3 inches of snow falls; bitter cold in forecast
The Union County area experienced wintry weather conditions during the past week – and more could be on the way, including bitterly cold temperatures.
Three inches of snow, ice pellets and rain were recorded in the area Friday evening, Jan. 11.
The National Weather Service office in Paducah issued a winter storm warning for the region, including Union County, which was in effect from 3 p.m. Friday through noon on Saturday.
The warning was issued Thursday afternoon, Jan. 10. The forecast at the time was calling for the possibility of 3 to 5 inches of snow in some areas in Southern Illinois and Southeast Missouri.
Very light snow was seen falling in Union County during the noon hour on Friday. Significant snow fall was seen in the Anna area starting at around 4:30 p.m. Friday.
By 5 p.m., heavy snow was falling. Area streets, roads and highways were quickly covered with snow.
The weather service reported that a wintry mix of snow and sleet spread across the region during the afternoon and evening hours on Friday. This was in response to surface low pressure that developed in the Texas/Oklahoma region.
Warmer temperatures at the surface and aloft began to move into the region; by Saturday morning, the precipitation had changed over to rain.
The heaviest snowfall amounts from the system were seen in central portions of Missouri and Illinois.
Some of the snow fall amounts in the region reported by the weather service included an estimated 7 inches in Pinckneyville, 5.0 inches in Mt. Vernon and 4.1 inches in the Murphysboro area.
The weather service reported that “there were significant travel impacts during the evening hours and into the overnight hours in our region, as snow covered roads led to numerous accidents.”
Portions of I-57 and I-64 in Southern Illinois were closed for a period of time.
No major traffic accidents were reported by the Union County Sheriff’s Office and the Anna Police Department.
Bitter Cold on the Way
More wintry weather is possible in the region by this weekend.
On Tuesday, the forecast was calling for a “quite active” weather pattern in Southern Illinois, Southeast Missouri and Western Kentucky.
Light rain was expected to move into the area late Wednesday through Thursday, today.
“Another system will affect the region starting late Friday through Saturday night,” the weather service reported.
“Locally heavy rain is possible Saturday before an Arctic air mass arrives. Some light snow is possible late Saturday into early Sunday.
“Much colder conditions are expected Sunday and Monday, with subzero wind chills possible Sunday night and Monday morning.”
High temperatures in the area on Sunday are expected to be in the teens or 20s. Low temperatures on Sunday night could be in the range of 3 to 11 degrees.