THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LINCOLN SAYS A MAJOR STORM SYSTEM CONTINUES TO TRACK TOWARD CENTRAL ILLINOIS FROM FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.

A COMBINATION OF HEAVY RAIN...FREEZING RAIN...AND SNOW CONTINUES TO GET READY TO DEVELOP AND MOVE TOWARD PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS.

A FRONTAL SYSTEM HAS STRENGTHENED TODAY OVER NORTHERN MISSOURI TO
NORTHERN ILLINOIS. THIS FRONT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE SLOWLY THROUGH THE                           DAY FRIDAY. SOME LIGHT RAIN WILL DEVELOP ON THE FRONT...WITH ONLY SOME                   LIGHT FREEZING RAIN POSSIBLE FRIDAY NIGHT IN THE NORTH.

THE MAIN PRECIPITATION WILL DEVELOP EARLY SATURDAY AND MOVE INTO
THE STATE...AS A LOW PRESSURE CENTER DEVELOPS ON THE STALLED
FRONT...AND MOVES NORTHEAST OVER ILLINOIS INTO NORTHERN INDIANA.
THE RAIN MAY BE MIXED WITH FREEZING RAIN DURING THE DAY SATURDAY
IN THE NORTHERN HALF...WITH HEAVY RAIN OVER THE SOUTHEAST HALF OF
CENTRAL ILLINOIS.

ON SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY...THE LOW CENTER WILL PULL TO THE
NORTHEAST AND THE COLD AIR WILL MOVE IN. THE RESULT WILL RAIN
CHANGING TO SNOW SATURDAY NIGHT AND INTO SUNDAY. SNOWFALL AMOUNTS
WILL BE THE HEAVIEST OVER THE REGION NORTHWEST OF THE ILLINOIS
RIVER...AT 3 TO 5 INCHES POSSIBLE.

DETAILS ON THIS WINTER STORM CONTINUE TO CHANGE, AND THEREFORE
SOME OF THE MORE CRITICAL POINTS ARE STILL UNCERTAIN. THE WEATHER SERVICE ADVISES YOU TO KEEP TUNED TO LATER STATEMENTS ON THIS DEVELOPING WINTER EVENT.