UPDATED POST: Thursday, December 15, 2016, 4:20 p.m.
As the bitter cold temperatures and wind chills from Thursday morning eases, we’re getting closer to our next winter storm.
A “Winter Weather Advisory” has now been issued for Friday evening through midnight Saturday for all of the Mississippi and Illinois Valleys.
While there may be some light snow tonight to the west and northwest of the Quad Cities, our snow storm kicks in Friday afternoon and evening.
By Friday night, while it remains snow across our northern hometowns, the snow will mix with or change to freezing rain through Saturday morning in our southern hometowns. We’ll likely see a light accumulation of ice there.
The heaviest of the snow will come Saturday afternoon into the evening hours. The snow will end before midnight Saturday.
Accumulations will be higher north (4″ or so). I’m still thinking 2-4″ in the Quad Cities and along Interstate 80 with 1-2″ in our southern hometowns.
Join me for “Local 4 News This Morning” Friday from 5-7 a.m. for the very latest.
Anthony
UPDATED POST: Thursday, December 15, 2016, 12:44 p.m.
A “Winter Weather Advisory” goes into effect at noon Friday and runs through 6 p.m. Saturday for Clinton and Jackson counties in Iowa and for Carroll, Jo Daviess, and Whiteside counties in Illinois.
Early projected snowfall totals and storm timing details are in the text below.
By the way, the “Wind Chill Advisory” has expired.
Anthony
ORIGINAL POST: Thursday, December 15, 2016, early morning
There are many weather concerns that we’ll be dealing with over the next several days.
A “Wind Chill Advisory” in effect through 10 a.m. today for much of the Mississippi and Illinois Valleys. While temperatures will drop to around zero to -5° Thursday morning, it’ll feel more like -15° to -30°.
Our next winter storm begins to affect some of our northern and western hometowns later tonight with some light snow. While this will cause some slick spots, accumulations will be on the low side.
The snow really kicks in Friday afternoon into Friday night and early Saturday. There are indications that enough warm air will be pulled into this system south and east of the Quad Cities to cause the snow to change over to sleet and then freezing rain.
As you know, ice accumulations on the roadways, trees, and power lines are much worse than just snow.
This wintry mix will change back over to snow Saturday afternoon. Across our northern hometowns, this event will likely be all snow.
Now let’s talk about possible snow accumulations.
I advise you to keep up on the latest forecast because these numbers could change or shift north or south depending on the path of the storm and how much warm air is brought into the system.
I think the heaviest snow will be 4″ or more from around Clinton, Iowa, to Sterling, Illinois, northward.
Along Interstate 80 and in the Quad Cities, I think 2-4″ of snow will accumulate.
South of the Quad Cities from around Burlington, Iowa, to Monmouth and Galesburg, Illinois, an inch or two will fall. This area may also see some ice accumulation.
Once this storm departs Saturday night, bitterly cold and dangerously low temperatures will return.
When you wake up Sunday and Monday mornings, lows will be about -10° in the Quad Cities and even colder to the north. When you add in the wind, wind chills could be as low as -20° to -40°. It only takes a short period of time outdoors for frostbite to set in.
Highs Sunday will likely stay below zero to the north and near zero in the Quad Cities.
Later next week, temperatures will rebound to the 20s and 30s.
Again, keep up on the latest forecast with this incoming winter storm.
Anthony
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