Chicago is bracing for a messy wintry mix today, with snow showers disrupting the morning commute and a forecast that includes rain and more snow into the night. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Chicago has issued an advisory, warning residents of northern Illinois about the wintry conditions that are expected to persist throughout the day.

The weather is about to quickly turn from bad to worse, with snow showers forecasted to continue "before 4 pm, then snow showers, possibly mixed with rain between 4 pm and 5 pm, then snow showers after 5 pm," as reported by the NWS. The high temperature is hovering near 37 degrees, with an east wind gusting up to 25 mph, indicating Chicagoans are in for a cold and blustery day.

Visibility is another concern as the NWS Chicago took to X this morning to advise commuters: "Snow showers continue to spread across portions of northern IL this AM resulting in visibility reductions and accums on elevated and untreated surfaces." Drivers are urged to use caution, particularly over bridges, overpasses, and side streets which are likely to be more treacherous due to a combination of fresh snowfall and high winds. The post, which promptly underscored the need for vigilance, confirmed that these showers are anticipated "to persist through the AM commute."

Come nighttime, the area isn't quite out of the woods; snow showers are "likely before 1 am, then a slight chance of snow showers between 1 am and 3 am," with temperatures dipping to about 30 degrees according to the NWS forecast. The weekend, although starting off partly sunny, promises to be just as unsettled. Continuing the cycle, Sunday night is likely to see a 20 percent chance of showers after 1 am, followed by "Showers likely, mainly after 1 pm" on Monday, as the forecast insists upon keeping Chicago under a canopy of clouds and sporadic precipitation.

In addition to travelers on land, the advisory extends to the waters of Lake Michigan near Chicago. Boaters should be wary as "Hazardous conditions for small craft tonight" are anticipated, with similar predictions stretching into the week, per the NWS Hazardous Weather Outlook.

The Hazardous Weather Outlook from the NWS details that "No hazardous weather is expected at this time" for the period of Saturday through Thursday, providing a potential break from this bout of inclement weather. Nonetheless, this system serves as a sharp reminder that in Chicago, spring may be on the calendar, but winter lingers in the air and on the streets.