Clipper to bring accumulating wet snow during Friday morning's commute

Thursday will be a textbook "calm before the storm" day as we await the arrival of Friday's troubling Alberta clipper system. 

Skies remain mostly cloudy for much of the day, with high temperatures peaking in the low 40s. On the plus side, winds won't be as much of an issue like they have been for the past 4-5 days.  

  

Earlier this morning, the National Weather Service placed counties hugging the Illinois/Wisconsin border under a WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.

For southern Wisconsin, Stephenson, and Jo-Daviess County, the advisory will run from 1AM-1PM Friday. For Boone, McHenry, and Winnebago County, this will run from 1AM to 4PM. 

 

The first half of the night will remain dry, with snow chances ramping up after midnight. Once snow begins, areas north of highway 20 will see several hours of wet snow which will likely last sunrise and into the mid-morning hours.

Areas mainly south of highway 20 won't see much during the first leg of the event. It won't be until the second batch of snow showers form where areas along and south of the highway will be begin to see a higher chance for snowfall.

If you have to be out for the morning commute, make sure to add a little extra time for travel.

Precipitation looks to be out of here Friday afternoon, leaving most who live in between I-88 and the IL/WI border in the 1"-4" range. Areas west and north of the Rockford metro have a much higher opportunity to see 4+" of snow, all depending on the placement of what's called a frontogenesis band. 

Embedded in this band are the heaviest snowfall rates (1.5" or higher), which lead to higher impacts and totals. Also mentioned is the potential for thundersnow. For the most part, guidance placed this band over our southern Wisconsin counties. HOWEVER, if this band were to shift slightly south, that would heighten the impacts for our far northern Illinois counties. Once Friday's clipper system moves out, we'll cool down for Saturday. Expect highs to only reach the upper 30s.