Alert: Advisory Upgraded to Ice Storm Warning

Warning in effect area-wide until 7am Wednesday morning

From the National Weather Service:

"AN ICE STORM WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF ICE ACCUMULATIONS WILL MAKE TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. TRAVEL IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT ... FOOD ... AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. ICE ACCUMULATIONS MAY LEAD TO SNAPPED POWER LINES AND FALLING TREE BRANCHES THAT ADD TO THE DANGER."

Light freezing rain continues to fall throughout the metro area. Temperatures remain in the upper 20s to near 30 degrees. Due to a stubborn and persistent north wind, temperatures may remain subfreezing through the early morning hours, especially in the north and west suburbs. A similar situation occurred last year on the eve of Valentine's Day. By mid-morning tomorrow, just about everyone should be above freezing and plain old rain will be falling. Tomorrow evening though, a coastal storm may develop, causing the rain to change over to snow. More details on that scenario later this evening.

There have been widespread reports of treacherous sidewalks and road surface conditions. Please be very careful walking, and driving especially on ramps, overpasses, bridges and untreated roads.

Next update, including Schoolcast, at approximately 11 p.m.