Early weather preview for Thanksgiving travels next week

 Holiday travel is right around the corner, and many might be checking the weather for an early look at how weather may play up leading up to Thanksgiving. Long story short, we have a couple weather systems to keep an eye on that may bring precipitation next week. We can identify these weather systems by subtle dips, or troughs in the jet stream. How deep the troughs dig will determine how much moisture and strength the systems have. The first system looks to arrive Sunday into Monday. At this time, there is little moisture along the first one, so any precipitation will be limited. 

Beyond the first system early Monday, we dry out for Tuesday into Wednesday, as temperatures drop day after day into the low 40s Monday and Tuesday, then upper 30s for highs Wednesday. Cloud cover remains thick, with subtle chances for rain early in the week. Play the video below for the current forecast from Monday to Wednesday.

While we see minimal impacts through the middle of the week, another weather system will develop into Wednesday or Thursday. Note this trough is a little deeper than the one mentioned above and therefore could draw more moisture with it. If this system were to track directly across Central Illinois, we could remain on the cool side with possible frozen precipitation chances Wednesday-on. There is still a lot of time for this to shift one way or another, so keep tuned to the forecast through the weekend!

Heavy, wet accumulating snow likely for parts of Northern Illinois Thursday

 

Scattered snow showers will continue Wednesday afternoon leading to some minor accumulations on grassy and elevated surfaces. While totals will remain rather light, slick conditions will be possible as temperatures fall below freezing overnight. The biggest impacts will occur on elevated surfaces, such as bridges and overpasses, but any untreated road could also become slick. Be sure to use caution if you're out this evening or early Thursday morning.

Another wave of snow is expected to return Thursday morning as strong low pressure moves down Lake Michigan during the morning and early afternoon. With this next round of snow northwest winds will be gusting to around 40 mph throughout the day.

Snow is expected to move back in after 8am Thursday, lasting through Noon before it mixes with rain showers that'll continue into the late afternoon. There could be a couple hour window during the morning where snowfall rates reach close to an inch per hour. This combined with the gusty winds will cause issues with visibility and could allow for some slushy accumulations to develop on the roads. At the height of the heaviest snow Thursday morning, visibility could drop to under half a mile, especially for areas in Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, and DeKalb counties.

The snow will be heaviest along and east of I-39 where the highest snowfall totals will occur. There, anywhere between 1-2 inches will fall, but that may not be what you measure on the ground due to some melting that will occur at onset. West of I-39 totals will range from a trace to an inch.

Whatever snow does come down during the morning will likely melt away by the evening as temperatures warm through the evening. Afternoon temperatures will warm near 40 but only drop to the upper 30s Thursday night.

Wind-whipped snow falling Wednesday afternoon

 

Colder air has been settling in from the west which has brought temperatures down from the 40s earlier in the day, now down into the low to mid-30s. West winds have also been gusting to around 35 mph.

Clouds were quick to clear following a weak disturbance Wednesday morning but were also quick to return during the afternoon. As a second cold front quickly races in from the west, scattered snow showers have developed across the region. These snow showers will continue to move across the area through the evening, with snow flurries likely continuing into the overnight.

Brief heavy bursts of snow can be expected, dropping visibility down to under a mile or two during the rest of the afternoon and evening. We've already seen this occur in some locations, with minor accumulations developing on grassy surfaces as a result. Any accumulations that do take place will remain minor, but with falling temperatures there could be some slick spots that develop - mostly on bridges and overpasses. Extra caution should be exercised if you're planning on traveling this evening.

Northern Illinois could see it's first accumulating snowfall Thursday morning

Rain chances and gusty winds have taken up most of the weather headlines this week.Wednesday begins on a very similar note, with mostly cloudy skies and a few rain showers.

These showers will be rather quick to to move out, bringing no impacts to the morning commute. On the backside of this morning's showers, cloud cover breaks apart, allowing a few peeks of sunshine to occur into the afternoon. 

This should help our daily highs climb into the mid 40s. But just as quick as the sun makes an appearance, cloud cover will gather back up this afternoon as our next cold front enters the equation. Along with the cloud cover will be the chance for sprinkles as well as the first snowflakes of the season. This shouldn't amount to anything, though some flakes may collect on your vehicle prior to hitting the roads this evening.

Road conditions will become a more important matter during the first half of Thursday. A much stronger and deeper low pressure system will slide southward into the Great Lakes, increasing our chance for snow showers and strong winds. 

Forecast models have been consistent, placing the highest chance for accumulating slushy snow across eastern and southeastern Wisconsin as well as areas east of Interstate 39.

As of this morning, only Walworth County has been placed under a Winter Weather Advisory. Under the advisory, 1"-2" of slushy, wet snow could fall, with amounts up to 1" for areas like Janesville, Beloit, Rockford, and Rochelle.

Road temperatures will play a role, though most of what falls will accumulate on grassy surfaces. If anything, visibility will be the main concern for those traveling. Regardless, you're going to want to add a few extra minutes for your morning routine for travel. Snow showers chances look to continue into the mid to late morning hours, followed by a transition to a scattered mix of rain and snow once temperatures get warm enough. Highs tomorrow will be restricted to the low 40s.

Wintry weather possible Wednesday and Thursday

 

As the colder air begins to settle in, we knew that the wintry weather was soon to follow. And that return looks to occur late in the day Wednesday, as well as Thursday morning. For the remainder of Tuesday, however, quiet and cloudy conditions can be expected.

An upper-level disturbance moving across the Plains Tuesday evening has brought back some cloud cover, as well as firing off a few very isolated showers currently in Iowa. As this system inches closer to the Stateline Tuesday night there remains a small chance for a shower or two during the pre-dawn hours of Wednesday. Temperatures through Tuesday night will hold steady in the upper 30s, warming to the mid-40s Wednesday afternoon before falling back with an even stronger push of cold air by the evening.

Now, while the drop in temperatures will be rather noticeable for us the next couple of days numbers really won't be too far off from where the average high should be for late November. The wind, however, will make it feel quite a bit cooler - especially Thursday.

We may see a little break in the cloud cover mid-day Wednesday, but the clouds will be quick to return as a series of upper-levels waves (or disturbances) move across the Great Lakes. One such wave is forecast to move Wednesday afternoon and evening. Initially, precipitation will likely start out as rain - or scattered rain showers - but will mix in with snow flurries/showers late in the afternoon and evening. Accumulations are not expected during this time, but the gusty Northwest wind may help drop visibility under a heavier snow burst during the evening.

There are likely to be a few snow flurries flying into the morning Thursday as an even stronger low-pressure system moves across the Great Lakes. Traveling from the northern Great Lakes down Lake Michigan Thursday morning, a strengthening low will cause Northwest winds to gust as high as 40 mph. Along with that, it is being likely that parts of the viewing area will see at least *some* accumulating snow. Most of these accumulations will take place on grassy surfaces due to warmer road temperatures, but if any heavier snow bands develop that may be enough to overcome some of the lesser traveled roads, resulting in some slush accumulating on the roadways.

As temperatures warm through the day Thursday any wintry weather will begin to mix with rain showers, leaving a rain/snow mix in the forecast through Thursday afternoon. Drier conditions will then be found into the day Friday. 

Skies clear briefly ahead of increasing cloud cover Tuesday night

 

After a cloudy and very windy start to Tuesday skies have been clearing for most of the afternoon, leading to the return of sunshine for many. Temperatures have remained above average, in the 50s, but are beginning to cool to the north and west as a second cold front moves in. As the front shifts from west to east this evening the cooler air will settle into the region, bringing temperatures into the 30s overnight.

The clear sky won't last as cloud cover moves back in this evening and overnight. As it does, temperatures will hold in the 30s through the night. A few isolated showers are possible after Midnight, and closer to 3am Wednesday but any accumulations are expected to remain minor and most of the rain will be done by sunrise.

Following cloud cover Wednesday morning skies will briefly clear before turning mostly cloudy heading into the afternoon and evening. This will bring in a few scattered rain showers, possibly mixed in with snow showers through the evening.  

Gusty winds stay put, wintry mix a possibility into Thursday

You may have had trouble sleeping last night as winds were roaring from start to finish. In the end, most locales fell in the 35-45 mph range when it came to observed peak wind gust. 

Expect more of the same this morning as west and southwest winds remain strong. As low pressure pulls away, winds will gradually decrease this afternoon, landing in the 20-30 mph range. We also hold on to a mostly cloudy sky. That, along with today's wind will hold temperatures in the upper 50s.

Skies cloud back over overnight which may lead to a stray shower or two by sunrise. However, the focus will slowly turn from gusty winds to potentially our first snowflakes of the season.

Winds stay breezy Wednesday, though they will be blowing out of the west-northwest. This will bring afternoon highs down 10°-15° from today's highs, landing most in the mid 40s. Forecast models then show a some moisture accompanying the rush of cold air that occurs ahead of the secondary low.

This may result in a few late-day sprinkles, possibly the first flurries of the season. A scattered mix chance remains in place overnight into Thursday as a stronger system slides into the Great Lakes. The heaviest precipitation with this system will be confined to areas along and east of I-39, though we'll have to watch trends. Afternoon highs will continue to cool, landing in the upper 30s and low 40s. High pressure builds into Friday, resulting in less wind and less of a chance for wintry precipitation.