Snowfall totals for the entire Central Illinois region could vary from fewer than two inches in the far southern portion to more than six inches in the far northern part and up to ten inches in Northern Illinois. (Ryan Denham/WJBC)

By Stephanie Pawlowski and the Associated Press

BLOOMINGTON - All of Central Illinois is under a winter weather advisory except for Livingston, Ford, LaSalle and Grundy Counties which are under a winter storm warning until midnight.

Updated projections now put snowfall totals at three to five inches for most of Central Illinois, although some areas could get up to seven inches. The track of the storm has changed since Monday.

"Yesterday the storm was tracking just a little bit to the north then it came south again, so initially there were lower totals yesterday but the axis of the heavy snow has shifted south a little bit," National Weather Service Meteorologist Patrick Bak said.

There will be mostly snow today with a little mixed precipitation to the south. Rain mixing in at times across the south will keep snow totals down in that area.

"One is down by the Ohio River and then there's another one back into the upper Midwest and they are kind of converging a little bit and so we have precipitation with that southern system that we got a little bit of overnight but then it's hanging way back into the upper Midwest and that all has to come through," Bak said.

Most of the snow should hit the region by the evening, making for what could be a slushy afternoon commute.

Winds will also be a factor as northwest winds will gust over 25 miles per hour late afternoon and into the evening, which could cause some patchy blowing snow.

The rest of the week will be pretty sunny.

"The snow we get today won't last very long," Bak said. "We're going to be warming up nicely into the end of the week with temperatures into the 40's or 50's."

Officials with the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois Tollway said they have nearly 800 snow plows ready ahead of the storm. Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann Schneider said motorists should be prepared too. She said they should wear their seat belts, slow down and not crowd the snow plows.

The Illinois Tollway has a Snow Operations Center and officials said it will be activated as soon as necessary. The Tollway also has canceled any temporary lane closures.

Stephanie Pawlowski can be reached at Stephanie.Pawlowski@cumulus.com