60 MPH Gusts, Freezing Rain Expected In IL

Another few days of active weather are ahead for the Illinois area this weekend. The National Weather Service said freezing rain will develop Friday night and transition to rain Saturday morning. There could be a brief period of ice accumulation, especially north of I-80 and northwest of I-55. After the freezing rain early Saturday, thunderstorms could roll into the area on Saturday evening. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph on Saturday night.

Winds will be even higher on Sunday. According to the NWS, 40 to 60 mph gusts are possible across the region.

Temps will be fairly mild this weekend, with a high of 51 degrees on Saturday and a high of 38 on Sunday. Snow most likely won't play a part this weekend, although there is a chance of snow late Saturday and early Sunday, but no accumulation is expected.

Here is more detailed look at the weather this weekend:

• FRIDAY NIGHT: Increasing clouds, with a low around 31. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
• SATURDAY: Rain likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 3 p.m. Patchy fog between 9 a.m. and noon. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 44. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• SATURDAY NIGHT: Rain before 5 a.m., then a chance of rain and snow. Some thunder is also possible. Low around 33. Windy, with a southeast wind 15 to 20 mph becoming west southwest 25 to 30 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
• SUNDAY: A slight chance of rain and snow before 8 a.m., then a slight chance of snow between 8 a.m. and noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35. Windy, with a west northwest wind around 30 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• SUNDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy, with a low around 12. Blustery.