High pressure over the region will result in mostly sunny today ending the 5 consecutive day streak of having measurable snowfall. However, this break from all of the wintry weather that we've been having over the last several days will be short-lived as another storm system will spread precipitation over the region overnight tonight into Thursday.
A warm front will position itself just north of Chicago, meaning that much of the area (except for the far northern counties) should remain above freezing through the morning/afternoon hours on Thursday. Rain mixed with freezing rain, sleet, and/or snow will take place in the morning hours on Thursday before transitioning to sleet/snow from north to south in the afternoon or evening. Snow or ice accumulation will occur mainly across the far northern counties near the Wisconsin border.
Here are some key points:
* A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for southeast Wisconsin through Thursday afternoon for the possibility of snow accumulations of 5-8". This includes Milwaukee, Kenosha, and Racine.
* A Winter Storm Watch remains in effect for some of Chicago's northern suburbs (Lake and McHenry counties) through Thursday evening. This includes Woodstock and Waukegan. Snow accumulations 2-6 inches is possible.
*Timing: rain/freezing rain begins between midnight and 6am from northwest (southern Wisconsin/Boone, Ogle, McHenry, Lake counties) to southeast (NW Indiana, Kankakee and Iroquois counties). A 2 to 4 hour period of a rain and wintry mix is expected between 6am and 10am across the entire Chicago area. Rain/wintry mix continues south but transitions to sleet, all snow, or a snow/sleet combination after 10am north. Light snow ends around 6pm with lingering flurries after 6pm I-80 and north.
*Accumulations: Areas north of I-88 will see 2-4"+ of snow/sleet accumulation. Areas between I-88 and I-80 will see a dusting to 2" of snow/sleet. Areas south of I-80 to Kankakee River will see a dusting of snow/sleet. Areas south of the Kankakee River will see no snow/ice accumulation.
*Coverage: At least 90% of the Chicago area will see periods of snow, sleet, and freezing rain. Areas far south will see mainly rain. The steadiest and heaviest snow/sleet will occur from the city and north.
*Impacts: Some delays for the A.M. and P.M. commute are expected as precipitation will begin overnight and into the pre-dawn hours and continue through the afternoon hours before ending early evening.
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