Illinois – A thick gray sky and biting wind mark the arrival of another December winter storm across central Illinois this morning. The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a Winter Weather Advisory from 3 p.m. today through early Friday, warning of 2 to 5 inches of snow and slick travel conditions for cities including Champaign, Springfield, Decatur, and Peoria.
Light snow will begin through the afternoon and intensify into the evening commute. By sundown, heavy bursts could drop visibility below a half mile at times, especially along I-74 and I-72. Drivers should expect snow-covered roads, icy bridges, and slow-moving traffic during the peak of the storm.
Meteorologists caution that wet snow may briefly mix with sleet or ice pellets on the southern edge of the system before tapering after midnight. Winds shifting northwest behind the storm will usher in much colder air, with Friday lows in the lower 20s and Saturday morning wind chills near zero.
As Arctic air deepens over the weekend, temperatures will struggle to reach the upper teens Saturday, with another round of light snow possible Saturday night. Sunshine returns Sunday, though the air remains sharply cold — a reminder that winter travel season is officially underway.
Five-Day Outlook:
- Friday: Mostly cloudy, high 32°F, low 12°F.
- Saturday: Snow chance, high 16°F, low -8°F.
- Sunday: Cold and sunny, high 4°F.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, high 23°F.
- Tuesday: Partly cloudy, high 34°F.
