A significant winter storm will be impacting Illinois and Indiana later this week. It is expected to move through the area Thursday through the weekend with heavy rain, accumulating snow, high winds, sub-zero temperatures, and dangerously low wind-chill readings.
The National Weather Service says the exact storm track and where areas of heavy snowfall could set up are still uncertain. But the Weather Service adds confidence remains high in the dangerously cold air threat and high wind potential. The statement includes all of the counties in east-central Illinois plus counties in our area of west-central Indiana.
The high winds are expected with a wind shift to the northwest Thursday into Friday. Extremely cold arctic air this weekend will see temperatures falling below zero late this week. Dangerous wind-chill readings could possibly reach 20 to 30 degrees below zero. And the Weather Service adds expect periods of snow showers on the backside of the system Friday into Saturday.
The Weather Service says snowfall amounts remain uncertain at this time, but even a small amount of snow with the predicted winds of up to 55 miles per hour will cause blizzard-like conditions. And the precipitation is expected to start as rain and then as temperatures tumble it is expected to cause flash freezing on roads and sidewalks causing dangerous driving conditions. Temperatures Thursday into Friday could vary significantly across short distances, depending on the track of the system.
Dangerous wind chill readings of 10 to 30 below zero can cause frostbite in less than a half hour to exposed skin.
And the Weather Service adds citizens need to stay alert to the forecast and possible changing weather conditions throughout the week.
Prepare now for this storm by checking your food, fuel and medical supplies. Travel is expected to become difficult…if not impossible…as this storm moves through our area because of blowing and drifting snow.
The forecast for the Danville area is calling for a 50-percent chance of snow after midnight on Wednesday, with a low temperature that night around 25. Thursday and Thursday night are expected to be blustery with an 80-percent chance of snow. Thursday’s high is expected to be near 30 degrees, but that night the low is likely to plunge to around 3 degrees – with snow and blustery conditions continuing. On Friday there is a 50-percent chance of snow in our forecast, with a high only near 10 degrees with cold winds continuing.
And the cold weather will hang around past Christmas. The low on Christmas Eve is expected to drop to around 3 below zero…and on Christmas Day mostly sunny skies are expected, but the high temperature will only be around 10 degrees.
