UPDATE-6:00 P.M. The National Weather Service cancelled the advisory at 6:00 p.m. Light snow and flurries will continue into mid evening, but no significant accumulation is expected.

Central Illinois is under a Winter Weather Advisory until 6:00 tonight. The National Weather Service says a mixture of sleet and snow will transition to all snow this morning.

Weather officials expect the snow to become heavier during the midday hours with a total of 2-5 inches falling around the Illinois River Valley. Areas from Kewanee and Galesburg to the Quad Cities could see from 6-10 inches under a Winter Storm Warning, while the Bloomington area may see a couple of inches at most.

This could cause slippery driving conditions, so please be careful when you are out.

UPDATE 4:20 P.M. Peoria City officials say temperatures are currently dropping and motorists should expect slippery conditions. Please reduce your speed when driving. The blowing and drifting snow is making it difficult to keep the road maintained. Please drive with caution and limit travel if possible.

UPDATE 4:00 P.M.-The City of East Peoria’s snowplows are continuing to clear snow from primary routes and hills. That portion of snow removal is expected to be complete in approximately 40 minutes. The plows will begin clearing snow from residential streets at approximately 5 p.m. The East Peoria Public Works Department expects the residential streets will be cleared by approximately 3 a.m.

The city of Peoria has a parking ban issued starting at 6:00 p.m.

UPDATE 12:40 p.m. Peoria City crews continue to plow primary streets, and salt as needed. Salt is being mixed with liquid Calcium Chloride and sand as needed to expand supplies and ensure roads are safe for the motoring public. We will begin using the sand/salt mixture on the streets later this afternoon. Snow will continue until early evening. Expect traffic delays during evening rush. Please drive with caution. If you have questions, please call Public Works at (309) 494-8850.

As of 8:00 a.m.: Peoria City crews are salting primary streets, and secondary intersections. Once plowing operations begin, salting will be limited to major intersections, bridges, and hills. Salt supplies in our area are running low, therefore, we need to limit our use of salt at this time. Crews will maintain driving lanes on primary streets by plowing until the snow ends. Snow fall will become heavy during the morning, and afternoon. We can expect traffic delays during evening rush. Please use caution while driving, and reduce speeds.

For many area residents, cell phones are used as an important safety line in times of bad weather and related emergencies. I’m wondering if you would be interested in additional information, tips and/or interviews regarding severe weather and your cell phone from Verizon Wireless. I’ve included some basic tips below:

· Maintain a list of emergency phone numbers - police, fire and rescue agencies; power companies; insurance providers; family, friends and co-workers; etc. - and program them into your phone.

· Distribute wireless phone numbers to family members and friends.

· Keep wireless phone batteries fully charged - in case local power is lost - well before warnings are issued.

· Have additional charged batteries and car-charger adapters available for backup power.

· Keep phones, batteries, chargers and other equipment in a dry, accessible location and in a sealed water-resistant plastic bag or pouch.

Verizon Wireless officials also urge the following once a storm is on the way:

· Limit non-emergency calls to conserve battery power and free up wireless networks for emergency agencies and operations.

· Send brief text messages rather than voice calls for the same reasons as above.

· Check weather and news reports available through many Internet-connected wireless phones, and through other wireless phone applications, when power is out.

· If away from home or planning an evacuation route, use location-based services for directions.

The Verizon Wireless network is built for reliability in emergencies. In 2007, one-hundred and forty-eight permanent backup generators were installed at Illinois cell sites to ensure network functionality during times of crisis.