Hey, Kane County! Prepare Now For Weekend Winter Storm
According to the National Weather Service Chicago, Kane County is in for as much as a couple inches of snow Saturday, which means now is as good a time as any to prep for the next big storm.
“The big story is the snow we are expecting over the weekend,” the NWS-C says on it’s “Weather Story” web page. “Snow will begin Friday night and wrap up Saturday night, with a few inches of snow possible. Stay tuned to later forecasts.”
If you’re traveling, keep in mind that a fairly long duration light to moderate snow is expected to affect most of the area
The highest snow amounts and potential for greater travel impacts are favored south of I-80. Dry air will take time to erode north of I-80 and will also result in a very sharp northern cutoff to the snow accumulations.
The exact placement of the northern cutoff will likely vary from this preliminary forecast. Temperatures around 32 degrees could also help mitigate travel impacts, especially where lower snow amounts are forecast.
Please continue to stay tuned for the latest forecast updates at weather.gov/Chicago.
Detailed Forecast
- Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 17. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 34. Light south southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
- Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of snow after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 26. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming east northeast after midnight.
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Saturday: Snow. High near 32. East northeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
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Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of snow before midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 28.
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Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 33.
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Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22.
Prepare Now For The Next Winter Storm
You may have prepared your home for winter weather; now it’s time to prepare your car. You never know when you will encounter winter weather or an emergency road closure. Seasonal changes also mean changes to your emergency supply kit.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency encourages you to update your vehicle’s emergency kit with several items, including:
- A shovel
- Jumper cables
- A bag of sand or cat litter
- Warm clothes
Avoid many dangerous winter travel problems by planning ahead. Before you hit the road, have a mechanic check items on your vehicle, including:
- Antifreeze levels — Ensure they are sufficient to avoid freezing.
- Battery and ignition system — Terminal should be clean.
- Brakes — Check for wear and fluid level.
- Tires — Make sure they have adequate tread.
And remember, a simple gift idea is to provide your loved one(s) with emergency preparedness kits, for their home, work place or car. Some commercial companies sell ready-made kits.
“No one in our area should be without gear to battle a Northern Illinois winter,” the NWS-C says.
At home, be prepared to have at least a three-day supply of food and water for each member of our household. It’s best to keep your supplies in an easy-to-carry kit that you can use at home or take with you if you need to evacuate.
Taking just a few minutes to plan ahead can give you peace of mind, and that’s what we all hope for during the holiday season.
For more information about Kane County’s Public Health Emergency Response program, please visit the Health Department’s website HERE.
Additional information can be found at Ready/gov.
You can visit the National Weather Service’s website HERE.
SOURCE: Kane County Health Department, NWS Chicago, Ready/gov.
Prepare Now For The Next Winter Storm
