Pleasant forecast for Friday, January 5, 2024; snow after midnight. YouTube Tips ⓘ
Another pleasant day for early January on this Friday, January 5, 2023. The NWS Chicago O’Hare office reached a high of 37°F, which was a little higher than forecast.
Regarding hazardous weather potential, there is a limited snow risk overnight Friday to Saturday. Snow will move over the region tonight, with the highest coverage near Interstate 55. Accumulations of 1-3 inches will likely lead to slick travel into Saturday morning.
The forecast for Arlington Heights is 1.3 inches between 12:00 a.m. Saturday and noon Saturday. Then an additional 0.1 inch is expected with intermittent snow showers between noon Saturday and 12:00 a.m. Sunday.
A strong winter storm system with an uncertain storm track is still in the forecast for Monday night into Tuesday.
Weather Radar shows precipitation moving north-northeast toward Chicagoland from north central Illinois, central Illinois and southern Illinois.
See also Arlingtoncardinal.com/clouds
A round of snow is expected tonight into Saturday. Accumulations in the 1 to 3 inch range are expected with the highest amounts near the I-55 corridor. Prepare for slippery travel and reduced visibilities Saturday AM. #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/ZxP8e6GZPD
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) January 5, 2024
Snow is expected to develop overnight thru mid-Sat AM. 1-2" for most areas, locally up to 3" around the I-55 corridor thru Sat AM with intermittent waves of light snow through Sun AM. The next system approaches Monday night. #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/Me26hkwdtn
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) January 5, 2024
O’HARE FORECAST …
Friday: Partly sunny to mostly cloudy, with a high near 36. South to southeasts wind around 3 to 8 mph.
Friday Night: Snow, mainly after 3am. Low around 29. East southeast wind around 5 mph, with gusts as high as 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Total nighttime snow accumulation of around an inch possible.
Saturday: Snow, mainly before noon. Patchy fog after noon. High near 33. East southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of snow. Patchy fog before midnight. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 31. West wind around 5 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of snow showers before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 36. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39.
Monday Night: Snow, mainly after midnight. Low around 33. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Tuesday: Rain and snow. Cloudy, with a high near 37. Breezy.
Tuesday Night: Snow likely, possibly mixed with rain before midnight, then a chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 29. Blustery.
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 34.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25.
Thursday: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 32.
Thursday Night: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23.
Friday: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 32.
LAKE TEMPS …
SOUTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN WATER TEMPERATURES
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
901 AM CST Fri Jan 5 2024
LAKE MICHIGAN WATER TEMPERATURES…
CHICAGO SHORE………..39.
CHICAGO CRIB…………40.
MICHIGAN CITY………..39.
SOUTH MID LAKE BUOY…..43.
&&
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 THE WATER SURFACE. IT IS READ EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR.
january.chicagoweatherstation.com
Chicago Weather Forecast for your MAC/PC/TABLET includes surrounding suburbs.
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Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville, IL
307 PM CST Fri Jan 5 2024
.SHORT TERM… Issued at 223 PM CST Fri Jan 5 2024
Through Sunday…
Key Messages:
* A passing upper-level wave will support a period of snow overnight.
* Total accumulations of 1 to locally 3 inches are expected from around midnight to daybreak, centered around Interstate 55
* Intermittent snow showers will continue throughout the day on Saturday, though no additional snow accumulations are expected owing to surface temperatures near or just above freezing.
Discussion:
Regional satellite imagery depicts an approaching upper-level low over the mid-Mississippi River Valley with a plume of low-to mid- level moisture extending northward from the lower Mississippi River Valley into far southern Illinois. With upper-level forcing arriving before the low-level moisture, early radar returns this evening across central and eventually northern Illinois will depict largely virga. However, with time, top-down saturation and the arrival of the low-level moisture plume will allow for snow to reach the ground, sometime in the 11 pm to 1 am time frame. Thereafter, forcing by virtue of the passing upper-level wave, ephemeral f-gen, and hints of weak instability in the DGZ will support a 4 to 6 hour period of somewhat steady snow.
In terms of snowfall accumulation, the latest high resolution model guidance continues to advertise anywhere from 0.15 to 0.25″ of QPF centered near or just west of Interstate 55. There will likely be sharp west and east edges to the QPF axis, possible near or just northwest of Rockford and southeast of Valparaiso, respectively. Cobb snow ratio output near 9:1 appears reasonable given modest lift within a 4-6kft deep DGZ, leading to a swath of 1 to locally 3 inches of snow. While the snow will fall during a period where traffic is typically low, ground temperatures will be below freezing and support accumulations on roadways. As a result, any untreated roadway overnight may become slick.
After daybreak, snow will taper from west to east while temperatures climb to right around or just above freezing. Thus, while residual upper-level vort maxes passing overhead will support intermittent snow showers and flurries throughout the day, no additional accumulations are expected from mid-morning onward. A weak surface reflection of the upper-level low will slide through the area during the day leading to slackening winds. As a result, areas of fog may develop by tomorrow afternoon between showers (especially if temperatures nudge above freezing allowing for snow to begin melting). Flurries may continue into Sunday morning, as well, before a lingering stratus deck becomes too shallow for precip.
— Borchardt/NWS Chicago