Wednesday Morning Update:
10:25am Update: Just In:
The National Weather Service has canceled the Winter Weather Advisory for Chicago and surrounding areas. Threat for any impacting weather is really beginning to dwindle.
The Winter Weather Advisory that had been issued for DeKalb and McHenry counties Tuesday evening has been canceled. The Winter Storm Watch that had been issued for Chicago has been canceled and replaced with a Winter Weather Advisory.
Low pressure is currently lifting northeast through western Kentucky and Tennessee. Ongoing severe weather along the Gulf has played somewhat of a role in the slight forecast shift of the low pressure system to the east, but we're still going to feel some impacts of the storm as we go through the afternoon. The first biggest change to the forecast is that the impact out east for heavy, wet accumulating snow has gone down. Temperatures right now are in the mid 30's and will stay in the mid 30's through the morning and afternoon. There will still be a period of intense snow, but now it appears as if that will be more focused just south and east of Chicago. Travel will still be impacted especially if you're traveling south along I-39 into central Illinois or out east along I-57 and I-55 and I-94 into NW Indiana and Michigan.
Locally, the biggest threat for travelers this morning will be the fog. Locally dense fog has developed in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. By late morning, likely after 10am, and early afternoon, a light rain/snow mix will develop along and east of I-39 - including Rochelle, Rockford and Janesville. An upper level low swinging through around Noon today (indicated by the blue line on the image to the left) will keep the threat for the light wintry mix going into the afternoon. Currently, there are reports of drizzle, sleet and light snow within that trough in Wisconsin and Iowa. By the evening, temperatures will be cool enough to support flurries and light snow.
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Original Post:
A significant winter storm is poised to pass just east of the Stateline for Christmas Eve. If you're traveling to or out of Chicago on Wednesday, you're looking at some major travel woes.
Here's the timeline for how this storm will affect Rockford. We will have the chance for a rain/snow mix in the morning. By late morning or midday, that mix is expected to switch over to snow chances for the afternoon and evening.
Right now, it looks like a narrow band of wet, heavy snow will develop somewhere around the Chicagoland area Wednesday. Within that band, 3-7" could fall in a matter of hours. Fortunately, it looks like that band will stay to our east, but accumulating snow will be possible for the central and eastern portions of the viewing area.
The National Weather Service in Chicago has issued a Winter Storm Watch for the Chicagoland area. Snow could fall at a rate of 1-2" an hour, creating near whiteout conditions to go along with messy roadways.
Locally, McHenry and DeKalb counties will be under a Winter Weather Advisory. Wet, heavy snow could make for slow goings on the road, but snow totals are expected to be less than what we see in Chicago.
Here's the snow forecast as of Tuesday evening. Areas west of Rockford will see little to no accumulation. Areas along the I-39/90 corridor (including Janesville, Rockford and Rochelle) are looking at 1-2" of snow with 1-3" possible for areas east of Rockford. The far eastern portions of McHenry and DeKalb counties could see up to 5" of snow in spots.
Check back here for updates as this next winter storm gets closer. -BA
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