Winter Pattern Continues into the Weekend

A typical winter pattern is in place in the upper levels of the atmosphere, keeping chills in place over the Stateline. A northwest flow pattern aloft allows the chilly air mass to the north to spread south across the East Coast and through the Midwest, while the West Coast is dry and warm.

Temperatures under this chilly pattern will remain below average through the weekend, and into next week as well. Through Saturday temperatures will hover between five to ten degrees below the average. The average this time of year is between 34°-36° for northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin.

Not only does this flow pattern keep chilly winter temperatures around, but it also brings the threat for scattered flurry and snow chances into the forecast. Like this morning, tonight will feature another chance for flurries to fly. A weak disturbance will head south from Canada and move through the Plains, into Iowa, and then just south of the area. With that, there is just enough saturation occurring to allow for some flurries tonight into tomorrow morning. We won't see any accumulations with this.

There is a chance for accumulating snow by Saturday, though it looks to be relatively minor. Another, and more potent wave, will dive south from Canada and over the Great Lakes region. This will bring the clouds in by Friday, and the chance for light snow Friday night into Saturday morning. Again accumulations look to remain minor into the weekend, but it does depend on the position of the wave low. We will make sure to keep you posted if this changes as we get closer to the weekend.