Snowflakes Possible in Chicago as Temperatures Drop This Weekend
CHICAGO — An incoming storm system is set to bring rain to the area late tonight into early morning Friday, according to the First Alert Weather team.
Most areas can expect around a quarter inch or less of rain before drying out around daybreak tomorrow, leaving Friday mostly sunny to partly cloudy with highs reaching the lower 60s. Winds will strengthen during the day, gusting up to 30 mph.
Temperatures will plunge this weekend, with Saturday’s highs only reaching the upper 40s to near 50 degrees. Rain is expected to arrive by late morning or midday, continuing through the afternoon. As temperatures drop in the evening, some of that rain may transition to snow, with minor slushy accumulations likely on grassy and elevated surfaces.
Sunday will be significantly colder, with high temperatures only in the 30s. Lake effect snow showers are possible both Sunday and Monday, although the exact timing and placement remain uncertain. Currently, Northwest Indiana may see the bulk of the snowfall, but parts of Northeast Illinois could experience a mix of rain and snow if winds shift.
The National Weather Service predicts temperatures in Chicago O’Hare will likely fall below freezing Sunday morning, marking the first freeze of the season more than two weeks later than average. Monday and Tuesday mornings are anticipated to bring even colder conditions, with lows in the 20s.
A developing low pressure system is expected to move toward the Chicago area from Nebraska. Clouds will thicken Saturday afternoon with rain filling in, eventually mixing with snow Saturday night. While accumulations are projected to be less than an inch, a second round of possible flurries is anticipated Sunday afternoon.
Travel impacts should remain minimal, as treated roadways are likely to stay wet rather than icy. Weather experts advise residents to anticipate changing conditions based on the storm’s track.
Looking ahead, warmer air is expected to arrive on Tuesday and Wednesday, with Veterans Day predicted to be mostly cloudy and a high in the mid-40s.
