FORECAST FOR DEKALB AND VICINITY, 2/9/12, 11:25 AM

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    LAKE EFFECT SNOW WATCH HOFFMAN ESTATES CAMPUS
      FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH 3:30 PM SATURDAY

      MOST OF THE SNOW SHOULD MISS THAT CAMPUS
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Today...sunny through
mid-afternoon, then increasing
cloudiness late. Blustery
with a high of 36 degrees.
Southwest winds 12-22 MPH.

Tonight...cloudy. Low of
24 degrees. Southwest
winds 10-20 MPH.

Tomorrow...cloudy and windy
with a little light snow,
mainly in the afternoon.
Turning colder with a
morning high of 31 degrees,
then falling into the lower
20s during the afternoon.
Southwest winds 10-15 MPH at
dawn becoming northerly by
10 AM, and then increasing to
20-30 MPH during the afternoon.

Friday night...flurries ending
at DeKalb and our western
campuses early, then clearing,
windy and much colder...except
a chance of snow showers at our
Hoffman Estates campus. Low of
5 to 10 above.

Extended outlook...Saturday through Wednesday...

Saturday...mostly sunny and
windy. High around 20.

Sunday...sunny. Low 5 to 10
above. High in the middle 20s.

Monday...increasing cloudiness
with a chance of light snow
late. Low in the lower
teens. High around 30.

Tuesday...cloudy with a chance
of light rain or snow. Low in
the middle 20s. High in the
upper 30s.

Wednesday...cloudy with a chance
of light rain or snow. Low in
the upper 20s. High in the
upper 30s.

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CLIMATE DATA: Yesterday's high, 33 degrees; last night's low, 17 degrees.
The average high/low temperature is 30/14. We have had no rainfall
equivalent and no snow at the DeKalb campus over the last 24 hours
ending at 7 AM this morning. Forecast was for 33/19.

We have had a trace of rainfall equivalent this month. On average,
we should see 1.55" of rainfall equivalent, including 7.3" of
snow, by February 29. We have had 1.41" of rainfall equivalent
so far this year. Our monthly snow total is a trace", and our seasonal
snow total so far is 13.7". By February 29, our average annual
liquid total should be 3.02".
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SEVERE/HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK: Tomorrow, an Arctic front brings
temperatures down into the 20s, with wind chills in the single digits.
With no snow cover, this will be mostly just annoying until nightfall,
when wind chills will be significantly lower. By 3 AM Saturday,
wind chills should be dropping down to -10 to -15 through the noon
hour. Keep that in mind if you have any travel plans on Friday into
Saturday. We could see a dusting of snow on Friday as well, possibly
creating some slick or icy spots.
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PRECIPITATION: Friday afternoon through early Friday evening: a trace
of liquid equivalent and snow, and 90% coverage.
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FORECAST DISCUSSION: If you like winter weather, you will finally
get a good taste of it starting tomorrow afternoon as temperatures
and wind chills begin their plunge, ultimately dropping to the
single digits on the thermometer, and double-digit below zero
wind chills Saturday morning. Unfortunately, it now appears that
although there should be plenty of sunshine on Saturday, it will
be cold...highs around 20 degrees...and windy, keeping wind chills
at or below zero all day. But next week, a recovery begins starting
on Monday, and by the middle of next week, we should be back up
to near or at 40 degrees again, with a chance of light rain or snow
at that time. The only "big" system coming through in the next several
days will be the one tomorrow, producing perhaps a dusting of snow,
and, of course, colder air. It's just the atmosphere's friendly
reminder card that it is winter.

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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                                      **
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/NIU_Weather                            **
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/niu.weather                           *
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