A winter storm system will bring blizzard-like conditions over Minnesota and the Dakotas on Wednesday. Here in Chicago on the “warm side” of the storm we will experience strong southerly winds gusting to 40 mph and mild temps reaching into the lower 50s before conditions change rapidly during the afternoon.

The cold front associated with the winter storm system will move through the Chicago area during Wednesday afternoon preceded by a narrow band of showers. As the front passes a given location, winds will shift to the southwest and then west with temps falling rapidly and rain briefly changing to light snow or flurries. By evening, temps will be in the 30s, at midnight in the 20s, and by Thursday morning we should be experiencing readings in the 10- to 15-degree range.