Snow greets morning commuters Tuesday and is likely to fall steadily through mid-morning, producing accumulations of 1 to 3" before tapering to sporadic flurries by midday. It marks the 8th time measurable snow has fallen here this season. The system responsible is an offshoot of a much larger winter storm under development to the west. That system has prompted advisories and watches for wintry weather across sections of 17 states -- as far east as northwest Illinois and western Wisconsin.
It is likely to bring the Plains and western Midwest rapidly deteriorating conditions Wednesday and Thursday as snow and increasing winds crescendo into full-blown blizzard conditions. The region has the potential of receiving more than a foot of snow by week's end -- and includes sections of Nebraska, South Dakota, western Iowa and Minnesota. A multi-state area to the east -- including northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin and northern Indiana -- may be subject to a cocktail of sleet, freezing rain and snow beginning later Wednesday and Wednesday night until comparatively mild, moisture-laden winds off the Gulf of Mexico switch precipitation to all liquid Thursday.
Big winds on the way to Chicago with the approaching storm
Powerful winds gusting above 35 mph will begin sweeping the Chicago area from the east on Wednesday. The flow off mid-30-degree Lake Michigan waters is likely to limit the extent of freezing precipitation in the city and areas of northeast Illinois and Wisconsin immediately adjacent to the lake. But in sections of the metro area -- i.e. the west and northwest suburbs -- which lack access to lake warming, computer models suggest 8 to 12 hours with an icy mix of sleet, freezing rain and snow Wednesday night and possibly the first hours of Thursday.
Though a period of snow or mixed snow and sleet may occur on the front end of the wintry onslaught late Wednesday and Wednesday night, the presence of a layer of warm air aloft is to shut down the formation of the ice crystals which seed snowflakes, shifting precipitation to a mix of super-cooled water droplets -- consisting of liquid which is below freezing but freezes upon contact with cold outdoor surfaces -- and ice pellets. Such a set-up would be a recipe for some harrowing travel conditions away from the warmth of the lake and city Wednesday night.
Computer models suggest the water content of precipitation expected to fall in Chicago's between Wednesday and Christmas is to exceed 1.50" -- much of it to fall in some wind-driven downpours Thursday. By Christmas Day (Friday), the northeast-bound storm, expected to track well west of Chicago, should whip much colder air around its south flank and the metro area on howling southwest winds. Daytime temperatures are to tumble and are unlikely to emerge from the 20s this weekend.
Freezing rain occurs in Chicago an average of 6 to 8 hours a year
Freezing rain, while not a common phenomenon in Chicago, is not stranger either. Studies have shown the city can expect a period of freezing rain lasting 6 to 8 hours at some point in most cold seasons.
It is likely to bring the Plains and western Midwest rapidly deteriorating conditions Wednesday and Thursday as snow and increasing winds crescendo into full-blown blizzard conditions. The region has the potential of receiving more than a foot of snow by week's end -- and includes sections of Nebraska, South Dakota, western Iowa and Minnesota. A multi-state area to the east -- including northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin and northern Indiana -- may be subject to a cocktail of sleet, freezing rain and snow beginning later Wednesday and Wednesday night until comparatively mild, moisture-laden winds off the Gulf of Mexico switch precipitation to all liquid Thursday.
Big winds on the way to Chicago with the approaching storm
Powerful winds gusting above 35 mph will begin sweeping the Chicago area from the east on Wednesday. The flow off mid-30-degree Lake Michigan waters is likely to limit the extent of freezing precipitation in the city and areas of northeast Illinois and Wisconsin immediately adjacent to the lake. But in sections of the metro area -- i.e. the west and northwest suburbs -- which lack access to lake warming, computer models suggest 8 to 12 hours with an icy mix of sleet, freezing rain and snow Wednesday night and possibly the first hours of Thursday.
Though a period of snow or mixed snow and sleet may occur on the front end of the wintry onslaught late Wednesday and Wednesday night, the presence of a layer of warm air aloft is to shut down the formation of the ice crystals which seed snowflakes, shifting precipitation to a mix of super-cooled water droplets -- consisting of liquid which is below freezing but freezes upon contact with cold outdoor surfaces -- and ice pellets. Such a set-up would be a recipe for some harrowing travel conditions away from the warmth of the lake and city Wednesday night.
Computer models suggest the water content of precipitation expected to fall in Chicago's between Wednesday and Christmas is to exceed 1.50" -- much of it to fall in some wind-driven downpours Thursday. By Christmas Day (Friday), the northeast-bound storm, expected to track well west of Chicago, should whip much colder air around its south flank and the metro area on howling southwest winds. Daytime temperatures are to tumble and are unlikely to emerge from the 20s this weekend.
Freezing rain occurs in Chicago an average of 6 to 8 hours a year
Freezing rain, while not a common phenomenon in Chicago, is not stranger either. Studies have shown the city can expect a period of freezing rain lasting 6 to 8 hours at some point in most cold seasons.
My 9 y.o. son, Nicholas is a huge fan. He loves weather, and as far as he's concerned, you ARE weather. Today, as he prepared to open the Dec. 22nd window on our Advent calendar, my 5 y.o. daughter (who had already peeked) predicted there would be a picture of a moon, and when there was, said, "I told you so!" To which my son replied, "Amelia, YOU are not Tom Skilling! TOM SKILLING is Tom Skilling!" Evidently, she had trod too close to your territory for his liking. YOU are Tom Skilling, and you alone are in charge of The Elements.
So be confident in the knowledge that Nicholas has got your back.
Have a wonderful holiday,
Patricia, Homewood, IL
living near o'hare airport ican hear the planes coming in for a landing but are in cloud cover. where can i get information on the cieling of the clouds.