Thursday Weather Update: Slick Roads Quickly Developing

7:53pm Update: Many reports of rain, snow, ice pellets and even freezing rain have been coming in this evening.  Untreated roads WILL become slick as temperatures are now just above freezing - 32 degrees.  Most of the precipitation is occurring north of Highway 38 at the moment, with areas like Rochelle, Dixon, DeKalb, Genoa and Paw Paw remaining dry.  As low pressure moves into central Illinois around Midnight, there may be an increase in some of the precipitation for our southern counties during the early overnight.

The first day of winter comes with a bit of wintry weather for northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin.  Low pressure currently moving through central Missouri will allow a mixture of rain and snow to spread northward into northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin during the evening.  Precipitation will be light, but may be enough to wet the roads and sidewalks.


Temperatures remain above freezing for most, but are falling near 32 degrees in Monroe and Freeport.  There has already been a report of light freezing drizzle occurring in Monroe, with a mixture of rain and snow in Ogle County.  Ice pellets are now falling outside the WTVO studio.


The mixture of rain/snow/sleet/ice pellets will continue through the evening, possibly mixing with freezing drizzle as temperatures fall closer to 32 degrees later in the evening and overnight.  Overall precipitation amounts will remain light, but if any freezing drizzle does occur it could cause some issues for drivers, especially on bridges, overpasses and untreated surfaces.  Light snow accumulations are possible for areas along and north of Highway 20.  Most amounts will remain under half an inch.