The good news is most of Illinois will begin to see warmer temperatures soon. The bad news is that warmup brings a sudden danger of ice jams for more than 20 waterways in the state.

The National Weather Service in Chicago, Illinois just shared this graphic showing where ice jams are currently happening and the waterways where their development is a danger.

National Weather Service, Chicago, Illinois
National Weather Service, Chicago, Illinois
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What's the problem with ice dams in Illinois?

When rivers and streams have ice blocks break away due to warmer temperatures, it can create a sudden dam which can cause localized flooding with little to no warning.

What can you do about it?

If there's a road near a stream or river that is a part of your travels, you can keep your eyes open for potential ice jams as they develop. You can also check real-time stream information from NOAA's website to see if there are any reports of trouble.

This is likely to be an ongoing problem in Illinois as temperatures are expected to vary between warm periods and bitter cold dips. Those extreme temperature variances are likely to make ice jams very much an issue in Illinois until weather warms up for the season in Spring.

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