The weather service is warning about snow and freezing drizzle Wednesday afternoon followed by a blast of arctic cold in the Chicagoland area, with feels-like temperatures as low as -20 degrees.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a hazardous weather outlook on Wednesday morning for the northern Illinois area.
The outlook covers the Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, Lake, Cook, DeKalb, Kane, DuPage, Will, Ogle, Lee, LaSalle, Kendall, Grundy, Kankakee, Livingston, Iroquois and Ford counties.
The outlook said wind chills 10-20 degrees below zero are expected during the overnight hours on Wednesday as well as Thursday.
Daytime temperatures on Thursday are expected to be in the low-mid teens in most areas.
Colder temperatures will also result in rapid ice formation on area rivers, which could potentially lead to freeze-up ice jams, the NWS said.
The NWS said a period of light snow is expected to develop across portions of the northern Illinois area on Wednesday afternoon into the evening.
Snow amounts will be low, up to a half inch, but some freezing drizzle may mix with snow in spots.
The NWS said the freezing drizzle could lead to instances of slippery travel, especially on untreated surfaces. The freezing drizzle is favored more for areas south of Interstate 80.
The snow and freezing drizzle are expected from 11 a.m. through 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Motorists should allow for extra travel times in the afternoon and be prepared for slower driving and reduced visibility.