National Weather Service: Afternoon Commute Could Be 'Treacherous'

The National Weather Service is forecasting snow today, saying there is a 100 percent chance of precipitation. How much of that white, fluffy stuff lands in Naperville is to be seen. Anywhere from five to eight inches is forecasted, and the weather service is predicting the most snow will fall north of the I-80 corridor. 

A winter storm warning is in effect Friday until midnight. A winter storm warning means severe winter weather conditions are expected with significant amounts of snow forecasted. A “treacherous” afternoon commute is also a possibility, according to the National Weather Service. 

residents can stay up to date on plowing through the city’s regularly updated interactive map. Residents can search using their address for specific snow removal progress at http://gis.naperville.il.us/mashups/snowroutes. The city also has a mobile friendly page http://bit.ly/napersnow. The city said in a news release that calls about the winter storm should continue to be directed to City Dispatch at 630-420-6187. Regular updates about plowing are posted at www.naperville.il.us.

Drivers who have to travel farther and will be using the Illinois Tollway should note that the Tollway was preparing Thursday for the predicted snowy weather.

The Illinois Tollway said in a news release that it is preparing to mobilize its full fleet of 183 snowplows, making travel safer and easier for drivers.

"The Illinois Tollway is ready to put our snow removal plans into action as soon as the snow hits the pavement," Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur said in a news release.  "The safety of our customers is our top priority, and we are well-prepared to respond to the snowfall expected throughout the day tomorrow."

The Tollway is offering the following travel tips: 

• Clear snow and ice from all windows, mirrors and lights on your vehicle before you drive.  Blowing snow can significantly diminish visibility.   
• Adjust speed to road conditions and traffic around you.  Reducing speed during inclement weather conditions increases your ability to respond to the unexpected.
• Reduce speed on ramps and in cash lanes at toll plazas.  Drivers paying cash at toll plazas or traveling on ramps should adjust their speed on approach during snow and ice storms.  Watch for lane designations on approach to the toll plaza; switching lanes close to the toll plaza is unsafe, especially during winter weather.
• Increase the interval between your vehicle and the one in front of you.  By creating more distance between your vehicle and others, you decrease your chances of a collision because stopping distances increase as pavement conditions deteriorate.
• Avoid unnecessary lane changes.  During heavy snowstorms, slush and packed snow build up in the area between traffic lanes.  Abrupt or frequent lane changes may cause your vehicle to slide on the buildup and spin out of control.
• Keep away from snowplows.  Should you encounter snowplows, the safest choice is to keep back and let them do their job.  They travel at a speed of approximately 30 mph, so traffic delays should be expected.  During periods of extremely heavy snow, Illinois Tollway snowplows will work in tandem to remove as much ice, slush and snow as possible from all lanes at once.
• Do not use the shoulder of the road to pass a snowplow.  Some snowplows are equipped with wing plows that extend to the left or right of the vehicle.  While these wings allow for more efficient removal of snow, they are nearly invisible to passing motorists due to blowing snow.  De-icing materials spread from the rear of the truck may also be a distraction to motorists attempting to pass.
• Call *999 for roadway assistance.  Should you encounter car trouble and require roadway assistance, try to move your car to a safe position on the shoulder or in an untraveled area.  Report stranded vehicles by dialing *999 from a cellular phone.
• Stay in your vehicle, H.E.L.P. is on the way.  During continued periods of extremely cold weather, the Illinois Tollway operates a "Zero Patrol" to supplement the Illinois State Police District 15 and the Tollway's Highway Emergency Lane Patrol (H.E.L.P.) vehicles.  These patrols enable us to cover the entire 286-mile Tollway system 24 hours per day when temperatures and wind chills are at or below zero.  Stay in your vehicle - it's the safest place to be if you are stranded.

Source: Illinois Tollway

Illinois Tollway operates a toll-free telephone line to keep customers up to date about weather conditions on its roadways.  Drivers can call 1-800-TOLL-FYI (1-800-865-5394) to get recorded information that is updated every two hours or as conditions require during winter storms.