NWS: Prepare for more snow and below-zero temps this weekend

DIXON – As snowfall intensity increased on Tuesday, weather officials were alerting residents that travel would become difficult as wind speeds also increased.

But they also were looking ahead at forecasts that predict more snow Wednesday night, as well as plummeting temperatures and another heavy round of snow Friday and into Saturday.

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Puchi Molina clears the area around her car Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024 in Sterling as snow continues to fall. (Alex T. Paschal)

Lee County has been among more than a dozen northern Illinois counties under a winter storm warning that also has covered Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, Lake, Whiteside, Ogle, DeKalb, Kane, DuPage, La Salle, Kendall, Grundy, Kankakee, Livingston, Iroquois, Ford, Cook and Will counties.

The Sauk Valley region could see up to 12 inches of snow in some areas by early Wednesday morning, according to the NWS. Dixon, as of 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, had received 9.5 inches of wintry mix in the past 24 hours.

Now, a quick-hitting system is expected to bring minor snow accumulations to the area Wednesday night, especially along and north of Interstate 80, according to the NWS.

And another winter storm could follow a couple days later, impacting the area Friday into Saturday. Several inches of accumulating snow in combination with strong winds may result in difficult travel across the area into Saturday. Much colder air will spread across the region this weekend and early next week, producing dangerously cold wind chills, according to the NWS.

River ice is expected to rapidly build up on area rivers Sunday into early next week as a much colder arctic airmass moves into the area. This will bring a threat for ice jam related flooding on area rivers into early next week, the NWS said.

With winter weather in full swing, here are some winter storm safety tips from the Federal Emergency Management Agency:

• Stay off roads if at all possible.
• If trapped in your car, stay inside.
• Limit your time outside.
• If you need to go outside, wear layers of warm clothing.
• Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.
• Reduce the risk of a heart attack. Avoid overexertion when shoveling snow.
• Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia and begin treatment right away.
• Check on neighbors. Older adults and young children are more at risk in extreme cold.

Also, heavy snow combined with strong winds can cause tree branches to fall, leading to power outages, according to the NWS. Here are some tips from Accuweather on how to stay safe during a power outage:

• If the power goes out in a winter weather event, temperatures can drop significantly. Make sure to keep all doors to the outside shut. Use towels to block drafts coming in from window and door cracks.
• It’s also possible to insulate windows with black blankets. The black draws heat from the sun. If the sun’s beams are coming through the window, put the blankets on the floor where the sun is directly shining instead.
• Running a bathtub of hot water also draws in heat to the house.
• Turning faucets to a trickle helps prevent pipes from freezing. If needed, wrap pipes in insulation or newspaper. Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing.
• Don’t rely on gas stoves, charcoal grills or other open-flame heat sources. Deadly carbon monoxide gas – which is odorless and invisible – may build up in your home.
• Carbon monoxide poisoning, fire and electric shock are hazards during an outage. Place generators away from doors, windows and vents that could allow carbon monoxide to come indoors.
• If you live in an area prone to blizzards, install carbon monoxide alarms. It’s best to put one on every floor in central locations. If the alarm sounds, move quickly to fresh air either outdoors or by an open window. Call for help and remain there until emergency personnel arrive.
• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. These appliances are well insulated, so food will keep for hours if opening the door is kept to a minimum. In the winter, a ready supply of snow or ice from outside can be placed in a plastic bag and put into the fridge or freezer to keep food cold.
• To keep up to date on areas affected by power outages, go to poweroutage.us.