textproduct: Central Illinois

KEY MESSAGES

- Windy and sharply colder conditions will prevail today with temperatures falling into the 20s and lower 30s during the afternoon.

- A passing weather disturbance will bring a period of light snow Thursday night. The 00z LREF indicates a 30-40% chance of greater than 1 inch of snow along and north of a Macomb to Tuscola line.

- Another surge of very cold air will arrive by the weekend. Highs will only reach the teens and 20s while overnight lows dip into the single digits both Saturday and Sunday.

LONG TERM

(Thursday through Tuesday) Issued at 357 AM CST Wed Jan 14 2026

High pressure will build into the region on Thursday, providing mostly sunny and cold conditions with highs in the upper 20s to around 30 degrees. As the high shifts eastward into the Ohio River Valley, the next in a series of short-wave troughs will quickly approach from the northwest by Thursday night. The trough will enhance WAA on the back side of the departing high and will trigger a band of light snow that will likely lead to a minor accumulation by Friday morning. While this will not be a significant snow event and it is still too early to pinpoint exact amounts, the 00z LREF indicates a 30-40% chance of greater than 1 inch of snow along and north of a Macomb to Tuscola line...but a less than 10% chance of more than 2 inches. The snow will taper off and come to an end early Friday morning as the strongest lift shifts east of the region. In addition, surface temperatures warming back into the upper 30s to around 40 degrees will lead to melting of any snow that manages to accumulate.

Yet another short-wave trough is progged to dive southward out of Canada...further sharpening the prevailing upper trough east of the Rockies this weekend. As it arrives, it will help pull another surge of even colder air into Illinois. A few snow showers will accompany this feature on Saturday: however, the main weather story will be the cold. Highs will drop into the upper teens and lower 20s on Saturday and Sunday...while overnight lows plunge into the single digits. While some moderation in temperature is expected by early next week, teleconnections and medium range computer guidance suggest below normal temperatures will linger through the end of the month.

Barnes

AVIATION

(For the 12z TAFs through 12z Thursday Morning) Issued at 555 AM CST Wed Jan 14 2026

A cold front continues to advance steadily eastward through central Illinois early this morning. 11z/5am winds are generally gusting 20-25kt: however, upstream gusts across Iowa have increased to 30-35kt...and this higher momentum air will be spilling into the area over the next 2-3 hours. Based on HRRR wind gust forecast, have increased the gusts to over 30kt at KPIA by 14z, then further east to KCMI by around 16z. The strong/gusty winds will prevail through the afternoon and evening before decreasing to 10-15kt toward midnight. MVFR ceilings are currently in the process of temporarily scattering: however, additional low clouds evident on satellite imagery across Wisconsin/northern Illinois will settle southward this morning. A few snow-showers will be observed as well...particularly along/northeast of a KBMI to KDEC line where visbys may be temporarily reduced to 2-3 miles between 14z and 18z. Once the snow-showers depart, clouds will persist across east-central Illinois until sunset...followed by a return to clear skies everywhere tonight.

Barnes

ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.