SPRINGFIELD, IL — The first real taste of December winter arrives today across central and east-central Illinois, as snow spreads in by midday and intensifies through the afternoon. The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a Winter Weather Advisory from noon today until 6 a.m. Tuesday, warning of 2 to 5 inches of snow expected from the I-72 corridor east toward Champaign and Danville.
Light snow begins by early afternoon, turning steady and heavier toward evening. By the commute home, visibility will drop and untreated roads will quickly become slick. Drivers traveling along I-72, I-55, and U.S. 36 should plan extra time and expect snow-covered stretches and slow-moving traffic, especially near Decatur, Springfield, and Champaign.
Temperatures will remain in the upper 20s, with calm winds shifting southeast before the snow exits by dawn Tuesday. Behind the system, a strong Arctic air mass will move in midweek, sending lows near or below zero by Wednesday night. Wind chills between -5 and -10°F are possible Thursday morning, ushering in the first true cold snap of the season.
Meteorologists caution that any remaining moisture on roads could flash freeze Tuesday evening as skies clear and temperatures tumble — a classic early-December setup that can catch even seasoned drivers off guard.
5-Day Outlook (Champaign, IL):
- Monday: Snow through evening, high 29°F.
- Tuesday: Partly sunny, high 25°F.
- Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, high 33°F.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, high 14°F, low 6°F.
- Friday: Chance of snow, high 28°F.
