Here is the current Winter Storm Warning/Winter Weather Advisory for this afternoon and tonight. Expect 1-3 inches of snow in the advisory areas and 3-5 inches over the warning areas, with locally heavier amounts possible. Use extreme caution if driving as roads may become slick and visibility will be poor in heavier snow bands. (NWS Paducah)

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 4 AM

.A burst of heavy wet snow expected late today and tonight...

.A low pressure system will form over the Tennessee Valley this
evening. Colder north winds will cause rain to change to snow. A
burst of heavy snow could produce a quick 1 to 3 inches, with
isolated higher totals possible.

.WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM CDT MONDAY… * WHAT…Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches are expected. Isolated higher amounts are possible in small bands of heavy snow. * WHERE...Portions of southwest Indiana, southeast Missouri and southern Illinois. * WHEN…Until 4 AM CDT Monday. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Plan on slippery road conditions. A burst of heavy snow could produce poor visibility below one-half mile. Although pavement temperatures will be above freezing, snowfall rates up to an inch per hour could produce a slushy accumulation on the roads, especially untreated, elevated roadways. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Winter Weather Advisory for snow means periods of snow will cause primarily travel difficulties. Be prepared for snow covered roads and limited visibilities, and use caution while driving. The latest road conditions.

FRANKLIN COUNTY BREAKDOWN

In my opinion, the NWS included all the counties in the Paducah warning area in case there is a snow burst.   Here is the forecast exclusive to every town in Franklin County updated by the National Weather Service.

• North of Route 14, the NWS has not issued an accumulation amount
• Zeigler, Royalton, and West Frankfort around an inch
• Thompsonville 1″ – 2″
• Keep in mind, there will be heavy snow bands, that could increase this amount
• Please be my eyes this afternoon and send accumulation amounts that way I can pass them along to the NWS.

WINTER STORM WARNING FOR GALLATIN, POPE HARDIN AND MASSAC COUNTIES

...A burst of heavy wet snow expected late today and tonight...

.A low pressure system will form over the Tennessee Valley this
evening. Colder north winds will cause rain to change to snow. A
burst of heavy snow could produce a quick 1 to 3 inches, with
isolated higher totals possible.

..WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM CDT MONDAY...

* WHAT...Heavy wet snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 3 to
  5 inches are expected. Isolated higher amounts are possible in
  small bands of heavy snow.

* WHERE...Portions of western Kentucky and southern Illinois.

* WHEN...Until 4 AM CDT Monday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Plan on difficult travel conditions. Be
  prepared for significant reductions in visibility at times. Snow
  accumulations are expected, especially on grass, trees and
  untreated,elevated roadways. However, more hazardous travel
  conditions mat occur if the snow rates increase with
  temperatures near freezing.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Winter Storm Warning for snow means severe winter weather
conditions will make travel very hazardous or impossible. If you
must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your
vehicle in case of an emergency. The latest road conditions for
the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

Rain showers early this evening will gradually mix with and change to snow showers for many locations as we progress through the evening and overnight hours. Breezy conditions will be present through the night as well. Temperatures are expected to fall through the 30s this evening and overnight, and be in the low to mid 30s by sunrise. (NWS Paducah)

SEVEN DAY FORECAST

A Wind Advisory is in effect for most of the Heartland. Southwest to West Winds will increase to average speeds in the 15 to 30 mph range during the afternoon. Gusts may be as high as 40 to 50 mph at times. (NWS Paducah)

…WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 5 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON... The National Weather Service in Paducah has issued a Wind Advisory, which is in effect from noon today to 5 PM CST this afternoon.

* TIMING…This afternoon. * WINDS…Southwest winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts 40 to 50 mph.

* IMPACTS…Loose outdoor objects not secured may be blown around. Some tree limbs could come down. Driving high profile vehicles will be more difficult.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A wind advisory is issued when sustained winds are expected to reach 30 mph or greater for longer than one hour…or wind gusts are expected to reach 40 mph for any duration.

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri. .

DAY ONE…Today and Tonight A Red Flag Warning is in effect this afternoon for the southeast Missouri Ozarks. Refer to the Warning for details. A Wind Advisory is in effect this afternoon for most of the area. Refer to the Advisory for details. Flood warnings will continue. Reference the warnings and statements for details. .

DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…Wednesday through Monday Flood warnings will continue. Reference the warnings and statements for details. A small chance of thunderstorms is possible Saturday night, for southern sections of western Kentucky and southeast Missouri. Severe storms are not expected.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT… Spotter activation will not be needed.

SEVEN DAY FORECAST 

WHITTINGTON –  Sesser and Benton Fire, Illinois State Police, Abbott EMS, and Air Evac are on the scene of a single vehicle with a camper rollover crash, on I 57 at the 80 mile marker, just south of the Franklin-Jefferson county line.

Please take an alternate route.  It has been cofirmed from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s office the interstate will be closed until the accident scene is cleared.

Further updates will be provided as the come available. -sd

4:45 P.M.  Incident has been cleared.  Traffic is flowing normally.

From Franklin County Emergency Management Agency

BENTON –  Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center is experiencing a phone outage on their non-emergency lines. Until further notice, please use 618-435-2250 for non-emergency calls to the Sheriff’s Office.

DO NOT CALL 911 UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY!!!!!!!!

UPDATE 9:30 a.m.  I just was in contact with Franklin County EMA, and the lines are still down according to their last report.

The railroad underpass on Route 14 in McLeamsboro earlier this evening. (Hamilton County EMA photo)

The National Weather Service in Paducah has issued a Flood Warning for… Perry County in south central Illinois… Union County in southern Illinois… Wayne County in south central Illinois… Northern Pope County in southern Illinois… Jefferson County in south central Illinois… Johnson County in southern Illinois… Williamson County in southern Illinois… Saline County in southern Illinois… Jackson County in southern Illinois… Northwestern Alexander County in southern Illinois… Franklin County in south central Illinois... Hamilton County in south central Illinois…

* Until 900 AM CST Sunday * Although rain has ended across most of southern Illinois, some creeks and streams will remain out of their banks at least through tonight. Low-lying flood-prone areas will remain inundated. Flood- prone roads will likely remain covered with water through at least early Sunday.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… Turn around, don`t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding.

Use caution when traveling. Flash flooding has been reported on the following roadways:

West Frankfort:

Main to Horrell 
Monroe 1000 blk
Logan to Locust – E St. Louis
Highway 149 washout in front of Casey’s East-
500 Blk E Elm