The city of Springfield's Service Department is keeping an eye on the approaching storm, and getting ready for what might follow.

Chris Moore of the Springfield Service Department is checking the radar across the Midwest. His concern is the storm that is coming, and how it might affect city-owned street lights and traffic signals. Plus, the large trees near the power lines in the city are also a concern. Moore said forecasting an ice storm can be tricky.

"We're right in line with some freezing rain and snow, and it makes it difficult for us to prepare. I'm sure it's difficult for the meteorologist to tell us what's going to happen. People expect to know what's going to happen in their back yard, not just in their general area," Moore said.

And, the concern goes beyond tree limbs in and around power lines. It's what happens to city road signs when the roads are too slick for traffic.

Mark Miesse said, "People sliding around. They tend to gravitate towards the corners and pick off our stop signs, knock them over and usually there's a fire hydrant close by too, so you knock those things over."

City officials said snow is much easier to deal with than ice, since an ice storm can cause flooding.

"As you get ice over the drains, all of a sudden it rains and we have had situations where the street floods and the rain falls and the snow and ice haven't melted in time to clean the drains, so it really stresses the manpower," Moore said.

City crews said they will be ready to respond to whatever the storm brings.