Year starts with a bang

Downed lines were spotted across Central Illinois on Saturday.

It was quite the start to 2021 for counties across Central Illinois as New Year's Day saw an ice storm impact the area.

Ice buildup on trees and power lines resulted in numerous power outages which led to utility crews working around the clock to restore power safely. The National Weather Service issued an ice storm warning for a large chunk of the state on Friday while some areas had a winter weather advisory in place.

On top of all the ice, a surprise snowfall impacted the state on Saturday night with as much as 5-8 inches falling around Decatur with lighter amounts around that location. This added extra weight to the already stressed tree branches and lines resulted in more outages for Sunday.