CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A nasty mix of snow, wind and thunderstorms is expected Thursday afternoon to move across northern Illinois, forecasters say.
“Scattered snow showers… yes SNOW showers… are developing across the region,” the National Weather Service said on Twitter.
Scattered snow showers...yes SNOW showers...are developing across the region. These will expand in coverage through mid-late afternoon before diminishing this eve. Brief but sharp visibility reduction under these thanks in part to gusty winds. Allow extra travel time. #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/dORE0Tq6gJ
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago)
April 9, 2020 The snow, which could be heavy at times, will begin in Chicago after 2 p.m., weather service meteorologist Lee Carlow said.
It’ll be too warm on the ground for the snow to stick, but there may be a light dusting on the grass, he said.
The snow showers will be patchy and inconsistent, and should taper off by sunset, Carlow said. There’s a 50% chance of precipitation.
Curious what "graupel" is? They are small pellets that are fairly soft as they are snowflakes that collect chilled water droplets on their outer surface. Today is a day ideal for these given it is very cold aloft but above freezing at the surface. pic.twitter.com/mBklpJopmY
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago)
April 9, 2020 There’s also a chance of damaging wind gusts, lightening strikes and soft hail.
The metro area can expect northwest winds of 25 mph, with gusts up to 55 mph, Carlow said.
The phenomenon behind the extreme weather is called evaporative cooling, Carlow said. Although temperatures will remain in the 40s near the ground, temperatures in the clouds are a brisk 30 degrees below zero. Those contrasting temperatures, along with dry air at ground level, are responsible for the snow and wind.
Thursday night, temperatures will drop to 33 degrees, rising on Friday to a high of 48 degrees, the weather service said.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire & Chicago Sun-Times 2020. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
