Winter's not done with us yet, with snow in forecast today

Spring officially began on Friday, but the Chicago area is in store for at least one more blast of snow and ice before winter moves on.

One to four inches of snow is expected to fall on the suburbs, starting overnight and continuing into this morning. Commuters, who will be at best confused and at worst depressed by the late March snow, are being advised to drive with an excess of caution by the National Weather Service in Chicago.

“A period of moderate to possibly briefly heavy snowfall rates is becoming more likely for the region during the Monday morning commute,” according to a special weather alert issued Sunday by the weather service.

In addition to the snow, temperatures are expected to be unseasonably cold, with highs ranging from 36 to 41 degrees. The average high on March 23 is 50 degrees.

The weather service said some parts of northern Illinois likely will receive more than two inches of snow accumulation, but was uncertain how widespread and long lasting that would be.

ABC 7 meteorologist Phillip Schwarz said the last time the Chicago area saw 6 or more inches of snow this late in the season was on April 5, 1982.

The weather service predicts temperatures could be back up in the mid 50s by Wednesday, but will fall again at the end of the week, when the region could see snow showers and a Friday high temperature of just 35 degrees.