Lake-effect snow could impact swaths of Chicago area this weekend

The Chicago area has been dealing with plenty of wintry conditions, but another round of snow chances could emerge in coming days.

While highs are expected to remain in the teens on Thursday under sunny skies, a change could be on the way, with bands of lake-effect snow impacting the region over multiple days and a clipper system swinging through the Midwest to wrap up the weekend.

The changes could start on Friday, as winds shifting off of Lake Michigan could push lake-effect snow onto shore, either in northeastern Illinois or northwest Indiana, according to forecast models.

There is uncertainty over where that snow could arrive, but it is possible that a wide area could be impacted by light snow as the plume develops, according to the NBC 5 Storm Team.

As Friday winds down and Saturday arrives, more intense bands of lake-effect snow could form, potentially dumping as much as an inch of snow per hour on small parts of the Chicago area, according to the National Weather Service.

That snow could lead to low visibility overnight and could rapidly cover roads in snow, leading to slippery conditions on pavement left freezing cold from more than a week of frigid temperatures.

The lake-effect snow could linger into the day on Saturday, but high temperatures will finally warm slightly, rising into the low-to-mid 20s, according to forecast models.

Sunday could bring another chance of snow to the area, as a clipper system is expected to swing through the Midwest, according to forecast models. Accumulations aren’t expected to be significant, but some locations could see 1-to-3 inches of snow before the system finishes moving through on Monday.

High temperatures are expected to climb into the upper-20s on Sunday and could potentially rise into the low-30s by Monday.

Stay tuned to the NBC 5 Storm Team for the latest forecasts on this weekend’s lake-effect snow, and download the NBC Chicago app for real-time weather alerts sent to your phone.