(11:45AM – Saturday, January 24th, 2026) Major winter storm to affect the state for the duration of the weekend…
❗Update…
•With this update, we have adjusted all snowfall amount corridors slightly northward. Otherwise, no significant changes were needed.
⏰Timing…
•This Morning – Sunday Evening, January 24-25th.
📍Location…
•Much of Illinois.
❄️Hazards…
•Widespread snowfall accumulation is expected across the state. 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.
•The gradient of snowfall totals across Northern and Western Illinois may be tighter than graphically depicted.
•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 moving through the region this weekend will bring a widespread accumulating snowfall to a large portion of the state from this morning through Sunday evening. Significant snowfall accumulation will be likely across roughly the southern half of the state.
•This will be a long duration event. There will be waves of better/more organized snow and brief lulls in snow at times for some areas as well.
•Lake enhanced/effect snow will be possible for areas near Lake Michigan, across far Eastern Lake and far Eastern Cook Counties. Even at this time, there is still a question as to how far inland enhancement/effect will extend, and thus, question in exact snowfall totals. This potential will be a observational trends/now-cast scenario.