Snow should began early Monday morning and taper during the early evening hours. This storm may bring periods of heavy snow and snowfall rates reaching an inch or more per hour.
"This is going to be a very interesting system," said ABC7 Eyewitness News meteorologist Phil Schwarz. "When it does snow, especially during the midday period, it could snow rather heavily, perhaps at a rate of greater than an inch an hour."
The snow could also mix with sleet and freezing rain during the morning hours, in the southern areas of Chicago.
Travel through O'Hare and Midway airport is expected to be significantly impacted on Monday.
Precipitation should taper off by early Monday evening before temperatures climb above freezing. Tuesday's forecasted high is 40, followed by 38 on Wednesday, a relative heat wave in the middle of one of Chicago's coldest winters on record.
The warmth could bring new problems, though, with a rapid snow melt possibly leading to flooding.
The current snow pack on the ground in most of northern Illinois is equal to between 1 and 4 inches of water if it melts completely, according to the weather service.
Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this story.
