Major Winter Storm Update

Here we go....

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for Rock and Walworth counties in Southern Wisconsin from 3pm Monday to 3pm Tuesday.  After that a Blizzard Watch will go into effect until Wednesday afternoon.  The Winter Storm Watch has been cancelled. 

A Winter Storm Watch is still in effect for Green County in Southern Wisconsin from Tuesday afternoon until Wednesday afternoon.

A Blizzard Watch is in effect for Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, Ogle, Lee and DeKalb Counties in Northern Illinois from Tuesday afternoon until Wednesday afternoon.

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for Jo Daviess and Stephenson County from 6am Monday until Tuesday afternoon.  A Winter Storm Watch is still in effect for Stephenson, Jo Daviess, Carroll and Whiteside Counties in Northern Illinois from Tuesday afternoon until Wednesday afternoon. 

We've got two rounds of snow that we will have to deal with over the next 3 days.  The first will move in late tonight and last through Tuesday morning.  With this initial round anywhere between 2"- 4" will be likely across Northern Illinois with totals possibly reaching 6" across Southern Wisconsin (hence the Winter Weather Advisory).  Once this one departs the second will quickly follow.  An area of low pressure will move east of the Rockies into eastern Texas by Monday.  It will then quickly strengthen as it  moves up through central Arkansas and into central Indiana by Wednesday morning.  This would place the most significant, heavy snow right through northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin.  There is the possibility of anywhere between 6'- 12" (maybe higher) of snow with this second system - creating a two storm total of over a foot and a half in some locations.

Once this low passes the increasing pressure gradient will create very gusty winds late Tuesday night into Wednesday.  This will likely create very difficult and dangerous travel throughout the area with blowing and drifting snow across much of Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois.

We will continue to update you on this major winter storm as we head into this week so be sure to keep checking back for all the latest updates.