Christmas Eve snow to slow holiday travel in central Illinois

Posted on December 23, 2017
snow travel
The National Weather Service at Lincoln said parts of Central Illinois, including McLean County, could receive three to five inches of snow on Christmas Eve. (WJBC File Photo)

By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – It looks like central Illinois will have a white Christmas.

The season’s first major snowfall might boost holiday spirits, but it’s likely to be accompanied by hazardous driving conditions on one of the year’s busiest travel days.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory that runs through six p.m. on this Christmas Eve, with the heaviest snow during the morning hours.

Snow accumulations of three to five inches are expected north of a line from Rushville in west central Illinois, to Danville in east central Illinois, in an area that includes McLean County.

To the south, near Springfield and Decatur, the weather service is calling for two to three inches of snow.

The weather service said motorists should be ready for snow covered roads and limited visibility.

Illinois State Police in Metamora urged drivers to leave plenty of time to reach their destinations.

Police also urged motorists to use caution when approaching snow plows, which will be out clearing roadways.

The Christmas Eve storm will be followed by much colder air. The forecast is for a high temperature of just 16 degrees on Tuesday.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…