After holding in the 30s overnight, temperatures started to drop about 4:00 a.m. Winds were in process of shifting to westerly and picking up just before 5:00 a.m. as a cold front sweeps across the area. Forecast bufkit soundings from NAM, GFS, and HRRR all show mean mixed layer winds in the 30-33 kt all day, which suggests that prevailing gusts today should settle mostly in the 35 to just over 40 mph range. While gusts look to predominantly be below the 45 mph wind advisory threshold, peak mixed layer winds suggest there will probably be some sporadic gusts getting into the 45-50 mph range despite the weakening pressure rises and expected cloud cover. Winds and gustiness should quickly subside at sunset.
BUFKIT A software tool used by forecasters to examine the vertical profile and other aspects of the atmosphere
Regarding the Winter Weather Advisory. Snow will be light with less than a quarter inch, but the hazard will be reduced visibility from the falling snow and the blowing of snow that is already fallen. Arlington Heights snow accumulation forecast is only 0.1″ but snow will be in the air all day until just before midnight.
Hazardous road conditions from blowing snow and drifting across roadways are forecast to worsen away from the City of Chicago and nearby suburbs. The worst conditions are expected in most of McHenry county and west, most of Kane County and west, most of Kendall County and west, most of Grundy County and west, and southwest Will County. The primary hazard in Chicago and near communities such as Arlington Heights will be slip and falls from ice covered with “snow dust” on sidewalks, driveways and parking lots.
Weather Radar shows classic horizontal convective rolls signature on Davenport’s radar with fingers of more robust snow showers interspersed among flurries.
See also Arlingtoncardinal.com/clouds
Winter Weather Advisory URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Chicago IL 356 AM CST Wed Jan 5 2022
ILZ013-103>108-INZ001-002-051800- /O.CON.KLOT.WW.Y.0001.000000T0000Z-220106T0000Z/ DuPage-Northern Cook-Central Cook-Southern Cook-Northern Will- Southern Will-Eastern Will-Lake IN-Porter- Including the cities of Naperville, Wheaton, Downers Grove, Lombard, Carol Stream, Evanston, Des Plaines, Schaumburg, Palatine, Northbrook, Chicago, Cicero, Oak Lawn, Oak Park, La Grange, Calumet City, Oak Forest, Lemont, Orland Park, Park Forest, Joliet, Bolingbrook, Plainfield, Mokena, Channahon, Manhattan, Wilmington, Crete, Peotone, Beecher, Gary, Hammond, Merrillville, Portage, Valparaiso, and Chesterton 356 AM CST Wed Jan 5 2022
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING…
* WHAT…Patchy blowing and drifting snow in open areas. West winds occasionally gusting up to around 45 mph. In addition, scattered snow showers could result in locally reduced visibilities and potentially a coating of snow.
* WHERE…Portions of northwest Indiana and northeast Illinois.
* WHEN…Until 6 PM CST this evening.
* IMPACTS…Hazardous travel conditions are possible, particularly in open areas on north south roads where unobstructed western exposure allows snow to blow across the roadway.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Slow down and use caution while traveling.
In Illinois, the latest road conditions for Illinois can be obtained on the internet at www.gettingaroundillinois.com. In Indiana, the latest road conditions for Indiana are available by calling 1-800-261-7623.
Significant blowing and drifting snow is expected particularly in the areas in red on the map, where there could be localized near white out ground blizzard conditions in open areas. Travel will be hazardous today, particularly in open and rural areas. #ilwx #inwx pic.twitter.com/ajki4i8sGi
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) January 5, 2022
Strong winds today will gust between 35 and 45 mph, with occasional gusts as strong as 45 to 50 mph possible. These winds will combine with temps in the teens to send wind chills tumbling to below zero. pic.twitter.com/z8ON8IKn2j
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) January 5, 2022
O’HARE FORECAST …
Today: Occasional light snow with scattered snow showers. Patchy blowing snow. Temperature falling to around 15 by noon. Wind chill values as low as -4. Windy, with a west wind 25 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Tonight: A chance of flurries before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 6. Wind chill values as low as -5. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph decreasing to 10 to 15 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.
Thursday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 15. Wind chill values as low as -5. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 1. Wind chill values as low as -11. West northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 16. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south southwest in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 7.
Saturday: A slight chance of snow and sleet before 1pm, then a slight chance of freezing rain and sleet between 1pm and 2pm, then a slight chance of rain after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 36. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Saturday Night: A chance of rain before 1am, then a slight chance of rain and snow between 1am and 5am, then a slight chance of snow after 5am. Cloudy, with a low around 25.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 29.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 5.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 14.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 0.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 23.
LAKE TEMPS …
SOUTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN WATER TEMPERATURES
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
905 AM CST Tue Jan 4 2022
LAKE MICHIGAN WATER TEMPERATURES…
CHICAGO SHORE……….41.
CHICAGO CRIB……….40.
MICHIGAN CITY……….40.
&&
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.
january.chicagoweatherstation.com
Chicago Weather Forecast for your MAC/PC/TABLET includes surrounding suburbs.
^^ MOBILE? USE VOICE MIC ^^
facebook …
Please ‘LIKE’ the ‘Arlington Cardinal Page. See all of The Cardinal Facebook fan pages at Arlingtoncardinal.com/about/facebook …
Help fund The Cardinal Arlingtoncardinal.com/sponsor
20240105-1435future