Winter weather is not over, as officials issue a storm watch in effect until Friday evening – Chicago Tribune

It might be a good idea to keep heavier jackets, with the hats and mittens in arms reach because National Weather Service officials issued a Winter Storm Watch for Friday morning into Friday evening.

The watch is for portions of central, east central, north central and northeast Illinois, as well as northwest Indiana. Officials said rain was expected to change into heavy wet snow with accumulations of up to 5 to 8 inches possible.

Along with the possible snow, winds were expected to gust as high as 45 mph, impacting the Friday morning and evening commutes, officials said.

Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour were expected Friday afternoon.

Officials said the heavy wet snow combined with strong wind could lead to scattered power outages in areas with the heaviest snowfall.

Current conditions at Midway Airport was mostly cloudy at 37 degrees. At O’Hare International Airport temperatures registered at 37 degrees with an overcast.