With the weather this week reaching highs in the upper 50s, those warm temperatures will take a dip while students are away on spring break.

Cold weather, said local weather observer Dalias Price, will return with temperatures reaching below freezing as students return to Charleston.

“It’s nothing like when we had our three above on March 4,” Price commented.

However, temperatures will return the following week to the 50s. Despite the ‘spring-time’ weather, Price emphasizes that it is still really late winter.

“A lot of people think spring begins on March 21, but that’s an astronomical amount,” he said.

Longer days will be here soon, but students will still have to put up with a range of highs and lows. One possible threat to the area as spring-time approaches is the possibility thunderstorms and tornadoes caused by the warm air masses from the south combining to meet the cooler air masses from the Rocky Mountains.

“There ought to be some kites flying in this weather,” Price commented.

Many spring breakers will be traveling to Florida. The weather forecast for the next few days in the panhandle calls for highs near the mid 70s with mostly sunny skies. Winds will be southernly between 10 to 15 m.p.h., with lows in the upper 40s, www.weather.com reported.

Students traveling to the southern region of Florida, should expect rain. The weather channel Web site said highs will be around the upper 70s and lower 80s, with winds in the upper 60s. Winds will be between 10 to 15 m.p.h., with occasional showers expected the next few days, with thunderstorms later in the week.

Peaks for high traffic congestion are between 7 to 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. and after, said construction engineer for Illinois Department of Transportation Scott Corneilus. He recommends students should avoid driving at these times.

From Humboldt to Tuscola on Interstate 57 there will be bridge work being done, reducing driving to one lane. Corneilus said students should reduce speed in that area.

Corneilus says he doesn’t expect a lot of traffic for spring breakers.

“I’ve never keyed in on additional traffic. It must not be that significant,” he noted.

However, warm weather usually brings out more drivers, Corneilus said.

“When you get closer to the university you’ll see more traffic,” he said.

The only delays for students returning to Eastern would be on Interstate 70. “Interstate 70 is a mess,” Corneilus said.

The construction will be taking place one mile west of Illinois Route 1 to the Indiana State line. Eastbound lanes, where most of the work is scheduled, will be closed. Westbound lanes will be reduced to one lane to allow eastbound motorists to travel in one of the westbound lanes, creating ‘head-to-head’ traffic. A concrete barrier will divide the westbound lanes. Motorists should slow down and allow for a five to 10 minute delay.

For local road conditions, students can call 348-7623 or 1-800-452-4368.

“If you want to spend spring break at home it won’t be too bad,” Price said.