Snowbody does winter like Chicago: First snowfall hits ahead of Thanksgiving

Residents across the Chicago area woke up Thursday to the city’s first snowfall of the season. According to NBC Chicago, a heavy band of snow descended from Wisconsin into Illinois, prompting a winter weather advisory for several counties including Cook, Kane, Will, Kendall, McHenry, Dupage, Kenosha and Lake. The snow began impacting morning commuters, leading to difficult and hazardous travel conditions as visibility dropped and roads became slick.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued warnings that will extend until 1 p.m., with the heaviest snowfall occurring at 8 a.m. in Chicago’s northern counties. By 9 a.m., the snow was projected to sweep across the Chicago metro area, continuing southward into northwest Indiana, said forecasters from NBC Chicago.

The snowfall, coupled with winds gusting up to 45 miles per hour, will deteriorate traveling conditions until midday. Before the snow transitions to rain by 1 p.m., the NWS reports that slushy accumulations between two and four inches are expected in some locations.

Later in the day, the windy conditions could make temperatures feel significantly cooler, with "some of the coldest air this season," says NBC 5 Meteorologist Alicia Roman. Temperatures are expected to remain in the 30s and 40s throughout the day.

While the weekend promises warmer and drier conditions, another pattern of rain and snow is predicted nationwide, moving in ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, says NBC News. Great Lakes states like Michigan and Wisconsin will likely experience above-average rain, according to the U.S. Climate Prediction Center’s six-to-ten-day weather outlet. AAA has predicted that nearly 80 million people will travel over 50 miles during the holiday week, including both driving and flying.