CHICAGO, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- A comparatively warm winter weather conditions in Chicago abruptly stopped when a winter storm with heavy snow started to sweep much of northeastern Illinois and northwest Indiana Saturday morning.

Visibility in most of the snow-hit areas will be near one-quarter mile, the National Weather Service forecast. The snow is expected to continue through late this evening. Roads will become increasingly hazardous, the agency warned.

A Winter Weather Advisory has been in effect and will remain until 3 a.m. Sunday. Total snow accumulations are expected to be 2 to 4 inches.

Lighter amounts of snow will occur over far northern Illinois. Areas toward the Wisconsin state line may end up with very little snow, according to the forecast.