A hazardous travel threat is in place for Lake and McHenry counties as plunging temperatures and some expected snow flurries are expected to make conditions slippery for travelers heading out this weekend, weather officials said.
The National Weather Service in Chicago is warning that snow will develop later this morning and towards midday, weather officials said.
While the heaviest snowfall is expected to hit south of the Kanakee River, the bitter cold conditions and minimal snowfall in Lake and McHenry counties could result in slippery road conditions, even if less than a few tenths of an inch of snowfall hit the ground, officials said.
Any snowfall is expected to end later Saturday afternoon, weather officials said.
Frigid temperatures will remain through Sunday, though, as windchills are expected to reach up to 30 degrees below zero tonight throughout the Lake and McHenry counties, officials said.
The high temperatures on Saturday and Sunday are expected to reach 13 degrees throughout the Chicago area, officials said, but low temperatures are expected to be in the single digits later Saturday evening and into Sunday morning.
At the temperatures expected, frostbite can set in in less than 30 minutes to exposed skin, and people have an increased risk of hypothermia, officials said.
People should also keep an eye out for frozen pipes at home because of the cold, and people are asked to keep pets inside to protect them from the weather.
Due to the extreme cold, weather officials are also urging people to bundle up should they need to go outside. This includes wearing three layers of clothing, and wearing gloves, a hat, and boots, officials said.
People in need of assistance throughout Lake and McHenry counties should check for warming centers in their area.
Lake County residents can head over to the Lake County weather preparedness page should they require assistance, while McHenry County residents can view their weather resource page at the McHenry County government website.
Temperatures are expected to rise back up to normal as early Monday morning, weather officials said. By Wednesday, temperatures could climb as high as 43 degrees, and some rain could wash over the area.