10/31 Rare October Snowstorm Threatens Halloween Activities

​After a several hour period of moderate to heavy snow earlier this morning across portions of western Illinois on northeast into northern Illinois and the Chicago metro area that dropped a few inches of snow, temperatures have warmed with rain now being the dominant precipitation type, where it is still raining. Going forward a dry period will work its way into much of the state as I dig into the latest along with what to expect with for Halloween tomorrow as some towns and cities are already postponing trick-or-treating due to the cold and snow expected. 

Our upper level low continue to inch closer to the Midwest and here in Illinois and is currently ejecting out into the plains early this afternoon. It will then turn more east and ENE later today and tonight ahead of moving into our region. 

The image below is valid at 6pm this evening, showing nearly all of Illinois void of any precipitation as a good chunk of tonight will be dry. However, after about 7pm or so, widespread precipitation will develop to our west in response to the upper level low coming east into the Midwest. You'll see an animation of this below.

The loop below runs from 6pm this evening through 8pm tomorrow morning, showing precipitation blossoming to our west late tonight. As colder air works its way eastward, rain will gradually changeover to snow from west to east across northern and central Illinois during the overnight and morning hours tomorrow. After that, a 6-10 hour period will commence where precipitation will be all snow as well as accumulating, favoring just west of the Chicago metro area across north central and northwest Illinois back into western Illinois. Not only will it be snowing but temperatures will be slowly dropping into the low 30's and upper 20's by the late afternoon hours. Lastly, winds continue to look like they'll be problematic with gusts up to 30mph. Lastly, it continues to look like some horrid trick or treating weather and some towns and cities are already beginning to postpone it tomorrow so be on the lookout for that in your town. 

Below is our latest thought on snowfall totals. **This is combining both the round of snow this morning and what is to fall tomorrow and early tomorrow evening, not what is to be expected from here on out. Stay tuned for continued updates.**

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