Winter Storm in Illinois, December 13, 2000

A major winter storm produced 4 to 7 inches of snow across southern Illinois, followed by 1/4 to 1/2 inch of ice. The snow began during the early morning hours, falling at rates near one inch per hour. By midday, the snow changed to freezing rain after a brief period of sleet. Light to occasionally moderate freezing rain fell during the afternoon and early evening hours. The heavy precipitation was caused by a strong upper level disturbance that tracked east-northeast from the southern Rockies, across the southern Plains, and then over the lower Mississippi Valley. A strong southerly flow of milder air just above ground level was unable to scour out very cold air right at the surface, which produced an extended period of snow and ice. The liquid equivalent of all the frozen and freezing precipitation was between three quarters of an inch and one inch. Numerous accidents occurred, most of which were minor. The most significant accident was at the junction of Interstates 57 and 64 near Mount Vernon, where a jack-knifed semi-trailer held up traffic for more than an hour. Schools were closed for up to a week following the storm, especially in rural counties with limited snow removal resources. Ice on trees and power lines contributed to scattered power outages. Stores quickly sold out of winter goods, such as ice melter and snow shovels.