Notes: It's that time of year again...this is winter storm preparedness 
week in Illinois. Are you ready when the winter storm watches and 
warnings get issued? For some excellent information and tips, the 
National Weather Service in Chicago/Romeoville has set up a very
helpful Web page. Check it out!

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/news/display_cmsstory.php?wfo=lot&storyid=37393&source=0

FORECAST FOR DEKALB AND VICINITY, 11/20/09, 11:30 AM

Today...partly cloudy and a tad warmer. High of 53 degrees.
West winds 5-10 MPH.

Tonight...partly cloudy. Low of 37 degrees. Winds becoming 
southwest at 5 MPH early, then becoming southerly after midnight.

Tomorrow...partly cloudy. High of 53 degrees. South winds 5-10 MPH.

Extended outlook...Sunday through Thursday...

Sunday...increasing cloudiness. Low in the middle or upper 30s. High
around 50.

Monday...becoming cloudy with rain likely at night. Low around 40.
High around 50.

Tuesday...cloudy with rain likely. Low in the middle or upper 30s.
High in the middle 40s.

Wednesday...cloudy with a chance of light rain. Low in the upper 30s. High 
in the lower 40s.

Thursday, Thanksgiving day...cloudy and colder with a chance of light rain
and snow. Low around 30. High around 40.

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NIU HUSKIES FORECAST: BOWL-ELIGIBLE NIU HUSKIES VS OHIO, AT ATHENS, OHIO, 
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1 PM KICKOFF (WLBK-AM 1360/WSCR-AM 670 COVERAGE): 
Under partly sunny skies, temperatures could be around 55 degrees, with 
northeast winds around 5 MPH, and a relative humidity around 50%. 
Confidence is now excellent.
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CLIMATE DATA: Yesterday's high, 46 degrees; last night's low, 35 degrees.
The average high/low temperature is 48/32. We have had a trace of rain at
the DeKalb campus over the last 24 hours ending at 7 AM this morning.
Forecast was for 46/39 and up to .05" of rain; clearing early in the 
evening allowed us to get a bit colder than expected.

We have had .14" of rain this month, and no snow. On average, we
should see 2.82" of liquid equivalent, and 2.2" of snow, by November 30.
We have had 42.48" of liquid equivalent so far this year, and a trace of
snow so far this season. By November 30, our average annual liquid total
should be 35.22".
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SEVERE/HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK: None through midweek.
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PRECIPITATION: Monday night through Tuesday: .05" to .33", and 60% 
coverage.
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FORECAST DISCUSSION: It's good to see the sun again, isn't it? There's 
more where that came from in the short term, but the next system in the 
western United States is already setting its sights on moving into our 
area in two chunks during the early and middle parts of next week. The good 
news is that by not coming out in one piece, the threat for significant
rainfall is diminishing, but Thanksgiving could blustery and damp, with a 
few wet snowflakes thrown in for good measure. Thankfully, that doesn't 
appear to be anything serious, other than making roads a little wet.

Again, a short discussion today as we have Geography Career Day commencing 
here shortly. The pesky upper low that has sat over the area has finally 
moved east, allowing the sunshine to return after essentially a 4 day 
absence. That will last until Sunday, when clouds increase again ahead of 
the next storm system...a low currently in British Columbia, which will 
take until late Monday or Tuesday to get here. Until then, however, we'll 
see sunshine and highs in the 50s this weekend...enjoy it! Then, as the 
next system heads across the Plains and into our area by Tuesday, clouds 
and rain will overspread the area. The models have once again flipped to a 
stronger, one-storm system scenario...given our current jet stream 
pattern, it's not surprising. But either way, Tuesday should be wet, and 
then, as the upper and surface low crawls away from the area, it drags 
down cold air aloft, changing light rain to  possibly a mix of light rain 
and snow by Thanksgiving. Again, this looks to be no big deal, although 
the roads will be a bit wet. Then we dry out on Friday. The GFS shows 
another system for next weekend...which other models don't support. I'm 
keeping next weekend dry, for now.

So, look for near average temperatures and near to below average rainfall 
over the next 10 days...mainly coming around next Tuesday.

Have a great weekend all...and GO HUSKIES!

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Gilbert Sebenste                                                     ********
(My opinions only!)                                                  ******
Staff Meteorologist, Northern Illinois University                      ****
E-mail: sebenste@weather.admin.niu.edu                                  ***
web: http://weather.admin.niu.edu                                      **
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