This Storm Won’t Bring a Blizzard, But It Could Make Roads Even More Dangerous

If you’ve got plans this Saturday, you might want to rethink them. A messy mix of snow, freezing rain, and sleet is on the way, and it’s going to make driving and walking downright dangerous.

This isn’t your typical fluffy snowfall where you can throw on some boots and power through. This storm is a tricky one, with temperatures hovering right around freezing, which means rain could turn into ice within minutes. One moment the roads might look just wet, and the next? You’re sliding through an intersection wondering what just happened.

When Is This Happening?

• Saturday, February 8, 2025
• Starts: Around 9 AM
• Ends: Around 6 PM (but icy conditions could last much longer)
• Temperatures: High of 35°F (2°C), dropping to 23°F (-5°C) by evening

What’s the Big Deal?

Saturday’s weather is going to be all over the place. It’ll start off breezy and cold, with snow moving in by late morning. Then, as the temperature flirts with the freezing mark, that snow could turn into sleet or freezing rain—coating roads, sidewalks, and cars in a thin, nearly invisible layer of ice.

If you’re out and about in the morning, things might seem fine at first. But as the storm shifts, conditions will get worse fast. By the time the sun goes down and temperatures drop, whatever moisture is left on the roads will freeze solid, making Saturday night travel even riskier.

What Makes This Storm So Dangerous?

Chicago has seen plenty of snowstorms, but this isn’t about deep snow—it’s about ice. And ice is much worse when it comes to driving and walking safely.

• It’s harder to see. Snow piles up, but ice? It just looks like a wet road—until you’re sliding across it.
• Stopping is unpredictable. Even if you have good tires, ice makes it harder to stop or turn.
• Sidewalks will be just as bad. A layer of ice on the pavement means even walking could be hazardous.
• Power outages are possible. If too much freezing rain builds up on power lines, we could see outages in parts of the city.

How to Stay Safe This Weekend

If You Don’t Have to Drive—Don’t. The best way to avoid a wreck? Stay home. If you absolutely have to go out, drive slowly, keep extra distance between cars, and avoid sudden stops.

Watch Your Step. Sidewalks and driveways might look fine but could be covered in a thin sheet of ice. Wear shoes with good grip and walk carefully.

Stay Put If You Can. If you don’t need to go out, don’t risk it. Saturday’s just not a great day to be running errands.

Prepare for Power Outages. Freezing rain could bring down power lines, so make sure your phone is charged, have flashlights ready, and keep blankets handy just in case.

Check for Weather Updates. Conditions could change fast, so keep an eye on forecasts and alerts throughout the day.

What’s Coming Next?

Bad news—this might not be the end of it. Another storm is expected later in the weekend, and it could bring more snow and ice to the area. That means whatever mess Saturday leaves behind could get even worse if fresh snow piles on top of icy roads.

Final Thoughts

Look, Chicagoans are tough. We’ve seen brutal snowstorms, polar vortexes, and everything in between. But this storm is sneaky—it won’t bury us in snow, but it’ll make roads and sidewalks way more dangerous than they look.

If you don’t need to go anywhere Saturday, just stay home. If you do, be extra careful—because this storm isn’t one to mess around with.