Copyright NBC 5 Chicago
In a reversal from unusually warm temperatures earlier this fall, the Chicago area could see its first snow of the season and wind chill values in the teens this weekend. Temperatures will sit in the mid-to-upper 40s throughout the majority of the day on Saturday - but will only go down from there. To make sure you know when to bundle up and what's coming our way, here's a breakdown of what you can expect during each part of the weekend: Saturday morning The majority of the Chicago area will stay dry, though a few light showers or sprinkles are possible, mostly along the lakefront. Clear skies will likely set in, along with high temperatures in the upper 40s. Saturday afternoon Saturday will shape up to be a mostly cloudy day, with feels-like temperatures continuing to sit in the upper 30s to low 40s during the majority of the afternoon. A marked change in conditions could occur at around 2 p.m., as widespread rain is expected to move in. Saturday evening Any plans you have on Saturday might want to be put on hold. Cold, wet and rainy conditions are expected in the evening and nighttime hours -- and even snowflakes are possible. But temperatures are slated to stay above freezing, so any potential snow likely won't stick or accumulate. NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Kevin Jeanes said there may be some spots in the western and northwestern suburbs where it'll be cold enough to get a dusting of snow on grass and elevated surfaces. Regardless if you'll see snow or not, get ready for temperatures to plummet. Colder air will likely settle in after 8 p.m., causing feels-like values to drop from the mid-30s to under 30 degrees overnight. Sunday morning The chilliest weather of the weekend could arrive Sunday morning; wind chill values will likely hover around 20 degrees at roughly 8 a.m. The day will begin with blustery and cold conditions, which will prevail as the hours go on. Sunday afternoon A few flurries are expected in northeast Illinois, but lake effect snow will take hold for northwest Indiana. Accumulating snow from lake-effect bands will be a possibility, Jeanes said. Sunday evening/Monday morning Bands of lake effect snow are expected to develop beginning Sunday night along southern Lake Michigan, according to the National Weather Service. While the main timeframe of concern for winter travel impacts is late Sunday through Monday morning, "confidence in exactly where remains low," the NWS stated. Jeanes said the best opportunity for any accumulating snow across Illinois and Chicago is after midnight and into the morning hours. As the workweek begins, there could be an inch or two of snow on the ground, and that might just be enough to impact the morning commute, Jeanes said.
