February 22, 2013
The heaviest snowfall totals are to the south and west. (Graphic courtesy of Karissa Sanford/WMBD 31)
By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON - The last remnants of a winter storm are moving out of Central Illinois this morning.
The storm wasn't as bad in McLean County as first thought, but portions of west-Central Illinois are digging out from five inches of snow.
"In our southwestern-most counties, like Havana saw four inches. A lot of the heavier stuff was confined farther to the southwest and as that system started to move to the north, it started to weaken a bit, so by the time it got to us, it didn't have as much strength," WMBD 31 meteorologist Karissa Sanford said.
The latest snowfall total in McLean County is 1.5 inches, but some rural areas are measuring slightly more.
Freezing drizzle helped keep the snow from blowing and drifting much. Sanford said to expect more freezing drizzle throughout the morning and afternoon. Temperatures will slowly moderate today, ranging from the lower 30's far northwest to the lower 40's southeast.
One local school has canceled classes so far, Hartsburg-Emden. For a complete list of cancellations, go to the cancellation page of WJBC.com.
Road crews have been busy throughout the night. The Illinois Department of Transportation reports interstates in Central Illinois are patchy to snow or ice covered.
Normal Street Supervisor Scott Dennewitz said all the major roads in town are clear. Plows were running all night in the snow, drizzle and sleet.
"We've been fighting it all night long, but the major roads are pretty good. They're wet and a little slush in areas but on the whole, they're in good, passable condition," Dennewitz said.
Bloomington Public Works Director Jim Karch said there were a few problems with blowing on the edges of town, but the primary and secondary routes are clear.
"In general, because of only having about an inch of snow, the blowing wasn't overwhelming for us," Karch said.
Dennewitz said plows will hit the major roads once more before going into the residential areas.
"Hopefully if things go good and the weather stays clear, we'll get done with the residential from mid to late afternoon, is our hope," Dennewitz said.
Karch said later today, the plows will move into the residential areas.
"We encourage citizens through out the day to go onto our website and see where the plows are at, which parts of town the plows are at," Karch said.
Mark Leake with the McLean County Highway Garage says freezing drizzle has kept the snow compact and most roads are still at least partially snow covered.
"It's got the snow tied down so it doesn't blow, but the more traffic on it, it packs down a little tighter so it's harder to get off," Leake said.
Some flights into and out of Central Illinois Regional Airport have been canceled.
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