Updated: First Snowstorm of the Season Set to Arrive Thursday

Updated: Dec. 18, 2 p.m. 

The National Weather Service continues to warn of a "rapidly strengthening storm." The NWS still expects the storm to begin with rain Wednesday night. Colder air will turn that rain into all snow by midday Thursday. 

Current predictions show that six of more inches will fall in eastern Iowa, northwestern and north central Illinois and Wisconsin. 

As more of the storm is known, snow predictions can rise or fall. 

The NWS is more certain about winds with gusts as high as 45 to 50 mph Thursday afternoon and evening. 

Travel is expected to be difficult Thursday, and the storm will affect air travel, the NWS said. 

Original story 

Snow might finally arrive in Bolingbrook Thursday, according to the National Weather Service forecast.

Rain showers Wednesday night could turn into snow Thursday afternoon. Expect winds and blowing snow, as well.  

A weather service warning issued Monday morning said:

"Anyone who plans on traveling across the Midwest Wednesday night through Thursday night should be prepared for difficult travel ... especially for areas west and north of Chicago."

Temperatures will drop from a high of 38 to an overnight low of 20, and gusting wind will create blowing snow, the forecast said.

The weather service, based locally in Romeoville, held off on predicting any accumulations, other than to say "any shift in the track of the surface low will make a significant difference as to where heavy snow occurs."

Other forecasters, however, are not being as circumspect, with some predicting local accumulations of as much as six to 12 inches.

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