Tuesday’s snow forecast in La Salle County is unusual, but not unprecedented

La Salle County residents may see a coating of snow to an inch accumulation Tuesday, according to AccuWeather.

Take some comfort knowing it can be worse.

According to the Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford, the station in Ottawa recorded 11 inches of snow on April 18, 1926.

“Thankfully we’re not looking at anything near that much this week,” Ford said.

To record a snowfall accumulation this late in the spring is unusual, but not unprecedented. The average last day of measurable snowfall in Ottawa and Marseilles is March 18, Ford said. That date only varies one or two days across La Salle County.

On May 9, 1923, the station in Ottawa recorded 0.30 inches of snow. If there is a measurable snowfall on Tuesday or Wednesday, it will be the fourth latest on record there, Ford said. The Ottawa station has been keeping records since 1901.

The station at Marseilles Lock has a shorter record (back to 1943), but if that station observes measurable snow this week, it will be the latest on record there, Ford said.

Snow is forecast between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday, according to AccuWeather. There is a 94% chance of a coating to an inch of snow, 2% chance of an accumulation of 1 to 3 inches, the weather agency said.

A freeze warning is in effect from midnight Tuesday to 9 a.m. Wednesday. Sub-freezing temperatures in the upper 20s are expected. Frost and freeze conditions will kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.

Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.

If you have a houseplant or hanging basket outside, bring those inside or at the very least into a garage, said Afton Salata, of Danchris Nursery in Streator.

Any plants recently from a greenhouse will not do well. Freshly-planted trees also will not fare well if they have not spent much time in the elements.

Plants such as tomatoes don’t do well in the cold, Salata said. She suggested covering garden plants, flowers and other annuals with something that will give it some insulation, such as extra mulch, a blanket or burlap sack, and also covering it with a five gallon bucket to give more protection.

“Don’t use plastic bags, or garbage bags,” she said. “It has to have some insulation.”

Most shrubbery will do fine in the cold, she said.

Fruit trees, such as peach blossoms, may be affected, and there’s not much that can be done outside of some tactics used by larger fruit producers, she said. Younger trees may have blankets put on them, but late frosts and freezes are especially hard on fruit trees.

AccuWeather also reminded residents exposed outdoor water pipes and hoses should be wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly. Those that have in-ground sprinkler systems should cover above-ground pipes to protect them from freezing.