CHICAGO (WLS) — A winter storm could dump several inches of snow across the Chicago area on Wednesday.

ABC7 AccuWeather Meteorologist Larry Mowry said the storm could dump 3 to 6 inches of snow across our area.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for the entire Chicago area, including Boone, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Will, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, LaSalle, Lake, McHenry, Ogle, and Winnebago counties in Illinois and Lake and Porter counties in Indiana, from 9 a.m. Wednesday until 3 a.m. Thursday.

A Winter Storm Watch is in effect from 9 a.m. Wednesday until 3 a.m. Thursday for Kenosha County in Wisconsin.

A Winter Storm Watch was issued for Jefferson, Rock, and Walworth areas in Wisconsin until 3 a.m. Thursday.

Northern Indiana was also upgraded to a Winter Storm Watch until Thursday 7 a.m. for DeKalb, eastern St. Joseph, Elkhart, Lagrange, Marshal, Noble, northern Kosciusko, northern LaPorte, southern Kosciusko, southern LaPorte, Starke, Steuben, Western St. Joseph, and Whitley.

How much snow are we getting tomorrow? A winter snowstorm is in the Chicago weather forecast Wednesday, with up to half a foot of snowfall possible.

Mowry said snow is expected to begin Wednesday between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., and 1 to 2 inches of snow could be on the ground by noon.

Dave Hauke in West Chicago wanted to make sure he was ready for the snow, so he made sure his neighbour’s snow blower would start.

“We haven’t started our snow blower since, probably, November. We want to make sure it runs,” Hauke said.

The first few tries are unsuccessful, however. Turns out, it needed gas. With a little fuel in the tank, it started right up.

And that is good, because he is almost sure to need it for the snow forecasters are calling for. Dozens of Chicago-area schools have already announced closures for Wednesday.

The heaviest snow will come between noon and 5 p.m., with 3 to 5 inches of snow expected to be on the ground by 5 p.m., Mowry added.

That snowfall is expected to impact traffic.

“We’re just like any other vehicle. We can get stuck too. So, it gets hard; it gets rough. You know, we have to take every call as it comes, see what plays out, what’s involved,” said Ben, a tow truck driver.

On Tuesday, Illinois Tollway crews were getting the truck filled with salt and ready to hit the road early Wednesday morning.

Tollway officials say they have been training for this expected snowfall for months, but this is the first chance to put their training into practice with a significant snowfall in quite some time.

Dozens of schools announced closures for Wednesday, and a Winter Weather Advisory has been issued from Wednesday morning into Thursday.

“And with most everyone out of practice in dealing with snow and ice so far this season, doctors are expecting to see a bit of an increase in emergency room visits. And not just from those who overexert themselves shovelling snow,” said Steve Mednis with Illinois Tollway.

Intermittent snow is expected to continue from 5 p.m. to midnight and could bring another 0.5 to 2 inches of additional snowfall.

The winter blast is expected to be harsh on drivers on interstates.

“Knowing whether or not we should be driving is the biggest thing. And, obviously, paying attention to the roads, slowing down, obviously. Yes, the speed limit might be 65 or 70, or whatever, in some areas, but do we really need to be going that speed? Obviously, there’s snow and ice on the ground. We need to be slowing down,” said Illinois State Police Trooper Jayme Bufford.

John Geroulis is a snow removal contractor for the city.

“No sleep, a lot of work, and just making some money,” Geroulis said.

He says he has about 40 crew members standing by to work through 24-hour shifts.

“Cold temperatures, slip, fall—we’re always looking for that. You know, we got to take care of our people, and of course, it’s just a long, long night,” Geroulis said.

Use caution when driving and walking outdoors.

“More people get injured walking their dog under the snow,” said Endeavour Health Elmhurst Hospital Dr. Tom King.

The Department of Streets and Sanitation and the Chicago Office of Emergency Management have been reminding residents about driving conditions, overnight parking restrictions, clearing sidewalks of snow, and warming centres.

ISP is also reminding drivers to make room for emergency vehicles, especially while they are tending to traffic accidents.

“We’re going to have extra troopers out there. A lot of times we have to hold over different shifts depending on the need of troopers and how many crashes,” Bufford said. “We’re hopefully helping, protecting everybody that’s out there.”

Temperatures will stay in the 20s on Wednesday, and Thursday will see some bitterly cold temperatures move in, with wind chills from 5 to -5 degrees.

Friday will be quiet, but snow showers are expected to arrive later in the evening, and the ABC7 AccuWeather Team is watching a storm system for Saturday as well. That could bring more accumulation snow, Mowry said.