Champaign, Illinois – Travel conditions remain dangerous across central Illinois tonight as blowing and drifting snow continues to impact roads, even though steady snowfall has ended. Bitter Arctic cold is also intensifying, pushing wind chills deep into negative territory overnight and into Sunday.
Road conditions are reported as poor to hazardous across much of central and parts of southeast Illinois, including Champaign, Peoria, Springfield, Decatur, Bloomington-Normal, and Mattoon. According to the National Weather Service office in Lincoln, northwest winds gusting 20 to 25 mph are causing freshly fallen snow to drift back onto roadways, reducing visibility and making lanes difficult to distinguish at times.
While snow is no longer falling, the drifting is expected to persist through the overnight hours, especially on open stretches of roadway, rural highways, and east–west routes. Motorists should expect snow-covered and partially covered roads along major corridors including I-57, I-72, I-74, and I-55, as well as numerous state and county roads.
Compounding the travel threat, wind chills are dropping into the double-digit negatives, with readings falling to -10° to -25°F overnight. The extreme cold will limit the effectiveness of road treatments and allow snow-packed surfaces to remain slick into Sunday.
Officials strongly urge drivers to limit or avoid travel tonight if possible. If travel is unavoidable, slow down, allow extra stopping distance, and carry emergency supplies including blankets, food, water, and a charged phone. Even minor slide-offs could become dangerous due to the cold.
Road conditions are expected to remain slick into Sunday, despite improving visibility, as temperatures stay well below freezing through the morning hours. Winds will gradually ease late Sunday, but the cold will linger.
