Winter Storm in Illinois, January 8 to 9, 1997

Name: Winter Storm in Illinois, January 8 to 9, 1997
Start: 1997-01-08T13:00
End: 1997-01-09T02:00
Location: Illinois

January 8 to 9, 1997 · NWS PAH · 19 events in 19 counties and zones

A low pressure system moved northeast across the Tennessee River Valley, producing up to 7 inches of snow in southern Illinois. Generally 5 or 6 inches fell north of Marion and Carbondale to Mt.

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.

A low pressure system moved northeast across the Tennessee River Valley, producing up to 7 inches of snow in southern Illinois. Generally 5 or 6 inches fell north of Marion and Carbondale to Mt. Vernon and Fairfield. South of the Marion-Carbondale area and in the Wabash River Valley, snowfall amounts were 3 to 4 inches. Most schools closed due to the storm.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

19 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Jefferson

When: January 8, 1:00 PM CST to January 9, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Jefferson forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.301, -88.924 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Wayne

When: January 8, 1:00 PM CST to January 9, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Wayne forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.430, -88.426 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Edwards

When: January 8, 1:00 PM CST to January 9, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Edwards forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.417, -88.053 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Wabash

When: January 8, 1:00 PM CST to January 9, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Wabash forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.446, -87.844 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Perry

When: January 8, 1:00 PM CST to January 9, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Perry forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.084, -89.367 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Franklin

When: January 8, 1:00 PM CST to January 9, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Franklin forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.992, -88.924 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Hamilton

When: January 8, 1:00 PM CST to January 9, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Hamilton forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.082, -88.539 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, White

When: January 8, 1:00 PM CST to January 9, 2:00 AM CST
Where: White forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.088, -88.180 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Jackson

When: January 8, 1:00 PM CST to January 9, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Jackson forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.785, -89.382 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Williamson

When: January 8, 1:00 PM CST to January 9, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Williamson forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.730, -88.930 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Saline

When: January 8, 1:00 PM CST to January 9, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Saline forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.753, -88.541 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Gallatin

When: January 8, 1:00 PM CST to January 9, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Gallatin forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.763, -88.230 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Union

When: January 8, 1:00 PM CST to January 9, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Union forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.471, -89.255 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Johnson

When: January 8, 1:00 PM CST to January 9, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Johnson forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.460, -88.881 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Pope

When: January 8, 1:00 PM CST to January 9, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Pope forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.413, -88.562 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Hardin

When: January 8, 1:00 PM CST to January 9, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Hardin forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.518, -88.267 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Alexander

When: January 8, 1:00 PM CST to January 9, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Alexander forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.192, -89.338 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Pulaski

When: January 8, 1:00 PM CST to January 9, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Pulaski forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.223, -89.127 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Massac

When: January 8, 1:00 PM CST to January 9, 2:00 AM 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

Every storm in Illinois in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings 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: 5585449, 5585450, 5585451, 5585452, 5585453, 5585454, 5585455, 5585456, 5585457, 5585458, 5585459, 5585460, 5585461, 5585462, 5585463, 5585464, 5585465, 5585466, 5585467.