A December that had only generated 0.2 inches of snow through Monday at O’Hare Airport will not end with a whimper. Snow should move into the area Tuesday afternoon. The heaviest snow is most likely to fall in areas west and north of Chicago. Far south suburbs may see 1 or 2 inches while from Rockford to locations further north and west may see snow totals exceed 6 inches. Overnight, the snow will likely mix with and then change to freezing rain, creating potentially dangerous travel conditions, in addition to accumulated snow. The greatest potential for accumulating ice will be to the southwest, west and northwest of Chicago, away from Lake Michigan.

Another system can bring snow and another round of freezing rain late New Year’s Eve into New Year’s Day.