Thursday, January 14, 2016

Light Snow and Bitter Cold

After suffering through bitter cold temperatures  this week, we get a bit of a break today with high temperatures warming into the mid and upper 30's. This happens as a warm front lifts across northern Illinois allowing warmer air to advect in. However, the associated low pressure and cold front with this system won't let the 'warmer' weather stick around.

As the low settles overhead this evening, light rain and drizzle will be possible. Temperatures will be hoovering very close to freezing, and if temperatures dip to 32° or lower tonight freezing drizzle is also possible. The cold front will switch our winds on Friday to the northwest ushering in colder air. As light rain, south of the Stateline, lifts north it will switch to a light winter mix for nothern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. As temperatures fall through the morning, the light mix will switch to light snow. With not a lot of moisture available on Friday, we won't see much in terms of accumlation, however could still see enough to allow for slick areas on roads. The light off and on snow showers will continue into late Friday afternoon, however then end overnight.

Behind the departing low pressure system, an arctic high pressure will then move in. This keeps weekend weather quiet, but very very cold. The high will usher in frigid arctic air into the Stateline, dropping temperatures into the 20's on Saturday. But the heart of the cold settles in for Sunday and Monday. High temperatures will only reach the low single digits and overnight lows will fall below zero.With northwest winds in place and subzero lows, this will bring wind chill readings down to -20° to -30­° for some. This would prompt a Wind Chill Advisory and possibly a Wind Chill Warning. It's still too far out to say for sure, but something we will be keeping an eye on as we head into the weekend, and of course we will keep you updated.

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