Arctic Freeze Locks Into Central Illinois as Champaign Prepares for Weekend Snow and Dangerous Wind Chills
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS — A biting December chill is sweeping across central Illinois this morning, sending wind chills down to the single digits as frosty winds move across fields from Peoria to the Champaign–Urbana corridor. Temperatures near 20°F and lingering icy patches serve as a sharp reminder that winter has fully arrived.
Arctic Air Holds Firm With Wind Chills Near –15°F by Friday
According to the National Weather Service in Lincoln, an entrenched Arctic air mass will keep central Illinois locked into freezing conditions through Friday. Highs will struggle to reach the upper 20s to low 30s, while overnight lows fall into the single digits.
Wind chills may approach –15°F early Friday morning, particularly across open farmland and rural roadways. Icy spots from midweek snow and freezing drizzle remain a concern for morning commuters.
Light Snow Possible Saturday Night With Up to One Inch of Accumulation
A pattern shift begins Saturday night, when clouds increase and a 30% chance of snow develops across the region. Early weather model guidance shows the potential for up to one inch of accumulation, mainly between Springfield and Champaign.
Late Saturday and early Sunday may bring:
- Slippery roads along I-72, Route 45, and surrounding rural routes
- Reduced visibility during snow bursts
- “Flash freezing” on untreated surfaces as temperatures fall
Even light snowfall could create hazardous travel conditions across central Illinois.
Cold Sunday Before Next Arctic Push Mid-Next Week
Sunday brings a brief lull in snowfall but continues the cold trend, with highs near 27°F and a lingering northwest breeze. While not as extreme as the current cold snap, conditions remain well below seasonal averages.
Looking ahead to December 11–17, long-range models indicate another Arctic surge is likely, accompanied by more active winter storm systems developing across the Midwest — an important period as holiday travel begins to increase.
Five-Day Outlook for Champaign, Illinois
Thursday: Sunny, high 16°F, low 1°F
Friday: Mostly sunny, high 30°F, low 21°F
Saturday: Mostly cloudy, high 31°F, snow chance late, low 19°F
Sunday: 30% snow chance early, high 27°F, low 3°F
Monday: Mostly sunny, high 23°F
Stay with ChicagoMusicGuide.com for more Illinois winter alerts, snow forecasts, and regional weather updates as December cold intensifies.