Snow, then arctic air: What's coming in the suburbs starting around lunchtime Thursday

Another round of snow is in the forecast for the suburbs starting around lunchtime Thursday, with a blast of arctic air to follow and lasting most of next week, the National Weather Service is saying.

[3:20 PM 2/4/2021] Heads-Up! The combination of rapidly increasing winds, gusting to 40 to possibly 50 mph for a time later this afternoon & evening and additional snow will lead to a brief period of sharply reduced visibilities, just in time for the evening commute.

— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago)

Th> suburbs could see 2 to 5 inches of snow starting Thursday morning and continuing into Friday morning.

The weather service issued a winter weather advisory that starts at 11 a.m. Thursday and lasts until noon Friday.

The snow could start as rain or freezing rain, the advisory says. Then "snow could become heavy Thursday afternoon into the early evening."

Winds could gust as high as 40 mph.

"Plan on slippery road conditions. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility," the advisory says. "The hazardous conditions will likely impact the Thursday afternoon and evening commute. Pockets of blowing snow could continue to impact the Friday morning commute."

Temperatures are expected to plummet starting Thursday afternoon, with subzero wind chills possible Friday morning.

"Sharply falling temperatures Thursday afternoon and evening could cause any lingering wet spots to freeze quickly," the weather service warns. It advises drivers to slow down.

[3:45 PM 2/4/2021] A true taste of winter sweeps into the region into next week with persistent sub-zero wind chills and several chances for accumulating snow.

— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago)

> blast of Arctic air is forecast to hit the area Saturday and Sunday.

Wind chills of -20 to -30 are possible, the weather service says.

Highs on Friday and Saturday will be in the teens, and in single digits on Sunday. More snow is possible Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.

Then the highs aren't expected to break 20 degrees until Saturday, Feb. 13.