Illinois, 1998

Winter Storm in Illinois, December 6, 1998

December 6, 1998 · NWS DVN · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

Rain developed throughout Eastern Iowa and Northwest Illinois ahead of an arctic cold front which swept across the region. By late afternoon the rain began to change to snow as colder air overspread the area.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 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
3

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.

Rain developed throughout Eastern Iowa and Northwest Illinois ahead of an arctic cold front which swept across the region. By late afternoon the rain began to change to snow as colder air overspread the area. The snow mixed with sleet and freezing rain at times, mainly along and south of I-80. Roads became slick and snowpacked north of I-80 resulting in treacherous driving conditions and numerous accidents. Most of the snow fell in a swath from Iowa City to Dubuque and Freeport where accumulations ranged from 1 to 3 inches.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Jo Daviess

When
December 6, 3:00 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Jo Daviess forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
42.366, -90.212 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Stephenson

When
December 6, 3:00 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Stephenson forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
42.352, -89.662 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Carroll

When
December 6, 3:00 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Carroll forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
42.069, -89.934 (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 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, December 1998

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: 5677910, 5677911, 5677912.