A lake-effect snow system is poised to bring Chicagoans their first taste of winter weather this weekend, unleashing up to six inches of accumulating snow.

A winter storm watch will take effect at midnight on Monday for portions of Cook and Will counties, as well as Lake and Porter counties in northwest Indiana, as "intense bands" of lake-effect snow are possible, the National Weather Service said.

Parts of the Chicago area will be spared, and those expecting snow likely won't see any accumulation until Sunday night.

But some flurries are possible earlier on this weekend.

As the region gears up for a wintry blast, here's what is expected to happen and when:

Saturday afternoon

Rain will likely start developing in the late afternoon and begin spreading from east to west, the NWS state

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