Chicago weather: Winter Storm Watch issued this week with 8 inches of snow possible

CHICAGO - A Winter Storm Watch will go into effect for the Chicago area on Wednesday morning and into overnight Thursday as officials expect a snowstorm to hit the region.

The watch takes effect at 9 a.m. Wednesday and runs until 3 a.m. Thursday. The impacted counties are DeKalb, Kankakee, Cook, Will, Kendall, McHenry, La Salle, DuPage, Grundy, Lake County, Kane, and Porter.

Today will be sunny with highs in the low 30s. 

We have a light wind at 5-10 mph. Lows tonight will be around 20 degrees with mostly cloudy skies. 

Chicago's first big snowstorm of 2025

What to expect:

The chance for light snow returns early tomorrow. Highs tomorrow will be in the upper 20s. Flurries/light snow will bring a dusting to about one-tenth of an inch of accumulation through Tuesday. 

Tuesday night through Wednesday night, we have accumulating snowfall on the way. The intensity of snowfall is expected to be greatest Wednesday afternoon/evening when 1 inch per hour snowfall rates are possible. 

As of now, the accumulation for Wednesday's storm looks to be around 4 to 8 inches for Chicagoland. Highs on Wednesday will be around 30 degrees. 

Wednesday night, the snow will end and lows will drop into the mid-teens. Thursday will be chilly with highs only reaching the low 20s. 

Mostly sunny skies to look forward to on Thursday! 

What's next:

Thursday night into Friday morning will be VERY cold with lows dropping into the single digits. Friday will be partly sunny with highs in the upper 20s. 

Another round of accumulating snow is on the way from Friday night through Saturday night. This event will have a rain and snow line nearby which will impact how much snow accumulation we see. 

Highs on Saturday will be in the mid-30s. 

Sunday is looking dry with partly sunny skies and highs around 20.