Winter Storm Warning in effect tonight through Saturday

Snow will spread across far eastern Iowa in the late afternoon or early evening.

The first winter storm watch of the season that includes Monroe County has been issued, with wintry weather expected on Saturday (Nov. 21).

The possible snow comes at the tail end of Winter Weather Preparedness Week at the National Weather Service. Areas near the I-80 corridor will see anywhere from 3 to 6 inches, while Chicago is predicted to receive about 2 to 5 inches.

Winter storm watches are in effect from northeast Nebraska and southeast South Dakota, though much of Iowa and into northern IL and southern Wisconsin. Forecasters predict wind gusts up to 20 miles per hour will blast snow into a white fog, causing reduced visibility of less than a mile in a few areas. It’s a bit early for the season’s first snow in many of these cities, which typically don’t see snow until early December.

A powerful wintery storm blasted parts of Colorado with heavy snow on Tuesday while bringing the threat of tornadoes to millions in Texas, where a handful of damaging twisters had plowed through the Panhandle the day before.

Winter doesn’t officially arrive for another month – but snow is on the way this weekend. “Snow amounts ranging from 4 to 12 inches can be expected in most areas from Thursday through Friday with the heaviest amounts inland”.

Colder temps make way for a potentially snowy weekend.

Then comes tonight. Snow, snow and more snow. Admission to the MI Avenue rink is free and skating there has pretty much become a Chicago tradition.

Bundle up, grab a shovel and get ready to dig out.

Just before noon, heavier snow begins to fall in all of West MI.

The bulk of the snow will accumulate overnight Friday, according to NWS meteorologist Kevin Donofrio. Highs will reach the mid-30s on Saturday but drop to the mid-20s by Saturday evening.

Last year, a tenth of an inch fell on Halloween.

The snow should stop by late Saturday, and Gresiak said he isn’t expecting any to fall on Sunday. The first snowfall above one inch came November 15, 2014.