A strong storm system will move into the Midwest this weekend,
bringing accumulating snowfall to central Illinois. When the early
morning statement was issued, the low pressure track of the system
was expected to be near the Illinois-Wisconsin border. Such a track
favors the heaviest snowfall to be across Wisconsin. However, wintry
weather will still make an impact across the area. This forecast
is for the counties of Knox, Stark, Peoria, Marshall, Woodford,
Fulton, Tazewell, McLean, Schuyler, Mason, Logan, DeWitt, Piatt,
Champaign, Vermilion, Cass, Menard, Scott, Morgan, Sangamon,
Christian, Macon, Moultrie, Douglas, Coles, Edgar, Shelby,
Cumberland, Clark, Effingham, Jasper, Crawford, Clay, Richland and
Lawrence, including the cities of Galesburg, Peoria, Bloomington,
Normal, Havana, Lincoln, Champaign, Urbana, Danville, Jacksonville,
Springfield, Taylorville, Decatur, Charleston, Mattoon, Shelbyville,
Effingham, Flora and Lawrenceville
While precipitation is expected to be in the form of rain on
Saturday, it will change to snow west of Interstate 55 during the
afternoon as sharply colder air moves in from the west. Light snow
will linger into Sunday. Current indications are that from 1 to 2
inches of snow are likely north of a Taylorville-to-Chrisman line,
with less than an inch farther south.
Despite the smaller accumulations of snow, there will be a
significant threat of blowing and drifting of the snow Saturday
night and Sunday as northwest winds gust from 30 to 40 mph.
[to top of second column] |
Also, bitterly cold temperatures behind this system will result
in wind chills well below zero Sunday night. In fact, wind chills of
between 5 below and 5 above will be common by late Saturday night
into Sunday morning.
Changes to the forecast track and timing of the system are still
possible, which may affect forecast snow amounts. Listen to NOAA
Weather Radio or broadcast media for the latest updates on this
system.
[Text from file received from
National Weather Service,
Lincoln office]
|