Springfield, IL – A major winter storm is set to hit central Illinois tonight, with heavy snow expected to impact travel across cities including Springfield, Peoria, Galesburg, Lincoln, Pekin, Canton, and Jacksonville. The National Weather Service says the Winter Storm Warning begins at midnight and continues until 6 a.m. Sunday, bringing more than 6 inches of snow to the region.
According to the National Weather Service in Lincoln, forecasters expect widespread heavy snowfall across central and west-central Illinois, with the heaviest bands forming overnight and continuing into Saturday. The storm will affect Knox, Stark, Peoria, Marshall, Woodford, Fulton, Tazewell, Schuyler, Mason, Logan, Cass, Menard, Scott, Morgan, and Sangamon counties.
Road conditions are expected to deteriorate quickly after midnight, with visibility likely dropping during periods of intense snowfall. According to the NWS, travel could become “very difficult to impossible” across major corridors including I-55, I-72, US-67, IL-29, and IL-9. Motorists are urged to delay travel if possible.
The agency advises drivers who must be on the road to exercise extreme caution, avoid sudden braking, and maintain extra distance between vehicles. Snow-covered and slick surfaces are expected through early Sunday as temperatures remain below freezing.
Residents across central Illinois—including Peoria, Springfield, Taylorville, Havana, Petersburg, Rushville, and Beardstown—are encouraged to winterize vehicles, monitor updated forecasts, and check statewide road conditions at GettingAroundIllinois.com.
