CLEVELAND, Ohio — After several days of extreme cold, Northeast Ohio will see a very slight warmup on Monday as temperatures climb into the 20s, though a weak weather system will bring widespread light snow to the region.

Clouds were already in place early in Marion, where Buckeye Chuck did not see his shadow during his annual Groundhog Day appearance.

Those clouds will spread into Northeast Ohio later in the morning, with snow showers moving west to east from midday into the evening, according to the National Weather Service in Cleveland. Snowfall totals are expected to remain light, with most areas seeing an inch or less.

While significant impacts are not expected, untreated roads and sidewalks could become slick, particularly later in the day and after sunset.

Snow showers taper off Monday evening, with overnight lows dropping into the upper teens. A few additional light snow showers are possible Tuesday as a weak cold front moves through, though any new accumulation should remain minor. Highs Tuesday will again reach the upper 20s.

Colder-than-normal pattern continues

Even with the slight rebound in temperatures early this week, Northeast Ohio will remain locked in a below-normal pattern as Arctic air stays entrenched across the eastern United States.

Highs will generally remain in the 20s through Friday, with overnight lows slipping into the single digits by midweek. Forecasters say wind chills could fall below zero at times late this week and into the weekend as colder air deepens behind another Arctic front.

Wednesday and Thursday are expected to be mostly dry, offering a brief break from snow before the next system arrives.

Snow chances increase late week

Forecast confidence continues to increase for another round of accumulating snow Thursday night into Friday as a potent clipper system moves southeast across the Great Lakes.

While exact snowfall amounts remain uncertain, forecasters say there is a high probability of at least minor accumulation across much of Northeast Ohio, with higher odds for more meaningful totals in eastern counties.

Gusty winds and falling temperatures behind the system could increase impacts late Friday and into the weekend.

Arctic air will surge back into the region after the system departs, with highs dropping into the teens over the weekend and periodic lake-effect snow showers possible. Extensive ice cover on Lake Erie should help limit lake-effect intensity and snowfall totals.

West Coast trips are rarely comfortable, and Illinois (16-6, 6-5 Big Ten) learned that the hard way earlier this season. After dropping a tough road game at Oregon State in their first trip out to the Left Coast, the Illini returned to the Pacific Ttime Zone this week with something to prove – and this time, they left with a win.

Illinois took care of business in Seattle, knocking off No. 25 Washington (17-5, 7-4) 75-66 in a game that was never particularly pretty but was controlled for most of the night. The Illini led for long stretches, absorbed Washington’s runs and consistently responded when things threatened to get tight. It wasn’t a highlight-reel performance or a shooting clinic, but it was the kind of road win that good teams learn how to secure as the season goes on.

After a disappointing result on their first West Coast swing, this one felt like a step forward.

1. Cearah Parchment has cemented herself as Illinois’ No. 2 option

Berry Wallace has been the offensive engine for Illinois all season, but games like this highlight how important it is to have another reliable scorer next to her. Cearah Parchment delivered exactly that in Seattle.

Parchment finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds, showing her ability to score efficiently while also impacting the game on the glass. She knocked down shots from the perimeter, finished inside and punished Washington when attention shifted toward Wallace. That balance changes the ceiling of the Illini offense. When Illinois can play through more than one primary option, it becomes much harder to defend – especially on the road.

2. The Illini won in spite of a poor three-point shooting day

Illinois didn’t exactly catch fire from deep, finishing just 4-for-15 from three-point range. Instead of forcing shots or letting misses spiral into momentum swings, the Illini stayed patient.

They attacked the paint, earned trips to the free-throw line and converted when it mattered. Illinois attempted 24 free throws and made 17, quietly building separation without relying on long-range shooting. That’s a positive sign, especially in a hostile environment where shooting legs can disappear quickly. Winning a road game without relying on threes is a trait of a mature team.

3. The defense did enough to survive the Huskies’ stars

Washington star guard Sayvia Sellers got her points, but Illinois avoided letting her completely take over the game. Only three Huskies reached double figures, and none scored more than 17 points – a sign of how difficult Illinois made consistent offense all night.

The Illini didn’t dominate defensively, but they stayed connected, avoided extended breakdowns and forced Washington to work for nearly every basket. By making scoring a grind and preventing a single explosive run, Illinois maintained control and closed the game out comfortably – exactly what you want from a road performance.