Winter storm and blizzard conditions will hit Chicago Sunday

A winter storm is expected to spread in the Chicago area on Sunday, threatening to weaken the snow and shed half a foot of snow as millions of travelers return home at the end of the holiday weekend.

Affected areas include Cook counties, DuPage, Kendall, Grundy and Will, announced the National Weather Service during a winter storm warning. Heavy snow and gusts of up to 50 mph were expected from 10 am Sunday to 4 am Monday.

Snow can fall as fast as two inches per hour and cause periodic, life-threatening blizzard conditions, according to the weather service. The heaviest snowfall is expected in the northwestern suburbs.

According to the latest weather forecast, the window for safe travel to Chicago could extend to early Sunday afternoon, especially in the southwestern suburbs.

Travelers were told to be wary of the transition from rain without warning under heavy, wet snow Sunday afternoon.

Drivers should exercise extreme caution on snow-covered roads and in reduced visibility, the meteorological service said. Excavators have been prevented to avoid excessive efforts.

"This storm is expected to come at a time when millions are on the road and returning home after visiting friends and family," said Illinois Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn. in a statement. "Please, take all necessary precautions, including changing your travel plans to leave earlier or asking yourself if your trip can wait."

The snowfall is expected to decrease before Monday's trip.

The floods at the lake had to coincide with the storm. Cook County is expected to reach 16 feet high, due to unusually high levels of lakes and high winds, the meteorological service said.

The flood alert at the lake starts at 21h. Sunday and lasts until Monday noon. Residents close to the shore have been warned not to approach jetties, jetties and separation walls.

Temperatures are expected to drop in the mid-1930s and then in the late 1920s, according to the weather service.

Monday was to be partly sunny, the temperature reaching a maximum of 30 degrees and then plunging into adolescence that night.

According to the ABC7 Chicago 7-Outlook, the rain will change to snow from west to east on Sunday, with the possibility of heavy snowfall. The weather should drop between 30 and 30 ° C during the day, and gusts from north to northeast could reach 40 mph.

It is likely that four to six inches of snow is in Chicago, and between eight and twelve inches in the northwestern suburbs, according to ABC7 forecasts. Light snow was also forecast for Tuesday.