But the weather Saturday may have come as a bit of a shock to some with the strong wind gusts and periodic snow squalls over Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. Visibility quickly dropped as the snow moved in, but just as quick as it arrived it was quick to leave. So, what caused Saturday's crazy weather?
An intense area of low pressure at the surface and aloft swept southward from Wisconsin into southern Michigan early Saturday afternoon. Just like with thunderstorms, this low generated just enough lift and instability in the atmosphere to produce snowfall Saturday morning but also those intense snow squalls during the afternoon. Following the low pressure system, sinking dry air brought strong winds aloft down to the surface causing wind gusts 50-55mph for a period during the afternoon.Winds have now begun to subside with the low sliding further east and high pressure moving in. Winds will pick back up Sunday, but this time from the southwest warming afternoon temperatures into the low 60's.
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