CARBONDALE, Ill. (AP) -- A gusty
winter storm has slammed into southern Illinois,
forcing the closures of courthouses and leaving roads covered in snow and ice.
The
National Weather Service says 4 inches to a foot of snow fell on the region as
of Wednesday morning, with the heaviest amounts reported from Anna in Union County
northeast to Harrisburg.
As much as 3 more inches were expected before the snow is slated to
taper off midday Wednesday.
WSIU Radio reports that the storm forced the weather service to issue
its first-ever blizzard warning for the region.
Authorities say the storm could lead to white-out conditions and may
reduce visibility on southern Illinois
roads to under a quarter mile at times.
Courthouses in Alexander, Franklin, Hamilton, Massac, Pope, Union and Williamson counties are closed.
