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**Winter Weather Hits Chicago: Snow Accumulation Forecast & Icy Road Conditions**

The Chicago area faced a cold morning with morning wind chills below zero due to an Arctic blast earlier in the week. The frigid temperatures resulted in over 100 schools closing, frozen pipes, iced-over sidewalks, and warnings about ice jams in the city and suburbs.

**Biting Cold Grips Chicago**

The icy conditions prompted some schools to switch to e-learning schedules or delay their start on Wednesday to ensure the safety of students and staff. The extreme cold warnings and advisories have been a cause for concern, with temperatures plunging into the single digits and wind chills as low as -30 in certain areas.

Meteorologist Alicia Roman from NBC 5 shared some hopeful news amidst the chill. After two days of bone-chilling temperatures, Wednesday was forecasted to see highs in the 20s, with “feels-like” temperatures reaching the teens. While still below average, this shift towards warmer weather brought a sense of relief to residents.

**Changing Weather Patterns**

Roman highlighted that the cold weather alerts had shifted southward to states like Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, where winter storms were dumping as much as 11 inches of snow. Interestingly, some southern areas had already received more snow than Chicago had seen all season.

The Chicago region was expected to experience temperatures in the 20s through the week, with a gradual rebound over the weekend and into the following week. Roman assured that most of the upcoming week would remain above the average temperature of 31 degrees, keeping the region above freezing.

**Snowfall Predictions for Chicago**

As temperatures slightly warmed on Wednesday, snowfall was anticipated to arrive around 8 a.m. across the Chicago area. The National Weather Service indicated that snow would begin north of I-80, with intermittent snow showers expected through the afternoon and evening. While there might be a brief pause in snowfall, the NWS warned of its return later in the night.

Roman mentioned the possibility of accumulating between one to one-and-a-half inches of snow before it tapered off Wednesday night. Despite the relatively light snowfall, the NWS cautioned about slippery travel on untreated roads due to the extremely cold ground temperatures.

**Lake Effect Snow in the Forecast**

For residents in Porter County, Northwest Indiana, lake effect snow was anticipated to continue into Thursday, adding to the wintry conditions in the region.

Stay tuned for updates as the snowfall pattern evolves, and remember to exercise caution while traveling in these icy conditions.