While precipitation could begin as early as 6 p.m. Saturday in what could be this winter's most significant snowfall for Chicago, it's Sunday that has meteorologists most concerned, according to the National Weather Service.
Wind gusts of up to 35 mph could enter the Chicago metropolitan area with up to 14 inches of snow by Sunday night as the area remains under a winter storm warning until then, according to meteorologist Ricky Castro. Even more snow could fall near the lake, he said.
"Once it starts, we should see pretty much steady precipitation … until (Sunday) night," said Castro, whose agency has posted a winter storm warning for northern Illinois that will last from 6 p.m. Saturday until midnight Sunday.
Decreased visibility and snow-covered roads mean Super Bowl partygoers may want to think twice before hitting the roadways Sundays, Castro said.
"We do discourage travel," Castro said.
Like January, February is expected to start off with below-average chilly temperatures, with highs in the teens through much of the week, Castro said. Any snow on the ground will help keep it especially cold, he said.
By Jan. 31, 2014, the city had endured 48.6 inches of snow. So far this season, 15.5 inches have been recorded.
Going into February 2013, Chicagoans had seen only 3.5 inches of snow, Castro recalled. Then in February and March of that year, about 27 inches of snow fell.
"We have a lot of winter left," Castro said.
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