Today's rain precedes bitter, bitter cold

The Winter Weather Advisory for the suburban area issued for last night's combination of rain, sleet and snow expired at noon, but the National Weather Service says slick roads and bitter temperatures loom.

According to the service's latest forecast, rain is expected to continue falling between noon and 5 p.m., as temperatures climb to 34. Rain will eventually transition to snow, as temperatures drop, with less than one inch of accumulation possible.

Sunday night, however, temperatures are expected to take a 30-degree plunge with the low falling to just 2 degrees. And Monday, we're looking at a high of just 8 degrees. If the forecast holds, it'll be a short winter bite; temperatures should be back in the 20s on Tuesday. Or not. Some forecasters are saying, temperatures may hold in the single digits and the teens on multiple days next week.

If you are planning to travel north this weekend, be careful. While most of the snow will miss us, it is expected to hit Wisconsin and Minnesota. People traveling in or through these locations should anticipate slippery roads, flight delays and possible flight cancellations, AccuWeather says.

"There will be disruptive snow and ice north of the storm track," AccuWeather.com Chief Meteorologist Elliot Abrams said. "Heavy snow, substantial ice and drenching rain will be associated with the storm, despite its fast movement.

"While travel problems will generally be limited to a day or so, areas that receive a heavy amount of ice or wet snow could have lengthy power outages and dangerous travel."