Wintry Weather Returns as Early as Sunday Night

The last week of December, and 2015, will not only be turning colder but also a little more active - with more wintry weather than rainy weather.

And it all starts this weekend.  Saturday morning clouds will continue to increase as temperatures gradually rise into the middle 30's.  This as moisture is pulled northward from the Gulf of Mexico.  If you're heading out Saturday morning, be prepared for fog and drizzle.  There could even be a few light rain showers. 

The rain will increase a little during Saturday afternoon, but it looks like the more steady rain will arrive Saturday evening into Saturday night.  Temperatures will be in the upper 30's, so it will be a chilly rain that falls. 

Some of those showers will last through early Sunday, with skies staying cloudy Sunday afternoon.  Strong high pressure will build across Minnesota and Wisconsin Sunday.  This will hold temperatures down in the middle 30's, but with a strong northeast wind through the day it will feel much more blustery.  The northeast wind will also cause a layer of drier air to move in over southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois.  This will be a key element in our precipitation that is expected to develop by Monday morning.

Low pressure will move in from the south, lifting north from Arkansas to Missouri Monday morning and into Wisconsin by Monday night.  With this type of winter storm track, it would favor more of a wintry mix for northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin.  Meaning a chance for sleet and freezing rain, with the possibility of minor ice accumulation for Monday morning.

The forecast, as of Friday night, would favor a snow/sleet mix closer to the Mississippi River with a sleet/rain/freezing rain mix over northern Illinois by Monday morning.  A very slow rise in temperatures above freezing (32 degrees) would change any frozen precipitation over to rain before switching back to a freezing rain/snow mixture by Monday night.  With this winter storm event still about 60 hours away, there is time for this track - and forecast - to change.  There has already been a slight shift of the low pressure system to the west which could mean a slight increase in surface temperatures over the area.  This would slowly eat away at our wintry mix potential leaving us with a higher chance for rain.

Either way, if you're returning back to work or have family heading home know that the weather will likely be a high impact for travelers.  Be sure to stay up-to-date with the weather this weekend!