I have that saying from Poltergeist in my head as I post this.
“IT’s Back” Yup, more snowfall is in our forecast and is currently falling if you take a look out your window. Are you ready for more snow?
Snow returns to the area today with a few inches possible by Monday morning. Highest amounts are expected across far northern Illinois with lower amounts farther south and southeast. Snow will end for most of the area overnight, except for areas near Lake Michigan in far northeast Illinois which will see lake effect snow showers develop. Lake effect snow shifts into northwest Indiana around midday Monday.
Light to moderate snow will continue to slowly spread northeast across the region this morning. Visibility will be reduced to under a mile at times, and roads will become snow covered and slippery. Use extra caution if travelling this morning.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT
TONIGHT TO MIDNIGHT CST SUNDAY NIGHT
* WHAT…Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches
expected, with a few locally higher amounts of 5 inches possible.
* WHERE…Portions of north central Illinois.
* WHEN…From midnight tonight to midnight CST Sunday night.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Plan on slippery road conditions.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A Winter Weather Advisory for snow means periods of snow will
cause primarily travel difficulties. Expect snow covered roads
and limited visibilities, and use caution while driving.
Police are saying: As the temperatures plunge with the windchill this afternoon, rain that has already fallen will start to refreeze on the roadways this afternoon and evening.Travel will become extremely difficult especially on the County’s Secondary Roads. Please refrain from travel unless it’s absolutely necessary as First Responders are having trouble traveling on the ice covered roadways.
From the NWS:
A robust cold front crossing the area mid to late-afternoon will usher in gusty winds and rapidly falling temperatures this evening. West winds will gusty to 45-50 mph late this afternoon and evening. Power outages will be possible, especially where recent freezing rain has left a coating of ice on trees and power-lines. A rapid drop in temperatures behind the front will result in the potential for flash freezing of standing water and wet surfaces this evening.
Exercise extra caution if traveling this evening, including during the commute, by being alert for rapidly changing road conditions and strong cross-winds on north-south roadways.
ICE STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM
3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 6 AM CST WEDNESDAY
* WHAT…Significant icing expected due to freezing rain. Ice
accumulations of two tenths to four tenths of an inch expected.
Snow and sleet may mix with the freezing rain late this
afternoon and this evening. Total snow and sleet accumulations
less then one inch expected.
* WHERE…Winnebago, Boone, Ogle and Lee Counties.
* WHEN…From 3 PM this afternoon to 6 AM CST Wednesday.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Power outages and tree damage are possible
due to the ice. Travel could be nearly impossible on untreated
surfaces. The hazardous conditions will likely impact the
evening commute.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
An Ice Storm Warning means significant amounts of ice
accumulation will make travel dangerous or impossible. Travel is
strongly discouraged. If you must travel, keep an extra
flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an
emergency. Snapped power lines and falling tree branches are also
possible.
A cryoseism, also known as an ice quake or a frostquake, is a seismic event that may be caused by a sudden cracking action in frozen soil or rock saturated with water or ice. As water drains into the ground, it may eventually freeze and expand under colder temperatures, putting stress on its surroundings.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryoseism
A cryoseism, also known as an ice quake or a frost quake, is a seismic event that may be caused by a sudden cracking action in frozen soil or rock saturated with water or ice. As water drains into the ground, it may eventually freeze and expand under colder temperatures, putting stress on its surroundings. This stress builds up until relieved explosively in the form of a cryoseism
Nothing sinister, assures Elwin Robison, a professor in Kent State University’s College of Architecture and Environmental Design.
When the temperature plummets outside, so does the relative humidity in our homes as we crank up the heat. That dryness causes the wood parts of a home’s structure to shrink and scrape against one another, especially if those parts are under pressure — say, from the weight of snow on the roof, Robison said.
Sometimes the movement is sudden, causing a popping sound. Sometimes it’s slower, causing those creepy creaks and groans.
Robison said the culprit is often rafters moving against the top plate in the attic, with the plywood sheathing on the roof serving as a sounding board to project the noise. But other wood can be to blame, he said, even an outdoor deck that’s subject to force from the weight of furniture or a heavy barbecue grill.
The problem is often more noticeable in older homes, said Joseph Ferut Jr., a colleague of Robison’s in the architecture college. Newer homes are more thermally isolated from the outdoors, he said, and improvements in building science reduce the sudden movements.
Some amazing views have been spotted in the Rockford area!
Light Pillars have been spotted and photographed by several fans!
Check out these amazing photos!
A light pillar is an atmospheric optical phenomenon in which a vertical beam of light appears to extend above and/or below a light source.
The effect is created by the reflection of light from tiny ice crystals that are suspended in the atmosphere or that comprise high-altitude clouds (e.g. cirrostratus or cirrus clouds).
If the light comes from the Sun (usually when it is near or even below the horizon), the phenomenon is called a sun pillar or solar pillar.
Light pillars can also be caused by the Moon or terrestrial sources, such as streetlights.
Once again today, light snow will spread east over the area during afternoon into the evening. The intensity will be light, but the cold temperatures during the snowfall will likely cause it to stick, resulting in some slick spots that will be hazardous to motorists.
WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY EVENING THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON
* WHAT…Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations of 5 to 8 inches possible.
* WHERE…Winnebago and Boone Counties.
* WHEN…From Sunday evening through Monday afternoon.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Travel could be very difficult. Patchy
blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The
hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening
commute.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A Winter Storm Watch means there is potential for significant
snow, sleet or ice accumulations that may impact travel. Continue
to monitor the latest forecasts.
Rockford Scanner.Rockford’s Leading Online News Site!
Light snow is expected to develop mainly north of I-80 beginning this evening. Minor accumulations of less than an inch are expected through Thursday morning. With the slight accumulation, roads could be slick for the Thursday morning commute
Light snow will taper off Thursday morning across northern Illinois, and temperatures will reach into the 30s.
However, a wintry mix of precipitation will move into northern Illinois and northwest Indiana beginning Thursday evening. Freezing drizzle/rain will be possible across a good portion of the area, and could linger into Friday morning affecting the morning commute.
Drivers should be cautious driving on area roads. Temperatures will moderate heading into the weekend, but there is another potential for freezing rain Friday night into Saturday morning.
Precipitation will then change to all rain Saturday, and may be heavy at times.
Rockford Scanner.Rockford’s Leading Online News Site!
As the first winter storm hits our area of the season, expect “Accident-Magedon” to possibly happen. We all know it always happens every season. And when it hits, it will be Sunday during the day and evening so many are out on the roads because of church and the weekend.
So we wanted to point out a few things.
They will probably enforce the accident plan. Which means if you are involved in a non-injury accident. Then you and the other party exchange information and then go to the police station to file an accident report.
Carry an emergency kit with you.
Charge your cell phone
Drive slow and allow extra traveling time
Dress warm
They said this will be the heavy wet snow. Which is bad on several levels. It will probably cause power outages in the area. So please be prepared for extended periods of possible power outages.
Also wet heavy snow means exactly that, Wet and heavy. We recommend snow-blowing the snow. If you are not able to please be extremely careful shoveling. Take breaks, stay hydrated, shovel in layers, dress warm, etc…
Hire a neighborhood kid to shovel your snow, if possible .
If you are stuck in the snow, do not panic. Stay calm. This is why we recommend you bringing a shovel along with you when you travel. Or you can call a tow truck.
Also do not forget the odd/evening parking! Do not park on the roads, if you have a driveway. If you need to park on the road, then remember the odd/even parking. The quicker a snowplow can travel down a roadway, the quicker they can plow your road.
Last few seasons the plows in Rockford missed many residential roads. I can’t tell you how many times we had people contacting us on it. So expect the same thing again this season as well. They plow the major roads first, then the residential areas last. That is why it is important you do not park on the roads, so they can travel faster and are able to get more roads plowed.
Below is from the city of Rockford website
The End of Your Driveway
The City’s crews and contractors use side discharge plows. As the plows move forward, snow moves along the blade from the left to the right. The discharge from the blade is deposited along the curb or in the grass boulevard on the city right of way. This discharge, officially known as a “windrow”, ends up leaving a relatively small amount of snow in driveway approaches along the route. While we understand the aggravation this can cause, this natural result of plowing is unavoidable.
Your Mailbox
The goal of the Street Maintenance Department is to clear the streets for travel. No matter how hard we try, it is not possible to provide perfect conditions for your mail carrier. Final clearing adjacent to mailboxes is the responsibility of each resident.
Here’s the postcard we got from the postmaster last season regarding clearance to mailboxes:
Street Section Supervisor – (779) 348-7260
The City is responsible for ice and snow control on City streets.
Residents are responsible for their sidewalks and alleys.
Neither snow nor ice from sidewalks or private property shall be deposited in the street or piled so high as to obstruct motorists’ view.
Where ice cannot be removed, the business shall use sand, salt, or other suitable substance that will prevent the ice from being dangerous.
Odd/Even parking is in effect during most snow clearing operations. Changes at 8 am.
In order for our crews to remove snow and ice from city streets, we must have the ability to safely and effectively maneuver a plow up and down our streets. If a snow or ice storm reaches the point that streets are becoming difficult to clear, city officials can declare a Snow Emergency. A Snow Emergency requires that vehicles be parked on the odd side of the street when the date ends in an odd number and on the even side of the street when the date ends on an even number. For example, on January 5th you would park on the odd side of the street. Police and public works crews will issue parking tickets at the cost of $50.00 to vehicles that are parked on the wrong side of the street. It’s safe to assume that if it’s snowing the Odd/Even Parking is in effect.
Important Points To Remember
If your street is marked as “No Parking” on one side of the street, the Snow Emergency Declaration allows you to park legally in the restricted area during the time that the Snow Emergency Declaration is in effect.
The Odd/Even Parking is in effect so that plows can safely go down the streets. The next day when the parking changes, to the other side of the street, the plows may or may not return to clear the other side. If at all possible, please remove your vehicle from the street.
Do not assume that you can move your car when the street is plowed. Your car must remain parked appropriately until after the Snow Emergency has been lifted.
All vehicles must be moved to the correct side of the street at 8:00 a.m.
We hope everyone stays safe and prepare for the possibility of this storm. And if you must travel, please be very careful and follow some of the tips above.
