How much snow for southwestern Illinois and when? Here’s the latest forecast
It appears the time has arrived to dust the cobwebs off your snow shovel.
The National Weather of St. Louis is predicting 2-4 inches of snow for the metro-east area this weekend, with the storm possibly beginning as a mix of snow and rain before turning to all snow.
According to Alex Elmore, a meteorologist with the NWS of St. Louis, the storm will begin its push into the greater St. Louis area between 6-9 p.m. Friday and likely closer to 9 p.m. for the metro-east.
“It might start off as a quick mix of rain or snow, but that’ll be very quick and that’ll change over to all snow and remain that way overnight,” Elmore said Thursday afternoon.
Elmore added the snow should taper off between noon and 3 p.m. Saturday. He does not anticipate any sleet or ice with this system.
“For the metro-east, we’re generally expecting 2-4 inches,” Elmore said. “The closer to the Mississippi River you are, there’s a better chance you’ll be in the 2-4 inch range. As you go further into Illinois you’re looking at around 2 inches, the 1-3 inches range.”
Elmore added with temperatures sinking below freezing, the usual hazards are in play, particularly for untreated road surfaces.
“With the temperatures being below freezing through much of the event — and they will decrease through the day Saturday and into Saturday evening to well below freezing — we won’t see any problems with snow sticking on surfaces,” he said. “Parking lots that are not treated will see snow on them. We’ll see slippery road conditions and accidents — just the typical dicey road conditions for surfaces that aren’t treated.”
Elmore said through the day Friday, temperatures will be in the mid-30s. Once the snow starts, he said, temperatures will quickly cool below freezing and be around 30-31 degrees overnight. Then, Saturday afternoon into evening, temperatures will drop into the 20s and ultimately fall into the low 20s/teens overnight.
Moreover, Elmore advised people to avoid travel if at all possible.
“If you don’t have to be out on the roads, don’t,” he said. “That decreases your chances of encountering slick spots. It also gives road crews time to treat those slick spots. Again, that’s the best way to stay safe is to be off the roads and let the road crews do what they need to do.
The National Weather Service website recommends keeping plugged into the weather forecast as it develops.