The National Weather Service reports snow accumulations for the most part will be an inch or less but the strong winds will cause whatever snow that does fall to blow around and cause slippery roads this evening. (Weather story from the National Weather Service)
By WJBC Staff
BLOOMINGTON - Central Illinois is under a Blizzard Warning and a High Wind Warning until midnight.
Corn Belt Energy is reporting scattered outages in West and East Bloomington, but have restored power to most customers in McLean County
Meanwhile, Ameren is also reporting outages in Heyworth and Randolph Township. About 1,800 customers currently without power.
A tree down across the roadway at Morris Avenue and Taylor Road is in the intersection but police said that intersection is passable. Bloomington Police are still reporting multiple traffic lights are out across the city.
The Hopedale Substation is down, affecting about 365 households in Delevan, Emden, Hopedale, and Tremont.
As for the interstates, IDOT said I-55 and I-74 are both completely covered in snow and ice. Multiple vehicles, including semis, have stalled on 1-55 southbound near Chenoa
Early morning rain changed over to snow as the strong storm tracked across Central Illinois. Total accumulations will likely be 1 to 2 inches. WMBD 31 Chief Meteorologist Marcus Bailey said anything north of the low pressure zone is getting more snow.
"There will be pockets of higher accumulations in McLean, Tazewell and Woodford Counties where we may see one to two inches of snow, but keep in mind, it was close to 50 degrees in the morning, so the ground is very warm. It's going to take awhile for the snow to actually start sticking or anything to start freezing on the ground," Bailey said.
Temperatures have fallen into the mid 20's. The overnight low is 1 degrees.
Stephanie Pawlowski can be reached at Stephanie.Pawlowski@Cumulus.com.
