UPDATE: 01/15/2022 11:45 a.m.
(Undated) — The nation’s next winter storm continues it’s march after dumping a foot of snow in some hardest hit parts of the Midwest.
The bulk of Central Illinois communities expected to see between 2 and 4 inches of snow accumulation through Friday night and early Saturday. Peoria measured close to 2 inches of snowfall by 7 a.m.
The storm hit central Iowa the hardest, with reports of 14 inch snow accumulations near the main airport in Des Moines.
According to the Des Moines Register, Iowa State Patrol had reported that 207 motorists were assisted and 78 crashes had occurred in the four hours between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Friday.
The storm promises to bring heavy winter weather impacts to many areas of the U.S. Southeast as well and in many places which are unaccustomed to significant amounts of snowfall.
Parts of Tennessee could get as much as 6 inches of snow, forecasters said, and northern Mississippi and the Tennessee Valley region of Alabama could receive light snow accumulations.
In many of these areas, there are lows predicted in the 20’s. Forecasters said any of the precipitation could freeze, making driving difficult if not hazardous.
Travel problems could extend into metro Atlanta, where about 2 inches of snow brought traffic to a slip-sliding halt in 2014, an event still known as “Snowmaggedon.”
Nearly 1,000 flights within the U.S. have already been cancelled for Sunday.
A major U.S. airport hub for American Airlines – Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina – leads the list of cancellations for Sunday at U.S. airports.
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UPDATE: 01/15/2022 8:40 a.m.
PEORIA, Ill — Peoria saw roughly 2 inches of snow accumulation during the overnight hours Friday into Saturday.
Snow plow crews have continued working through that time, first treating and plowing main arterial streets, boulevards, avenues and bridges then working into neighborhood streets throughout the early part of Saturday.
Areas of west central Illinois, west of the I-55 corridor were expected to see, perhaps more than 5 inches of snow accumulation.
We’ve seen reports of up to a foot of snow in areas of central Iowa, including the Des Moines metro.
Meanwhile, we know it’s been a busy start to the winter season for snow fighters with the City of Peoria.
Public Works Deputy Operations Director Sie Maroon tells us his teams have been working ’round the clock with few breaks ever since the first big winter blast hit back on New Year’s Day.
There were a couple of days without frigid cold or freezing precipitation this past week.
“…we had a couple of days there where they weren’t out there plowing and salting, so we hope they had a chance to recharge.”
Of course, there will still be the chance for wet roads to re-freeze Saturday night.
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ORIGINAL STORY:
PEORIA, Ill — Forecasters are anticipating significant snowfall in central Illinois as we get the weekend started.
National Weather Service forecasters are predicting around 2 inches of snow accumulation for the Peoria metro area.
However, Meteorologist Matt Barnes with the National Weather Service in Lincoln says more than 5 inches of snow is expected in areas of west central Illinois, primarily those communities west of the I-55 corridor.
Barnes says he expects snowfall will trigger those local snow fighting crews to be out salting roadways while also clearing them late Friday, overnight and early Saturday.
A winter weather advisory will be in effect from 3 p.m. until noon tomorrow.
Here is the NWS hazardous weather outlook for the local service area;
A swath of accumulating snow is likely to impact the IL river valley from late this afternoon until dawn Saturday morning.
The highest snow totals will likely fall tonight along and west of a Galesburg to Springfield line where over 4 inches of snow is possible.
Northeast winds will gust up to 25 mph during overnight into Saturday morning, and cause some blowing and drifting snow especially on rural untreated roads.
* WHAT…Snow. Additional snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches.
* WHERE…Peoria, Stark, Fulton, Knox and Schuyler Counties.
* WHEN…Until noon CST Saturday.
* IMPACTS…Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous
conditions could impact the evening commute.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Higher snowfall amounts will be across
west-central IL where up to 5 inches are possible.
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