Major Winter Storm To Bring Heavy Snow,Sleet, Ice And High Winds This Weekend (Fri-Sun, Jan 10-12th)

(7:30PM - 1/8/20) A complex scenario is expected to unfold across the region in the coming days, with a few disturbances and then a main storm system expected to push across the region. During this period all of the following will be possible across the state... Snow, ice, sleet, heavy rain, flooding, high winds and severe t'storms. This post will be directed towards the snow, sleet, ice and high wind aspect. For information regarding the heavy rain, flooding, high wind and severe t'storm threat...please read the update at the following link: ​​https://www.illinoisstormchasers.com/forecasts/major-winter-storm-to-bring-heavy-rainflooding-high-winds-and-severe-tstorms-late-weekweekend-thur-sat-jan-9-11th

Friday evening-Saturday afternoon...
​As rain spreads northward across the state on Friday, colder air will be filtering in southward behind a cold front that will have stalled across Central Illinois. This will allow the rain that pushes northward to change over to a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain across Western, Northwest and North-Central Illinois. A lengthy period of freezing rain is likely in an axis across the aforementioned area. The northern portion of this axis may also receive snow/sleet for a period of time as well. Ice totals during this period will likely range from 0.10-0.50" across the main axis, with also some snow/sleet accumulation upward of 1-3" being possible. In addition to the mixed precip, high winds are expected as well, with wind gusts of 25-45mph being possible across much of the state. The combination of ice accumulation and winds may cause some tree damage and power outages.

Saturday afternoon-Sunday morning...
As the main storm system strengthens and moves through the region, a large area of snow will move across Western, Northwest and North-Central Illinois Saturday afternoon into early Sunday morning. A period of heavy snow will be likely in the vicinity of Saturday evening for these areas, with 1-2"/hr snowfall rates and thundersnow being possible. Snowfall totals during this time in the main axis across Northwest Illinois will be in the 6-9" range, with amounts tapering east/southeast across Western and North-Central Illinois. In addition to the snow, high winds will continue to be possible, with 25-45mph winds gusts likely. This will likely create some blowing and drifting of the snow for affected areas.

Final event snowfall totals will greatly range across Western, Northwest and North-Central Illinois...From 6-9" in the main axis across Northwest Illinois, tapering eastward with a gradient across Western and North-Central Illinois.

Final event ice totals will range from 0.10-0.50" across Northern and Western Illinois, with isolated higher amounts being possible.

Below are the TAM snowfall, ice and high wind forecasts for this period.

​JP

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