COLDER AIR ARRIVES FOR THANKSGIVING, STICKS AROUND INTO EARLY DECEMBER

It's finally starting to feel more like late November and this time, outside a few mild days mixed in, the colder air is here to stay.

Temperatures Sunday and Monday will warm back into the lower 60s, but the warm up is brief as another strong cold front moves through the region Monday afternoon. While a few light showers are possible with the frontal passage, the cold front won't bring a lot of wet weather to Southern Illinois.

The next storm system that I'm watching will track into the region Wednesday afternoon and evening. Slightly warmer air moving up ahead of the system should be enough to keep the precipitation as cold RAIN in Southern Illinois. There is uncertainty regarding the exact track of the low, but if you or your family are traveling to or from central and northern Illinois, there is a chance for snow in these areas depending on the low track.

By Thanksgiving morning, rain will be wrapping up with dry weather returning Thursday afternoon along with another blast of Arctic air.

As a big trough sets up in the Great Lakes and Eastern U.S. next weekend, the coldest air so far this season will dive into the Midwest. Mornings in the lower 20s and afternoons in the upper 30s look likely to wrap up November and begin December. With the cold air in place, questions regarding "snow" are expected.

With the massive trough positioned in the eastern U.S., there is a risk for Alberta Clippers to dive south into the Great Lakes area. These are typically not big snow makers for our area, but we might see our first "light" snowfall during the first two weeks of December. That being said, remember, it's not easy to produce snow in Southern Illinois. It takes a balance between the cold air and having enough moisture for precipitation. The cold air will likely be in place through around December 8, but then temperatures look to moderate beyond that.