Heavy Storms Wash Away Dense Fog and Snow

Flooding Becoming an Issue; More Snow Possible

[February 06, 2008]  What is new and old at the same time? Easy answer: Illinois weather. The old cliche that if you don't like the weather, wait 10 minutes, was negated Monday night when numerous weather events took place in under 10 minutes.

Fog that persisted through the day was washed away in mid-evening when heavy rain, intense lightning and cracks of thunder alternately mixed with sleet and hail. A stationary front stalled right over Logan County, separating the state into two temperature climates, with 69 degrees at the southern tip and 32 degrees to the north. Lincoln was 41 degrees at 10:30 p.m.

At one time severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for parts of the county. No damage was reported.

Once those events passed, dense fog returned to areas that still had snow on the ground.

Several roads were temporarily closed by flooding. They were all in areas that commonly flood: the Route 121 viaduct at Mount Pulaski, Route 10 west of Lincoln and low areas in Atlanta. Atlanta still had some road closures due to water and debris on the roads Tuesday morning.

Terry Storer at the Logan County Emergency Management Agency said Tuesday that area creeks were being watched. Salt and Kickapoo creeks were already out of their banks and Deer Creek was full. Major rainfall to the north and melting snow will continue to contribute to small-stream flooding in Logan County.

Drivers are advised to be alert while traveling. Watch around streams on country roads or driving into low areas, such as under a viaduct; and even city streets can be flooded by clogged or overwhelmed storm drains. Standing water knocked vehicles that drove into them off the roadways Monday night. Keep in mind that moving water exerts considerable force. You should never drive into standing or moving water.

The following hazardous weather outlook statement was posted by the National Weather Service at 3 p.m. Tuesday:

Tuesday afternoon: Periods of rain and possibly a thunderstorm. Patchy fog. High near 35. North-northeast wind around 14 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation 100 percent.

Tuesday night: Periods of rain before midnight, then a chance of snow. Some thunder also possible. Low around 30. North-northeast wind between 13 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation 100 percent. New snow accumulation of less than a half-inch possible.

Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of snow. Cloudy, with a high near 32. Breezy, with a north-northwest wind between 15 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

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