EXCLUSIVE WINTER WEATHER COVERAGE

SEND VIEWER PICS AND WEATHER REPORTS TO gaross@wrex.com. Please include your full name, detailed location, exact time of report, and full description. We will get as many pics on the air as possible. Thank you!

NOTE: WREX-TV is on generator power as of 5:00pm. If you notice a lapse in our posts, it is due to internet outages. We hope that does not happen and apologize for the inconvenience.

8:55pm - We have received numerous viewer photos and welcome many more! In order to keep this page easy to open for those on dial-up and slower connections, I will post them online at a later date. However, you'll see them on 13News@10 tonight and again tomorrow night. Thanks and keep up the great work!

8:37pm - Received a call about a major power outage near 11th Street and Sandy Hollow Rd. around 8:15. Power has since been restored.

8:30pm - One of our photojournalists covering the storm is reporting lightning in Eastern Winnebago/Western Boone Co. At 8:32pm checked with NWS and they are not seeing any lightning...could be power transformers blowing. At 8:37 no lightning has been detected by NWS display.

8:00pm Discussion: Freezing rain continues across Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. Temperatures are critical right now.

At 8pm: Rockford 32°, Freeport 32°, Sterling-Rock Falls 30°, Rochelle 32°, DeKalb 32°, Monroe 30°, and Janesville 34°. I expect temperatures to rise above 32° and continue rising through the night. All freezing precipitation should end by 10 for the US20 corridor, southward. Freezing precipitation will continue for areas north of US20 into Southern Wisconsin through midnight.

7:00pm Discussion: Back edge of the freezing rain should move through Ogle and Lee County through 8pm. However, a batch of FZRA goes back to near Iowa City. This moisture will work into western sections (Jo Daviess, northern Carroll, Stephenson, Green, and Winnebago Co.) through 9 or 10pm. Additional power failures are expected as trees and power lines snap. Another reminder to stay FAR away from a downed power line. The wet ground will conduct the electricity. Within the past hour Rockford saw a 39mph wind gust. 40mph at Janesville.

6:45pm - 1 N Franklin Grove [Lee Co, IL] trained spotter reports ICE STORM at 06:45 PM CST -- half inch of ice accumulation from freezing rain. relayed by wrex

6:40pm - Report from Winnebago County Sheriff of power lines down at Pecatonica and Kelley Roads. Avoid this area.

6:38pm - 4 S Stillman Valley [Ogle Co, IL] law enforcement reports ICE STORM at 06:45 PM CST -- power line down and arcing on lindenwood rd. ogle cnty sheriff

5:38pm - 2 S Mchenry [Mchenry Co, IL] trained spotter reports ICE STORM at 05:36 PM CST -- quarter inch ice accumulation.

5:30pm - ComEd receiving more and more calls about trees and power lines down. Should you lose power, please call (800)335-7661 and report it. Should a power line go down, STAY INSIDE. The wet ground will conduct the electricity and you could be electrocuted even standing far away from the downed line. Coverage will continue on the other side of our 6pm broadcast. To coin a phrase from 13News anchor Eric Wilson "Stay safe!"

5:00pm Discussion: Heavy freezing rain is falling at the WREX-TV studios. We have lost power but are running our transmitter and station on generator-power. 13News will have a complete report on this winter storm at 6 and 10pm. I spoke with the NWS in Chicago and they estimate that up to four hours of additional freezing rain should be expected. The worst conditions will be seen in this time. DO NOT TRAVEL.

5:05pm - Dixon [Lee Co, IL] law enforcement reports ICE STORM at 05:03 PM CST -- a quarter to half inch of ice from freezing rain

5:02pm - Woodstock [Mchenry Co, IL] trained spotter reports SNOW of M1.3 INCH at 04:59 PM CST -- 1.3 inches of snow reported with freezing rain and sleet currently occurring.

4:00pm Discussion: Sleet being reported areawide. Freeport, Monroe and Janesville still reporting light snow mixed with sleet. As warm air begins to move in around 4,000 feet up, the sleet (ice pellets) will begin to melt. Temperatures are rising, but may not rise above that critical 32° mark before 10pm. After that, we are forecasting temperatures to rise to 37° by morning which will melt any glaze that has accumulated. There is a bit of good news with this storm in the fact that for the past two-three hours sleet has fallen instead of liquid rain freezing on contact. The next few hours will be critical in determining the extent of damage to trees and powerlines. ComEd has reported sporadic power outages as of 4:20pm. They would like to remind those to call them immediately should you lose power. To report an outage dial (800)335-7661. In addition, stay away from downed power lines. The wet ground can conduct the electricity causing electrocution even without direct contact.

4:23pm - Philip Ellison sent us these pictures from Belgium, Wisconsin where he's snowed in. He reports that the interstates are socked in with ice and snow.





3:47pm - Elizabeth [Jo Daviess Co, IL] trained spotter reports SNOW of M1.5 INCH at 03:46 PM CST -- snow and sleet accumulation 1.5 inches. a lot of cars in ditches in galena.

3:35pm - Walworth [Walworth Co, WI] co-op observer reports SNOW of M2.0 INCH at 02:25 PM CST -- 2.9 miles south of lagrange.

3:30pm - From the National Weather Service in Davenport:

...TRAVEL HAZARDOUS AND DISCOURAGED INTO EARLY EVENING...

SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN...HEAVY AT TIMES...WILL CONTINUE THROUGH
LATE AFTERNOON BEFORE TAPERING OFF FROM WEST TO EAST. MANY ROADS
ARE ICE COVERED AND EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS AND THEREFORE TRAVEL IS
NOT RECOMMENDED UNLESS ABSOLUTE NECESSARY. STRONG GUSTY WINDS OF
30 TO 40 MPH WILL POSE THE RISK OF SPOTTY POWER OUTAGES AND DOWNED
TREES. CONDITIONS WILL BEGIN TO SLOWLY IMPROVE FROM SOUTH TO NORTH
LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING...AS TEMPERATURES CLIMB
ABOVE FREEZING ENDING THE THREAT FOR ADDITIONAL ICE ACCUMULATIONS.

3:00pm Discussion - As expected, the FZRA and sleet is now moving northward into Wisconsin. We have received reports of ice accumulating to 0.50 in. Roadways are impassable in many locations. The Rock County Sheriff reports that I-39/90 should be avoided between Janesville and Beloit. The precipitation will continue. For how long though? The back edge of the precip is nearing a Des Moines to Quincy, IL line. I expect the sleet to be freezing rain for several hours of this late afternoon and evening. Wind gusts near 35mph are likely which could compromise weighted tree limbs and power lines. Temperatures will rise above freezing by 11pm tonight ending any icing threat.

3:07pm - 3 W Nelson [Whiteside Co, IL] co-op observer reports ICE STORM at 02:56 PM CST -- quarter inch of ice in sterling right on the lee/whiteside border. observed a car in the ditch. cocorahs observer



3:07pm - Rockford [Winnebago Co, IL] trained spotter reports SLEET of M1.50 INCH at 03:00 PM CST -- snow and sleet...but mainly sleet.















2:50pm - The picture above was taken by Ruth in the city of Beloit. She has received freezing rain. Keep the pictures coming in everybody!

2:48pm - Rockford [Winnebago Co, IL] co-op observer reports SNOW of M1.0 INCH at 02:47 PM CST --















2:40pm - Above photo from Anthony Parks in Franklin Grove, IL. Thick glazing of ice forming. He tells of numerous accidents in the area.

2:06pm - Milton [Rock Co, WI] nws employee reports SNOW of M3.0 INCH at 02:00 PM CST -- precipitation has changed to sleet and freezing rain.

2:00pm Discussion - Snow is still falling north of the IL/WI stateline. Snow will change to sleet for Southern Wisconsin by 2:30pm. Sleet over Northern Illinois will change to freezing rain by 3:00pm. Reports from Ogle and Lee County indicate a significant ice accumulation already forming. There have been dozens of car accidents that we've confirmed, one fatal. Please stay off of the roads unless it is an emergency. Freezing rain will continue through at least 8pm. A major ice storm is still possible for the area this afternoon and evening.

1:59pm - 1N Franklin Grove, Lee Co., IL reports M0.20 ice accumulation as of 1:55pm. Roads impassable with numerous accidents in area. FZRA and sleet falling at the time of report.

1:47pm - US20 and Sunnyside Road in Stephenson Co. traffic accident.

1:45pm - Marengo/Hampshire Toll Plaza I-90. Traffic back-up due to accident.

1:37pm - Rockford [Winnebago Co, IL] co-op observer reports SNOW of M1.0 INCH at 01:36 PM CST -- snow and ice accumulation. cocorahs observer

1:15pm - Incredible report: Muscatine [Muscatine Co, IA] trained spotter reports ICE STORM at 01:05 PM CST -- ice accumulation of 3/4 inch.

12:57pm - Amboy [Lee Co, IL] law enforcement reports FREEZING RAIN of U0.00 INCH at 12:54 PM CST -- roads mostly ice covered. several accidents

12:07pm - 2 N Winnebago [Winnebago Co, IL] broadcast media reports FREEZING RAIN of E0.00 INCH at 12:07 PM CST -- snow has ended, moderate freezing rain and sleet now falling at wrex studios

12:05pm - New mesoscale discussion from the Storm Prediction Center mirrors our thought of snow changing to FZRA shortly. At 12:05pm our precipitation is changing from snow to sleet and FZRA here at the WREX studios. Travel is not advised from this point forward.

11:55am - WREX's sister station KWWL-TV in Waterloo, Iowa is reporting 1 inch of sleet on the ground. Freezing rain still falling along I-80 from Joliet all the way through Des Moines.

11:52am - Most locations in the state of Iowa are reporting either sleet or freezing rain with up to 1/4 inch of ice accumulation already being reported. KGAN-TV is reporting at 11:52am that the sleet is coming down hard in Cedar Rapids. Sleet is a blessing in disguise as sleet pellets offer more traction to motorists and pedestrians versus snow and ice.

11:30am - Rock Falls [Whiteside Co, IL] trained spotter reports FREEZING RAIN of U0.00 INCH at 11:30 AM CST -- light snow switched to freezing rain at 1125 am.

10:56am - Spotter reports moderate snow in Poplar Grove. Accumulation beginning to affect IL Hwy 76.

10:55am- Submit your winter report and pictures to esorensen@wrex.com