Will it snow in southwest IL this weekend? The latest from the National Weather Service

The metro-east is expected to see its coldest winter weather to date this weekend — and possibly accumulating snow as well.

According to the National Weather Service of St. Louis, cold air will arrive late Saturday night through Sunday, with temperatures as much as 20 degrees below normal, and wind chills from 10-15 degrees below zero. The low Saturday night is projected to be 14 degrees after a high of 46 earlier in the day.

“Certainly those types of temperatures can result in hypothermia and frost bite if you’re outside for very long — those are the two primary concerns,” National Weather Service Meteorologist Ben Herzog said Thursday morning. “Bundle up and limit your time outside.”

Additionally, Herzog said Belleville and the metro-east could see as much as 1/2 inch of snow late Saturday afternoon or into the evening. He added there’s a chance of some ice and sleet mixed in, but that, as of Thursday morning, the worst of the weather likely will stay northwest of Belleville.

However, Herzog noted a slight change in the storm track could alter that.

“Right now, the latest information seems to indicate the most snow, ice and sleet will be northwest of Belleville and the St. Louis region overall. But it’s not that far off. There’s still plenty of time for that to change,” he said.

Herzog did note anyone heading into northern Missouri or Iowa will “almost certainly” have their travel disrupted.

“The biggest thing is to keep an eye on the forecast,” Herzog said earlier this week. “There’s still a lot of uncertainty. Especially if you’re traveling. A lot of people have plans on New Year’s.”

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.

Herzog said the cold front likely will be short-lived as temperatures will warm up early next week with a high of 47 on Tuesday and a high of 48 on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service website.

This story was originally published December 30, 2021 at 12:27 PM.