Weather Alert: Icy Roads Expected Tonight Across Northern Illinois

If running Christmas errands is on your agenda for tonight, you might want to switch those plans to Friday instead. Weather conditions will get dicey in a hurry in Northern Illinois this evening.

Flash Freeze Warnings for Illinois

I think by now it's safe to say that Northern Illinois will not be seeing a white Christmas this year, but that definitely doesn't mean we will be treated to smooth-sailing weather conditions over the next week.

Let's get to the bad news first. This afternoon will be a mess of high winds, sinking temps, and wet, icy roads in the Stateline area.

Basically, all the fog and rain we've been experiencing will instantly turn to ice once the temperatures plummet this afternoon, and that is a huge problem.

If there is anything I hate more than driving on snowy roads, it's driving on icy roads. Especially deceptive roads that look wet, but are actually covered in a sheet of ice.

Safety Tips For Driving on Icy Roads

Winter hasn't even officially begun yet, and we've already had to dust off our winter driving skills in Illinois, but driving on ice requires additional caution.

Here are some important safety tips to remember from the Illinois Department of Transportation:

• Always drive slower, accelerate slower, and steer slower on icy roads.
• Never use cruise control on snowy or icy roads.
• Use extra caution when approaching intersections, ramps, and bridges, because these areas tend to ice up first.
• Pack a car emergency kit that includes jumper cables, flares/reflectors, an ice scraper, and traction material like sand.
• Wear your seat belt!

The road conditions expected in Northern Illinois tonight are not something to mess around with. Please stay home and off the roads tonight if you are able to.