Winter Not Letting Go

Flurries Continue

Power storm system that coated the area with snowfall over the past few days is slowly moving eastward, but holding it's grip across the Midwest.  Clouds with a few flurries will hang around for the overnight Thursday.  Chilly temperatures under mostly cloudy skies stay with us for Friday.

Meteorological Winter Ends Thursday

For record keeping purposes, Thursday marks the end of winter.  The months of December, January and February are known as the "winter" months in the meteorological record books.  The actual astrological start to Spring isn't until March 20th.

The 2012-2013 winter has been mild until recently.  Since Dec.1st, 52 days have been above normal.  The warmest stretch came from early December where we started off the month in the 60's and 70's.  After minimal snow for much of the winter, we picked up 8 of our 11 inches of snow fall in just the last week.  Normal snowfall for the winter is around 24"

Temps Stay Chilly

Pattern over the next 8-14 days keeps us colder than average to start the month of March.  Many models have indicated a blocking pattern over the time period that will develop over the North Atlantic, and looks to stay intact through at least the next couple of weeks.  Temperatures are expected to range from 5-10° below  the average high which is now at 43°, and jumps to 50° by March 15th.

Another Snow Chance?

If you are a snow lover, then the last week has been right up your alley.  Pattern looks to remain active as we head into next week.  Several models indicate 2 systems merging just south of central Illinois by Tuesday morning, leaving us in the cold sector and the possibility of accumulating snow.  While not all models are on board for snowfall here, the consensus has been at least a chance for some accumulation by Tuesday.  We'll keep you posted as we get closer.

Flurries Through Friday

We're still dealing with the same low pressure system as we head through our Thursday. Look for pockets of light snowfall to move in from the north all day and into the overnight. Temperatures remain steady in the low to mid 30s.

Overnight lows will drop into the mid to upper 20s. Friday will keep a few flurries around before we dry things out into the weekend. The next couple days will see highs in the upper 20s and low 30s. Sunshine and warming temperatures move in on Sunday. Highs early next week will reach the mid to upper 30s. A clipper system diving in from the northwest early next week will bring our next chance at precipitation. Snow and wintry mix chances will begin late Monday and continue into early Wednesday. Wednesday and Thursday are looking drier as temperatures hit the low to mid 40s by the end of the week. We're tracking another storm system Friday night into Saturday that will bring a chance of wintry mix and rain.

Still Well Below Average Snow This Season

2 snows in the past week have helped with the snow deficit.  We're up to around 7" of snow in Peoria for the month, which is +1 to date for the month.  We're up to 10" for the season, which puts us slightly above where we were this time last year.  With the lack of snow for Nov/Dec/Jan, we've only seen half of what we should at this point.


despite the lack of snowfall this season, we are looking good for TOTAL precip (snow & rain) for the season thanks to several good rains over the past few months. Here's where we stand to date. Thanks to the ground not being frozen solid during many of the rains we received, this should be beneficial for area farmers come spring time.

Winter Storm Moving Through

A low pressure system moving in from the southwest has already spread moderate snowfall across much of the area. Strong winds are limiting visibilities with snowfall rates as high as 2"/hour in the southwest. A WINTER STORM WARNING is in effect west of the Illinois River with a WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY for the counties directly east of the river until 6 pm tonight. Snowfall totals will be as high as 5-8" in the warning area and around 3-5" under the advisory. The main band will pull north this morning followed by scattered light snow showers this afternoon. We'll see chances for snow continuing tonight and tomorrow, with temperatures remaining steady around the freezing mark into Wednesday. The system will slowly move east on Thursday with just a few flurries possible into the end of the week. Temperatures will slowly drop back into the upper 20s and low 30s by the weekend. Sunday and Monday are looking sunny before our next storm system brings a chance of wintry mix and snow next Tuesday. Temperatures are expected in the mid 30s for the beginning of next week.

Another Winter Storm Moves In Overnight

Today will start off quiet. Cloud cover will gradually increase with highs in the upper 30s and low 40s this afternoon.

A low pressure system to our southwest will slowly move northeast overnight bringing a chance of snow and freezing rain after midnight.

Most of the area will see moderate to heavy snow on Tuesday morning with breezy winds limiting visibilities. A WINTER STORM WARNING will be in effect from midnight until 6 pm Tuesday for our westernmost counties. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY will be in effect from the I-55 corridor to the Illinois River for the same time frame.

Snow totals could be as high as 5-8" in the west and northwest, 3-5" in Peoria, and 1-3" in the southeast where more freezing rain and rain are possible tomorrow. Plan on leaving early for your morning commute.

Scattered light snow will stick around Tuesday night. We may even see a few flurries into Wednesday and Thursday. Cooler air will slowly settle in dropping highs to the upper 20s and low 30s by the weekend. Next week will start off sunny, before another storm system brings a chance of snow next Tuesday.

Quiet Weekend; Winter Storm Next Week

Quiet Weekend; Winter Storm Next Week

TONIGHT: Partly cloudy but chilly. Overall quiet. Low of 18°.

TOMORROW: Mostly clear w/ sunshine! Below avg. temps. Highs near 30°.

MONDAY: Cloudy. Dry through the day. Chance of rain/sleet/freezing rain/snow after midnight. H-32/ L-29.

TUES-THURS: Mostly cloudy w/ chance of flurries. Highs in low 30s.

Snow Moving Out

The official observation from last night's snow in Peoria is 2.2" at the airport. The heaviest of the totals set up in our southwestern most counties where 3-5" fell during the evening. The main line of snow is moving well to the north, but we'll still see flurries and freezing drizzle chances through the day. Temperatures will be in the low to mid 30s. Conditions will continue to dry overnight, but we'll stay cloudy into Saturday. Lows will start us off around 20 with highs in the upper 20s and low 30s. A warming trend starts on Sunday, helping highs reach the upper 30s and low 40s by Monday. A low pressure system moving through to our south will increase cloud cover early next week and bring a chance of wintry mix Monday night into Tuesday. The exact track of this system is still unclear and that will have a big impact on how much rain vs. snow/ice we see. Behind that system we'll cool things of with northwesterly winds into the end of next week. By Friday, highs will only reach the low 30s.