Illinois, 1996

Winter Storm in Illinois, January 26 to 27, 1996

January 26 to 27, 1996 · NWS DVN · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

A winter storm system moving northeast over the Mississippi river brought 1 to 3 inches of rain, sleet, and snow to northwestern Illinois. Significant travel problems occurred due to a layer of glaze which came down first and was then covered by 2 to 3 inches of snow.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
6

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 DVN wrote it up.

A winter storm system moving northeast over the Mississippi river brought 1 to 3 inches of rain, sleet, and snow to northwestern Illinois. Significant travel problems occurred due to a layer of glaze which came down first and was then covered by 2 to 3 inches of snow. 20 to 30 mph winds caused blowing and drifting and limited visibilities.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Jo Daviess

When
January 26, 4:00 AM CST to January 27, 4:00 AM CST
Where
Jo Daviess forecast zone
Coordinates
42.366, -90.212 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Stephenson

When
January 26, 4:00 AM CST to January 27, 4:00 AM CST
Where
Stephenson forecast zone
Coordinates
42.352, -89.662 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Carroll

When
January 26, 4:00 AM CST to January 27, 4:00 AM CST
Where
Carroll forecast zone
Coordinates
42.069, -89.934 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Whiteside

When
January 26, 4:00 AM CST to January 27, 4:00 AM CST
Where
Whiteside forecast zone
Coordinates
41.756, -89.914 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Rock Island

When
January 26, 4:00 AM CST to January 27, 4:00 AM CST
Where
Rock Island forecast zone
Coordinates
41.467, -90.567 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Mercer

When
January 26, 4:00 AM CST to January 27, 4:00 AM CST
Where
Mercer forecast zone
Coordinates
41.205, -90.741 (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

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: 5542568, 5542569, 5542570, 5542571, 5542572, 5542573.