Freezing Rain on the Way

1:00pm Update:  Watching the radar trends this afternoon and it's interesting to see how our temperature is rising towards the freezing mark: 32 degrees.  While there is still a warm layer aloft (1500 ft to 3000 ft) it's not as pronounced as it has been the past couple of days.  This may actually allow a little more sleet to mix in with the freezing rain.  Even in Iowa there were reports of the freezing rain changing over to sleet - then back to freezing rain.  Temperatures will be important to watch over the next several hours!  It still looks like the heaviest of the precipitation is hugging either side of the Mississippi River.

11:35am: Sleet and freezing rain beginning to move into our far southwestern counties.  We'll begin to see freezing rain, possibly mixed with sleet or snow, begin this afternoon.  If we do see a little more sleet mix in - that could actually be a good thing.  The sleet would hopefully add a little more traction to the roads.

10:25am: We are beginning to receive early school closings in the newsroom: click here for the latest info.  Be sure to refresh your web page.

9:08am: Starting to see some sleet beginning to mix in with the freezing rain in Iowa right now.  Slick conditions are still being reported.  Looks like we'll start to see the freezing rain/sleet move in after the noon hour.

8:10am Update:  Reports are beginning to come in from east central Iowa this morning where between a tenth and a quarter of an inch of freezing rain has already fallen with the heavier bands of precipitation.


7:30am: Freezing Rain Advisories have been issued for all of northern Illinois and for Green county in southern Wisconsin.  Watching the radars this morning, it looks like the heaviest of the freezing rain is stretching through central/east central Iowa and west central Illinois.  The leading edge of the precipitation is just moving over the Mississippi River towards Jo Daviess, Carroll and Whiteside counties.  That will continue to move northeast throughout the morning.  We'll start to see light freezing rain fall during the afternoon and continue into the overnight.  This may even mix in with sleet and snow.  Ice Storm Warnings have been issued for central Iowa - that's where they could see the heaviest of the freezing rain.  For us, look for roads to become slick during the late afternoon/evening hours.  We could pick up around a tenth of an inch by Thursday.  Some areas, especially west/southwest, could pick up some higher amounts.  Bottom line - travel could become hazardous for your commute home.  Take it easy on the roadways.  Of course, be sure to check back for the latest updates! - Candice