A winter storm watch has been issued for the entire Chicago area, warning residents of heavy snow and strong wind gusts in excess of 50 miles per hour as the weekend approaches. The National Weather Service (NWS) has announced that the storm watch will go into effect in DeKalb, LaSalle, Kendall, and Grundy counties on Thursday night. On Friday morning, McHenry, Lake, Kane, DuPage, Cook, Will, and Kankakee counties in Illinois, along with Lake and Porter counties in Indiana, will also come under the watch.

All counties will remain under the storm watch until Saturday morning, as per NWS officials. The main threats with the impending storm will be snow accumulations, which could exceed six inches in some locations. In addition, strong wind gusts of 40-to-50 miles per hour are expected to cause blowing snow and potentially create "blizzard conditions" in certain areas.

The NWS advises caution during the storm, as travel is expected to be dangerous at times. The worst of the weather is predicted to arrive Friday night and persist into Saturday morning, impacting commutes on both Friday morning and evening. Areas closer to Lake Michigan may experience rain initially before transitioning to snow.

Following the departure of the storm, an Arctic air mass will settle over the upper Midwest, bringing frigid conditions. High temperatures are expected to reach only single digits, with sub-zero wind chills by Sunday.

Residents are encouraged to stay updated on the latest weather advisories and to take necessary precautions to ensure their safety during this upcoming winter storm.