2008 Woodie Awards
Winter storm warning issued into morning hours
Nora Maberry and Stephen Di Benedetto/Staff Editors
Issue date: 3/4/08 Section: News
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The warning was in effect until 6 a.m. today.
The National Weather Service predicted two winter storm systems would affect east- central Illinois today.
The winter storm warnings come after unusually warm weather.
Yesterday, the high was 71 degrees, said Cameron Craig, climatologist and professor in the geology/geography department.
The variations in weather are not unusual, Craig said.
"Typically, as we move into Spring from Winter, we can see some fluctuations in our weather," he said. "One day it will be warm and nice and the next wintry. It all depends on the placement of the jet stream and how strong the jet is."
The first system was predicted to bring freezing rain into the area, with expected accumulations around one quarter inch by sunrise today.
Temperature and height play a role in determine if precipitation is rain, sleet, freezing rain or snow.
"If the entire vertical profile from the surface is below freezing, then precipitation falls as snow," Craig said. "However, if you observe on upper level weather charts a wedge of warm air, the precipitation could fall as sleet, freezing rain, or rain."
Craig said if the wedge of warm air is deep the precipitation falls as rain. If the wedge becomes shallow the precipitation falls as freezing rain. If the wedge because shallower, the result is sleet.
"In the case of today, it was a strong temperature gradient, the change in temperature over distance, that created the change from rain to ice to snow, Craig said. "A strong temperature gradient results in a drastic change in temperature in a short distance. A weak temperature gradient has a change in temperature in a longer distance."
A weak temperature gradient has a change in temperature in a longer period of time."
The National Weather Service predicted a second system would develop late Monday night in eastern Missouri and move into central Illinois after dawn.
Snow accumulation of 4-6 inches is expected.
High winds between 16 to 20 mph are forecasted, with gusts as high as 31 mph.
The winter weather was expected to make travel hazardous.
An employee for the Charleston Public Works department said if Charleston Police notices streets becoming slick they would call 911.
"The police officers have pretty good judgment," the employee said.
After the police officers call 911, a dispatcher then calls someone within the Public Works Department.
The street department is notified and the superintendent of the street department decides how many people are necessary to take care of the slick roads.
The city usually has priority streets in Charleston cleared three hours after the snow stops falling. After priority routes are cleared, secondary streets, including residential streets, cul-de-sacs and city owned parking lots will be cleared.
The last major snowfall in the area occurred on Feb. 1 when 8-10 inches of snow fell.
Snow tips from the Charleston Public Works Department
• Remove cars from street until snow removal is complete
• Cars must be removed after 2" of snowfall on snow routes.
• Never tailgate a plow truck.
• Do not let children build snow tunnels or forts near city streets
• Be careful of snowplows when walking
•When removing snow from driveways or sidewalks, remember city ordinances prohibit placing snow or ice on any public street
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