BLOOMINGTON - Heavy overnight snows have canceled classes at schools and colleges, closed State Farm Insurance Cos. for the day and canceled a few flights at Central Illinois Regional Airport. | Updated photo gallery | Updated video | Weather-related cancellations list | User-submitted photos | Submit a weather photo

Close to four inches had fallen by 2 a.m., but a heavy snowfall that started shortly after that raised totals quickly. McLean County plows hit county roads about 4 a.m.; plows in Normal went out about 1.

In Bloomington, only a few accidents were reported but all emergency workers have been called for a number of people whose vehicles became stuck.

Main streets have been cleared but side streets remain snowy. Bloomington lifted its parking ban early Friday afternoon. In Normal, all on-street parking is banned until 5 p.m. today. The ban remains in effect until all streets have been plowed and salted, according to Mike Hall, public works director.

Classes are canceled at more than a dozen area schools, including District 87, Unit 5 and Illinois State University. State Farm and Country Insurance and Financial Services are closed. Public transit buses also were postponed until roads were cleared, but were heading out around 10 a.m.

The Illinois High School Association state cheerleading championships at U.S. Cellular Coliseum have been canceled for today but are expected to resume Saturday.

McLean County courts and all McLean County offices are also closed. | Weather-related cancellations list | Report a cancellation via the Web

Outside of the Twin Cities, major highways are covered with snow and ice. Interstate 39 north of Normal has a few patchy spots, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Winds worsened as dawn approached, but Eric Schmitt, assistant county engineer with the McLean County Highway Department, said no trucks had been pulled off roads. "It's not as good as earlier, but they're still out," he said.

North-south roads are in worse shape than east-west roads, he said.

The weather is blamed for an accident Thursday afternoon in which two people died when a car hit a cement truck on Interstate 80 near Ottawa.

Some rural school districts, such as Downs-based Tri-Valley school district and a dozen others, called off school for Friday late Thursday night. Normal-based Heartland Community College canceled classes at 4 p.m. Thursday.

Bloomington also issued collision alert Thursday that will remain in effect today. That means people in non-injury accidents can exchange information and contact police within five business days to report the accident.

Normal's parking ban is now in effect until midnight. Crews hope to start clearing side roads by mid morning. Once the plows have cleared a side street, residents may park on the street.

There will be no garbage collection in Normal; Friday's route will be picked up Saturday. Garbage collection is expected to continue as usual in Bloomington.

Home Sweet Home Ministries is staying open, as is the Salvation Army's Safe Harbor Shelter; The Compassion Center is closed.

Area snowfall totals

Mother Nature didn't play many favorites in dumping snow on Central Illinois. Most area communities received at least 6 inches of snow before the winter storm passed through the region Friday morning. List shows snowfall amounts for selected communities in Central Illinois, based on the latest figures from the Lincoln-based National Weather Service.

Bloomington - 7-10 inches

Champaign - 6 inches

Clinton - 7.5 inches

Congerville - 8.7 inches

Decatur - 9.5 inches

Eureka - 8.4 inches

Lincoln - 10.5 inches

Mackinaw - 10.5 inches

Mahomet - 8 inches

Minonk - 5.9 inches

Morton - 9 inches

Normal - 8.7 inches

Pekin - 6 inches

Peoria - 5-6.3 inches

Roanoke - 8 inches

Springfield - 13 inches

Stanford - 6.4 inches

Washington - 7.1 inches