Chicago could see another inch of snow Wednesday night into Thursday morning, capping off the first predicted snowstorm of the week before another heavy system is expected to develop and move into the area Friday, the National Weather Service predicts.

       With winds of up to 40 mph overnight, several people took advantage of the powerful gusts to take to the surging waves on Lake Michigan Wednesday morning.

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       A couple of dozen people surfed on Greenwood Beach in Evanston in the early morning hours, where waves were up to nearly 8 feet tall and surfers remarked on “a warm day” out on the water.

       “It’s actually warm and beautiful today. Some guys don’t even have hoodies on,” said surfer Scott Compton of Northbrook.

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       Snow Wednesday will resume overnight and have minimal travel impacts, with busy roads staying mostly clear, meteorologist Kevin Doom said.

       However, for the storm system coming in on Friday, the weather service is unable to predict snow totals, the storm’s path and whether rain will be mixed in with snowfall.

       “It’s a tricky forecast, and our confidence in what’s going to happen is low,” Doom said Wednesday.

       Doom said there was potential for “a good amount” of snow that could impact a large portion of the Midwest over the weekend, but the possibility of rain mixed in could play a role in melting snow and limiting accumulation.

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       Snow falls as a pedestrian pushes a stroller in Logan Square on Jan. 9, 2024. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

       Regardless of the amount of snow, Doom said the system will come in Thursday night, with the brunt of the storm occurring Friday into the night. The system should move through by Saturday night, he said.

       “We’d like to have a better grasp two days before the storm, but eventually things will come together,” Doom said.

       Until the ice on the lake freezes, adventure-seeking surfers are taking to the waves.

       Surfing season on the Great Lakes begins in the fall and goes through late winter, with surfers traversing around the Midwest to find the best beaches.

       Surfing partners Vaido Karsokas, 40, and Ethan Cox, 23, head to Greenwood Beach nearly every day. Both wear wet suits with a price tag over $500 to stay warm. After surfing the water for three hours, they swam to shore to take a lunch break before they would come back later in the day.

       Karsokas, who learned to surf off the coast of Hawaii, said the beach makes a perfect bay to collect waves since it has curved sloped angles on the north and south sides. While others search for higher waves across the coastline, he prefers to stay at his home base in Greenwood, just a quarter mile from his home.

       “It’s a challenge to find the waves but there’s not too many people out here, which is kind of nice,” Karsokas said.

       Waves on Lake Michigan are different than ocean waves since they are determined by wind speeds, not tides, meaning strong overnight snowstorms create exciting mornings for Chicago-area surfers. Some say it’s harder to surf in the lake than the ocean.

       The next round of light snow arrives this evening and tonight with pockets of slippery travel. Significant winter storm develops in the region Friday and Friday night, although considerable uncertainties in storm track and thus precip-types remains! #ILwx #INwx (1/3) pic.twitter.com/QYsb8ej5k2

       — NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) January 10, 2024

       “Conditions are tougher,” said Paul Geiger, a Hawaii native who has surfed on Lake Michigan for roughly 12 years since he moved to the area. “The waves don’t have as much power. They’re harder to catch. "

       They said most only stop surfing when ice appears on the surface of the water — a possibility in the forecast for early next week. While ice can disrupt surfers’ plans, they recognize the benefits of freshwater surfing.

       “You don’t have to worry about jellyfish. You don’t have to worry about sharks. You don’t have to worry about the salt, those are the benefits but adjusting to the cold temperatures and unpredictable surf can be hard,” said Lee Remias of Winnetka as he was leaving the beach.

       Around 10:30 a.m., a handful of surfers were still out paddling. No one else was around braving the cold weather, except an occasional dog walker.

       Starting Sunday, the coldest air of the season is expected, the weather service said. Wind chills may fall below -20 degrees Fahrenheit early next week.

       The city has more than 200 snowplows ready to begin working on residential streets, according to a news release.

       The city urged drivers to have a full tank of gas before heading out, yield to emergency vehicles and snowplows when driving and to carry an emergency kit with a cellphone charger, food and water. Drivers should also allow for extra time and leave ample space between cars, according to a news release.

       Overnight parking bans are also enforced on more than 100 main streets in the city from 3 to 7 a.m. until April to allow enough space for snow removal.

       Due to a strong El Nino, scientists predict that Chicago’s winter will be milder and drier than normal, with Monday’s overnight system the first “significant” storm of the winter.

       aguffey@chicagotribune.com

       Originally Published: Jan 10, 2024 at 10:00 am