Crime & Safety

Snow, Strong Winds Coming to Batavia Thursday

Severe winds are coming, and dare we say, maybe a white Christmas?

UPDATE: The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Kane County starting at 3 p.m. Dec. 20 until 3 a.m. Dec. 21.

If you are dreaming about a White Christmas, take heart: There's a 90 percent chance of snow Thursday night, according to the National Weather Service Chicago forecast.

And it's supposed to stay cold, at least through Monday. So the white stuff that falls might stick around for Dec. 25.

Find out what's happening in Bataviawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A Special Weather Statement by the NWS-C warns that "A RAPIDLY STRENGTHENING WINTER STORM WILL APPROACH THE AREA WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND TRACK ACROSS NORTHEAST ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA THURSDAY."

The bad news for snow-lovers is the heaviest snow likely is going to accumulate to the northwest of the storm track, swinging through Iowa and up toward Wisconsin, where it could drop 6 inches.

Find out what's happening in Bataviawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The good news is that "snow is possible" here, something that's been impossible since March. In Batavia, we're likely to see accumulating snow by Thursday afternoon. The variable is the track of the low-pressure system.

One aspect that looks highly likely, however, is that northwest winds will be strong on Thursday afternoon and evening, with gusts as high as 50 mph. "These winds will lead to significant blowing and drifting of snow and severely reduced visibility," the CMS-C says in all-caps. So be careful out there if you're heading out for any holiday parties.

And if you've got travel plans, heads up:

"THIS STORM MAY SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT AIR TRAVEL THROUGH CHICAGO OHARE AND CHICAGO MIDWAY AIRPORTS," the Special Weather Statement suggests.

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