Springfield, Ill. – Central Illinois drivers should use the quiet stretch through Friday to prepare for a potential round of accumulating snow or ice that could impact I-55, I-72 and I-74 late Sunday night into Monday morning.
Temperatures will climb into the 60s Friday before trending cooler this weekend, setting the stage for a system that may bring winter impacts back to the region just as the new workweek begins. The key concern is timing and precipitation type as colder air settles in.
According to the National Weather Service in Central Illinois, accumulating snow and ice are possible across portions of the Midwest from Sunday into Monday. While exact totals remain uncertain, forecasters emphasize that enough wintry precipitation could fall to create hazardous travel conditions, especially during the early Monday commute.
If temperatures dip into the upper 20s to low 30s Sunday night, bridges and overpasses along I-55 through Springfield and Bloomington will freeze first. Elevated stretches of I-72 west toward Jacksonville and I-74 near Champaign could also become slick before sunrise Monday.
Even a light glaze of ice can create dangerous travel, particularly on untreated secondary roads and rural highways. Drivers should monitor updated forecasts, check tire tread and allow extra stopping distance if traveling late Sunday or early Monday.
Confidence in the exact track and precipitation mix will improve over the next 48 hours. Additional advisories or watches may be issued as the system approaches Central Illinois.
