Snow and Cold Will Keep Road Conditions Poor

It looks like we'll be ending 2017 in a Winter Wonderland.  Snow fell across the Stateline the entire day, allowing for the accumulation to build up pretty quickly.  Luckily the more intense snow showers are out of our area, and we'll just be left with some isolated, lighter snowfall as we head through the overnight.

Winter Weather Advisories are still in place across the Stateline, with a Winter Storm Warning down in Whiteside county.  These will all be in effect until 10pm tonight, and by that point we'll be seeing the isolated, lighter snow.

   As we go through the rest of the night we'll start to see the light snowfall die down to flurries after midnight, with dry conditions settling in around 6am Saturday morning.  Accumulations look to be anywhere from 2-2.5 inches across the stateline, with Whiteside county possibly seeing up to 3 inches.  Even though the snow will be gone by then, we're looking to get some blowing snow during the day tomorrow as gusty winds will move in from the northwest.

Blowing Snow occurs when you have strong winds that move in after snow has already fallen.  The winds cause the snow on the ground to fly up into the air, making it look like it's actually snowing when it's actually not.  This can lower visibility in some spots, so do be cautious when out driving tomorrow as you may encounter blowing snow while on the roads.

Not only do we have messy roads to deal with from the snow, but the very cold temperatures that we're going to continue to see can also impact your driving as well.  Tire pressure goes down more quickly in cold conditions, so be sure to keep an extra eye on the tire pressure for the next several days.

Take the time to remove the ice and snow from your car, as light reflecting off the snow and ice can make it hard to see while driving, leading to a dangerous situation, so be sure to clean off your car before you drive anywhere.

With snowy roads and bitter cold temperatures, ice can easily develop, and this has lead to multiple people skidding the past several days while on the messy roads.  If your car starts to skid, let off the gas and turn in the direction of the skid to regain control of the car. 

Also, keep in mind that with the ice being able to easily form on the roads in these conditions, that black ice will definitely be a factor.  When in doubt, take it slow if you're driving at night in an area that isn't as well lit, because you may very well be driving on black ice and may not realize it.