Icy, Windy, Wet Monday Ahead: Winter Storm Warning

Old Man Winter showed us his warm side last week. This week, we get to see the icy, cold, blustery side as a powerful storm system brings freezing rain and sleet into the Chicago area overnight. The National Weather Service issued a ”Winter Storm Warning” for northern Illinois starting at 6 a.m. Monday.

The warning is through 1 p.m. in much of the Chicago area, including Will and DuPage counties. The warning will end at 6 p.m. Monday in Lake, McHenry, Kane and Kendall counties.

The first dose of the wintry mix will land primarily south of Chicago, but by Monday morning another system of sleet and freezing rain, with some snow possible, will move throughout the metro area.

Sunday is already windy, but Monday-morning gusts will increase to 40-45 mph and evening winds will rise to 50-55 mph. Lakeshore areas could see the highest winds, and waves will build to 14 to 18 feet, according to the NWS.

Water levels will remain elevated on rivers and creeks and will likely rise by midweek, with localized flooding in the most flood-prone areas. Ground saturation and heavy Monday rainfall means Monday night could see significant flooding. A lakeshore flood watch will be in effect from Monday morning through Monday night. Watch for flooding along nearby roadways.

The NWS advises there are “lingering forecast uncertainties” with this incoming system, so watch for updates late Sunday.

MONDAY’S SLEET-AND-RAIN FORECAST

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ICY, WET, WINDY DAYS AHEAD

• Today: A 40 percent chance of rain, mainly before 11 a.m. Cloudy, with a high near 40. Breezy, with a north northeast wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.
• Tonight: A chance of rain, snow, and sleet, mainly after 5 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 33. Breezy, with a northeast wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

• Monday: Rain, snow, freezing rain, and sleet before noon, then rain, possibly mixed with sleet between noon and 5 p.m., then rain after 5 p.m. High near 37. Windy, with an east wind 25 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 50 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. Little or no ice accumulation expected. New snow and sleet accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
• Monday Night: Rain before midnight, then areas of drizzle with a chance of rain after midnight. Low around 37. Windy, with an east wind 25 to 30 mph becoming south 15 to 20 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent.

• Tuesday: A chance of rain before noon, then a slight chance of rain and snow. Cloudy, with a high near 38. Southwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

CHICAGO-AREA LIVE WEATHER RADAR

CREDIT: map by ZoomRadar.com

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