist says you'll need every layer possible if you're outside on Thursday.
At 6:45 a.m., the temperature at O'Hare International Airport was 27 degrees. But by 8:30 a.m., that figure had dropped to 18 degrees as a cold front sweeps in.
The official daytime high is 17 degrees, although the wind chill will ensure that it will feel much colder. Strong northerly winds will gust up to 30, bringing wind chills of minus 10 to minus 15.
But it could be worse. The air temperature Thursday morning was minus 11 in Minneapolis, and minus 2 in Green Bay.
Minor snow showers were seen in the Chicago area the wee hours, but sunshine is expected for the rest of the day – albeit the kind of sunshine that is only pleasant when experienced through a window.
Overnight, the low drops to 6 degrees. But on Friday morning, moisture will work its way north from the Gulf of Mexico and wrap its way into the cold front.
That, of course, means only one thing – snow.
The heaviest snow is expected on Friday afternoon and early in the evening, CBS 2 meteorologist Rick DiMaio reports. Because of the cold weather, even light snowfall could impact the morning rush hour as the effects of salting will be reduced. Heavy snow is possible during the evening commute. The hardest-hit areas, which could get up to 8 inches, will be north of Chicago, CBS 2 Meteorologist Steve Baskerville says.
The NWS says you should brace yourself for an unpleasant Friday afternoon commute.
