Winter Weather Advisory
Cloudy skies kept temperatures a little warmer at 31°F overnight Wednesday to Thursday. In the past several hours the forecast for Thursday’s snow has gone back and forth on whether precipitation will begin with light rain or drizzle before the snow begins. At 4:00 a.m. the forecast indicates precipitation will begin with light rain or drizzle at about 9:00 a.m. Thursday.
Thursday’s snow forecast has two issues that complicate the forecast in Arlington Heights and the northwest suburbs.
First, warm temperatures may prevent snow from accumulating on paved surfaces at the onset of snowfall. While 3.1 inches of snow is forecast to accumulate between 12:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. on snow covered (non-paved areas), the snow accumulation on previously shoveled, paved areas may be delayed, resulting in significantly less snow accumulation on paved surfaces. Snow might not start start accumulating on streets, sidewalks and driveways until about 1:00 p.m. or 2:00 p.m. The forecast snowfall onset timing also trended later from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the past several hours.
Second, temperatures are forecast to drop suddenly after 7:00 p.m. which could cause wet snow accumulation to suddenly freeze or “flash freeze.” The “flash freeze” could make a difficult time for snow shovelers who wait too long to shovel. If wet snow turns to hard ice on driveways before snow shoveling is completed, clearing the ice crusts could be difficult.
The “Flash Freeze” may also make travel hazardous as bridge surfaces and other road surfaces freeze, and plow and salt truck personnel have difficulty keeping up with road treatment as temperatures plunge.
Air temperatures will be less than 20°F by midnight Thursday/Friday with a Wind Chill of about zero.
Winds will be from the south early on Thursday, and gusts will pick up after 8:00 a.m. The onset of “Flash Freeze” winds will shift from the west starting about 7:00 p.m. or 8:00 p.m. Peak wind gusts near 45 MPH will occur from about 9:00 p.m. to midnight. Wind gusts over 20 MPH from the west will continue all day Friday when a high of 16°F is forecast and wind chill will remain below zero all day. Except for a high of 22°F Monday, February 8, 2021, high temperatures are forecast to be limited to the teens through Friday, February 12, 2021.
Blowing snow with limited visibility will also be a travel hazard.
Weather Radar in northeast Illinois shows precipitation moving west to east, passing the Mississippi River and Peoria at 4:20 a.m.
Behind Thursday night's cold front, temperatures will plummet with highs in the teens and single digits and sub-zero overnight lows with even colder wind chills expected by the weekend. Periods of light-moderate accum snow also appear likely during this time frame. #ilwx #inwx pic.twitter.com/qCPIcwRYJJ
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) February 3, 2021
Snow will move over the area Thu, possibly starting as freezing rain or a wintry mix at first, before changing to all snow and increasing in intensity into Thu. afternoon and evening. Blowing snow will also contribute to reduced visibilities, especially in open areas. #ilwx #inwx pic.twitter.com/8xPMioblRg
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) February 3, 2021
The favored area for the highest snow accumulations Thursday into Friday AM will be north of I-80, particularly in interior northern IL. With accumulating snow likely & 40+ mph wind gusts facilitating the potential for blowing snow, plan accordingly for travel impacts #ilwx #inwx pic.twitter.com/uGnNPIbXhm
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) February 3, 2021
O’HARE FORECAST …
Winter Weather Advisory in effect from February 4, 11:00 AM CST until February 5, 12:00 PM CST
Today: Rain, snow, freezing rain, and sleet likely before noon, then rain and snow between noon and 1pm, then snow after 1pm. The snow could be heavy at times. High near 36. Breezy, with a south southeast wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Little or no ice accumulation expected. Total daytime snow and sleet accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.
Tonight: Snow, mainly before 11pm. Patchy blowing snow after 7pm. Low around 11. Wind chill values as low as -7. Windy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph increasing to 25 to 30 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Friday: Flurries likely. Areas of blowing snow. Cloudy, with a high near 16. Wind chill values as low as -8. Breezy, with a west wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 4. Wind chill values as low as -10. Breezy, with a west wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Saturday: Snow likely after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 11. West wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: A 50 percent chance of snow before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around -2.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of snow after noon. Partly sunny and cold, with a high near 9.
Sunday Night: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 5.
Monday: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 20.
Monday Night: Snow likely, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 11.
Tuesday: A slight chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 18.
Tuesday Night: A slight chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 3.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 14.
LAKE TEMPS …
SOUTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN WATER TEMPERATURES
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
908 AM CST Wed Feb 3 2021
LAKE MICHIGAN WATER TEMPERATURES…
CHICAGO SHORE………38.
CHICAGO CRIB……….35.
MICHIGAN CITY……….33.
&&
M IS FOR MISSING DATA THAT IS NORMALLY AVAILABLE.
THE MICHIGAN CITY WATER TEMPERATURE SENSOR IS LOCATED AT A WATER INTAKE ONE MILE OFFSHORE AND 60 FEET BELOW WATER SURFACE. IT IS READ EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR.
february.chicagoweatherstation.com
Chicago Weather Forecast for your MAC/PC/TABLET includes surrounding suburbs.
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