Snow will begin to overspread central Illinois late this morning through the afternoon. Later this afternoon and into the evening, warmer temperatures aloft will begin to cause a mixture of sleet and freezing rain to spread in from the southwest. Freezing precip should only last a few hours at any given location as surface temperatures will eventually warm enough for a transition to all rain mid to late this evening.
Low pressure lifting across the region today and tomorrow will bring a variety of precip types to central Illinois. Precip starting as snow will eventually mix with or transition to sleet and freezing rain and finally to rain as temperatures continue to warm. Significant travel impacts are likely for the afternoon and evening commute today. One to three inches of snow will accumulate through Friday evening across much of central Illinois north of I-72 to Danville before precipitation transitions to a wintry mix. Some roads could get ice accumulation for a time Friday evening. The wintry mix will become all rain by mid to late this evening as temperature rise above freezing. Total precipitation amounts around 1 to 1.5 inches appear likely by Saturday, which could worsen river flooding.
As low pressure leaves the Midwest, and strong Canadian high will approach from the northwest. Cold and breezy conditions are expected Saturday night through Sunday Night. Temperatures will bottom out in the single digits and teens with wind chills of zero to 20 below.
