A wet, wind-driven snowfall appears a good bet for areas to the west and northwest of Chicago Wednesday night. The transition from a cold rain to wet snow or a mixture of snow, sleet and rain, could begin in far western locations as early as late Wednesday afternoon. Farther east, there is greater uncertainty whether snow will end up accumulating, though there is the expectation the cold rain which is to fall much of the day will eventually change—even if temporarily—to some snow or flurries Wednesday night.
Warm ground and mild lake water temps typically provide an unfriendly environment for late autumn’s first snow systems. In the weather situation predicted to come together Wednesday night, communities in McHenry, Boone, Kane and DeKalb counties appear most likely to experience some accumulation. It’s a development which would lead to this area’s first Thanksgiving in 3 years to boast a snow cover.
--By Tom Skilling, WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist
