Winter Weather Information (2008-2009)
Winter is almost over, but you should still be prepared for unexpected colder temperatures, snow, and other treacherous weather. Driving could become hazardous if road conditions deteriorate, so be sure to adequately prepare your vehicle before setting out. Motorists should always check on road conditions before traveling during the winter months.

Being prepared for winter driving circumstances could save you time and money, and maybe even your life. The links below provide information that help you deal with winter conditions.

Sources of Information
Current Weather Conditions:

Illinois Weather - University of Illinois, Department of Atmospheric Sciences.  Click here first, because this site contains useful information such as current Champaign conditions (including heat index), current weather maps, new radar images with national regional and local perspectives, and more. Also, in conjunction with WILL-AM580, the campus-owned radio station, the page contains current Champaign-Urbana forecasts made by the station.

The Interactive Weather Information Network - National Weather Service.  This site contains notices of active weather warnings for each state in the U.S. You can click on a state to see more detail. Your screen will update itself every 60 seconds with new information, and the site contains hourly weather reports, short term forecasts and more.

Local Weather - Intellicast.  This site gives weather forecasts by state and by city. The format is both graphical and text-based, so users with slower connections might want to drop in here. You can focus on Champaign, if you wish.

The Weather Channel  The Weather Channel contains weather information for the entire US. They also contain information on El Ni𭟡nd La Ni🬼!-- http://www.intellicast.com/LocalWeather/World/UnitedStates/Midwest/ -->

Current Road Conditions:

State-wide: Winter Road Conditions - Illinois Department of Transportation.  IDOT provides winter road information at this site that is updated every hour or so. Primarily, they report the winter road condition of highways in Illinois. The highways are ranked as "Clear of snow and ice," "Patchy," or "Snow or Ice Covered." If you are having trouble deciding whether to travel in Illinois or not, this site may help. Reports are also available as pure text, and there is a text version of road closures as well.

Chicago area: Highway Congestion & Construction - Gary-Chicago-Milwaukee Priority Corridor partners.  At this site, reports on Chicago-area traffic congestion are displayed. This is not a direct report on winter conditions, but if roads are snow-packed congestion could be bad. This site is useful, because its information is updated every few minutes or so.
Hint: Click on the map edges to see more than just the Central Chicagoland area.

Phone Numbers: Illinois State Police The phone numbers for all State Police Precincts are listed here. Also be sure to check out Winter Driving Tips, including their "Coffee Can Survival Kit".

The ISWS Library also has a "Weather & Climate" link area.

Before you Travel  
Other Winter-Preparedness Links and Information Sources:

Winter Storms in Illinois - Illinois State Climatologist's Office. How to prepare for winter storms, winter storm facts and a glossary of winter storm terms are among the resources available here. There is also information on Preparing for Winter, Climate Data, and much more.

Winter Storm Resource Center - University of Illinois Extension. A large collection of informative links on everything from Understanding Winter Storms to Getting Around in the Snow. You can even learn how to keep control of your car in the snow and avoid skids!

Storm Damage Data - Illinois State Climatologist's Office. At this location, the Illinois State Climatologist's Office provides information about damage caused by severe weather. This information may be helpful if you experience hail damage to your property.

Winter Weather - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tips for preparing yourself, home, and car for winter weather. The Extreme Cold Prevention Guide helps you reduce the risk of weather-related health problems.

El Ni𭟡nd the Midwest - Illinois State Climatologist's Office. Background information on El Ni𭟩s the topic here. Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel gives you the low-down on "the boy child" and explains some of the resultant weather patterns. Follow the link to learn more.

The ISWS does not specifically endorse any of the sites provided, nor is it responsible for their content.