No major snowstorms appear to be targeting Chicago this week, but that's not to say that parts of the area will miss out entirely. The first snowfall will move into the area tomorrow. Right now, it looks like little more than flurries, but our in-house MicroCast computer model is jumping on this first wave, suggesting 1" to 3" are possible by tomorrow night. I don't buy it. What seems more likely is that Tuesday will find us watching a more significant system passsing through the Ohio Valley... far enough south to keep the heaviest snows downstate. Here, snowfall could reach 4" in the Kankakee Valley, with amounts tapering off to an inch or so near the Wisconsin line. I do anticipate travel delays Tuesday so plan accordingly.
Now on to the optimistic thermal prognosis. Temps this month are running almost 6 degrees below normal. There will be no January thaw this week. The highest temperature for the entire month has been 37. It's been a long time since we've been that cold for an entire January. So where's the optimism? It finally looks as though the upper-air pattern is ready to transition into one which allows more Pacific air into the Midwest. This would bring our temps into an above normal regime to start off February, and shift the axis of heavier snows to our south and east. Places like DC, Philly, and New York have been largely spared the white hammmer of winter this season. That too may change starting this week. Our cold pattern kicked in on November 7th, and has held strong with only a few short interruptions. It's time for a change, IMHO!!! Mike
