Chicago, Illinois – A broad late-January winter pattern could bring accumulating snow and widespread travel disruptions across much of the Midwest as colder air and active storm tracks take hold.
According to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center, large portions of the Midwest fall under a slight risk for heavy snow from Saturday through the following Friday, signaling an increased likelihood of one or more organized winter systems impacting the region. The risk stretches from the Great Lakes through the central Plains and into the Ohio Valley.
In the upper Midwest, including Minnesota, Wisconsin, and northern Illinois, colder-than-normal temperatures favor snow as the dominant precipitation type. That raises concerns for slick conditions along major corridors such as Interstates 90, 94, and 35, particularly during periods of steadier snowfall.
Farther south across Iowa, Missouri, Indiana, and Ohio, snow may arrive in multiple rounds rather than a single storm, increasing the potential for cumulative impacts on highways, secondary roads, and air travel hubs. Lake-enhanced snow could further complicate conditions near the Great Lakes, while open terrain may allow blowing snow to reduce visibility at times.
State transportation agencies across the Midwest urge residents to monitor conditions closely, allow extra travel time, and keep vehicles equipped with winter emergency supplies. With cold air expected to persist, snow that falls is likely to linger between systems.
More detailed outlooks and potential winter weather advisories are expected as the late-January window approaches, with clearer timing and impacts becoming available by early next week.
