Snow moves into northern Illinois Thursday evening, slow commute Friday morning

 

Cloud cover thickens up ahead of the first of several low-pressure systems that'll move into the Great Lakes over the next few days. With each passing low, scattered snow showers will occur with minor accumulations expected through the weekend.

TONIGHT:

For the rest of Thursday evening skies will remain cloudy ahead of a warm front that'll move through northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Snow showers have developed along and ahead of the front in eastern Iowa over the last couple of hours. There still remains some low-level dry air but that will soon be overcome, allowing the snow to reach the ground. In fact, where the snow has started to fall in Iowa visibility has fallen to under a mile. These conditions can be expected locally as the snow band moves into northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin within the next hour or two.

The snow will last for a few hour period at any one given location before coming to an end, or at least to flurries, around Midnight. With a small push of dry air briefly moving in it is possible that a narrow window of freezing drizzle could occur. The chance for that is low, but something we'll keep an eye on through the night. Temperatures will fall just a bit this evening before rising into the mid-20s Friday morning.

FRIDAY:

Following a brief break from the snow Thursday night we'll see snow showers return very early Friday morning. These will be ahead of a cold front that'll move from west to east across the Stateline during the morning. Pockets of steady snow will occur through the morning, mostly before 10am, and will likely have an impact on the morning commute. Reduced visibility and slick conditions will be possible so allow yourself a little extra time for the morning drive. In total, it looks like half an inch up to an inch will fall between Thursday night and Friday morning.

Temperatures will be at their warmest point Friday afternoon, rising into the low to mid 30s. But an even stronger cold front will push through Friday evening between 5pm and 8pm causing temperatures to drop once again Friday night. Scattered snow showers will occur along the front, causing some issues with reduced visibility and slick road conditions. Minor accumulations will be possible of a dusting, up to around an inch by Friday night. Temperatures will fall into the low teens overnight with wind chills dropping below zero Saturday morning.

SATURDAY and SUNDAY:

We'll remain within a deep trough of low pressure throughout the weekend as several more low-pressure systems skirt across the northern Great Lakes. As each low moves through, we'll see at least scattered snow flurries/showers throughout the weekend. Temperatures will remain cold through the weekend with highs only warming into the upper teens. The snow chance will decrease through Saturday night and into Sunday, with cloud cover clearing out Sunday morning. This will allow temperatures to drop back into the low single digits. Skies will turn mostly cloudy again on Sunday as winds shift back to the southwest. We may also see a few scattered snow flurries through Sunday afternoon and evening. In total, snowfall amounts between 1-3 inches will likely from what comes down Thursday night through Saturday evening.

Following yet another cold front Sunday night temperatures will plummet, dropping to their lowest out of this cold stretch Monday morning. Wind chills could drop as low as -20 degrees with highs Monday struggling to make it much above 10 degrees.