Heavy lake effect snow in NW Indiana through the morning; bitter cold for Chicago and suburbs
Near-blizzard conditions are possible along the Indiana Lakeshore, with gusts up to 40 mph.
Watch CBS News
Albert Ramon is the chief meteorologist for CBS News Chicago. Albert joined the First Alert Weather Team in October 2021.
Before coming to CBS, Albert was chief meteorologist at the News Nation Network based in Chicago. While at the network, he covered landfalling hurricanes, blizzards, wildfires and tornado outbreaks for the entire country.
Albert also spent more than a decade at KVUE-TV in Austin, Texas, where he served as chief meteorologist. While in Austin, Albert won two regional Emmy Awards and several Associated Press Awards, including for Best Weathercast.
Before Austin, Albert also worked in Corpus Christi, Texas, at the CBS affiliate, where he also served as a chief meteorologist.
Albert holds degrees in Broadcast Meteorology from Mississippi State University and in Communication/Media Studies from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
Albert has earned Seals of Approval from both the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association.
You can watch Albert's forecast weekdays at 5, 6, and 10 p.m.
Near-blizzard conditions are possible along the Indiana Lakeshore, with gusts up to 40 mph.
Gusty northwest winds behind the system into Friday will lead to areas of blowing and drifting snow as well, further impacting travel.
Total accumulations of 1-3 inches are anticipated through the morning commute on Thursday, which could lead to slick travel conditions.
According to CBS 2 Chief Meteorologist Albert Ramon, snow is possible Wednesday evening and there are additional snow chances Thursday into Friday.
Dangerously cold conditions continue through mid-week.
Gusty winds and blowing snow are expected overnight into Saturday, which could cause near-blizzard conditions in open areas.
The storm will be creating hazardous conditions again into Saturday morning.
A winter storm warning has been issued for most of the CBS 2 viewing area from 3 a.m. Friday until noon Saturday.
Total accumulations could reach 10 inches or greater for parts of the Chicago area on Friday, with wind gusts as high as 45 to 50 mph.
The official reading at O'Hare International Airport was 3.2 inches Tuesday evening.
CBS News Chicago will go on streaming the latest on the forecast, flight delays, and school closings all evening. Watch it here or for free on Pluto TV.
The salt-spreaders will work overnight and into the morning commute on arterial streets, DuSable Lake Shore Drive, and bridges and overpasses.
A Winter Storm Warning is now in effect for Kane, McHenry, La Salle, Lake (Illinois), and DeKalb counties.
The storm is already having effects has Amtrak cancels 18 trains out of Chicago.
The rail agency said it is canceling a total of 18 trains between Sunday and Tuesday.