PONTIAC - Flooding once again threatened Pontiac, Watseka and other river communities. The effects of rain, snow and cold weather also were making driving difficult Wednesday night in places throughout Central Illinois, state troopers and sheriff's deputies said. | Photo gallery

Roads in the Bloomington-Normal and much of the area had slick spots, but there was blowing and drifting snow in LaSalle County. Some low-lying roads also may be covered by water.

"It (the recent weather) is really not that unusual. It's just in the past few years, we have had rather mild winters," said meteorologist Bill Nelson of the National Weather Service. "The weather patterns have been a little more chaotic than what we are used to seeing, but periodic snow and bursts of rain are not that unusual."

Almost a month to the day after flooding hit Pontiac and Watseka, those communities were again watching rivers swollen with rain and snowmelt.

The Vermilion River exceeded 16 feet, which is 2 feet above flood stage, Wednesday night at Pontiac. In Watseka, the American Red Cross opened an emergency shelter Wednesday night for evacuees flooded out by the Iroquois River.

"We've got 12 people here at the shelter and another family just came in," said Jonica Suver, a volunteer at the shelter set up at Trinity Evangelical Free Church, Watseka.

The Iroquois River is predicted to crest at 25 feet late today, well above flood stage of 18 feet, said the National Weather Service Web site late Wednesday.

Livingston County is under a flood warning until Friday morning. The area received 2 to 3 inches of rain from late Monday and Tuesday, the National Weather Service said. At least 3 more inches fell through the course of the day Wednesday.

Pontiac city officials say the Vermilion rose to a record 19.5 feet Jan. 9, flooding numerous streets and homes, but Pontiac Mayor Scott McCoy said no major flooding is expected this time.

The Vermilion is supposed to crest - reach its maximum height - at 16.6 feet by 6 p.m. today and drop below flood stage by Friday afternoon, the weather service said. A major flood for Pontiac is considered to be 18 feet, and water covers old Route 66 at 16.5 feet, the weather service said.

"We are expecting no major flooding other than a couple of low-lying streets," McCoy said. "This is really a normal flood event that we see every year."

McCoy also said the river is rising much more slowly than it did in last month's flood.

The Mackinaw River near Congerville also remains under a flood warning through Friday evening, but only farmland had been affected as of Wednesday.

Snowfall also prompted a traffic collision alert Wednesday and today in McLean County and Bloomington, and some flights were canceled Wednesday at Central Illinois Regional Airport amid delays at Chicago airports.

There's a chance of snow today and Friday, with high temperatures in the 30s and lows in the 20s. The mercury will plunge over the weekend to a low of 1 degree Saturday night and a high Sunday around 15 degrees.

---

Troubled waters

Following is a look at the status Wednesday night of rivers in Central Illinois:

Illinois River: Flooding from Havana downstream. Areas upstream, including Peoria, are expected to rise above flood stage by Friday.

Mackinaw River: Flooding continues through Friday evening.

Sangamon River: Flooding is ongoing at eastern and western ends, upstream from Decatur, and downsteam from Oakford. Areas in between are expected to be above flood stage possibly Friday at Riverton and Saturday at Petersburg.

Salt Creek: Expected to crest at flood stage at Greenview Friday morning. Water from Clinton Lake Dam may mean high water continues longer, especially immediately downstream.

SOURCE: National Weather Service