Winter Storm Octavia hits region
<span>After weeks of roller coaster temperatures, winter arrived in full force on Monday when Winter Storm Octavia hit the region.</span>
<span>According to Meteorologist Jayson Gosselin with the National Weather Service's St. Louis office, Steeleville and Red Bud each reported three inches of snow by 9 a.m. with more expected.</span>
<span>"Storm totals are forecasted to be between three and five inches (for Randolph County)," Gosselin said. "It's at least a couple of inches less than what we thought a couple of days ago."</span>
<span>Storm totals were in state of flux in the days leading up to the storm, with the NWS still forecasting up to 10 inches possible for the region in a 6:58 a.m. Monday update. A winter storm warning remained in effect until 6 p.m.</span>
<span>"The snow didn't start until six hours later than expected," Gosselin said. "After it did start, it played out the way we expected."</span>
<span>In a text message to the Herald Tribune, Randolph County Sheriff Shannon Wolff said his department handled "quite a few" traffic accidents Monday morning and was advising motorists to once again stay off the roads.</span>
<span>"A lot of the roads are still snow-covered and very slick," he said.</span>
<span>Reached by phone later Monday, Wolff added that his deputies had responded to at least six accidents, the majority of which were people who had spun off the roadway.</span>
<span>"Some were able to get out on their own and some had to be towed out," he said.</span>
<span>Wolff said there was a two-vehicle accident that occurred around 7:30 a.m. Monday on Route 3 near Beare Grove Road. No names have yet been released.</span>
<span>"It was a pretty significant wreck," Wolff said.</span>
<span>As of 9 a.m. only one lane, the southbound lane, of Route 3 between Chester and Route 149 near Murphysboro was plowed. A tractor-trailer was stuck in the middle of the road on Route 149 attempting to make the steep incline by the bluffs.</span>
<span>Elsewhere, the Chester Fire Department responded to a vehicle fire at the Menard Medium Security Unit parking lot around 6:30 a.m. A Department of Corrections passenger van was later deemed to be a total loss as magnesium brackets in the seats prevented firefighters from putting water on the fire.</span>
<span>"Somebody brought the van up to the door to warm it up and when they came out, it was on fire," said Chester Fire Chief Marty Bert, who added the van was unoccupied at the time of the fire. "We tried to put our fire extinguishers on it, but once it got to a certain point, we just let it burn itself out."</span>
<span>With schools already closed for Presidents' Day, the weather had a small impact on school-related activities. The Class 1A Gallatin County girls basketball sectional was postponed until Wednesday.</span>
<span>Galatia-Thompsonville will face Cairo at 6 p.m., while Steeleville and host Gallatin County will play at 7:30 p.m. The championship game will still take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday.</span>
<span>In the wake of the storm, bitter cold will settle into the region with highs on Wednesday and Thursday forecasted to be in the teens.</span>
<span>"Wednesday and Thursday look pretty darn cold," Gosselin said. "Wednesday night's low will be around minus-4 for most of Randolph County.</span>
<span>"Some of that is contingent on how much snowfall the county got."</span>
<span>Meteorologists are also keeping an eye on another developing winter storm that could begin Thursday night and carry through Saturday night with the potential for ice and snow.</span>