IL Snowstorm: When It Starts, How Much Snow We'll Get

ILLINOIS — A winter storm warning takes affect across much of Illinois starting at 3 p.m. Saturday and not expiring until 6 p.m. Sunday. So when exactly will the snow start, and how much will we get?

That depends on where you live, but the National Weather Service is calling for heavy, wet snow, with 5 to 9 inches of accumulation and wind gusts of 30 to 35 mph possible. Higher snowfall totals are possible in some areas.

When will the snow start?

The National Weather Service expects the snow to start around 3 p.m., starting with light snow but intensifying after two to three hours.

Heavier snow is expected to hit areas including Joliet, DeKalb and Rockford between 4 and 7 p.m. Heavy snow will hit Chicago and areas north of Joliet between 6 and 8 p.m.

At times, areas could get up an inch of snow or more per hour, with the heaviest snowfall rates happening between 6 p.m. and midnight, tapering off through the early morning hours. Snow is expected to fall on and off through the late morning hours Sunday before ending by Sunday evening.

How much snow will we get?

The Joliet area is expected to get between 5 and 8 inches of snow, with Chicago and the North Shore getting between 5 and 9 inches., the National Weather Service said.

WGN predicted even more snow in some areas, calling for as much as 10.9 inches at O'Hare Airport. According to the station, if O'Hare gets 8.5 inches, it will make Saturday's snowstorm the biggest since Nov. 20-21, 2015, when O'Hare got 11.2 inches of snow.

Further south in Illinois, including the Pontiac area, will get less snow, with between 2 and 5 inches in the forecast.

Tips for staying safe

The National Weather Service is warning that travel could be dangerous Saturday evening as snow becomes heavy at times with wind gusts of 30-plus mph, so residents are advised to stay home.

While the snow will ease by Sunday morning, road conditions could remain treacherous and drivers should use extra caution.

Saturday's snowstorm is expected to bring wet, heavy snow, and shoveling in these conditions can bring the risk of slips and falls, sprained backs, hypothermia, dehydration and heart attack.

According to the American Heart Association, before you pick up that shovel, you should:

• Avoid eating a heavy meal.
• Avoid alcohol.
• Use a small shovel, as lifting heavy snow can increase blood pressure.
• Learn the dangers of hypothermia and dress in layers.
• Know the signs of a heart attack: chest discomfort, pain in the arm, neck or jaw, cold sweat, nausea and shortness of breath. Stop immediately and seek medical help if you notice any of these symptoms.

Also important, if your car becomes snow-covered, before you start digging it out, make sure the tailpipe is clear. Remove snow from car exhaust pipe(s) before sitting in the car and letting it warm up. Failure to remove snow can result in carbon monoxide poisoning. Be sure there is ample room for air to circulate behind your car to allow any exhaust to dissipate and not build up around your car.

Expected to be the biggest snowstorm of 2021 so far, the storm pales in comparison to the "Snowmageddon" of almost exactly one decade ago. Between Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 2011, the Chicago area was hit with a blizzard that dropped more than 21 inches of snow to Chicago and about a foot and a half of snow to the suburbs.

Here's a look back at Snowpocalypse 2011.