New winter storm warning: Big snow Monday night into Tuesday

The National Weather Service says a winter storm could bring up to 10 inches of snow to northern Illinois.

The weather service has issued a winter storm warning that starts at 3 a.m. Tuesday and lasts throughout the day. Forecasters say snow is expected to be heavy from late Tuesday morning through early Tuesday evening with 1 to 1 ½ inches falling an hour. Weather service officials say snow removal could be difficult and travel extremely dangerous. Winds are forecast to gust at between 25 and 30 mph.

The storm also is expected in central Illinois, where snow, rain and sleet are expected. Accumulations are forecast at between 3 and 5 inches along and north of Interstate 74.

Forecasters say up to 8 inches of snow could accumulate in Chicago.

What the National Weather Service calls “an interesting weather system” will bring nasty snow to the suburbs starting Monday night and especially on Tuesday.

“Light snow is expected to spread across northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana Monday night and become more intense Tuesday morning and Tuesday afternoon,” the watch advisory says.

“Snow may fall heavily at times from Tuesday morning through Tuesday afternoon. Accumulation rates of 1 to 1.5 inches per hour are possible at times, making snow removal difficult and travel extremely dangerous.”

The weather service is forecasting an accumulation of 4 inches of snow or more in the outlying suburbs, and 6 inches or more in the nearer suburbs. Even more snow is expected the closer you get to the lake.

“An interesting weather system will affect the Midwest Monday night into Tuesday,” is how one National Weather Service Web page puts it. “... Two low pressure centers ... will merge, and then move northeast up the Ohio Valley on Tuesday.”

“The storm is over a day away and there is still some uncertainty with the track of the system, which will impact what part of our area sees the greatest snowfall totals,” the Web page says. “Nonetheless, there is an increasing likelihood of significant accumulating snowfall across northern Illinois and northwest Indiana.”