Snowstorm on its way Monday night. Severity still up in the air, NWS reports

(Updated at 9 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 8)

Chicagoland is bracing for its first significant snowfall of the season as weather experts are predicting a winter storm beginning Monday night, Jan. 8.

The National Weather Service is forecasting the storm system descends on Chicagoland with a “burst of heavy/wet snow” in the evening hours Monday before redeveloping Tuesday afternoon through the evening hours.

According to an updated forecast on Monday morning, snow is expected to start falling around Chicagoland around 8 p.m. with between 2-3 inches accumulating through Tuesday morning. The heaviest rate of snowfall will be overnight (1-5 a.m.), forecasters predict.

The event is sure to impact Tuesday morning’s commute.

NWS Chicago says Tuesday, Jan. 9’s activity is “the second more robust wave” and is expected to begin mid Tuesday morning with precipitation continuing through the evening hours. The snow is expected to transition to rain in Chicagoland while the snow shifts to northwest Illinois.

Local officials are reminding residents of local parking and safety procedures in advance of the forecasted storm.

The Village of Wilmette sent an email blast Saturday morning with a summary of its snow and ice control, which includes plowing operations that begin after 2 inches of snow accumulation.

Additionally, street parking in Wilmette is prohibited during snowstorms (2 or more inches) and up to 24 hours following a snowfall.

The Village of Wilmette also encourages residents to shovel their sidewalks; however, its Public Works Department plows residential walks after 4 inches of snow and within 2-3 days. Those who need shoveling assistance call contact WilWork, a Village program, at (847) 853-7609 or wilwork@wilmette.com.

The Village of Kenilworth also reminds residents not to park on the street during snow events and also urges residents not to run, jog or walk in the streets.

See more snow and snow removal information from Highland Park, Glencoe, Winnetka and Northfield.

The early-January snowfall will land on the heels of a relatively uneventful December weather-wise. In fact, it was one of the warmest Decembers on record. Chicagoland temperatures neared 40 degrees on average in the month, about 9 degrees higher than your typical December, according to a report from the Chicago Sun-Times.

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