Winter weather alert: Sleet, freezing

Winter Storm Warning/Freezing Rain Advisory for Freezing Rain and Sleet is in effect for the entire Chicago area Monday.

A very mild December is drawing to a close with what could be New Jersey’s first real taste of winter.

While a wintry mix of sleet and freezing rain is possible this afternoon and evening, it will probably be a mainly rain event in the Harrisburg area, said the National Weather Service at State College.

(Dec. 28, 2015) While Nantucket is expected to see an inch of snow of less, the island along with the rest of the region is nonetheless bracing for the first major winter storm of the season.

Expect the storm to wind down Monday evening with lingering snow showers possible both Tuesday and Wednesday.

Winds could also gust as high as 35 miles per hours. Most of the precipitation will fall in the form of sleet and freezing rain. The concern for those of you in Sanilac County is that you’ll get the longest period of freezing rain, with the potential for over a quarter-inch of ice accumulation on trees and surfaces. Meteorologist Aaron Mayhew said Monday that the storm will start out mostly as snow and sleet, which will help travel, though it will still likely be treacherous.

The transition to chillier weather should take place this weekend, when temperatures are expected to plummet into the upper 20s on Friday and Saturday nights.

Mostly sunny skies are predicted for Thursday, with a high near 41.

The NWS estimates there is a 100 percent chance of precipitation with light ice accumulations.

At about 1:30 p.m. Monday, there was a report of a jack-knifed semi-trailer truck delaying westbound drivers on Interstate 80 at mile 265 near Atalissa.

Monday morning, the Streets Division expected to send 32 crews out to plow the city’s salt routes.

Early indications are snowfall accumulations will generally be 1-3 inches with lesser amounts south of the Massachusetts Turnpike and slightly more across northern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire.