Chicago Weather Alert: Winter Storm Warning Thursday; 3 To 7 Inches Of Snow Possible

CHICAGO (CBS)-- Roller coaster weather is ahead.

Wednesday's temperatures hit 50 degrees with windy conditions and afternoon showers.

A Wind Advisory is in effect to 6 p.m. with south wind gusts reaching between 40 to 45 mph.

A few showers are possible, but the best chance develops by evening - which could be heavy at times. Flooding could be an issues mainly south of 80.

A Winter Storm Watch takes effect Wednesday evening through Thursday evening in Cook, DuPage, DeKalb, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston, Will, Iroquois, and Ford counties in Illinois, and Lake, Porter, Newton, and Jasper counties in Indiana.

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 3 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday for Cook County, followed by a Winter Storm Warning from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.

A Winter Weather Advisory is also in effect for DuPage, Kane, and DeKalb counties beginning at midnight, and a Winter Storm Warning is in effect for Newton and Jasper counties in Indiana from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

A Winter Storm Warning will also be in place for Grundy, Kankakee, Kendall, LaSalle, and Livingston counties and eastern Will County in Illinois; as well as Lake and Porter counties in Indiana. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday in Ford and Iroquois counties in Illinois.

Rain chances change to freezing rain and then accumulating snow. An icy mix to snow arrives by early Thursday. Accumulating snow between 3" to 7" is possible with strong winds causing blowing and drifting snow. The heaviest snow that could amount to 10" will be seen in the area of Jasper and Newton counties in Indiana.

Snow and clouds clear out Thursday night and temps fall into the single digits. Friday high temperatures reach the upper 20s.