Mon-Tue, Jan 25-26th Winter Storm Update #1

(9:00PM - 1/22/21) A storm system is expected to move through the region, Monday through Tuesday. This winter storm is expected to bring accumulating snow to portions of the state. In addition to the snow, a corridor of accumulating sleet and ice is possible. ***Note: This is not to be mixed up with a separate disturbance which will bring a minor accumulating snow event to Northern Illinois, Saturday night into Sunday. That will be discussed in separate updates.***

Summary...
​Over the past several days model guidance has been honing in on the potential for a winter storm to affect the region, Monday through Tuesday morning. It is now looking likely that this winter storm will impact the state with accumulating snow, sleet and ice. However, there is still disagreement within model guidance regarding the track and strength of this system, which will affect the location of the snowfall axis and snowfall amounts...as well as sleet and ice location and amounts. It should be noted that through the day today, the amount of disagreement and uncertainty has within model guidance has narrowed. With that said, we will hold off on specific snow/sleet/ice totals and other specifics for now given the continued uncertainty and the fact we're still about 2 1/2 days away from the start of the event.

What we know....
-A storm system will move through the region Monday through Tuesday.
-Precipitation will spread across the state, Monday morning through Tuesday morning.
-An axis of snow/sleet/ice will slice across the state, with Northern and Central Illinois being favored at this time.
-Several inches of accumulating snow is likely where the main snowfall axis sets up.
-A corridor of accumulating sleet and ice is also expected, and the south end of the snowfall axis.

What we don't know...
-The exact track and strength of the storm system.
-The location of the snowfall axis, and expected snowfall amounts.

JP