textproduct: Chicago

KEY MESSAGES

- Fluffy snow lingers through mid afternoon over northeast Lake County, IL with partially snow covered roads leading to slippery travel.

- Temperatures drop into the teens tonight with a gradual warming trend expected through the weekend into next week.

- Chance (20-30%) for a wintry mix across far northern IL Sunday evening.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 142 PM CST Thu Jan 1 2026

Through Friday:

Low-level dry air has proven formidable this afternoon keeping the snow mainly north of I-90 as opposed to getting as far south as Chicago. Where the fluffy snow has managed to reach the surface, roadways readily became at least partially snow covered given the cold temperatures, especially across northeast Lake County, IL. Any lingering snow is expected to gradually taper off over the next few hours as the weak disturbance continues to track southeast of Lake Michigan, with dry conditions then forecast areawide for the remainder of the evening.

Another chilly night is in store with temperatures forecast to drop into the teens across the area. There is the potential that some high clouds sneak into the southwest CWA which could limit cooling to the lower 20s but confidence in that timing is on the lower side. Friday looks quiet locally with temperatures warming into the mid to upper 20s with increasing high cloud cover expected through the afternoon associated with a disturbance tracking toward central/southern Illinois, which is expected to remain south of the area.

Petr

Friday Night through Thursday:

There is another weak clipper system that will be moving across the midwest Saturday into Saturday night. Appears the best chance of any light snow will remain north of the local area but will need to monitor trends for any possible light snow into far northeast IL. Temps will remain near or just below normal into Sunday when warm air advection begins with above normal temps expected for much of next week. The local area will be on the far southern end of a band of precipitation that develops later Sunday afternoon into Sunday evening. If precipitation does occur, it will probably be short in duration and also a wintry mix. The blended guidance has low chance pops generally along and north of I-88 Sunday evening and this seems reasonable. Confidence for precip types remains low, but freezing rain/snow is plausible and made no changes.

With the expected warmer temps, precip types later next week look to remain all rain though there is uncertainty for precip timing. Decent ensemble support for a system in the Thursday/ Thursday night time period, though there is still timing differences. Blended guidance continues chance pops on Thursday and made no changes. cms

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 142 PM CST Thu Jan 1 2026

Update to the previous Aviation Discussion:

Key messages:

* Chances for snow have diminished at the Chicago-area terminals due to dry low-level air. Some flurries possible through 22z, but significant vsby reductions and accums not expected.

* Small chance for MVFR cigs at times this evening/overnight, but chances too low for a mention.

Dry low-level air remains formidable, and has been deep enough to keep snow from reaching the ground. Have removed the IFR vsby mentions, but will hold onto a brief period of P6SM -SN to cover any flurry potential as the backside to the clipper rolls through.

Some MVFR cigs are possible this evening and overnight, but chances are too low to mention at this time. Otherwise, VFR conditions with generally W to NW winds expected through the period.

Carlaw

LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

IL...None. IN...None. LM...Small Craft Advisory until 3 PM CST this afternoon for Burns Harbor to Michigan City IN.