Illinois Snow Showers Intensify Overnight as Slushy Coating Expected Across Chicago Area and Central Illinois Into Sunday

Illinois — Snow showers are strengthening across Illinois late Saturday night, with radar showing expanding bands of snow dropping southeast across the state and into the Chicago metro area, including Naperville, through the remainder of Sunday. While this is not expected to be a major winter storm, meteorologists say the setup will be enough to produce a light, slushy accumulation, especially on untreated roads and elevated surfaces.

Radar imagery posted shortly before midnight Saturday shows snow developing from eastern Iowa through northern and central Illinois, with additional moisture streaming in from the south. As colder air continues to filter in overnight, these snow showers are expected to persist on and off into Sunday, keeping conditions gray, damp, and slick.

Where Snow Is Falling and How It Is Moving

The radar snapshot shows snow bands arcing southeastward from Wisconsin into northern Illinois, including areas near Chicago and Milwaukee, while lighter snow extends farther south toward Bloomington, Springfield, and St. Louis. The motion suggests that snow showers will continue to drop through Illinois from northwest to southeast, affecting a broad swath of the state.

For the Chicago area and Naperville, this means periods of light snow rather than one continuous band. Some locations may see snow briefly intensify, then taper off, before another band moves through later Sunday.

Expected Accumulation and Road Conditions

Forecasters expect minor accumulation, generally limited to a thin, slushy coating. Snow is most likely to stick:

• On bridges and overpasses
• On untreated side streets
• On grassy and elevated surfaces

Main roads that have been treated may remain mostly wet, but brief bursts of heavier snow could still reduce visibility and create slick spots, especially early Sunday morning. Even small amounts of snow can cause issues when combined with colder pavement temperatures and lingering moisture from earlier precipitation.

Why This Is Not a Major Storm but Still Matters

This system lacks the organization and moisture needed for heavy snowfall, but it is a classic nuisance snow event. These are often responsible for minor accidents and travel delays because they catch drivers off guard.

Snow showers like these are also difficult to time precisely. Conditions can change quickly from just flurries to a short-lived burst of steadier snow, then back to light snow again.

What Naperville and Chicago-Area Residents Should Know

Residents across Naperville, DuPage County, and the broader Chicago metro should plan for:

• Slower travel speeds Sunday morning
• Patchy slick spots, especially before sunrise
• Reduced visibility at times during snow bursts

Anyone traveling overnight or early Sunday should allow extra time and be prepared for changing road conditions.

When Conditions Will Improve

Snow showers are expected to gradually diminish later Sunday, though cloud cover may linger. Temperatures will remain cold enough to keep untreated surfaces slick for several hours even after snowfall tapers off. Road conditions should slowly improve as crews continue treatment and snow shower coverage decreases.

The Bottom Line

This is not a high-impact winter storm, but it is enough to create typical mid-winter travel issues across Illinois. A light, slushy coating combined with intermittent snow showers will make for messy but manageable conditions through Sunday.

For continued updates on Midwest weather, road impacts, and what changing conditions mean locally, stay with NapervilleLocal.com for clear, fact-based reporting focused on what matters to our community.