CHICAGO (CBS) – This week brings the first significant snowfall of the season to the Chicago area. Snow is expected to fall at least until the early afternoon, before the rain turns into cold November rain.
A winter weather advice is in effect from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Chicago area and has been extended until 3 p.m. in Northwest Indiana and Kankakee County.
While it may seem like it’s been a long time coming this year, CBS meteorologist David Yeomans of Chicago says November 21 is actually pretty close to target for the first round of measurable snow of the winter.
“This is really just one day off from our typical first measurable snow,” Yeomans said.
The record for the last first snow in Chicago occurred in 2021, when the city waited until after Christmas (December 28) to see the first significant flakes.
The snow is expected to mainly accumulate on grass and cold surfaces such as cars as Thursday’s snow continues. Lighter amounts are expected near the immediate shoreline of Lake Michigan.
While the first snowfall for the area arrives more or less on schedule, another winter benchmark saw the date shift later. Yeomans said this year was our fourth-to-last first freeze ever. Yeomans said this date is slightly later due to climate change.
The National Weather Service says conditions are expected to improve as temperatures rise.
