EFFINGHAM – People across the Effingham area on Monday dug out from the nine inches of snow that the National Weather Service said began falling on Sunday.
NWS Meteorologist John Bumgardner noted that there were no official totals for the amount of ice or freezing rain, but estimated that it was very little.
On Monday he said the NWS doesn’t expect any more snow or ice to hit Effingham.
“The worst of it is definitely over,” said Bumgardner.
Temperatures are expected to stay cold over the next couple of days, so Bumgardner encourages people to dress warm, layer up, have an emergency kit if they go out and watch for slick spots on both the roads and sidewalks.
On Interstate-70 east of Effingham in Cumberland County on Sunday at about 1:30 p.m., Illinois State Police responded to a report of multiple traffic crashes involving multiple units.
I-70 was closed in both directions but reopened at 3:08 a.m. Monday, according to a press release. Vehicles that could be removed have been towed. A combined total of 38 vehicles were damaged. Only one injury was reported. These crash investigations are ongoing.
The Illinois State Police were still handling multiple traffic crashes and slide offs on I-74, I-72 and I-57 on Monday.
In the area of I-74 westbound at milepost 165 there was an overturned truck tractor semi-trailer in the roadway. Traffic was moving by in the left lane.
On I-57 northbound at milepost 245 troopers were on the scene of a truck tractor semi-trailer on its side. State policer also were handling multiple slide offs and traffic crashes throughout the area.
Effingham County Highway and Engineering Department Manager Greg Koester said Monday that the department continued to work around the clock, while keeping an eye on the snow drifts. Koester expected the drifts to stop Monday evening.
Since road salt doesn’t work well below 15 degrees with no sun, Koester expected to have the roads cleaned up by the end of the day Tuesday. However, he expected the main roads to be “fairly open” by Monday night, although warned of possible slick spots.
Effingham County Sheriff Paul Kuhns said Monday that the area has been getting by much better than he anticipated because a lot of businesses were closed, and people are stayed home.
The sheriff’s office responded to a number of weather related calls, which include stranded motorists, accidents or a well-being check. The number of weather related calls was not immediately available. Kuhns said the worst calls were for interstate accidents.