Illinois, 1997

Winter Storm in Illinois, November 13 to 14, 1997

November 13 to 14, 1997 · NWS ILX · 9 events in 8 counties and zones

A mixture of snow, sleet and freezing rain moved into portions of southeast Illinois late in the afternoon on November 13. Some glazing was reported in Lawrence County at the onset of the event.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 9 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
1
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
9

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 ILX wrote it up.

A mixture of snow, sleet and freezing rain moved into portions of southeast Illinois late in the afternoon on November 13. Some glazing was reported in Lawrence County at the onset of the event. The activity changed over to all snow soon after the event began. A band of 3 to 5 inch snowfall occurred across this entire area. The event had tapered off by early morning on November 14.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

9 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Effingham

When
November 13, 3:30 PM CST to November 14, 3:30 AM CST
Where
Effingham forecast zone
Coordinates
39.060, -88.590 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Cumberland

When
November 13, 3:30 PM CST to November 14, 3:30 AM CST
Where
Cumberland forecast zone
Coordinates
39.273, -88.240 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Clark

When
November 13, 3:30 PM CST to November 14, 3:30 AM CST
Where
Clark forecast zone
Coordinates
39.334, -87.788 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Clay

When
November 13, 3:30 PM CST to November 14, 3:30 AM CST
Where
Clay forecast zone
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates
38.754, -88.490 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Jasper

When
November 13, 3:30 PM CST to November 14, 3:30 AM CST
Where
Jasper forecast zone
Coordinates
39.010, -88.154 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Crawford

When
November 13, 3:30 PM CST to November 14, 3:30 AM CST
Where
Crawford forecast zone
Coordinates
39.003, -87.760 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Richland

When
November 13, 3:30 PM CST to November 14, 3:30 AM CST
Where
Richland forecast zone
Coordinates
38.712, -88.085 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Crawford

When
November 13, 3:30 PM CST to November 14, 3:30 AM CST
Where
Crawford forecast zone
Coordinates
39.003, -87.760 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Lawrence

When
November 13, 3:30 PM CST to November 14, 3:30 AM CST
Where
Lawrence forecast zone
Coordinates
38.720, -87.727 (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 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, November 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: 5620780, 5620781, 5620782, 5620783, 5620784, 5620785, 5620786, 5620787, 5620788.