When Will Crystal Lake, Cary See First Snowflakes Of The Season?

When Will Crystal Lake, Cary See First Snowflakes Of The Season? The Chicago area could see its first snowfall of the season Wednesday evening and Thursday.

— Crystal Lake and Cary residents could see the first snowflakes of the 2024 winter season soon.

NBC 5 Meteorologist Alicia Roman is predicting the Chicago area's first snowfall will hit during the evening hours Wednesday. The snowflakes could continue to fall overnight and into Thursday morning.

There could be "some bursts of snow Wednesday night into Thursday morning," Roman said.

The first snowflakes are expected as temperatures dip from the 40s, which is predicted for much of Wednesday, and into the 30s as the day wears on, local meteorologists are reporting Tuesday. In Crystal Lake, temps are expected to dip below 40 degrees at 5 p.m. Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

Here is a look at the weather forecast for Crystal Lake and Cary for Wednesday and Thursday:

Wednesday: A chance of rain showers before 3 p.m., then a chance of rain and snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 45 degrees. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Wednesday night: Scattered snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. Blustery, with a west northwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Thursday: Rain and snow likely, becoming all rain after 3 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 39. Breezy, with a west northwest wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

In the Chicago area, the normal first date of measurable snow (.1 inches or more) is Nov. 18, and while it doesn't always snow in November in Chicago, historical data does show that 1.8 inches of snow is the average for the month.

Temperatures also drop quite a bit on average through November, with an average of 47.6 degrees on Nov. 1, and an average of 35.2 at the end of the month.