3/1 Illinois Weather Noon: Winter Weather Advisory

Good afternoon. Illinois. I'm Aaron Jolly. Folks, there's a quiet cold sitting over Illinois right now. A big high pressure system parked over the Upper Midwest is pumping Canadian air straight down into our laps. That 26 degrees on your thermometer this morning? That's why. In the next 24 hours. But this calm doesn't last. A disturbance sliding in from the Great Basin flips the script tonight. and central Illinois. You're in the crosshairs. Let me walk you through it. Up north, you've got the easiest day in the state. Mostly sunny skies, highs near 35 degrees. Enjoy it. Tonight stays clear with lows around 21. Chicago, that northeast wind off Lake Michigan is doing its thing. Ten to 15 miles an hour, holding you to about 30 degrees. Feels closer to 18 with that damp chill cutting through your coat. Clouds roll in tonight. Lows settle near 29. Now central Illinois, pay attention. Clouds thicken through the afternoon with highs reaching 43 degrees. Then snow moves in after 7 P.M. A Winter Weather Advisory kicks in at 6 P.M. The heaviest stuff falls around 10 P.M. One to two inches for most of you, but a narrow band from Jacksonville to Mattoon could see three. That Monday morning commute? Give yourself extra time. Roads will be slick. Monday improves across the board. Highs climb into the mid 40s statewide. Now the week ahead gets wild. Rain takes over Tuesday through Saturday. Wednesday could fire up thunderstorms, some strong south of I-72. and Friday is the real plot twist. Highs surge into the mid 60s, maybe touching 70 degrees. We're gaining nearly three minutes of daylight every day now. Spring equinox is just 19 days out. Charge your phone tonight and set that alarm a few minutes early if you're in central Illinois. You'll want the extra time. For the extended outlook, check the latest forecast as confidence improves. That's your forecast — we'll be back tomorrow.