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Weather Alert: Yes, Those Are Snowflakes You're Seeing—And More Is Coming Thursday
It might not be enough to count as an official snowfall Tuesday, but the flakes could be a sign of what's ahead. Severe winds are coming, and dare we say, maybe a white Christmas?
According to The Chicago Tribune, the Chicago area has set a record for the number of days between measurable snowfalls: 280. A measurable snowfall is more than 1/10 of an inch, the Trib reports.
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For the record, those little white things floating from the sky around 10 a.m. Tuesday—they're called snowflakes.
There aren't many of them, as this is written, but right now it looks like we're going to see more by Thursday. And if the forecasts hold up, there might even be a chance of the event Bing Crosby keeps crooning about on Turner Classic Movies.
If you, too, are dreaming about a white Christmas, take heart: There's a 90 percent chance of snow Thursday night, according to the National Weather Service Chicago forecast for Geneva, IL, 41.88°N 88.32°W.
And it's supposed to stay cold, at least through Monday. So the white stuff that falls might stick around for the 25th.
ASpecial Weather Statement by the NWS-C warns that "A RAPIDLY STRENGTHENING WINTER STORM WILL APPROACH THE AREA WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND TRACK ACROSS NORTHEAST ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA THURSDAY."
The bad news for snow-lovers is the heaviest snow likely is going to accumulate to the northwest of the storm track, swinging through Iowa and up toward Wisconsin, where it could drop 6 inches.
The good news is that "snow is possible" here, something that's been impossible since March. In Geneva, we're likely to see accumulating snow by Thursday afternoon. The variable is the track of the low-pressure system.
One aspect that looks highly likely, however, is that northwest winds will be strong on Thursday afternoon and evening, with gusts as high as 50 mph. "These winds will lead to significant blowing and drifting of snow and severely reduced visibility," the CMS-C says in all-caps. So be careful out there if you're heading out for any holiday parties.
And if you've got travel plans, heads up:
"THIS STORM MAY SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT AIR TRAVEL THROUGH CHICAGO OHARE AND CHICAGO MIDWAY AIRPORTS," the Special Weather Statement suggests.
SOURCE: National Weather Service—Chicago
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