Winter Storm in Illinois, January 1 to 3, 1999

Name: Winter Storm in Illinois, January 1 to 3, 1999
Start: 1999-01-01T05:17
End: 1999-01-03T04:00
Location: Illinois

January 1 to 3, 1999 · NWS DVN · 13 events in 13 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 13 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 13

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 strong winter storm exiting the Southern Rockies pumped warm tropical air from the Gulf of Mexico over cold Arctic air already in place over the upper midwest. As the storm moved toward the Great Lakes it produced heavy snow, strong winds, and a bitterly cold start to the New Year across Eastern Iowa and Northwest Illinois. With snowfall amounts ranging from 14 to 17 inches across West Central Illinois to 8 to 12 inches over Northwest Illinois blowing and drifting was a big problem with roads and highways quickly becoming snowpacked. Several road crews were pulled off the roads at night because of the blinding whiteout conditions. Holiday travellers were stranded at the Quad City Airport after after airport crews decided they were unable to keep up with the snow. Many businesses were closed over the weekend and postal service was hindered in many rural locations. Across Illinois school students enjoyed an extended holiday vacation as schools were closed several days to allow snow to be removed from streets, sidewalks, and parking lots. In Geneseo five men were were treated for heart attacks related to snow removal. Over all...most counties reported few accidents as motorists heeded earlier advisories that warned of deteriorating travel conditions.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

13 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Bureau

When: January 1, 5:17 AM CST to January 3, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Bureau forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 41.404, -89.529 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Carroll

When: January 1, 5:17 AM CST to January 3, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Carroll forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 42.069, -89.934 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Hancock

When: January 1, 5:17 AM CST to January 3, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Hancock forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.404, -91.165 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Henderson

When: January 1, 5:17 AM CST to January 3, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Henderson forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.818, -90.925 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Henry

When: January 1, 5:17 AM CST to January 3, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Henry forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 41.353, -90.131 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Jo Daviess

When: January 1, 5:17 AM CST to January 3, 4:00 AM 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, McDonough

When: January 1, 5:17 AM CST to January 3, 4:00 AM CST
Where: McDonough forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.456, -90.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Mercer

When: January 1, 5:17 AM CST to January 3, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Mercer forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 41.205, -90.741 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Putnam

When: January 1, 5:17 AM CST to January 3, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Putnam forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 41.205, -89.286 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Rock Island

When: January 1, 5:17 AM CST to January 3, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Rock Island forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 41.467, -90.567 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Stephenson

When: January 1, 5:17 AM CST to January 3, 4:00 AM 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, Warren

When: January 1, 5:17 AM CST to January 3, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Warren forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.849, -90.615 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Whiteside

When: January 1, 5:17 AM CST to January 3, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Whiteside forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 41.756, -89.914 (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 1999 Every state in 1999 This day in weather history Warnings in Illinois, January 1999

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: 5684832, 5684833, 5684834, 5684835, 5684836, 5684837, 5684838, 5684839, 5684840, 5684841, 5684842, 5684952, 5684953.