Winter Storm Watch Issued for Christmas Eve

By Amie Schaenzer (Patch Staff)

A winter storm watch has been issued for communities throughout northeastern Illinois for Christmas Eve.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for Kane, DuPage, Will, Cook, Kendall, Grundy, Kankakee counties and Lake County in Indiana from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday.

Wet snow is expected to begin to fall during the mid-morning hours with a band of heavy, wet snow expected to form somewhere over the watch area around noon through the early afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

Light to moderate snow is then expected into the early evening.

Between three to seven inches of total snow is expected with higher amounts possible in areas hardest hit by the storm.

Between one to two inches of snow could fall per hour with more than two inches of snow expected to fall per hour in a narrow band of heavy snow expected to affect a portion of the watch area.

In addition, wind gusts between 15 to 20 mph are expected with wind gusts up to 30 mph possible.

Travel will be difficult and nearly impossible for those traveling where the band of heavy snow hits. Visibility will vary from one mile to less than 1/4-mile.

The heavy, wet snow will also be difficult to shovel, according to the National Weather Service.