Chicago braces for season’s first snow, 8 to 10 inches expected into Monday

The Monday morning commute could be challenging, with up to 10 inches of snow expected in the Chicago area overnight into morning rush hour.

A winter storm warning in Cook County goes into effect at midnight until noon Monday. Around 8 to 10 inches of snow are expected to fall starting at about 7 p.m. Sunday, with heavier snow predicted by midnight and until late Monday morning.

It is the first snow of the season and the first time the Cook County area would get “impactful” lake effect snow, which combines warm lake waters with cold air to form snow, since January 2022, according to Kevin Doom, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service.

“It might not be snowing for all that long, but the snow could be just so heavy that it’ll make up for the shorter duration and ultimately bring us some pretty good snowballs,” Doom said.

Lake Michigan was unusually warm last month, with the average surface water temperature in October hovering around 4½ degrees higher than the 30-year average of just over 57 degrees, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. That warmth continued into November. Last week, Lake Michigan’s surface water temperature was around 55 degrees, still several degrees above average.

Heavy snow is also expected in Will and Kankakee counties, as well as Indiana’s Lake and Porter counties, while the Lake Michigan shoreline could see up to a foot of snow. Snow is expected to be the highest near Interstate 57, with wind gusts of up to 35 mph.

The last snowfall in the area came last March, according to weather officials.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.