Illinois wakes under a bitter, moonlit chill as dry wind sweeps over fields and frost coats windshields in Champaign — a sharp reminder that Winter Weather conditions will intensify quickly today. By midmorning, pavement feels crisp, breaths fog in the air, and the region sits on the edge of a strengthening storm that could disrupt Post-Thanksgiving travel through Saturday night.
According to the National Weather Service, a Winter Storm Watch remains in effect from late tonight through late Saturday night for Champaign, Urbana, Tuscola, Monticello, Mattoon, and surrounding communities. Meteorologists expect heavy mixed precipitation, with snow totals exceeding 5 inches in some locations. A rain-to-snow changeover is possible Saturday, and winds may gust up to 25 mph, pushing slush and snow across I-57, I-74, and US-45.
Drivers should prepare for reduced visibility and quickly changing road conditions as early as tonight.
Early clouds build through today as warmer air noses in. A light wintry mix may start late, followed by a steady push of heavy snow Saturday morning. Conditions may deteriorate fast by afternoon as colder air deepens. To be fair, track shifts could change where the heaviest bands land, but central and east-central Illinois currently sit in a favored zone for impactful accumulation.
Saturday night brings another challenge: a possible changeover from rain/snow to mainly snow as temperatures fall into the mid-20s. That drop will create slick stretches and may freeze slushy spots, especially on bridges and rural corridors. Sunday finally turns calmer, though clouds linger and highs stay near 29°.
This event also acts as a Winter Tease for early December. Models hint at a broader December 2–6 cold front sweeping the Midwest, potentially dropping temperatures well below normal and adding small snow chances — something holiday travelers should watch.
Five-Day Outlook (Fri–Tue)
- Today: Sunny, high 34.
- Saturday: Heavy snow, high 34.
- Sunday: Mostly cloudy, high 29.
- Monday: Mostly cloudy, high 23.
- Tuesday: Partly sunny, high 33.
