Springfield, Illinois – A wintry mix of rain, snow and patchy freezing drizzle is expected to spread across central Illinois tonight, potentially creating slick spots along I-55 and area roadways.
According to the National Weather Service in Lincoln, precipitation will move into the region after a mostly dry and seasonal Wednesday. The mix may include light snow and pockets of freezing drizzle overnight as temperatures hover near or just below freezing.
Forecasters say any snow accumulation should remain light and is expected to melt quickly as milder air moves in later this week. However, untreated bridges, overpasses and secondary roads could become slippery overnight into early Thursday morning.
Communities including Springfield, Bloomington, Decatur, Lincoln and Peoria may see brief periods of reduced visibility and patchy ice formation, particularly where freezing drizzle develops.
Primary travel corridors such as Interstate 55, Interstate 74 and US-51 could experience wet pavement transitioning to isolated slick spots during the late evening and pre-dawn hours.
By Thursday afternoon, temperatures are forecast to rebound into the 40s and 50s, with highs climbing even higher Friday into the 60s. The milder trend is expected to continue into Saturday before another system approaches.
Looking ahead, a winter storm may take shape across the Midwest as early as Sunday, potentially bringing more impactful precipitation to parts of Illinois. Officials caution that details remain uncertain at this time.
Commuters, students and early-shift workers should allow extra travel time Thursday morning and remain alert for changing road conditions overnight.
Residents are encouraged to monitor updates from the National Weather Service Lincoln office for the latest forecast information.
