Ice Storm in Missouri, December 15 to 16, 2000

A potent storm system tracked out of the southern Plains into the mid Mississippi Valley, and brought warm air aloft, which set the stage for a mix of precipitation across the area. Freezing rain and sleet started in far northeast Missouri and west central Illinois around midday, then spread northward across eastern Iowa and western Illinois during the afternoon and evening hours. The mix of freezing rain, sleet, and some snow continued overnight into the early morning hours of the 16th. Law enforcement, NWS cooperative observers, and spotters reported significant ice accumulations across the entire area, with amounts up to a half inch in Scotland county. The icy roads made for very dangerous driving conditions, and numerous reports of accidents and cars in ditches. Fortunately, area law enforcement did not report any serious accidents, despite the high level of activity.