UPDATED: Winter Rears its Head: Frigid Cold Today, Snowstorm Friday

Update: 9:38 p.m. Jan. 19

The National Weather Service has upgraded the winter weather advisory to a winter storm warning. The snow is expected to arrive in mid to late morning and total accumulations of 5 to 8 inches are expected.

A watch is upgraded to a Winter Storm Warning when 4 or more inches of snow or sleet is expected in the next 12 hours, or 6 or more inches in 24 hours, or 1/4 inch or more of ice accretion is expected, according to the NWS.

UPDATE: 3:05 p.m. Jan. 19

The National Weather Service has now issued a winter weather advisory for Friday. The winter storm watch is no longer in effect.

The advisory will be in effect from 9 a.m. Friday until midnight. According to the National Weather Service, the snow is expected to start falling during the mid- to late-morning hours, with the heaviest snow forecast to fall in the afternoon. About 3 to 6 inches of snow is expected, with locally higher amounts possible.

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10 a.m. Jan. 19

If it hasn't felt like winter in recent weeks, it's expected to over the next couple days. 

With frigid temperatures today (Thursday) and more than 6 inches of snow predicted for some on Friday, much of the area will be forced to deal with the winter weather, according to the National Weather Service in Chicago. 

Today, temperatures are expected to reach a high of 11 degrees in Buffalo Grove and then fall to around 6 degrees for the rest of the day. Wind chill values could make it feel like 10 below zero at times. 

Wind gusts could reach as high as 25 mph. 

A winter storm watch is in effect for Friday morning through Friday evening for Lake and Cook counties as well as much of the surrounding area.

The snow is expected to start in the morning. The heaviest snow is expected to begin in the afternoon and continue into early Friday evening with snowfall rates of up to one inch per hour, according to the NWS. 

"The heaviest snow is expected to be falling during the Friday afternoon and Friday evening rush hour commute," according to the NWS. "Delays at Chicago area airports are also possible." 

For tips on staying safe during a winter storm and extreme cold, visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency's website.