Illinois, 1997

Ice Storm in Illinois, January 15, 1997

January 15, 1997 · NWS PAH · 19 events in 19 counties and zones

Freezing rain coated surfaces with around a half inch of ice. Travel became very difficult in a short period of time.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 19 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
19

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.

Freezing rain coated surfaces with around a half inch of ice. Travel became very difficult in a short period of time. The weather prompted Southern Illinois University in Carbondale to shut down for the fourth time in 30 years. The freezing rain virtually shut down several counties, closing schools, government offices, and health facilities. Franklin County was nearly paralyzed by the storm. Most Franklin County businesses and public offices closed for the day. A large number of vehicle accidents occurred, but no serious injuries were reported. State Route 13 in Jackson County and some county roads in Johnson, Pulaski, and Union Counties were closed because vehicles were unable to climb hills. The Southern Illinois Airport was closed for two hours. Hospitals brought in extra staff to handle an overload due to weather-related injuries. Mail delivery was cancelled in some areas due to icy conditions.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

19 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Ice Storm, Jefferson

When
January 15, 4:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where
Jefferson forecast zone
Coordinates
38.301, -88.924 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Wayne

When
January 15, 4:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where
Wayne forecast zone
Coordinates
38.430, -88.426 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Edwards

When
January 15, 4:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where
Edwards forecast zone
Coordinates
38.417, -88.053 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Wabash

When
January 15, 4:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where
Wabash forecast zone
Coordinates
38.446, -87.844 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Perry

When
January 15, 4:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where
Perry forecast zone
Coordinates
38.084, -89.367 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Franklin

When
January 15, 4:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where
Franklin forecast zone
Coordinates
37.992, -88.924 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Hamilton

When
January 15, 4:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where
Hamilton forecast zone
Coordinates
38.082, -88.539 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, White

When
January 15, 4:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where
White forecast zone
Coordinates
38.088, -88.180 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Jackson

When
January 15, 4:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where
Jackson forecast zone
Coordinates
37.785, -89.382 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Williamson

When
January 15, 4:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where
Williamson forecast zone
Coordinates
37.730, -88.930 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Saline

When
January 15, 4:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where
Saline forecast zone
Coordinates
37.753, -88.541 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Gallatin

When
January 15, 4:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where
Gallatin forecast zone
Coordinates
37.763, -88.230 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Union

When
January 15, 4:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where
Union forecast zone
Coordinates
37.471, -89.255 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Johnson

When
January 15, 4:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where
Johnson forecast zone
Coordinates
37.460, -88.881 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Pope

When
January 15, 4:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where
Pope forecast zone
Coordinates
37.413, -88.562 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Hardin

When
January 15, 4:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where
Hardin forecast zone
Coordinates
37.518, -88.267 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Alexander

When
January 15, 4:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where
Alexander forecast zone
Coordinates
37.192, -89.338 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Pulaski

When
January 15, 4:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where
Pulaski forecast zone
Coordinates
37.223, -89.127 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Massac

When
January 15, 4:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where
Massac forecast zone
Coordinates
37.219, -88.708 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Ice Storm
Freezing rain accumulating a quarter inch or more of ice, or less where it caused significant damage.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Illinois in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, January 1997

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: 5585474, 5585475, 5585476, 5585632, 5585633, 5585634, 5585635, 5585636, 5585637, 5585638, 5585639, 5585640, 5585641, 5585642, 5585643, 5585644, 5585645, 5585646, 5585647.