Latest storm could dump 9 inches of snow in area
SUN-TIMES MEDIA March 5, 2013 10:18AM
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Updated: April 6, 2013 6:32AM
A late-season winter storm could bring the largest snowfall of the year, dropping as much as 10 inches of snow over the Chicago area by Tuesday night, according to the National Weather Service.
Temperatures are expected to hover just below freezing during the next several days as a light frosting late Monday turns into a large-scale snow dump predicted hit Tuesday in time to wreak havoc on the roads.
“You couldn’t time it any better,” said Ben Deubelbeiss, a meteorologist for the weather service, based in Romeoville. “The worst conditions we’re expecting (are) during the day on Tuesday.”
The predicted snowfall prompted the weather service early Monday to issue a winter storm warning alert for the region in effect fgrom 3 a.m. to midnight Tuesday.
The snow will fall heavily at times from late Tuesday morning through early Tuesday evening, according to the service.
The snow may fall as quickly as 1 to 2 inches per hour during the day Tuesday, which will make snow removal and travel extremely dangerous and impact both rush hours on Tuesday. Meanwhile, meteorologists say they expect wind gusts to reach 30 miles per hour.
The predicted 7 to 10 inches is likely to surpass the 5.4 inches accumulated at O’Hare International Airport on Feb. 26 and Feb. 27, the weather service said. Some areas could see even more accumulation. That storm blanketed north suburban Antioch with 12.1 inches of snow.
The fast-falling snow will make snow removal and travel extremely dangerous, the weather service said and travel through O’Hare and Midway airports will likely be significantly affected from the storm. Meanwhile, meteorologists say they expect wind gusts to reach 30 miles per hour.
