An ice storm is set to move into the Chicago area Wednesday evening, bringing “a wintry mix” of freezing rain, sleet and snow, according to the National Weather Service.
The weather service has issued a winter weather advisory for the region from 3 p.m. Wednesday to 6 a.m. Thursday, warning of icy conditions and slippery roads. The storm is expected to move in from the south, arriving in the city around Wednesday evening and continuing into Thursday morning, said David King, a meteorologist with the weather service in Chicago.
“As it arrives, it’s going to have a combination of a lot of things — a wintry mix,” King said. “We can have some snow, some freezing rain and even some sleet as it moves northward.”
The good news: Most of the storm’s impact will occur overnight when most people are off the roads. However, the Illinois Department of Transportation is urging caution, especially for the Wednesday night commute.
The weather service forecasts a high of 36 degrees and a low of 29 on Wednesday, with icy and breezy conditions throughout the day. Some flurries may start in the early afternoon, but the storm isn’t expected until the evening hours. Thursday is expected to be the warmest day of the week, with temperatures reaching the low 40s, before cooling down to around or below freezing in the following days.
“We’re not expecting significant snowfall, but rather damp surfaces with dropping temperatures, making freezing the primary concern,” Maria Castaneda, spokesperson for IDOT, told the Sun-Times. “We typically pretreat areas prone to freezing first — especially bridges, overpasses, ramps and shaded spots — to help minimize icy conditions.”
The storm could leave up to a tenth of an inch of ice, along with up to an inch of snow and sleet, potentially making travel dangerous during Thursday morning’s commute. IDOT plans to treat the roads with brine and salt before the storm to help melt the ice. Still, Castaneda warned that the risk of refreezing will remain.
“Even when roads are pretreated, it’s important to stay cautious. Cold temperatures, especially on bridges where wind comes from both sides, can cause ice to refreeze. We encourage motorists to allow extra time and stay alert,” Castaneda said.
The Chicago Transit Authority said the agency aims to maintain as much service as possible while minimizing the impact of snowfall on train and bus operations.
“Though we will always do our best to keep service running, there may be some cases where we experience some delays,” the CTA told the Sun-Times in an emailed statement. “If that happens, we will work hard to restore service as quickly as possible and to keep our customers informed.”
Ice storms can cause significant damage, such as downing power lines, but King said such impacts are not expected with the approaching storm. The last time Chicago saw more than a quarter-inch of ice was in February 2019, and while this storm is not anticipated to reach that level, people should still stay alert to any changes in the forecast.
“Make sure you’re prepared, and that your vehicle is as well, especially if you’ll be driving during the overnight hours,” Castaneda said. “Take extra precautions to stay safe.”