Winter Weather Outlook and Safety

Winter Weather Preparedness Week

The Climate Prediction Center's latest winter weather outlook for the months of December, January, and February shows equal chances for both above and below normal precipitation and temperature. There is quite a bit of uncertainty in this forecast with variability in long range climate models and forecasted ENSO neutral conditions (meaning neither an El Nino or La Nina will likely occur). There are no major, consistent signs pointing in either direction for our area.

 

 

The uncertainty in long range forecasts is all the more reason to be prepared for the upcoming season. It is Winter Weather Preparedness week in Illinois. Since 1997, 126 people have died in Illinois due to exposure to cold. Dangerous winter driving conditions lead to an average of 50 deaths in the state every year. For the next few months, especially during the holiday travel season, stay alert with WMBD 31 on changing conditions. Here are a few tips to keep you safe:

Preparing Your Home:

• Create a disaster kit similar to one for severe weather. Include items like a NOAA Weather Radio, non-perishable food, medicine, clean water, blankets, an emergency heating device with fuel, and a flashlight with batteries.
• Winterize your home by insulating walls and covering windows with plastic.
• Prevent frozen pipes by sealing any leaks where cold air can get in near pipes and know how to shut off the water in case pipes burst.
• Make sure carbon monoxide detectors, smoke detectors, and fire extinguishers work.

 Preparing Your Vehicle:

• Check wipers, tires, lights and fuel levels. 
• Lubricate locks to prevent them from freezing.
• Create a car safety kit including a cell phone, blankets, flash light, first aid kit, non-perishable food, water, clothing, sand, shovel, and booster cables.

If you are outside...

• Avoid overexertion
• Cover all exposed skin
• Wear loose fitting, light clothing in several layers
• Stay Dry
• Mittens keep you warmer than gloves
• Wear a hat

If you are traveling...

• Travel only during daylight hours.
• Tell a friend where you are going and what time you plan to leave/arrive.
• Keep windows clear of snow and ice.
• Go slower and give yourself extra stopping distance.
• Give snow plows plenty of room on the road
• Refuel often

If you are stranded in your vehicle...

• Pull as far off the road as possible.
• Put on hazard lights and tie a red piece of fabric to the antenna.
• Stay in your vehicle.
• Clear exhaust pipe periodically and run car about ten minutes every hour to keep warm. Vent windows slightly while engine is running for ventilation.
• Move around to keep blood flowing.
• Take turns sleeping.
• Conserve battery power.

For a more detailed list of winter safety information visit this website: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/images/ilx/pdf/Winter%20Weather%20prep%20guide.pdf

Cloudy Thursday

A wave of upper level energy from the northwest will keep skies mostly cloudy today. Still, southerly winds will be able to warm highs into the upper 40s and low 50s.

Skies will gradually clear overnight with lows in the low to mid 30s. Sunshine and winds out of the south will warm us into the low 50s on Friday.

Similar conditions continue into the weekend with highs into the low to mid 50s through Sunday. Cloud cover returns Monday as a low pressure system moves into central Illinois. A few scattered showers are possible Monday night into Tuesday, but it looks far from a wash out. If you have travel plans next Wednesday, it looks like a beautiful day. We'll see sunshine and warmer mid to upper 50s for the middle of next week. Thanksgiving could bring a few more clouds, but highs are still looking mild.

Cloudier, Warmer Midweek

A wave of upper level energy is keeping us cloudy this morning. By this afternoon, though, skies will see some clearing with highs in the mid to upper 40s.

Partly cloudy skies stick around overnight, keeping lows right around 30 degrees. Another upper level wave will dive in from the northwest on Thursday, increasing cloud cover during the day tomorrow. Still, southerly winds will help highs reach the upper 40s and low 50s. We’ll clear things out for the end of the work week. Expect sunshine and highs in the low to mid 50s Friday through the weekend. Cloud cover returns early next week before a storm system moves through next Tuesday. Scattered showers are possible through Tuesday night. If you have plans to travel for Thanksgiving, it’s looking partly cloudy and mild next Wednesday and Thursday. Highs will reach the mid 50s into the holiday.

Sunny, but Cool

High pressure will keep us clear and cool today. Look for sunshine and highs in the low 40s. Cloud cover will increase overnight, keeping lows in the upper 20s.

A wave of upper level energy will make for a partly to mostly cloudy Wednesday. Still, southerly winds will start us on a warm up into the end of the week, warming highs tomorrow into the mid 40s. Cloud cover sticks around into Thursday before we clear things out into the weekend. Highs will reach the low 50s Friday through Sunday. Expect some sunshine into early next week with highs right around normal for this time of year.

Cool Temps Here to Stay

 Chilly temperatures have moved into across central Illinois following a cold front that moved through the area Sunday.  Overnight lows will fall into the mid 20's area wide, making for a frosty start Tuesday morning.

Futurecast shows mostly sunny conditions for Tuesday, but temperatures remain a good 10 degrees below the normal for this part of November.  Much of the rest of the week looks dry and cool as well.

Much Cooler Monday

A cold front yesterday brought rain, sleet, and even a few snow flurries to the area. The wet weather will move out early today, allowing for sunshine by this afternoon. Still, breezy winds out of the west will keep highs very cool, only reaching the upper 30s.

Calming winds and clear skies overnight will drop lows into the low to mid 20s. The sun will stick around on Tuesday but highs will stay cool in the upper 30s and low 40s. A bit of cloud cover will return for the middle of the week. Developing southerly winds will gradually warm us into the low 50s by the end of the work week. Next weekend is looking sunny with highs near 50 degrees. The start of Thanksgiving week will see similar conditions as the weekend.

Cold Front Passing Overnight Brings Temps Way Down

Cold Front Passing Overnight Brings Temps Way Down

TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy w/ widespread T-storms in front of front; behind the front cooler temperatures increase snow chances to about 20% and not much accumulation is expected as surface is still to warm.  Overnight low near 28°.

TOMORROW: Lingering showers in SE counties. Clouds decrease for a mostly clear day and cold. Highs in low 30s.

TUE-FRI: Mostly clear to partly cloudy. Plenty of sunshine. Highs in upper 30s and low 40s.