Pritzker issues disaster declaration ahead of snowstorm that could drop a foot especially south
Some southern parts of the suburbs can now expect more than a foot of snow from two weather systems expected to blow through the area Tuesday night through Thursday.
In anticipation, Gov. J.B. Pritzker has issued a disaster declaration to marshal state resources to deal with the potential threat of the storm, he announced earlier Tuesday.
The first system has prompted the National Weather Service to issue a winter storm warning for much of the Chicago area from 8 p.m. today through 6 p.m. Wednesday.
That storm could bring as much as a foot of snow on its own to parts of Will and southern Cook counties, according to updated forecasts.
Parts of DuPage and Kane counties could see as much as 8 inches of snow from the system, while forecast amounts taper off farther north.
Less than an inch is expected throughout most of Lake and McHenry counties.
Meteorologists note the snow from this first wave is expected to be heavy and wet and could fall at a rate of an inch an hour between 3 a.m. and noon on Wednesday.
Cook County Health officials are closing the COVID-19 mass vaccination sites in Des Plaines, Forest Park and Matteson on Wednesday because of the snowstorm. The sites are expected to reopen Thursday.
Metra officials are warning commuters of potential delays in service and urging them to allow extra time to get to and from destinations.
State officials said 130 members of the Illinois National Guard were called into service and assigned as winter weather platoons. Each platoon will consist of 18 troops to patrol various affected areas of the state.
More than 1,800 Illinois Department of Transportation trucks and other equipment will be used in response to the looming storm threat, the governor's office said Tuesday afternoon.
"I want to assure county and local officials, and everyone in the path of the storm, that my administration will provide resources every step of the way," Pritzker said. "On the ground, all state assets stand ready to assist.
"I encourage everyone to do what you can to stay safe. Listen to local authorities to stay up to date with the latest conditions in your community and make sure your household has essentials."
A second system on Thursday is anticipated to drop as much as 4 inches of snow starting early Thursday morning and lasting into midafternoon.
Again, the Southern suburbs are expected to see the majority of the snowfall, while 2 inches could fall in eastern DuPage County and northeastern Cook County. The rest of the northern parts of the suburbs are expected to get less than an inch.
This snow is expected to be dry and lighter than the previous snowfall.