Chicago Weather: First Snowflakes of the Season Expected This Weekend
A strong weather system is set to move into the Chicago area late Thursday night, bringing rain through early Friday morning. Meteorologist Emily Wahls shared the forecast update for the upcoming days.
Friday Outlook
Rain is expected overnight, tapering off around sunrise with total rainfall near a quarter inch or less. The rest of Friday should be mostly sunny to partly cloudy, with highs reaching the low 60s. West winds may gust up to 30 mph, offering one last mild day before colder air arrives.
Weekend Forecast
Saturday temperatures will fall into the upper 40s to around 50 degrees as rain returns by late morning or midday. Showers will continue through the afternoon and evening. As evening temperatures dip, rain could briefly turn into snow, mainly producing light or patchy slush on grassy spots and elevated surfaces.
Early Next Week
Sunday and Monday will be much colder, with highs only in the 30s. Lake-effect snow showers could develop both days, though the precise track of the snow bands remains uncertain.
“It currently looks like most of the activity will be in Northwest Indiana, but parts of Northeast Illinois could see mixing precipitation if winds shift slightly to the northeast.”
Temperatures are expected to moderate again by Tuesday and Wednesday as warmer air moves back into the region.
Author’s Summary
Chicago will experience a sharp shift from mild Friday weather to the first flakes of snow this weekend, before a short cold spell gives way to gradual midweek warming.