Thursday Weather Update

There is a Winter Storm Warning for Lake County from 3 p.m. today through 3 a.m. Friday.

Winds from the northwest will increase through the day, with sustained winds of 30 mph and gusts up to 60 mph possible this evening which may cause scattered property damage and power outages. Intense snow is expected to move across the county from west to east sometime between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. this evening and we could see blizzard-like conditions. "Thundersnow" is possible within this band of intense snow, and snowfall rates of two inches per hour or more are expected. The duration of the intense snow is expected to be a few hours at most. Temperatures will fall this afternoon and evening, with near-zero wind-chill possible early Friday morning.

The timing of the snow, strong winds, falling temperatures, and already wet roadways will likely cause significant travel challenges during the evening commute today. Highway crews may be delayed during this time and may have more difficulty clearing snow or applying salt and chemicals. People should delay any non-necessary travel. Motorists should make sure their vehicles are appropriately prepared for winter weather, including keeping the fuel tank full, having a winter emergency kit with blankets and food, and having a fully-charged cell phone and car-charger with them when they travel.