Blizzard Warning Issued for McHenry and De Kalb Counties; Whiteout Conditions Expected
This alert is no longer in effect.
NOAA issued it on April 3, 2026, 4 months ago. Warnings of this kind stay in effect for hours to a few days, so this page is a historical record of what was issued, not a current warning. For conditions where you are right now, check weather.gov (US), weather.gc.ca (Canada), the Met Office (UK), or the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia).
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The National Weather Service has issued a Blizzard Warning for McHenry and De Kalb counties, effective from 10 PM Sunday through 1 PM Monday, with whiteout conditions and heavy wind gusts expected.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Blizzard Warning
- Affected area
- Northern Illinois
- Issued
- April 3, 2026
- Issuing authority
- NWS Chicago
Winter notices differ by expected impact and timing. The original notice carries the forecast window and any travel guidance for the named area.
Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in Northern Illinois.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Chicago has issued a Blizzard Warning for portions of northern Illinois. The alert is classified as a high-severity event with blizzard conditions likely to occur during the effective window.
Affected Areas
The warning specifically covers the following geographic regions in Illinois:
- McHenry County
- De Kalb County
Expected Conditions
Residents should prepare for severe winter weather, including:
- Snow Accumulation: Total snow accumulations between 3 and 5 inches.
- Ice Accumulation: A light glaze of ice is expected.
- Wind Speeds: Wind gusts reaching as high as 45 mph.
- Visibility: Whiteout conditions are expected, which will make travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening.
- Additional Impacts: Hazardous conditions will impact the Monday morning commute. Gusty winds may also bring down tree branches.
Timeline
The Blizzard Warning is effective starting at 10:00 PM CDT on Sunday, March 15, 2026. The warning is currently scheduled to expire at 1:00 PM CDT on Monday, March 16, 2026.
What You Should Do
Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must travel, ensure you have a winter survival kit with you. If you become stranded, stay with your vehicle. A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are occurring or imminent; falling and blowing snow combined with strong winds will lead to whiteout conditions. For the latest road conditions in Illinois, visit www.gettingaroundillinois.com.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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