WWUS43 KLOT 300259
WSWLOT
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Chicago IL
859 PM CST Thu Jan 29 2026
INZ001-002-301300-
/O.CON.KLOT.WS.W.0003.260130T2100Z-260201T0000Z/
Lake IN-Porter-
Including the cities of Valparaiso, Portage, Chesterton,
Merrillville, Gary, and Hammond
859 PM CST Thu Jan 29 2026
...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM FRIDAY TO 6 PM
CST SATURDAY...
* WHAT...Heavy lake effect snow with total snow accumulations over 6
inches expected, mainly near and north of US Route 30. Isolated
totals up to a foot are possible.
* WHERE...Lake IN and Porter Counties.
* WHEN...From 3 PM Friday to 6 PM CST Saturday.
* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to nearly impossible at
times north of U.S. Route 30 with near white out conditions and
snowfall rates of 2 or more inches per hour under the most intense
portions of the band.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...An initial period of accumulating snow is
expected Friday morning. However, the main window for the heaviest
snowfall is expected Friday evening through Saturday morning. Some
breaks in the snowfall are possible at times as the snow band may
wobble Friday night and Saturday.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
During lake effect snow, the weather can vary from near white out
conditions in very heavy snow to dry weather just a few miles away.
Be prepared for rapid changes in weather, visibility, and road
conditions.
Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation.
&&
$$
ILZ104-105-301300-
/O.CON.KLOT.WW.Y.0006.260130T1500Z-260130T2100Z/
/O.CON.KLOT.WS.A.0001.260130T2100Z-260131T0600Z/
Central Cook-Southern Cook-
Including the cities of Park Forest, Orland Park, La Grange,
Chicago, Calumet City, Cicero, Oak Lawn, Lemont, Oak Park, and
Oak Forest
859 PM CST Thu Jan 29 2026
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TO 3 PM CST
FRIDAY...
...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING...
* WHAT...For the Winter Weather Advisory, a period of snow is
expected, possibly heavy at times. A quick 1 to 3 inches of
accumulation is expected within a few hour period. For the Winter
Storm Watch, heavy lake effect snow possible. Snow accumulations
of 6 or more inches are possible, mainly east of the Dan Ryan and
I-57.
* WHERE...Central Cook and Southern Cook Counties.
* WHEN...For the Winter Weather Advisory, from 9 AM to 3 PM CST
Friday. For the Winter Storm Watch, from Friday afternoon through
Friday evening.
* IMPACTS...Travel will likely become hazardous as roads become snow
covered during the mid to late morning through early to mid
afternoon Friday. If heavy lake effect snow affects eastern Cook
County late Friday afternoon and Friday evening, travel within the
affected areas could be severely disrupted.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...A burst of accumulating snow is expected mid
to late Friday morning through early afternoon. The snow during
this period may briefly fall at a rate of up to an inch per hour
and make for hazardous travel conditions. Then, later Friday
afternoon and evening, an intense band of heavy lake effect snow
will develop over southern Lake Michigan, and may impact eastern
portions of central and southern Cook County late Friday afternoon
or evening. While the residence time of this lake effect band over
Cook county may only be 3 to 5 hours, it would likely produce very
heavy snow rates of 2 or more inches per hour and could result in
localized accumulations exceeding 6 inches. Confidence is still
low in whether eastern Cook County will be impacted by the lake
effect band Friday afternoon and evening, if the band stays east
over the lake into Indiana, then very little additional snow may
occur.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
During lake effect snow, the weather can vary from near white out
conditions in very heavy snow to dry weather just a few miles away.
Be prepared for rapid changes in weather, visibility, and road
conditions.
Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation.
&&
$$
ILZ006-013-103-301300-
/O.CON.KLOT.WW.Y.0006.260130T1500Z-260130T2100Z/
Lake IL-DuPage-Northern Cook-
Including the cities of Lombard, Palatine, Des Plaines, Buffalo
Grove, Naperville, Wheaton, Waukegan, Downers Grove, Northbrook,
Carol Stream, Gurnee, Mundelein, Schaumburg, and Evanston
859 PM CST Thu Jan 29 2026
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TO 3 PM CST
FRIDAY...
* WHAT...Snow expected, possibly falling heavily at times. A quick 1
to 3 inches of accumulation is expected within just a 2 or 3 hour
period.
* WHERE...DuPage, Lake IL, and Northern Cook Counties.
* WHEN...From 9 AM to 3 PM CST Friday.
* IMPACTS...Roads will likely become snow covered and travel
hazardous.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...A burst of accumulating snow is expected mid
to late Friday morning through early afternoon. The snow during
this period may briefly fall at a rate of up to an inch per hour
and make for slick travel conditions.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation.
During lake effect snow, the weather can vary from bands of locally
heavy snow to dry weather just a few miles away. Visibilities can
also vary greatly. Be prepared for rapid changes in weather,
visibility, and road conditions.
&&
$$
- Izzi