Nov 22 | Climate Review and Weather Forecast

Most of this week’s weather was fall-like, with a nice taste of winter. Average temperatures this week ranged from the low 40s in northern Illinois to the low 50s in southern Illinois, between 6 and 8 degrees above normal. November to date has been 5 to 7 degrees above normal, and our fall season to date is among the top 5 warmest statewide. The prolonged mild temperatures made the late week cold a bit more surprising than usual. Speaking of that cold, several places saw nighttime lows dip into the mid 20s, including 26 in DeKalb and Hoopeston. Combined with strong winds, wind chill values dropped into the teens late in the week. 

While this week wasn’t a particularly wet one, most of the state did see some measurable precipitation. Totals ranged from less than a quarter of an inch in southeast Illinois to just over 1 inch in far northwest Illinois. November to date has been slightly to much wetter than normal across the state, and some places on the north side of the Metro East region are experiencing their wettest November on record, including Edwardsville and Granite City. Some parts of the state saw precipitation in frozen form this week as a quick low pressure system moved through the Upper Midwest late in the week. Snowfall totals ranged from around a tenth of an inch as far south as Coles County all the way up to over 4 inches in parts of Cook County. This was the first measurable snow of the season for the state, and a good reminder that climatological winter is just around the corner. 

Looking ahead, mild weather sets in this weekend with highs in the high 40s to low 60s. The bottom is going to fall out later next week, as much of the state is expected to see Thanksgiving high temperatures around 40 degrees. We look to be done with snow for at least a few days, but models are hinting at another chance of the white stuff on or just after Thanksgiving. Exactly where snow could fall and exact totals are too uncertain at this point, but folks should keep watch on how weather forecasts evolve as we get closer to the holiday weekend, especially those with travel plans next week. Farther out, the cold air looks to stick around through the last few days of November and the first few days of December. The outlooks for the entire month of December have no solid signal for Illinois, with equal chances of warmer, colder, wetter, and drier than normal conditions… so take that to the bank.