Illinois – Crisp air bites across fields and rooftops this morning as freezing fog drifts through low-lying pockets of central Illinois. Windshields glaze quickly, and sidewalks feel slick under a thin frost. This calm, cold setup is the quiet lead-in to a developing Winter pattern, one that could bring 2 to 4 inches of snow to the Champaign area from Saturday night into early Sunday.
According to the National Weather Service, temperatures will stay locked in the teens and low 20s today, with wind chills dipping below zero at times. Those conditions heighten the risk of flash freezing, especially on bridges and elevated surfaces. Drivers heading along I-57 and I-74 should use added caution during early errands today and throughout the weekend.
Clouds increase Saturday as a weak but well-timed system approaches from the west. Meteorologists now track a moderate snow chance Saturday night, with the steadiest snowfall likely after sunset. Models hint at a Winter Tease, the sort of early-December setup that can shift quickly if temperatures wobble near freezing. Expect slushy spots to form first, followed by firmer icy patches as winds turn northerly early Sunday.
Another, smaller snow chance appears Tuesday, suggesting an active pattern may be forming. Long-range trends show repeated clipper systems sweeping the Midwest between Dec. 11–17, with lake-effect snow strengthening for Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan—right as holiday travel picks up.
Plan extra time if traveling Sunday morning. Keep gloves, scraper, and ice melt on hand. Watch for rapidly changing conditions on rural roads and shaded intersections.
Five-Day Outlook
Today: Patchy freezing fog, high 29.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, low 22.
Saturday: Mostly cloudy, high 32.
Saturday Night: Snow likely, 2–4″, low 23.
Sunday: Snow early, then mostly cloudy, high 30.
Monday: Mostly sunny, high 23.
