(11:45PM – Friday, January 23rd, 2026) Weekend major winter storm on the way…
❗Update…
•With this update, other than some minor snowfall gradient changes, no noteworthy changes were needed this forecast cycle.
⏰Timing…
•Saturday Morning – Sunday Evening, January 24-25th.
📍Location…
•Much of Illinois.
❄️Hazards…
•Widespread snowfall accumulation will be likely across the state. Highest snowfall amounts will be across portions of Central and all of Southern Illinois, with lowest amounts across Northern Illinois. Highest snowfall totals will be likely in the vicinity of I-72 and on southward to the southern tip of Illinois, where 4-7″ to 8-11″ of snowfall is expected, locally higher.
•Periods of moderate to heavy snow and snowfall rates of 1″+/Hour will be likely at times.
•Modest winds may result in some blowing and drifting snow, especially in open/rural areas.
•Travel will be impacted across much of the state, significantly so in some areas.
✔️Summary…
•A winter storm will move through the region over the weekend, bringing a widespread accumulating snowfall to a large portion of the state between Saturday morning and Sunday evening. Significant snowfall accumulation will be likely across portions of the state.
•It should be noted that there may be a break/lull in snowfall during the later Saturday afternoon through early Saturday night timeframe for some areas.
•This will be a longer duration event, with waves of better/more organized snow, and the potential for the aforementioned lull.