February 15, 2021
By David Murray
The arctic temperatures and icing that surged into the midsection of the country closed the Illinois River. Beginning February 8, American Commercial Barge Line notified its customers that it was suspending movement in the Illinois River “due to the developing ice conditions.”
The National Weather Service’s North Central River Forecast Center said in a February 9 statement, “After a few months of above average temperatures, the last week has seen a push of arctic air that has promoted ice formation on the Mississippi and Illinois riverways. Much of the Illinois riverway is experiencing some degree of ice formation.”