Several rounds of lake-effect snow could potentially make for dangerous travel conditions in Chicago and northwest Indiana, prompting a winter storm watch.

Snow could fall outside of the effected areas Friday morning and then again during the day on Saturday, but ground zero for the snowy weather could be Lake and Porter counties, where a winter storm watch has been issued by the National Weather Service.

In central and southern Cook County, the winter storm watch will be in effect from Friday afternoon through late Friday night.

According to the National Weather Service, an intense band of lake-effect snow is expected to develop over Lake Michigan on Friday, and could produce snowfall rates of two or more inches per hour at times in the Chicago area.

Some localized snowfall totals in central and southern Cook County could exceed six inches, according to NWS officials.

In Lake and Porter counties, that watch goes into effect Friday afternoon and will run through Saturday, and could potentially be upgraded to a winter storm warning as lake-effect snow begins to develop over Lake Michigan.

Some areas could see six or more inches of snow between Friday and Saturday evening, with the heaviest bands potentially dumping an inch of snow or more per hour on the region.

The heavy snow could make “travel very difficult,” according to NWS, and with the light and fluffy snow, winds could cause significant visibility issues in addition to snow-covered roadways.

Snow is expected to develop Friday morning and primarily impact northeastern Illinois, primarily in Lake and Cook counties, according to forecast models. Other parts of the area to the west and south of the city could see some snow in the early afternoon, but significant accumulations aren’t likely away from the lake.

A winter weather advisory has been issued for DuPage, Lake and Cook counties, taking effect at 9 a.m. Friday and running through 3 p.m. when the winter storm watch takes effect in Cook County.

A “burst” of accumulating snow is possible in the area, with slick travel conditions possible.

There will be some breaks in the snow because the heaviest snow bands are expected to “wobble” during the evening hours, but at its most intense the lake-effect snow bands could dump as much as an inch of snow or more per hour.

That “wobble” could push the lake-effect snow band into northeastern Illinois at times, leading to more snowfall along the shores of Lake Michigan into Saturday.

Some parts of Illinois along the state line with Indiana could continue to see snow depending on how far south the band pushes, but it won’t be as heavy as it will be in Lake and Porter counties.

As the lake-effect snow winds down, one other trend could potentially come into focus: warming temperatures. By Sunday highs could be in the mid-to-upper 20s across the area, and some forecast models are suggesting that readings could climb back above the freezing mark by next week, marking the first time in quite a while where readings could be above their normal levels for the season.

Be sure to stay tuned to the NBC 5 Storm Team for all the latest weather forecasts, and download the NBC Chicago app for real-time weather alerts sent directly to your phone.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The suspect in a November homicide on the city’s near north side was identified Thursday as a 16-year-old boy, Indianapolis police said.

On the night of Nov. 8, 2025, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to a shooting in the 3800 block of Pennsylvania Street. That’s a residential area in the Mapleton-Fall Creek neighborhood near the intersection of 38th and Meridian streets.

Officers arrived and found the victim, later identified as 35-year-old Stephen Coach. Coach was taken to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.

Homicide detectives reviewed video footage, collected evidence, and spoke with witnesses. After “following up on several leads,” they identified the 16-year-old as the suspected shooter, IMPD says.

On Tuesday, after several weeks of trying to find the teenage suspect, IMPD detectives and the SWAT team found him in the 4100 block of Elmont Terrace. That’s a neighborhood near 42nd Street and Mitthoefer Road on the city’s far east side.

The teenager was taken into custody without incident.

The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office will review the case and decide whether the 16-year-old should be tried as an adult.

A booking photo was not immediately available due to the suspect’s age.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The World Food Championships will return to Indianapolis for a third consecutive year, the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center announced Wednesday morning.

The Oct. 15-18 event that celebrates competitive cooking draws worldwide competitors. This year’s championships will feature a refined competition schedule aimed at enhancing the experience for both competitors and fans.

Competition will kick off with qualifying rounds on Thursday and Friday. Sunday culmination will feature the final rounds for the 10 core categories and the crowning of the champions.

Tickets and further programming details will be announced in the forthcoming months, the release from the fairgrounds said.

The fairgrounds sits off East 38th Street and East Fall Creek Parkway North Drive in north Indianapolis.