Early morning update: Less snow, more cold

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By Rick Rector | Thursday, January 17, 2008 |

Good morning, Quad-Cities. It’s 32 degrees out there under overcast skies. The National Weather Service has revised its forecast for the area through the weekend. The good news? Snowfall in the Quad-Cities proper will be less than predicted. The forecast for today is calling for a total accumulation of just 1 inch. The bulk of the snow should fall in the morning. The bad news? A cold front will move into the area, bringing with it wind that will cause blowing snow, particularly in rural areas, and wind chill values of -20 to -30 degrees below zero overnight Friday and -10 to -20 degrees below zero overnight Saturday. Watch out for frozen water pipes! Those living north and west of the Quad-Cities in Jackson and Cedar counties can expect heavier snowfall totals.

A flood advisory remains in effect for the Rock River near Joslin, Ill., and affects Henry, Rock Island and Whiteside counties as cold temperatures returning to the area will produce new ice formations between Joslin and Moline that will result in rapid rises and falls of a foot or more to river levels.

Road conditions

CLICK HERE for Illinois road conditions. CLICK HERE for Iowa road conditions.

Flight times

Flying? CLICK HERE http://www.qctimes.com/airport to check flight status, wait times and more for regional airports, including the Quad-City International Airport in Moline and O’Hare International Airport in Chicago.

Winter driving safety tips

-- Don't crowd the plow. Remember, a snowplow operator's field of vision is restricted. You may see them, but they may not see you.

-- Watch out for black ice roads that appear clear may be treacherous. Take it slow when approaching intersections, off-ramps, bridges, and shady areas all are prone to black ice.

-- Always keep your gas tank at least two-thirds full to prevent the vehicle’s fuel line from freezing.

-- Dress warmly for the weather. Dress in layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing in anticipation of unexpected winter weather emergencies.

-- Make sure someone is aware of your travel route.

-- Use a light touch on the gas, to ease your car out.

Boil order

A boil order remains in affect in Carbon Cliff for all homes and businesses located along 2nd Avenue between Valley View Drive and 10th Street, as well as between Jay and 6th streets, and all homes and businesses on 1st Avenue between State and 10th streets. Water should be brought to a rolling boil for five minutes before use. The boil order remains in place until EPA quality tests indicate the water is safe for consumption. For more information, contact Village Clerk Karen Hopkins at (309) 792-8235 or visit the village’s Web site at carbon-cliff.com.

Early voting in Rock Island County

Residents in Rock Island can vote early in the Feb. 5 primary election. Unlike absentee voting, no excuse is required to vote early. Illinois law requires voters select a party preference in primaries like the Presidential Primary. Only referendums (if there are any in their district) appear on non-partisan ballots. Rock Island County is using a mobile voting trolley which is handicapped-accessible as an early voting site. The trolley will be at the following locations today:

9:00 a.m. to 11 a.m., Ridgewood Tower 545 42nd Ave., East Moline

12 Noon to 1:30 p.m., Deerfield Woods 1053 51st Ave., East Moline

2 p.m. to 3 p.m., Sanders Apartments 4201 22nd Ave., Moline

Voters also can vote at these sites:

-- Rock Island County Clerk's Office, 1504 3rd Ave., from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mon. through Fri. and on Jan. 19 and 26 from 9 a.m. to noon.

-- South Moline Township Senior Center, 637 17th Ave., East Moline, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Mon. through Fri. and on Jan. 19 and 26 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Plot a pothole

Had your teeth rattled by a car-eating pothole? First, call the city where the pothole is located. Here are the phone numbers: Davenport: 326-7923; Bettendorf: 344-4088; Moline: 797-0425; Rock Island: 732-2200; East Moline: 752-1573. Second, go online CLICK HERE and add it to our pothole map. Find out where the worst potholes are in the Quad-Cities.

See news happening? Share it

Drop us an e-mail at newsroom@qctimes.com or give us a call at (563) 383-2235 if you see breaking news such as house fires, traffic accidents and congestion, road conditions, street closures, detours and water main breaks in the Quad-Cities region.

Time to toss the tree

In East Moline, garbage crews will pick up your discarded Christmas tree this week during normal your normal garbage collection day.

In Rock Island free Christmas tree collection continues through Jan 25. Christmas trees should be placed at the normal garbage set-out point on the citizen's normal garbage collection day.

Moline is offering free Christmas tree disposal during the month of January. Christmas trees will be collected when placed with regular garbage on normal collection days.

Road work

Here is the latest road construction work in your area.

Henry County

-- Eastbound traffic is restricted to one lane on I-80 at Cleveland Road until December.

-- Drivers on Illinois 78 from 2 miles north of I-80 to Coal Creek should expect lane restrictions during road improvements until December.

Carroll County

-- Eastbound and westbound traffic on U.S. 52 and Illinois 64 from east of Savanna to east of Illinois 78 will be restricted to one lane and controlled by traffic signals until Dec. 1.