The Winter Storm Watch was upgraded to a Winter Storm Warning at 2:03 a.m. CST Friday, November 28, 2025: WINTER STORM WARNING in effect from Saturday, November 29, 03:00 AM CST until Sunday, November 30, 06:00 AM CST.
A wintry, but sunny Friday is forecast with a high of 31°F in downtown Arlington Heights, and wind gusts up to 15 to 20 MPH with a gradual increase in clouds, spiking to mostly cloudy by midnight Friday/Saturday.
Light snow is forecast to begin about 2:00 a.m. Saturday with intense snowfall by 5:00 a.m. Saturday. Low temperature in the 20s overnight Thursday/Friday has frozen the ground, which will likely allow snowfall to accumulate immediately with the onset of snowfall. Temperature readings are forecast to remain below freezing all day Friday.
The snowfall period forecast is 1:00 a.m. Saturday to 11:00 a.m. Sunday.
The most intense snowfall rate is forecast to be 12:00 p.m. Saturday to 6:00 p.m. Saturday.
Weather forecasting models indicate Arlington Heights is in the center of the deep snow forecast for this Chicagoland winter storm, and the forecast at 4:00 a.m. Friday indicates 9.2 inches of snow accumulation by 11:00 a.m. Sunday in downtown Arlington Heights.
FORECAST STORM SNOW TOTALS (INCHES)
Arlington Heights 9.2
McHenry 10
Harvard 10
North Barrington 9.6
Lake Forest 9.6
Waukegan 9.9
Franklin Park 8.0
Broadview 9.0
Naperville 8.7
The water content of the snow is indicated to be 10:1 to 11:1. A quantitative precipitation forecast (QPF) ratio of 10:1 generally indicates wet snow, while an 11:1 ratio begins to transition towards a slightly drier, average snow. The forecast indicates wetter snow in southeast Chicagoland and dryer snow northwest of Arlington Heights. If the storm track turns south from the current forecast, Arlington Heights may have deeper, drier snow. If the storm track turns north, Arlington Heights may have a little less accumulation with wetter snow. The track of the low pressure center will need to be watched closely for accurate forecast updates.
The end of the Winter Storm will feature winds gusting to 26 MPH Sunday, and a temperature drop beginning about 3:00 p.m. Sunday down to 7°F at 5:00 a.m. Monday.
Weather Radar at 5:00 a.m. in northeast Illinois was clear. The sky at 5:00 a.m. was clear and filled with stars.
See also Arlingtoncardinal.com/clouds
O’HARE FORECAST …
Overnight: Mostly clear, with a low around 22. Northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 31. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.
Friday Night: Snow, mainly after 4am. Low around 23. Calm wind becoming south southeast around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Saturday: Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. High near 31. South southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches possible.
Saturday Night: Snow. Low around 27. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph becoming west northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
Sunday: Snow likely before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 31. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 8.
Monday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 22.
Monday Night: A chance of snow before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 10.
Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 24.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15.
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 30.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 24.
WINTER STORM WARNING TEXT …
WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM SATURDAY TO 6 AM CST SUNDAY…
* WHAT…Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 6 and 10 inches. Locally higher amounts possible northwest of an Ottawa to Aurora to Waukegan line.
* WHERE…Portions of central, north central, and northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana.
* WHEN…From 3 AM Saturday to 6 AM CST Sunday.
* IMPACTS…Travel could be very difficult.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. The latest road conditions for Illinois can be obtained at www.gettingaroundillinois.com. The latest road conditions for Indiana can be obtained at 511in.org.
LAKE TEMPS …
Southern Lake Michigan Water Temperatures
National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville IL
900 AM CST Thu Nov 27 2025
Lake Michigan Water Temperatures…
Chicago Shore………..44.
Chicago Crib…………48.
Michigan City………..47.
South Mid Lake Buoy…..47.
&&
M is for missing data that is normally available. Chicago Shore,
Chicago Crib, and Michigan City are read every day of the year.
Measured at a depth of 60 ft for Chicago Crib and 30 ft for
Michigan City. May not represent surface temperature.
For Lake Michigan water levels, please see:
water.usace.army.mil/office/lre/forecast/weekly
november.chicagoweatherstation.com
Chicago Weather Forecast for your MAC/PC/TABLET includes surrounding suburbs.
^^ MOBILE? USE VOICE MIC ^^
facebook …
Please ‘LIKE’ the ‘Arlington Cardinal Page. See all of The Cardinal Facebook fan pages at Arlingtoncardinal.com/about/facebook …
Help fund The Cardinal Arlingtoncardinal.com/sponsor
