Thursday morning update

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11:20am Update:  Blizzard conditions are expected to move east of the Mississippi River between Noon and 2pm this afternoon and continue east towards Chicago after 4pm.  Temperatures are already beginning to cool and as winds shift around to the northwest they will pull even cool air over the Stateline.  A mix of rain/sleet/snow may occur before a complete change to snow.  Visibility in Iowa where the wind has picked up and the snow has fallen have been reduced to les than a quarter mile and snowfall rates near 1" per hour.  Again, travel will become difficult through the afternoon and evening with the strong winds and possibly icy roadways.


Earlier Update:

Blizzard Warnings have been extended further east this morning to include Stephenson, Carroll, Whiteside, Winnebago, Boone, Ogle and Lee counties.  These will go into effect at Noon and last through midnight tonight.
Don't be fooled by the rain falling this morning because the snow will come by this afternoon.  Rain will continue through the morning with temperatures beginning in the upper 30s to low 40s.  As cold air wraps in from west to east the transition to snow will begin to take place during the afternoon and last through the evening.  The snowfall forecast hasn't changed much from the previous forecast but I have noticed a dry-slot wrapping around the low that currently sits near St. Louis, MO.  Once the low moves into Illinois around noon today there may be a lull in the precipitation before the snow begins to fall.  As we've been talking about all week the biggest concern with this storm will be the wind.  Sustained winds around 30-40 mph will gust as high as 50 mph through the evening.  Even if a few inches of snow only fall the strength of the wind could cause near blizzard like conditions and that's why Blizzard Warnings have been issued.

One concern I do have with the rain falling this morning is that when temperatures begin to drop and the snow begins to fall it could create some slicks spots on roadways.  Again, look for rain to continue through noon today with a changeover to snow from west to east into the afternoon.  Winds will pick up from the north and northwest with gusts as high as 50 mph which will cause lowered visibility as the snow falls.  Roads may be icy late tonight and early tomorrow until the snow ends around midnight tonight.