Winter Storm Warning, 'Dangerous Arctic Outbreak' Headed to Will County

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for Will County through 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 5. The warning area also includes the counties of Cook, La Salle, Kendall, Grundy and DuPage. 

Snow will develop Saturday afternoon, starting at around 3 p.m., continuing into Sunday, and computer models are now indicating we may get 5 to 10 inches of new snow.

The Weather Service has been updating its predictions frequently since Friday night. The previous weather advisory issued earlier on Saturday has been replaced with this new warning, which was posted Saturday at 10:45 a.m.

Periods of moderate to heavy snow could lead to hazardous travel conditions, and airport delays are likely, according to the Weather Service. Brisk northwest winds of 15 to 30 miles per hour also could result in blowing and drifting snow, further reducing visibility.

Temperatures, while remaining mild all day Saturday, will drop dramatically on Sunday. Expect to wake up to about 13 degrees and end the day at about -5 degrees. Wind chills will make that feel like about -30 degrees.

The deep freeze continues into Monday, which will see a high of -12 and a low of -16, and Tuesday, which will "warm up" to only 3 degrees. Both days are predicted to be windy, making the wind-chill factor extremely dangerous for anyone outdoors.

A wind chill warning will be in effect from 6 p.m. Sunday to noon Tuesday as a blast of arctic air delivers the coldest weather in 20 years to the Midwest in what the National Weather Service is calling an "dangerous arctic outbreak."

District 202 schools have released a notice telling parents to plan for school to be open on Monday, which is scheduled to be the first day back from winter break. 

Should emergency closings arise, Plainfield Patch will share that information as it becomes available.