[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqLIdSKfK24&w=640&h=480]
PREPPING: Today will see some backwash cloudiness from the departing storm system over the Great Lakes. More clouds over the east than in the west, thus temperatures will be in the 30s to near 40 across most of the state today with a slight chance of seeing a flurry or sprinkle across the area. A few dry days are in the forecast before the next storm comes in on Wednesday night into Thursday. Temperatures will be near to slightly above seasonal averages for this time of year, with 30s to lower 40s for highs and lows in the upper teens into the 20s to near 30.
SNOW WATCH: What could be the most significant storm of the early winter season could be making an appearance in the state late Wednesday into Thursday bringing with it some white stuff along with some wet stuff as well. First off with the wet stuff. The storm will bring some warm air into the state but if we see enough cold air at or near the surface, some sleet or freezing rain is possible across the southern and southeastern counties. The precipitation will start out and continue as snow for all but these areas Wednesday night through early Thursday. The low will move from Oklahoma into central Illinois by Midnight and then into northern lower Michigan Thursday afternoon bringing an end to the snowfall across the state at that time. The main window as of right now looks to be between 9pm Wednesday night and 6am Thursday morning for the heaviest snow (if it does occur) Snowfall amounts right now look to be modest with almost nothing in northern and northwestern Iowa to possible 4-6″+ in the eastern counties. Of course with this storm still many days away this will change drastically from day to day, so stay tuned as there will be many changes from model run to model run with this possible snow storm at mid-week.
WINTER COLD: After the passage of the system Thursday, temperatures will take a drop to below average for a change especially if we get a snow pack across the area, we’ll likely see highs in the 20s and lows in the single digits at least through Christmas and perhaps all the way until the end of the year. We’ll have to wait and see first with this system at mid-week before taking a stab at what the temperatures and weather are going to be like thereafter.