BLOOMINGTON - People breathing a sigh of relief at having their power restored after Friday's ice storm may be in for another shock, with more power outages predicted Sunday. | Photo gallery | Submit your photos | Reader-submitted photos

The outages could be the result of strong winds and ice still hanging on trees and power lines, meteorologist Ed Schimon of the National Weather Service in Lincoln said Saturday.

"There will likely be more power outages Sunday (as a result winds gusting up to 30 miles per hour) than during the ice storm," he said. "It's going to be a mess."

Snow flurries are expected to begin shortly after noon Saturday with about half an inch of snow accumulated by Saturday night.

Winds are expected to pick up after midnight, with the wind chill dropping below zero, he said.

A wind chill advisory officially starts at 6 a.m. but it will be nearly as cold about 2 or 3 a.m. Sunday, Schimon said.

Trees are already creaky under the weight or ice, Schimon said. Strong winds which will likely cause more fallen limbs and power outages, he said.

Bitter temperatures are expected for the weekend, with a couple of inches of snow expected at the beginning of the week.

Jim Balensiefen of rural Bloomington wasn't scheduled to work Friday, so he spent the day wrapping Christmas presents and "trying to keep warm." His power was out, then restored, then out again.

The family doesn't have a generator, but he wasn't worried. "We've lived out here for 12 years," Balensiefen said, "and we've never lost power for more than a couple hours."

The power was off a little longer than other times but, Corn Belt restored power for Balenseifen and others in the east Bloomington neighborhood about 9 p.m. Friday.

By Saturday morning, fewer than 1,500 Corn Belt members were experiencing power outages, down from a peak of about 4,200 on Friday and mostly in central McLean County and southern Tazewell County.

The company was "cautiously optimistic" that most members would have their power restored by Saturday evening.

Most outages were the result of ice-laden tree limbs in the power lines.

People should not go near any downed power lines or downed poles, but should contact us at 1-800-879-0339.

Many schools were closed Friday, postponing semester exams and holiday parties.

In LeRoy, fourth-grade teacher Vicki Levingston rescheduled her class party until after the holidays and tried to explain the problem to her daughters, second-grader Cara and kindergartner Abby.

"Initially, Cara woke up and said, 'Yea, there is no school,' but then she realized she couldn't give her gift to her teacher, so she was disappointed," Levingston said.

The girls spent the morning decorating and watching videos because cable service was out at their home.

Those who hoped to replenish winter supplies Friday didn't find a lot available. Chris Bezoni, who manages Normal's Wal-Mart Supercenter, said the store sold out of salt Thursday, but expected to have more available Saturday.

"Salt is the main thing," Bezoni said. "We've had so much ice and snow." Customers bought staples like milk and bread, Bezoni said. Daily deliveries helped keep those shelves stocked, he said.

Crews in Bloomington and Normal removed downed limbs from streets and worked to clear storm sewer inlets. "It was kind of ugly early Saturday," said Normal Public Works Director Mike Hall said. "But things are looking much better and we are almost caught up with the plowing and cleanup."

In Normal, Bob Broad's cars were parked in his garage Friday, and they weren't going anywhere because tree branches and wires draped across his Virginia Avenue driveway.

He'd heard some of the branches come down in the middle of the night, so he figured he'd find the mess Friday morning.

"My son and I cleared a lot of the branches from a big pine," he said pointing to a large pile near the sidewalk Friday afternoon. "But we put a call in to Ameren about the wire in the way of the cars. Well, several calls actually. But I'm guessing they're busy." Broad took the scene in stride. "It's not fun. But, we love all the trees, so it's just something we have to deal with," he said.

Ameren had more than 45,000 customers from the Mississippi River to the Indiana border without power at the height of the outage because of the storm, but that was reduced to about 18,000 by 10 p.m. Friday

Saturday about 15,000 people statewide were without Ameren power, and almost 5,000 are still without power in Central Illinois, according to the energy company's Web site.

In the Pantagraph area, the outages were concentrated on a corridor along Interstate 55 from the Chenoa area to south of Lincoln.

No major accidents were reported, and a few flights were canceled or delayed at Central Illinois Regional Airport.

Reported by Ryan Denham, Michele Steinbacher, Patti Welander, Kevin Barlow, Michelle Koetters, Steve Hoffman, Marlo Guetersloh, Phyllis Coulter, Steve Smedley and Cheryl Wolfe.

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Vehicle survival kits

Your vehicle should be equipped with a winter emergency survival kit, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. The following items are recommended:

• Ice scraper, snow brush, rags and paper towels.

• Jumper cables, basic tool kit, antifreeze, no-freeze windshield washer fluid and extra drive belt(s).

• Shovel, traction mats or old rugs, tire chains, salt, cat box litter or sand.

• Blankets and extra clothing including hats, socks, waterproof boots, coats and gloves.

• Non-perishable, high-calorie food.

• Candles, waterproof matches and a metal container (coffee can) in which to melt snow into water.

• Flashlight with extra batteries, flares or roadway reflectors.

• A basic first aid kit and a fire extinguisher.

• A cellular telephone with a backup power source might be the single most important safety item available. A citizen's band radio is a good alternative.

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Driving in icy, snowy conditions

Winter driving is often the most difficult due to blowing snow, icy slick spots and fewer daylight hours, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. Here's IDOT's tips:

• Buckle those seat belts! (It's the law)

• Be prepared to turn back or seek refuge if conditions become threatening.

• In rain, drive with your headlights on dim.

• In fog, drive with your headlights on dim, or use foglights.

• If the fog is too dense, pull off the roadway and stop. Do not drive at less than 10 miles per hour.

• In rain, fog, snow or sleet, do not overdrive your headlights.

• Stay within the limits of your vision.

• Keep your windows clear of snow and ice. Do not start until your windshield is defrosted.

• Drive slower and increase your following distance. Your speed should be adjusted for the conditions and match the flow of traffic.

• Roadway conditions may vary depending on the sun, shade or roadway surface. Watch for slick spots especially under bridges, on overpasses and in shaded spots. Be prepared to react physically and mentally.

• If the pavement is snow or ice covered, start slowly and brake gently. Begin braking early when you come to an intersection.

• If you start to slide, ease off the gas pedal or brakes. Steer into the direction of the skid until you feel you have regained traction then straighten your vehicle.

• When you approach a snow plow from behind, pass with care and only when you can see the road ahead of the plow. You should not try to pass in blowing snow. There may be a vehicle in that cloud of snow! Allow more distance between you and the plow, they may be spreading salt.

• Be alert when you approach a cloud of snow which covers the road, especially on passing lanes of interstates or freeways. Slow down and approach with caution. A snow plow may be at work clearing the lane or preparing to turn around.

• Be careful after a minor rear end accident. If you are bumped from behind and you do not feel comfortable exiting your vehicle, motion the other driver and drive to the nearest police station, 24-hour store, service station, hospital or fire station.

SOURCE: IDOT's Web site, www.dot.state.il.us

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Road conditions

The following Illinois State Police road condition phone numbers are operational from Nov. 15 thru March 31, and are updated daily.

District Hot line

1-Sterling (815) 632-4032

2-Elgin (847) 931-2395

Chicago (847) 294-4701

5-Joliet (815) 727-5471

6-Pontiac (815) 844-1500

7-East Moline (309) 752-4940

8-Peoria (309) 383-4334

9-Springfield (217) 786-7610

10-Pesotum (217) 265-0050

11-Collinsville (618) 346-3636

12-Effingham (217) 347-2719

13-DuQuoin (618) 542-8432

14-Macomb (309) 833-4613

15-Oak Brook (800) 865-5394 (toll roads)

16-Pecatonica (815) 239-2050

17-LaSalle (815) 224-3030

18-Litchfield (217) 324-3100

19-Carmi (618) 382-8878

20-Pittsfield (217) 285-5445

21-Ashkum (815) 698-2112

22-Ullin (618) 845-3740

IDOT Hot Line (800) 452-4368

SOURCE: Illinois State Police