Winter Storm, Jefferson
- When
- January 2, 10:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
- Where
- Jefferson forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 38.301, -88.924 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm in Illinois, January 2, 1996
A major winter storm affected parts of southern Illinois. Snowfall amounts increased from south to north, with up to 8 inches reported at Mount Vernon.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 14 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 14
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
What happened
The episode as NWS PAH wrote it up.
A major winter storm affected parts of southern Illinois. Snowfall amounts increased from south to north, with up to 8 inches reported at Mount Vernon. Warmer temperatures closer to the Kentucky border resulted in a mixture of precipitation types. Only an inch of snow was measured in northern Pope County, less than 20 miles from the Ohio River. Benton reported 5 inches, Anna had 3 inches, and Pinckneyville reported 4 inches. In the most affected areas, including Mount Vernon, hotels were booked with holiday travelers seeking to avoid dangerous travel conditions. In Jefferson County alone, 36 weather-related accidents occurred, none with serious injuries. A school bus carrying 30 students slid into a ditch, but nobody was hurt. Most schools cancelled classes the following day. Gusty winds and very cold temperatures hampered snow removal efforts. Winds gusted to 25 MPH with temperatures in the teens.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
14 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Winter Storm, Perry
- When
- January 2, 10:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
- Where
- Perry forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 38.084, -89.367 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, Franklin
- When
- January 2, 10:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
- Where
- Franklin forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 37.992, -88.924 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, Hamilton
- When
- January 2, 10:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
- Where
- Hamilton forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 38.082, -88.539 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, Jackson
- When
- January 2, 10:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
- Where
- Jackson forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 37.785, -89.382 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, Williamson
- When
- January 2, 10:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
- Where
- Williamson forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 37.730, -88.930 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, Saline
- When
- January 2, 10:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
- Where
- Saline forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 37.753, -88.541 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, Union
- When
- January 2, 10:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
- Where
- Union forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 37.471, -89.255 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, Johnson
- When
- January 2, 10:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
- Where
- Johnson forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 37.460, -88.881 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, Pope
- When
- January 2, 10:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
- Where
- Pope forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 37.413, -88.562 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, Hardin
- When
- January 2, 10:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
- Where
- Hardin forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 37.518, -88.267 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, Alexander
- When
- January 2, 10:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
- Where
- Alexander forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 37.192, -89.338 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, Pulaski
- When
- January 2, 10:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
- Where
- Pulaski forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 37.223, -89.127 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, Massac
- When
- January 2, 10:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
- Where
- Massac forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 37.219, -88.708 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
What these are
- Winter Storm
- A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, January 2 to 3, 1996
- Winter Storm in Kansas, January 2, 1996
- Heavy Snow in Ohio, January 2 to 3, 1996
- Winter Storm in Ohio, January 2 to 3, 1996
- Winter Storm in Indiana, January 2 to 3, 1996
- Heavy Snow in New York, January 2 to 3, 1996
- Winter Storm in Illinois, January 2 to 3, 1996
- Winter Storm in Indiana, January 2 to 3, 1996
- Damaging Wind in Georgia, January 2, 1996
- Damaging Wind in Florida, January 2, 1996
- Heavy Snow in New York, January 2 to 3, 1996
- Tornado in South Carolina, January 2, 1996
More
Every storm in Illinois in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, January 1996
Sources
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5542147, 5542148, 5542149, 5542150, 5542151, 5542152, 5542153, 5542154, 5542155, 5542156, 5542349, 5542350, 5542351, 5542352.