Winter Storm Expected To Snarl Friday Rush Hour; Leave Bitter Cold In Its Wake

UPDATE: A Winter Weather Watch has been issued for most of the Chicago area beginning Friday afternoon. 

CHICAGO (CBS)—A winter storm is expected to strike the Chicago area during Friday's rush hour.

Heavy snow is expected to move from the northwest into the Chicago area starting Friday afternoon around 3 p.m.

Snow could fall at a rate of 1-2 inches per hour, with the heaviest totals expected north of I-88.

The storm could drop between 4-8 inches in some areas of northern Illinois.

Lake-effect snow could add to those totals.

The heaviest snow period is expected to hit the Chicago area late Friday afternoon and evening, between 3 and 6 p.m.

System snow is expected to diminish later in the day on Saturday, with lake-effect snow kicking in overnight.

Bitterly-cold arctic air is expected to settle in Saturday night, with a high of 15 degrees expected Sunday. Frigid temperatures in the teens are expected to continue into next week and wind chills could dip as low as 15 degrees below zero.

Wind gusts at 5 a.m. Saturday could reach 22 MPH or higher.

"The cold air is going to envelop the entire Great Lakes region on Sunday as that artic blast takes hold," Kleist said.