After a blustery but otherwise unremarkable Sunday, Chicagoans leaving the house Monday may want to take a parka. And an ice scraper. And galoshes.
Monday’s weather is expected to run the gamut, according to the National Weather Service, with everything from rain to snow and sleet on the meteorological menu.
“There’ll be kind of a mix of sleet and snow, beginning as early as midmorning, in the 9, 10 o’clock hour,” said meteorologist Kevin Donofrio. After an afternoon of a wintry mix, the precipitation is expected to fall as a light drizzle in late afternoon or evening.
He said it’s tough to say when exactly the shift from snow to rain may happen. It’s a call made more difficult by recent warmth and ground temperatures generally above freezing, he said.
“We obviously walk a thin line when we get right around that freezing mark … to get an accurate forecast at that temperature with precision can be kind of challenging … but we seem pretty confident that the precipitation that’s falling will be some form of snow or sleet,” he said.
More Top Picks Best Running Shoes For Women
Timing will also depend on location, according to the weather service.
The precipitation should begin southwest of the city in the morning and steadily work into Chicago and points north.
“Ground temperatures are going to be generally above freezing, so if we get any accumulation, it would largely be on elevated or grass surfaces,” Donofrio said.
Mixed precipitation — mainly snow or sleet — was expected to spread into the Chicago area in late morning with the highest rates Monday afternoon, according to the weather service.
As much as an inch or inch and a half of precipitation could fall throughout the day, he said.
“It’s gonna be kind of messy out tomorrow,” Donofrio said. “We’re forecasting some combination of snow or sleet so just kind of be aware there could be some slushy spots.”
For more on the forecast visit the Tribune’s weather page.