Winter Storm Warning: Up To Nine Inches Of Snow For Chicago
UPDATED: 1/31/2014 11:20 a.m.
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for the Chicago area, with a forecast that is calling for up to nine inches of snow to fall in some locations.
CBS 2's Megan Glaros reports that most of the Chicago area, including Northwest Indiana, will get between five and nine inches of snow between Friday night and Saturday afternoon.
Light snow will develop Friday afternoon, with about an inch of accumulation possible.
Later Friday night, likely around midnight, heavier snow will begin to develop.
By the time the snow ends on Saturday afternoon, almost the entire Chicago area will have at least five inches of snow.
Freezing rain will mix with snow in areas to the south of Chicago, in places like Pontiac and Kankakee and southern Lake County in Indiana. Porter County in Indiana will also have a freezing rain and snow mix.
If the path of the storm moves to the north, the south suburbs will also get a rain-snow mix, with lower snow accumulations.
After Thursday's light snow, this January now ranks as the third-heaviest month for snow since records were first kept in the 1880s.
The National Weather Service is also watching the potential for another storm to develop next week, around Tuesday or Wednesday.
However, the path of that storm is very uncertain.
Meanwhile, people in need of a new snow blower, shovel or salt may be in trouble. CBS 2's Susanna Song reports. Stores are reporting that they are sold out or their supply is very limited.
Many suburbs are also strapped, as their snow clearing budgets are nearing their limit and supplies of road salt are dwindling. The City Of Chicago is planning on buying more in preparation for additional snow in February.
