Some Light Snow This Evening

The storm system that produced 2.9" of wet snow at the Rockford Airport last night has moved on out of the area, and is currently over the eastern Great Lakes.  A broad trough of low pressure is hanging back from that system, arcing across Ohio, southern Michigan, east central to northwestern Wisconsin.  That trough is resposible for an area of light snow and flurries across much of the southwestern half of Wisconsin this evening.  The southern edge of that area of snow has pushed into northern Illinois.  As of 8 pm the temperatures were still at 32 degrees in Rockford, so the light snow has been melting making area roadways wet.  If the light snow persits, along with temperatures dropping down into the upper 20's before midnight, there is potential for some roads to become slippery.  Keep that in mind if you are planning any automoble driving during the next few hours.
The next significant weather feature to be watched is a speed max, and a mid level disturbance associated with the intensifying polar jet stream over Saskatchewan in the prairie provences of Canada.  The next arctic front to push through the Stateline will be accelerated southeast with the assistence of this strong jet.  It will move a polar cold front through the Stateline late on Tuesday afternoon or early Tuesday evening.  There will be considerable lift associated with this system as in moves in from the northwest, and snow showers will be generated on Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday night.  Some of those snow showers may be heavy enough for brief periods of time to reduce visibilites, gusty winds, and give a quick coating of 1/2" of new snow in spots.  As the jet progresses southeast it will spin up a new upper closed low over the western Great Lakes.  This will help continue the chances of more snow showers through Wednesday.  A northerly wind flow will develop across areas to the west of the strong upper low bringing very cold air into the Stateline on Wednesday and Thursday.  With Canadian high pressure centered over the midwest we will have clear and cold nights on Wednesday and Thursday with lows in the single digits.  Daytime highs will only be in the low to middle 20's, when average temps should be in the middle 30's, but the redeeming factor is that there will be lots of sunshine.  Temperatures will slowing moderate into next weekend , but will still be a little on the cool side.
By Meteorologist
Eric Nefstead