Wintry weather possible Wednesday and Thursday

 

As the colder air begins to settle in, we knew that the wintry weather was soon to follow. And that return looks to occur late in the day Wednesday, as well as Thursday morning. For the remainder of Tuesday, however, quiet and cloudy conditions can be expected.

An upper-level disturbance moving across the Plains Tuesday evening has brought back some cloud cover, as well as firing off a few very isolated showers currently in Iowa. As this system inches closer to the Stateline Tuesday night there remains a small chance for a shower or two during the pre-dawn hours of Wednesday. Temperatures through Tuesday night will hold steady in the upper 30s, warming to the mid-40s Wednesday afternoon before falling back with an even stronger push of cold air by the evening.

Now, while the drop in temperatures will be rather noticeable for us the next couple of days numbers really won't be too far off from where the average high should be for late November. The wind, however, will make it feel quite a bit cooler - especially Thursday.

We may see a little break in the cloud cover mid-day Wednesday, but the clouds will be quick to return as a series of upper-levels waves (or disturbances) move across the Great Lakes. One such wave is forecast to move Wednesday afternoon and evening. Initially, precipitation will likely start out as rain - or scattered rain showers - but will mix in with snow flurries/showers late in the afternoon and evening. Accumulations are not expected during this time, but the gusty Northwest wind may help drop visibility under a heavier snow burst during the evening.

There are likely to be a few snow flurries flying into the morning Thursday as an even stronger low-pressure system moves across the Great Lakes. Traveling from the northern Great Lakes down Lake Michigan Thursday morning, a strengthening low will cause Northwest winds to gust as high as 40 mph. Along with that, it is being likely that parts of the viewing area will see at least *some* accumulating snow. Most of these accumulations will take place on grassy surfaces due to warmer road temperatures, but if any heavier snow bands develop that may be enough to overcome some of the lesser traveled roads, resulting in some slush accumulating on the roadways.

As temperatures warm through the day Thursday any wintry weather will begin to mix with rain showers, leaving a rain/snow mix in the forecast through Thursday afternoon. Drier conditions will then be found into the day Friday.