Belleville, Illinois – A powerful winter storm is on track to dump up to 10 inches of snow across south central and southwest Illinois, snarling weekend travel and creating whiteout conditions along major highways.
According to the National Weather Service in St. Louis, a Winter Storm Warning is in effect from midnight Friday night through 6 p.m. Sunday. Snow will fall steadily from early Saturday through Sunday afternoon, affecting cities such as Belleville, Edwardsville, Columbia, Centralia, Vandalia, and Chester.
Interstates I-64, I-70, I-55, and I-255, along with highways like US-50 and IL-15, are expected to become very slick with low visibility by Saturday morning. Snowfall rates may exceed 1 inch per hour, making it difficult for plows to keep roads clear.
Drivers are urged to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary. Keep emergency supplies, including food, water, and a flashlight, in vehicles in case of delays or blockages. Road condition updates can be found at GettingAroundIllinois.com.
Additional snowfall may persist into Sunday evening if snow bands stall across the region.
