Winter Storm Watch issued ahead of accumulating snow later this week

 

It looks like our snow drought may soon be ending as a more active pattern sets up across much of the country this week, bringing the Stateline a few chances for accumulating snow. The first will arrive late Monday night as a quick moving upper-level low zips across the Midwest. The Stateline remains split between the strongest forcing to the north and to the south, but a few flurries and/or light snow showers will be possible towards Midnight.

There is plenty of dry air to overcome in the low levels of the atmosphere, as indicated by our very dry dew point temperatures. But over time moisture will increase helping to erode away some of the dry air leading to scattered light snow showers. Where the snow does fall totals will range from a dusting up to a few tenths of an inch. While not much, it may be just enough to cause some isolated slick spots on the roads early Tuesday.

Tuesday afternoon will remain dry, but cloudy. Temperatures will be a bit cooler than Monday with highs in the mid-20s and a breeze from the northwest as our next storm system begins to take shape to our southwest.

A Winter Storm Watch has been issued for all of northern Illinois and some of southern Wisconsin beginning Wednesday morning and lasting through late Wednesday night. This is for the likelihood of impactful snow during the afternoon and evening. We are still 48 hours away from the main event, but the overall picture is starting to become a little clearer. As it looks Monday afternoon, light snow will begin to move in across northwest Illinois Wednesday morning, spreading east through Noon. Minimal impacts to the commute Wednesday morning are expected at this point. The main snow window will occur during the afternoon and evening where snowfall rates could approach half an inch to an inch per hour. This will likely cause impacts to both the afternoon and evening drive. 

It's still a bit too early to get into the specifics of snowfall totals, but the probability of snowfall over four inches has increased, with at least some confidence that totals over six inches may occur. So far this winter season our highest snowfall total came back on December 18th when 1.9 inches fell. 

Be sure to stay up to date on the forecast this week. Another storm system is forecast to move in late in the week and weekend. We'll also see a few bouts of colder air moving in which will bring overnight lows a few nights below zero.