Overview
- National Weather Service guidance places a marginal severe-wind risk south and west of Chicago and into northwest Indiana, with the strongest window roughly 6–11 p.m. Thursday.
- Southwesterly gusts up to about 35 mph are expected to persist into early Friday, and some locations could see stronger bursts near daybreak that complicate the morning drive.
- Rain will be widespread in the Chicago area with pockets of heavier downpours capable of ponding on roads, though forecasters do not expect major flooding impacts.
- The Twin Cities started with dense and pockets of freezing fog, then turned rainy Thursday afternoon before a brief evening mix to light snow with only trace to minor accumulations.
- Temperatures turn unseasonably mild Friday, reaching the 50s to lower 60s in parts of the region, before a colder push changes rain to mainly light snow Saturday with minor totals most likely from southeast Minnesota into western Wisconsin and a lighter outcome around Chicago.