Crime & Safety

Police: Roads Are Becoming Icy; Use Caution While Driving

Roads are becoming icy this evening and the McHenry County Sheriff's Office is encouraging drivers to use caution while on area roadways and to slow down, according to an alert sent out by the sheriff's office at 4:13 p.m. Friday.

Rainfall is causing the icy roads and there are currently snow plows out trying to clear the roads. Drivers should be sure to provide plenty of distance between their vehicle and other vehicles, according to the sheriff's office.

If the rain continues, the sheriff's office encourages motorists to watch out for standing water. 

Find out what's happening in Huntleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The above information was updated at 4:21 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 10
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Posted by 
Amie Schaenzer (Editor), January 10, 2014 at 10:32 AM

A freezing fog advisory is in effect for McHenry County through noon Friday. 

Fog and a light mist or very light drizzle with below freezing temperatures will result in icy patches on sidewalks and untreated roads. The fog locally could cause visibility to be reduced to less than a 1/4-mile, according to the National Weather Service. 
Drivers should slow down, use their headlights and leave plenty of distance between you and other vehicles, according to the NWS. 
Meanwhile, a hydrologic outlook has also been issued for McHenry County as well as most counties throughout the Chicago suburbs until further notice. Melting snow coupled with rain this afternoon and evening could result in flooding woes for parts of the suburbs, according to the National Weather Service. 
There is also an increased risk for ice jams and ice jam flooding. Flooding is not a certainty, according to the NWS, but the potential does exist and residents living along streams and waterways or low-lying flood-prone areas in northern Illinois should be alert and continue to monitor the continuing weather system. 
The potential for flooding exists through this weekend and into next week until colder temperatures return again, according to the National Weather Service. 

Read more on the hydrologic outlook on the National Weather Service website. 

The above information was updated on Jan. 10. 

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ORIGINAL POST: JAN. 9 

In the first weeks of the New Year, Mother Nature doesn't seem to want to give the Chicago area a break. 

A deep freeze settled on the area Sunday and has remained for most of this week. As temperatures finally begin to creep up into the teens, parts of the area could see a wintry mix Thursday afternoon with freezing drizzle also possible during the afternoon and into Thursday night. The freezing rain could continue into Friday morning. 

This could make for slippery roadways, especially on untreated areas and elevated surfaces, and dicey conditions during Thursday evening and Friday morning commutes. 

On Friday, temps are expected to rise above freezing later in the day. Rainfall amounts of 3/4 of inch to one inch are possible late Friday and Friday night and the mix of rain and warmer temperatures could create a messy situation.

"There will be an increased potential for rises on area rivers and creeks as well as ice-jam-related flooding," according to the National Weather Service.

On the bright side, temperatures are expected to remain in the 20s are 30s through the weekend and much of next week, according to weather.com. 

See your local weather above for more information. 

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