The National Weather Service expects about two inches of snow on Christmas Eve. (Photo courtesy National Weather Service)

By Eric Stock

LINCOLN – If you had to pick a day for the first measurable snowfall of the year, it would probably be Christmas Eve – and this might be the day we get it.

The National Weather Service has a Winter Weather Advisory in effect for McLean, DeWitt and Livingston counties and much of east-central Illinois from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. with a possibility of two inches of snow. Some areas could see as much as four inches of snow. WMBD 31 meteorologist Lauren Rainson sees McLean County getting mostly rain.

"If we see more of a rain-snow mix, I don't think we'd get any more than an inch for the Bloomington-Normal area," Rainson said. "if it does happen to switch to mostly snow, which I have a hard time believing, then the 2 to 4 is more possible.

Rainson said this will hinge on when the rain changes to snow.

Any snow we get might not be around long, as temperatures are expected to climb back into the 40s on Christmas Day.

Severe weather could snag holiday travel with a strong storm system that's delivering heavy rains in Gulf states and possibly through the East Coast, and threatening snow in the Great Lakes.
 
Snow from another system fell in some Midwestern states Tuesday, including nearly 2 feet in South Dakota's Black Hills. Wind and blowing snow shut down eastern Colorado's Interstate 70 into Kansas.
 
Severe thunderstorms with the potential of tornadoes developed in Mississippi, Georgia and Louisiana. Rain was expected through Wednesday in some Mid-Atlantic and New England states. Philadelphia saw some flight delays.
 
The National Weather Service predicts Christmas Eve snow from Missouri to Michigan. Three inches of snow could fall in Chicago, where O'Hare International Airport expects more than 3 million holiday travelers.
 
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].
The Associated Press contributed to this report.