Pattern Shift???

A strong low pressure system with a current 986mb is cutting through the Midwest. This will bring extremely warm temperatures across the Great Lakes region while heavy snow is expected in North Dakota, South Dakota, and parts of Minnesota. Warm front will continue to push north and by Friday Illinois could easily see temps in the 50s with even 60s across southern IL. By New Year's Day in the early morning hours a well defined cold front will come crashing into Central Plains and drop as far south as Texas.

As we look into the 1st part of 2011, it appears much of the U.S. will be rather quiet. No major systems appear likely through Jan 8th.

Snow totals

courtesy of the NWS in Romeoville

O'Hare: 5.1"

Midway: 3.3"

Overall.....the Chicagoland missed out on the heaviest snowfall as the intense snow bands developed further to the west. Nothwest IL and Central IL were more in the 6-8" range. Lake effect will continue across Michigan City and South Bend IN tonight. Our next chance of some light snow is this Thursday, but a more interesting setup is in line for Saturday. There could once again a chance of significant snowfall across IL and IN

1st measurable snow for Chicagoland

As the calendar struck Dec. 1st and meteorological winter commenced, our 1st flakes began to fall early this morning across northern IL, southern WI and northern IN. Midway has reported .01" of snow so far today. A few locations in Wisconsin have seen about a 1/2". This was the 2nd longest streak of not seeing any snowfall in Chicago history, which of course today, that streak ended.

Our 1st measurable snow of 1" or more is likely this Saturday as an Alberta clipper will make its way through the area. Heavier amount are expected over southern Wisconsin and Minneapolis. At this time, snow will develop after midnight Friday and continuing through Saturday morning.

Stay tuned.......