Cold weather is expected for this weekend in southwest Illinois. Will snow come with it?
If the unseasonably warm temperatures have kept your winter coat in storage, this weekend will be the time to bust it out.
According to the National Weather Service in St. Louis, a strong cold front will drive across the area late Saturday and Saturday night. This front will bring the coldest air the region have seen so far this winter with temperatures as much as 15 degrees below normal.
The NWS predicts the lows for Saturday night will be in the single digits to the low 20s after reaching a high of 53 earlier in the day. Highs Sunday will be in the lower 20s to mid 30s.
“Essentially, we’re going to have a pretty strong low pressure system in the region,” said Ben Herzog, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in St. Louis. “We’re not 100% confident where it’s going to track, but we know behind this system, very cold air will be coming into the region. We’re real confident it’s going to be cold once the precipitation moves out of the area.”
Herzog said whether the precipitation falls as rain or snow will depend on when the cold air arrives.
“We’re pretty confident there will be precipitation ahead of the cold air,” he said. “If the cold air arrives early enough it could cause snow, but that remains unclear at this point. We’re talking a matter of hours.”
As far as a potential snowfall total, Herzog added, “If it snows, it’s too difficult to say right now. I’m not comfortable throwing a number out there.”
Like with extreme heat, Herzog recommended people keep an eye on the elderly. He also suggested unhooking outdoor hoses if people already have not done so. This prevents water freezing in the pipes inside the house, which could result in those pipes bursting.
“The biggest thing is to keep an eye on the forecast,” Herzog said. “There’s still a lot of uncertainty. Especially if you’re traveling. A lot of people have plans on New Year’s.”
Herzog said the cold front likely will be short-lived, noting temperatures will warm up early next week with a high of 43 on Monday, according to the NWS.
“So it doesn’t look like it’ll be a prolonged cold period,” he added.
As far as potential January snowfall, Herzog said there’s not a clear signal yet how much, if any, of the white stuff the region will see.
This story was originally published December 29, 2021 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Cold weather is expected for this weekend in southwest Illinois. Will snow come with it?."