St. Clair County under winter weather advisory as polar vortex sweeps US. See timeline
St. Clair County, including Belleville, is under a winter weather advisory along with several other metro-east counties and St. Louis areas until 6 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19 due to expected snowfall.
Much of the central U.S. is experiencing bitter cold temperatures this week due to a polar vortex, and snow hasn’t been the only issue. At least 14 people have been killed by major flooding and winter weather in Kentucky in recent days.
Several southwest Illinois schools closed Tuesday, while others pivoted to e-learning. The National Weather Service St. Louis office forecast says Belleville had a wind chill of 7 degrees below zero Tuesday morning, and it’s expected to get even colder Wednesday.
The NWS issued a cold weather advisory for the metro-east, including St. Clair County, and St. Louis Tuesday afternoon that will be in effect from 9 p.m. Wednesday to noon Thursday., Feb. 20.
“The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 20 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes,” the advisory said.
NWS St. Louis office meteorologist Lydia Jaja told the News-Democrat in a Tuesday interview she does not recommend nonessential travel Tuesday, as the evening commute could be hazardous.
“If you must be traveling, definitely take caution,” Jaja said.
Jaja said official snowfall estimates for Belleville weren’t yet available, but St. Louis Lambert International Airport reported 0.7 inches of snow as of 6 a.m. Tuesday, with more falling in the region since then.
Snowfall has been fluffy and light so far, and Jaja said forecasters expect the texture to remain the same in the coming days. Ice and sleet are not expected at this time.
While Belleville is under a winter weather advisory, parts of southern Illinois, including Carbondale, are under a winter storm warning and are expected to get more snow.
“It’s expected to remain dangerously cold up through about Friday morning,” Jaja said.
Those who will be hitting the road in winter weather conditions should carry emergency supplies in their car, make sure they have a full tank of gas and wear warm layers, Jaja said.
Here’s what to know about this week’s forecast for Belleville:
Tuesday: A chance of flurries earlier in the day, with the heaviest snowfall expected to begin around 5 p.m. The chance of precipitation is 60% during the day and 90% for the night, with a total of 2 to 5 inches of snow expected. Temperatures ranging from 10 to 16 degrees.
Wednesday: A 40% chance of precipitation, with an estimated 0.2 inches of snowfall. Wind chills will drop to 9 degrees below zero in the morning, the forecast says. Temperatures ranging from 2 to 17 degrees.
Thursday: Sunny and cold, with temperatures ranging from 2 to 18 degrees.
Friday, Feb. 21: Mostly sunny during the day and partly cloudy at night, with temperatures ranging from 14 to 26 degrees.
Saturday, Feb. 22: Mostly sunny during the day and partly cloudy at night, with temperatures ranging from 25 to 38 degrees.
Sunday, Feb. 23: Mostly sunny during the day and mostly cloudy at night, with temperatures ranging from 33 to 49 degrees.
Belleville-area residents can expect snowfall to begin melting Sunday, Jaja said.
Winter driving safety tips
If you can’t avoid being on the road in wintry weather conditions, here are some safety tips from the NWS:
Use your headlights. Bright snow does not guarantee visibility.
Make sure you have plenty of gas.
Leave plenty of distance between yourself and other vehicles. It takes much longer for your car to come to a complete stop on slick roads.
Drive slowly.
Avoid unnecessary trips.
Check road conditions before you leave.
You can check live road conditions from the Illinois Department of Transportation and Missouri Department of Transportation.
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This story was originally published February 18, 2025 at 11:35 AM.
