A large and complicated storm system is expected to bring a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain starting late Wednesday night and continue through Friday morning creating hazardous driving conditions, possible power outages, and the potential for minor flooding in Lake County. The forecast calls for winter precipitation turning into rain Thursday afternoon, producing the potential for significant snowmelt and localized minor flooding Thursday afternoon, as well as strong, damaging winds with gusts of up to 50 mph possible Thursday evening. Strong winds could cause some trees to topple, leading to scattered power outages.

Please keep in mind the following safety tips during this winter weather event:

* Drive Safely- Allow extra time for travel. Do no drive through flooded areas. Even if the water covering the road seems shallow, do not attempt to cross. If your car stalls, do not attempt to push it out. Please seek higher ground. The temperature will fall Thursday night turning much of the stormwater runoff into ice making travel difficult. Lake County PASSAGE (www.LakeCountyPassage.com) is the best resource for current travel information throughout the county.

* Clear Your Storm Drains - Help local drainage by clearing storm grates of snow and debris.

* Check Your Sump Pump - Ensure your sump pump is working properly by pouring water into the pit. Test backup sump pump batteries. Verify that the sump pump discharge pipe outside of your home is not frozen, clogged, or blocked in any way. If you have a backup sump pump, make sure it is readily available if it becomes necessary to do a quick replacement due to failure.

* Inspect the Interior and Exterior of Your Home - Check to make sure your gutters and downspout extension pipes are free of snow, ice, and any other objects. Remove any snow, ice, and debris. Move snow on the ground away from your home and provide a clear drainage path.

* Protect Personal Belongings - Due to the high winds, bring items inside from outdoors, or tie them down (such as patio furniture). Also, protect items in the basement or crawlspace from water damage by elevating them off the floor or moving them upstairs.

* Report Power Outages to ComEd - Power outages should be reported to ComEd through their https://www.comed.com/, smart phone application, or by calling 1-800-EDISON-1.