SYCAMORE – DeKalb County is bracing for another dumping of the snow on the area. The National Weather Service has set a winter storm watch to begin Thursday evening through the Friday morning commute. The service predicts an accumulation of anywhere between 3 and 10 inches, depending on where the notice was posted.
"Plan on difficult travel conditions, including during the morning commute on Friday," the weather service said in its alert. The snowfall is predicted to be heaviest north of Interstate 80.
The watch is set to begin at 6 p.m.Thursday, although flurries will be possible throughout the afternoon leading up to the evening. Thursday night temperatures will drop into the teens, with the windchill expected to drop as low as minus-8 degrees.
Gino Izzi, meteorologist with the National Weather Service forecast office in Romeoville, said it will be a standard winter storm.
"It will have prolonged snowfall," he said. "It will just be snowing, and snowing and snowing."
He said the winter weather will be the result of a typical winter storm system moving into the area. Although it's possible the storm changes tack or the snowfall amounts change, he said more than likely the storm will hit the area as predicted.
"You'll most likely have to shovel some snow," Izzi said.
The snow is expected to begin during the Thursday evening rush hour and continue through the Friday morning commute. The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office has urged people to drive safely and watch for snow plows on the roads.
"Please use caution while traveling, slow down and leave more distance between you and the vehicle in front of you to allow extra distance for stopping," the office posted on its Facebook page.