Winter storm takes aim on the south, Light snow for the Stateline

 

Winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories extend across the southern states from New Mexico all the way to the Carolinas as a sizeable winter storm moves across the country. Closer to home light snow showers can be expected late Thursday night and Friday morning.

For the remainder of Thursday evening clouds will continue to thicken from the west and southwest. Temperatures during the afternoon warmed into the low 30s, the warmest we've been so far this month. The high in Rockford reached 33 degrees. As clouds increase and southerly winds hold, overnight lows won't fall nearly as far as they have the last few nights. We'll remain in the low to mid 20s through the start of Friday.

Dry air ahead of the cold front to the west will limit the initial onset of wintry weather as moisture moves in from the south. Overtime we'll begin to see more saturation take place within the atmosphere, leading to light snow showers early Friday morning. Before that occurs, though, it is possible that some light freezing drizzle develops. This would occur after 1am, lasting for a couple hour window before the transition over to snow around sunrise.

Any untreated surfaces could become slick during the morning commute Friday, so a caution for those who will be driving. The snow will come to an end as the front moves from west to east during the morning with drier conditions Friday afternoon. There may be some scattered snow showers late in the evening. For most, snow totals will remain under an inch - ranging from a few tenths of an inch up to an inch southeast of Rockford.

Highs on Friday will warm to 30, dropping down to 16 Friday night. Saturday will remain dry, but a fast-moving clipper system Sunday could bring another round of light snow showers throughout the day.