Alberta Clipper Brings Overnight Snow Chances

Before we jump into the forecast, I did write mother nature a little note during the early shows. Basically I asked her to give the Stateline more morning's like what we experienced this today. Although we started off a little bit chilly, the sunshine definitely made up for it. High pressure over the Midwest is in control of the weather pattern for today. As that high weakens and move east, a textbook Alberta clipper system approximately 900 miles away progresses closer to the Stateline. In fact, expect an abundant sunshine to see you out the door today and likely as you make your way home from work. Clouds begin to move in during the afternoon, but skies will completely cloud over by tonight.

Cloud will be on the increase this evening, primarily after sunset and snow chances hold off until closer to midnight. The first flakes of this clipper system should start to fall in our western counties right before midnight, then spreading eastward as the night moves on. Light to moderate snow showers will continue to move through from shortly after midnight tonight, lasting through the start of the morning commute. A light and slushy snow accumulation is possible, especially on grassy surfaces. You might need to brush off your vehicle before you hit the roads tomorrow morning.

Model guidance tracks the main low with this clipper system right over the Stateline, leading to higher accumulations to the north of the region. Most of northern Illinois will see a general swath between a trace to an 1″ of snow. If you live in southern Wisconsin, your chances of seeing higher snowfall totals grow a bit more. Locally as much as 1″ to 3″. The tricky part with clipper systems are their track. The slightest shift north or south could also shift the higher snowfall totals when this is all said and done. As a warm front lifts northward, temperatures climb above freezing by daybreak Wednesday. This could transition these light snow showers to a light wintry mix before precipitation tapers off fully by the mid-to-late-morning.