Full Notification

A very strong winter system looks to bring accumulating snow and strong northwest winds to eastern IL Thursday afternoon through Friday night. Blowing and drifting snow is likely Thursday night through Friday night. Mixed precipitation is possible on Thursday before changing to all snow by Thursday evening. Travel impacts are likely late Thursday through Friday night. Bitter cold temperatures settle in Thursday night and continue through the holiday weekend, with dangerous wind chills as cold as -18 to -23 degrees are expected from Thursday night through Sunday morning.  Wind gusts of 45-55 mph are expected starting Thursday night and continuing into Saturday morning.

IMPACTS...Wind chills of this magnitude can cause frostbite in less than a half hour to exposed skin. Hypothermia can occur if precautions are not taken. Travel could be impacted by roads quickly icing over at the onset of the arctic air Thursday afternoon and Thursday night, and additional snowfall could cause difficult visibility and travel Thursday through Friday night.

PREPARATIONS…Prepare now with getting necessary supplies today through Wednesday to protect yourself from the dangerous cold, wind and snow and consider alternate travel plans late this week. Continue to monitor later forecasts on this potentially dangerous winter weather system.