Heavy Snow in Illinois, February 1, 2008

Name: Heavy Snow in Illinois, February 1, 2008
Start: 2008-02-01T00:00
End: 2008-02-01T10:30
Location: Illinois

February 1, 2008 · NWS ILX · 22 events in 22 counties and zones

A major winter storm lifted from the southern plains into the Ohio Valley from January 31st into February 1st. This storm produced heavy snow, at least 6 inches, across much of central Illinois.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 22 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: 22

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 major winter storm lifted from the southern plains into the Ohio Valley from January 31st into February 1st. This storm produced heavy snow, at least 6 inches, across much of central Illinois. The accumulating snow began during the afternoon hours of the 31st and ended during the morning hours of the 1st. The heaviest band of snow extended from Springfield, to Decatur, to Rantoul, where 9 to 12 inches of snow fell. The maximum snowfall amount was 12.9 inches in Springfield.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Lincoln, IL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 31, 11:44 PM CST, 16 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 31, 11:44 PM CST, 16 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
1144 PM CST THU JAN 31 2008

.DISCUSSION...
ISSUED 850 PM CST THU JAN 31 2008

THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW MORE SLOW PERIODS IN THE SNOW THIS EVENING
THAN EXPECTED...BUT SNOW TOTALS UP TO 4 INCHES HAVE STILL COME
IN...WHICH IS STILL IN THE BALLPARK FOR THE WARNING SCENARIO. SOME
AREAS WERE DOWN NEAR 2...FROM BMI TO CMI AND SOUTH TO EFFINGHAM
AND OLNEY AREAS. HOWEVER...THE NEXT BAND OF HEAVY SNOW IS
DEVELOPING FROM TAYLORVILLE TO DEC TO CMI AROUND 815 PM. THIS
BAND WAS WELL DEPICTED IN PREVIOUS MODEL RUNS AS OUR CHANCE FOR
CSI ENHANCED SNOW. SO THE SNOW TOTALS SHOULD CLIMB RAPIDLY OVER
THE NEXT 2 TO 4 HOURS IN OUR WARNING AREA. SNOWFALL RATES OVER ONE
INCH PER HOUR ARE LIKELY IN THE MAIN PORTION OF THE BAND.

THE SURFACE LOW HAS MOVED TO WESTERN TENNESSEE...AND IT SHOULD
CONTINUE TO LIFT TOWARD SOUTHEASTERN INDIANA BY 6 AM FRIDAY...AND
NE OHIO BY NOON FRIDAY. THIS TRACK WILL KEEP SNOW GOING THROUGH
FRIDAY MORNING.

WILL NOT MAKE ANY MAJOR CHANGES TO THE GOING SNOWFALL FORECAST.
WE MAY NOT SEE ANY ONE FOOT TOTALS...BUT WE MAY SEE SOME LOCALIZED
10 INCH REPORTS. WIDESPREAD 6 TO 8 INCHES IS STILL LIKELY IN MOST
OF THE WARNING AREA.

NO ZONE UPDATE WILL BE ISSUED.

SHIMON

&&

.AVIATION...
ISSUED 1144 PM CST THU JAN 31 2008...FOR THE 06Z TAFS

THE HEAVIEST SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 09Z AT ALL TAF
SITES...WITH DEC AND CMI HAVING VLIFR VIS AND CIGS LINGER THROUGH
11Z OR SO. CIGS AND VIS SHOULD CLIMB TO MVFR IN THE MORNING...WITH
SNOW TAPERING OFF IN ALL AREAS BY 18Z. CIGS SHOULD BECOME VFR
SHORTLY AFTER NOON EVERYWHERE.

SHIMON
&&

.PREV DISCUSSION...
ISSUED 230 PM CST THU JAN 31 2008

SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY...
CENTER OF WINTER STORM IS JUST NOW ENTERING SOUTHWESTERN ARKANSAS
AND SO FAR IS ON COURSE. SNOW HAS BEGUN TO REACH THE GROUND PRETTY
MUCH AREA-WIDE...SO WILL ISSUE THE WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE AT 3PM TO
START ALL OF THE HEADLINES AT THAT TIME INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR 6 PM.
IT NOW APPEARS THAT SCOTT AND MORGAN COUNTIES ARE ON THE LINE TO
POSSIBLY GET 6 INCHES OF SNOW... SO WILL INCLUDE THOSE 2 COUNTIES IN
THE WINTER STORM WARNING. MAIN THREATS CONTINUE TO BE HEAVY SNOW AND
BLOWING SNOW. SOME SLEET MAY BRIEFLY BE POSSIBLE OVER THE EXTREME
SOUTHEAST...BUT THIS WILL NOT HAVE AN ADDITIONAL SIGNIFICANT IMPACT.

THE 12Z GFS MODEL HAS BACKED OFF ON ITS SNOW TOTALS A LITTLE...BUT
THE NAM STILL INDICATES AN 8 TO 10 INCH STRIPE /AND ISOLATED 12 IN/
FROM SHELBYVILLE TO DANVILLE. BELIEVE THAT THE NAM WILL BE CLOSER TO
REALITY DUE TO ITS SUPERIOR CONVECTIVE PARAMETERIZATION SCHEME...AND
IT LOOKS LIKE CONDITIONAL SYMMETRIC INSTABILITY WILL PLAY A ROLE IN
LOCALLY ENHANCING SNOW RATES WITHIN THE HEAVY SNOW BAND. BOTTOM
LINE...NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES REQUIRED IN THE FORECAST SNOW AMOUNTS
AT THIS TIME. WINDS ARE ALREADY SUSTAINED IN THE 10 TO 15 KT
RANGE...AND THE GRADIENT WILL INCREASE AS THE SURFACE LOW TRACKS
JUST EAST OF MEMPHIS AT MIDNIGHT...THEN TO THE OHIO RIVER IN
SOUTHEAST INDIANA BY 12Z. THEREFORE STILL EXPECT LOTS OF TRAVEL
PROBLEMS IN BLOWING/DRIFTING SNOW.

THE SNOW AND WINDS SHOULD RELAX TOWARD MIDDAY FRIDAY AS THE LOW
PRESSURE EXITS THE AREA. WILL CARRY SOME CHANCE/SLIGHT CHANCE OF
LIGHT SNOW OR FLURRIES FRIDAY AFTERNOON...BUT MOST OF THE
ACCUMULATIONS SHOULD BE DONE BY THEN. FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY
MORNING WILL THEN BE MAINLY DRY AS HIGH PRESSURE MOVES THROUGH THE
MIDWEST. HAVE UNDERCUT MOS GUIDANCE TEMPERATURES QUITE A BIT FOR
HIGHS SATURDAY IN ANTICIPATION OF A DECENT SNOW COVER. BY SUNDAY
AFTERNOON...LOW LEVEL FLOW WILL RETURN TO SOUTHERLY ON THE BACKSIDE
OF THE SURFACE HIGH. AT THAT TIME...THE NEXT STORM SYSTEM WILL BE
DEVELOPING ACROSS THE WESTERN PLAINS...WITH LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPING
OVER KANSAS AND ITS ATTENDING WARM FRONT STRETCHING INTO SOUTHERN
ILLINOIS BY 12Z MONDAY. PRECIPITATION WITH THIS SYSTEM COULD START
AS EARLY AS SUNDAY AFTERNOON. ALTHOUGH TEMPERATURES SHOULD BE STEADY
OR SLOWLY RISING SUNDAY EVENING...THERE MIGHT BE A PERIOD OF
FREEZING RAIN AT THE ONSET OVER THE NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE AREA
BEFORE SURFACE TEMPERATURES RISE ABOVE FREEZING AROUND MIDNIGHT.
OTHERWISE EXPECT MAINLY RAIN SUNDAY NIGHT.

LONG TERM...MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...
THE PLAINS LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE NORTHEAST INT WESTERN
WISCONSIN BY SUNSET MONDAY...WHICH WILL KEEP ILLINOIS ON THE WARM
SIDE OF THE STORM. ITS COLD FRONT WILL BE SWEEPING THROUGH THE
MIDWEST MONDAY NIGHT AND EARLY TUESDAY...ACCOMPANIED BY RAIN AND
POSSIBLY SOME THUNDERSTORMS. WILL HAVE LIKELY POPS MONDAY AND MONDAY
NIGHT...AND THE POTENTIAL WILL EXIST FOR HEAVY RAINFALL AMOUNTS
ALONG THE FRONT. WHEN COMBINED WITH SNOW MELT...THE HEAVY RAIN MAY
LEAD TO ANOTHER ROUND OF RIVER FLOODING CONDITIONS FOR MIDWEEK.

ANOTHER SHOT OF COLD AIR WILL FOLLOW THE COLD FRONT WITH RAIN
CHANGING TO LIGHT SNOW BEFORE ENDING TUESDAY NIGHT. AT THIS POINT
THE FORECAST MODELS BEGIN TO DIVERGE...BUT WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY
LOOK MAINLY DRY FOR NOW.

04

&&

.ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 12 PM CST FRIDAY FOR ILZ038-042>046-
049>057-061>063-066>068-071>073.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 12 PM CST FRIDAY FOR ILZ027>031-
036-037-040-041-047-048.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 31, 3:04 PM CST, 8 hours 56 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
304 PM CST THU JAN 31 2008

ILZ027>031-036-037-040-041-047-048-011200-
CASS-FULTON-KNOX-MARSHALL-MASON-MENARD-PEORIA-SCHUYLER-STARK-
TAZEWELL-WOODFORD-
304 PM CST THU JAN 31 2008

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 12 PM CST FRIDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
ILLINOIS.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

A WINTER STORM IS EXPECTED TO TRACK ACROSS THE OHIO VALLEY LATER
TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING. CURRENT INDICATIONS SUGGEST LIGHT
SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS OUR LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR EARLY THIS
EVENING WITH THE SNOW PICKING UP IN INTENSITY OVERNIGHT. ACCUMULATIONS
OF 3 TO 6 INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE BY LATE TONIGHT OR FRIDAY MORNING.
AS THE STORM PULLS AWAY FRIDAY MORNING...GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS
WILL PRODUCE AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW COMPOUNDING
ALREADY DIFFICULT DRIVING CONDITIONS.

THE ILLINOIS RIVER SOUTH OF PEORIA WILL CONTINUE ABOVE FLOOD
STAGE THROUGH TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

A WEATHER DISTURBANCE MAY BRING A PERIOD OF RAIN OR FREEZING RAIN
TO PARTS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS SUNDAY NIGHT.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED THROUGH TONIGHT...ALTHOUGH
REPORTS OF SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

ILZ049-050-011200-
MORGAN-SCOTT-
304 PM CST THU JAN 31 2008

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 12 PM CST FRIDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
ILLINOIS.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

A WINTER STORM IS EXPECTED TO TRACK ACROSS THE OHIO VALLEY LATER
TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING. CURRENT INDICATIONS SUGGEST LIGHT
SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS OUR LATER THIS AFTERNOON WITH THE
SNOW PICKING UP IN INTENSITY OVERNIGHT. ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 6
INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE BY LATE TONIGHT OR FRIDAY MORNING. AS THE
STORM PULLS AWAY FRIDAY MORNING...GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS WILL
PRODUCE AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW COMPOUNDING ALREADY
DIFFICULT DRIVING CONDITIONS.

THE ILLINOIS RIVER SOUTH OF PEORIA WILL CONTINUE ABOVE FLOOD
STAGE THROUGH TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

A WEATHER DISTURBANCE MAY BRING A PERIOD OF RAIN OR FREEZING RAIN
TO PARTS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS SUNDAY NIGHT.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED THROUGH TONIGHT...ALTHOUGH
REPORTS OF SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

ILZ038-042>046-051>053-011200-
CHAMPAIGN-CHRISTIAN-DE WITT-LOGAN-MACON-MCLEAN-PIATT-SANGAMON-
VERMILION-
304 PM CST THU JAN 31 2008

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 12 PM CST FRIDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
ILLINOIS AND EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

A WINTER STORM IS EXPECTED TO TRACK INTO SOUTHERN INDIANA FRIDAY
MORNING. CURRENT INDICATIONS SUGGEST SNOW WILL DEVELOP OVER THE AREA
LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE INTO FRIDAY MORNING. THERE IS THE
POTENTIAL FOR SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 10 INCHES...WITH LOCAL
AMOUNTS UP TO A FOOT POSSIBLE ALONG THE INTERSTATE 57 CORRIDOR.
AS THE STORM PULLS AWAY FROM THE AREA FRIDAY MORNING...GUSTY
NORTHWEST WINDS WILL PRODUCE AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW
COMPOUNDING THE ALREADY DIFFICULT DRIVING CONDITIONS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

A WEATHER DISTURBANCE MAY BRING A PERIOD OF RAIN OR FREEZING RAIN
TO PARTS OF CENTRAL AND EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS SUNDAY NIGHT.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED THROUGH TONIGHT...ALTHOUGH
REPORTS OF SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ACROSS THE AREA WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

ILZ054>057-061>063-066>068-071>073-011200-
CLARK-CLAY-COLES-CRAWFORD-CUMBERLAND-DOUGLAS-EDGAR-EFFINGHAM-
JASPER-LAWRENCE-MOULTRIE-RICHLAND-SHELBY-
304 PM CST THU JAN 31 2008

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 12 PM CST FRIDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
ILLINOIS...EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS AND SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

A WINTER STORM IS EXPECTED TO TRACK INTO SOUTHERN INDIANA FRIDAY
MORNING. CURRENT INDICATIONS SUGGEST SNOW WILL DEVELOP OVER THE AREA
THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE INTO FRIDAY MORNING. THERE IS THE
POTENTIAL FOR SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 10 INCHES BY FRIDAY
MORNING...WITH LOCAL AMOUNTS UP TO 1 FOOT POSSIBLE. AS THE STORM
PULLS AWAY FROM THE AREA FRIDAY MORNING...GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS
WILL PRODUCE AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW COMPOUNDING THE
ALREADY DIFFICULT DRIVING CONDITIONS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED THROUGH TONIGHT...ALTHOUGH
SNOWFALL REPORTS FROM OUR SPOTTERS WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

HJS

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jan 31, 10:35 PM CST, 1 hour 25 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
1035 PM CST THU JAN 31 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0410 PM     SNOW             CANTON                  40.56N 90.04W
01/31/2008  M1.5 INCH        FULTON             IL   MESONET

            FROM SWOP OBSERVER.

0420 PM     SNOW             WATSON                  39.03N 88.57W
01/31/2008  M1.5 INCH        EFFINGHAM          IL   MESONET

            FROM SWOP OBSERVER.

0429 PM     SNOW             LINCOLN                 40.15N 89.37W
01/31/2008  M1.4 INCH        LOGAN              IL   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

0429 PM     SNOW             DECATUR                 39.85N 88.93W
01/31/2008  M2.0 INCH        MACON              IL   MESONET

            FROM SWOP OBSERVER.

0430 PM     SNOW             SPRINGFIELD             39.78N 89.64W
01/31/2008  M2.0 INCH        SANGAMON           IL   MESONET

            SWOP OBSERVER IN THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF SPRINGFIELD, IN
            THE VILLAGE OF JEROME.

0430 PM     SNOW             SPRINGFIELD             39.78N 89.64W
01/31/2008  M2.5 INCH        SANGAMON           IL   NWS EMPLOYEE

            NORTH SIDE OF SPRINGFIELD.

0450 PM     SNOW             AVON                    40.66N 90.44W
01/31/2008  M2.0 INCH        FULTON             IL   CO-OP OBSERVER

0500 PM     SNOW             4 E MONTROSE            39.17N 88.30W
01/31/2008  M2.0 INCH        JASPER             IL   MESONET

            COCORAHS OBSERVER.

0505 PM     SNOW             DECATUR                 39.85N 88.93W
01/31/2008  M2.2 INCH        MACON              IL   MESONET

            SWOP OBSERVER.

0530 PM     SNOW             PEORIA                  40.74N 89.61W
01/31/2008  M1.0 INCH        PEORIA             IL   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

0540 PM     SNOW             BROOKLYN                40.23N 90.77W
01/31/2008  M4.0 INCH        SCHUYLER           IL   MESONET

            SWOP OBSERVER.

0550 PM     SNOW             LINCOLN                 40.15N 89.37W
01/31/2008  M2.2 INCH        LOGAN              IL   MESONET

            SWOP OBSERVER. NWS EMPLOYEE.

0550 PM     SNOW             FLORA                   38.67N 88.48W
01/31/2008  M2.0 INCH        CLAY               IL   CO-OP OBSERVER

0550 PM     SNOW             PETERSBURG              40.01N 89.85W
01/31/2008  M2.0 INCH        MENARD             IL   MESONET

            SWOP OBSERVER

0555 PM     SNOW             LINCOLN                 40.15N 89.37W
01/31/2008  M2.0 INCH        LOGAN              IL   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            MEASURED AT THE NWS OFFICE.

0608 PM     SNOW             CHATHAM                 39.67N 89.70W
01/31/2008  M3.0 INCH        SANGAMON           IL   MESONET

            SWOP OBSERVER.

0608 PM     SNOW             SPRINGFIELD             39.78N 89.64W
01/31/2008  M1.8 INCH        SANGAMON           IL   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            OFFICIAL SPRINGFIELD OBSERVATION

0618 PM     SNOW             4 NE BLOOMINGTON        40.52N 88.92W
01/31/2008  M1.2 INCH        MCLEAN             IL   NWS EMPLOYEE

0641 PM     SNOW             DECATUR                 39.85N 88.93W
01/31/2008  M3.2 INCH        MACON              IL   MESONET

            SWOP OBSERVER.

0655 PM     SNOW             WINDSOR                 39.44N 88.60W
01/31/2008  M2.0 INCH        SHELBY             IL   CO-OP OBSERVER

0655 PM     SNOW             SHELBYVILLE             39.41N 88.80W
01/31/2008  M3.0 INCH        SHELBY             IL   MESONET

            SWOP OBSERVER.

0657 PM     SNOW             TUSCOLA                 39.80N 88.28W
01/31/2008  M2.0 INCH        DOUGLAS            IL   MESONET

            SWOP OBSERVER.

0739 PM     SNOW             8 E PETERSBURG          40.01N 89.70W
01/31/2008  M2.2 INCH        MENARD             IL   MESONET

            SWOP OBSERVER. JUNCTION OF ROUTES 29 AND 123.

0744 PM     SNOW             CANTON                  40.56N 90.04W
01/31/2008  M1.9 INCH        FULTON             IL   MESONET

            SWOP OBSERVER.

0800 PM     SNOW             FORSYTH                 39.92N 88.96W
01/31/2008  M3.0 INCH        MACON              IL   MESONET

            SWOP OBSERVER.

0800 PM     SNOW             BEARDSTOWN              40.01N 90.43W
01/31/2008  E2.0 INCH        CASS               IL   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            ROAD CREW REPORT.

0800 PM     SNOW             CHAMPAIGN               40.11N 88.26W
01/31/2008  M2.0 INCH        CHAMPAIGN          IL   BROADCAST MEDIA

0800 PM     SNOW             SHERMAN                 39.89N 89.61W
01/31/2008  M3.0 INCH        SANGAMON           IL   NWS EMPLOYEE

0800 PM     SNOW             4 SW SPRINGFIELD        39.74N 89.70W
01/31/2008  M3.5 INCH        SANGAMON           IL   MESONET

            SWOP OBSERVER IN JEROME.

0803 PM     SNOW             DECATUR                 39.85N 88.93W
01/31/2008  M3.6 INCH        MACON              IL   MESONET

            SWOP OBSERVER.

0803 PM     SNOW             4 NE BLOOMINGTON        40.52N 88.92W
01/31/2008  M2.1 INCH        MCLEAN             IL   NWS EMPLOYEE

0815 PM     SNOW             MORTON                  40.61N 89.47W
01/31/2008  M1.6 INCH        TAZEWELL           IL   NWS EMPLOYEE

0818 PM     SNOW             RANTOUL                 40.30N 88.16W
01/31/2008  M2.4 INCH        CHAMPAIGN          IL   MESONET

            SWOP OBSERVER.

0830 PM     SNOW             4 NW MANITO             40.46N 89.83W
01/31/2008  M2.3 INCH        TAZEWELL           IL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            IN THE AREA OF SPRING LAKE. FROM EMERGENCY MANAGER.

0832 PM     SNOW             EFFINGHAM               39.12N 88.55W
01/31/2008  M2.6 INCH        EFFINGHAM          IL   MESONET

            SWOP OBSERVER.

0833 PM     SNOW             ROME                    40.88N 89.51W
01/31/2008  M1.9 INCH        PEORIA             IL   MESONET

            SWOP OBSERVER.

0838 PM     SNOW             RIVERTON                39.85N 89.54W
01/31/2008  M2.5 INCH        SANGAMON           IL   MESONET

            SWOP OBSERVER.

0847 PM     SNOW             HENRY                   41.11N 89.36W
01/31/2008  M1.1 INCH        MARSHALL           IL   EMERGENCY MNGR

0859 PM     SNOW             DECATUR                 39.85N 88.93W
01/31/2008  M4.2 INCH        MACON              IL   MESONET

            SWOP REPORT

0900 PM     SNOW             2 N HOMER               40.06N 87.96W
01/31/2008  M1.5 INCH        CHAMPAIGN          IL   MESONET

            SWOP REPORT

0900 PM     SNOW             WINDSOR                 39.44N 88.60W
01/31/2008  M4.0 INCH        SHELBY             IL   CO-OP OBSERVER

0905 PM     SNOW             CLINTON                 40.15N 88.96W
01/31/2008  M4.0 INCH        DE WITT            IL   MESONET

            SWOP REPORT

0915 PM     SNOW             FARMER CITY             40.24N 88.64W
01/31/2008  M3.0 INCH        DE WITT            IL   MESONET

            COCORAHS REPORT

0915 PM     SNOW             MOUNT PULASKI           40.01N 89.28W
01/31/2008  M3.0 INCH        LOGAN              IL   CO-OP OBSERVER

0915 PM     SNOW             4 SW SPRINGFIELD        39.74N 89.70W
01/31/2008  M4.0 INCH        SANGAMON           IL   MESONET

0925 PM     SNOW             PEORIA                  40.74N 89.61W
01/31/2008  M2.5 INCH        PEORIA             IL   MESONET

            SWOP REPORT

0930 PM     SNOW             OGDEN                   40.12N 87.96W
01/31/2008  M1.6 INCH        CHAMPAIGN          IL   MESONET

            SWOP REPORT

0930 PM     SNOW             2 E URBANA              40.11N 88.17W
01/31/2008  M1.6 INCH        CHAMPAIGN          IL   MESONET

            SWOP REPORT

0930 PM     SNOW             1 E GALESBURG           40.95N 90.36W
01/31/2008  M3.2 INCH        KNOX               IL   PUBLIC

0940 PM     SNOW             2 NE CISCO              40.03N 88.70W
01/31/2008  M3.0 INCH        PIATT              IL   MESONET

            SWOP REPORT

0940 PM     SNOW             EFFINGHAM               39.12N 88.55W
01/31/2008  M3.0 INCH        EFFINGHAM          IL   MESONET

            SWOP REPORT

0945 PM     SNOW             2 E NORMAL              40.52N 88.96W
01/31/2008  M2.7 INCH        MCLEAN             IL   NWS EMPLOYEE

0950 PM     SNOW             EFFINGHAM               39.12N 88.55W
01/31/2008  M2.3 INCH        EFFINGHAM          IL   MESONET

0955 PM     SNOW             4 NE BLOOMINGTON        40.52N 88.92W
01/31/2008  M2.5 INCH        MCLEAN             IL   NWS EMPLOYEE

0955 PM     FREEZING RAIN    CASEY                   39.30N 87.99W
01/31/2008  U0.00 INCH       CLARK              IL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            MODERATE FREEZING RAIN REPORTED

1007 PM     SNOW             DECATUR                 39.85N 88.93W
01/31/2008  M5.3 INCH        MACON              IL   MESONET

1014 PM     SNOW             HENRY                   41.11N 89.36W
01/31/2008  M2.0 INCH        MARSHALL           IL   EMERGENCY MNGR

1018 PM     SNOW             CLINTON                 40.15N 88.96W
01/31/2008  M4.2 INCH        DE WITT            IL   MESONET

            SWOP REPORT

1020 PM     SNOW             PETERSBURG              40.01N 89.85W
01/31/2008  M3.4 INCH        MENARD             IL   MESONET

            SWOP REPORT

1020 PM     SNOW             URBANA                  40.11N 88.21W
01/31/2008  M3.0 INCH        CHAMPAIGN          IL   CO-OP OBSERVER

            FROM STATE WATER SURVEY

1021 PM     SNOW             WATSON                  39.03N 88.57W
01/31/2008  M3.3 INCH        EFFINGHAM          IL   MESONET

            SWOP REPORT

1030 PM     SNOW             2 S CHESTNUT            40.04N 89.20W
01/31/2008  M3.8 INCH        LOGAN              IL   MESONET

            SWOP REPORT

&&

THE TOTALS BELOW ARE SEPARATED INTO SNOW...AND ICE AND SLEET
CATEGORIES...THEN BY AMOUNT...AND ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE
FINAL AMOUNT FOR EACH LOCATION.

SNOW REPORTS LISTED BY AMOUNT...

 INCHES  LOCATION             COUNTY       TIME
 ------  -------------------  -----------  -------
  5.3    DECATUR              MACON        1007 PM
  4.2    CLINTON              DE WITT      1018 PM
  4.0    4 SW SPRINGFIELD     SANGAMON     0915 PM
  4.0    WINDSOR              SHELBY       0900 PM
  4.0    BROOKLYN             SCHUYLER     0540 PM
  3.8    2 S CHESTNUT         LOGAN        1030 PM
  3.4    PETERSBURG           MENARD       1020 PM
  3.3    WATSON               EFFINGHAM    1021 PM
  3.2    1 E GALESBURG        KNOX         0930 PM
  3.0    URBANA               CHAMPAIGN    1020 PM
  3.0    EFFINGHAM            EFFINGHAM    0940 PM
  3.0    2 NE CISCO           PIATT        0940 PM
  3.0    MOUNT PULASKI        LOGAN        0915 PM
  3.0    FARMER CITY          DE WITT      0915 PM
  3.0    SHERMAN              SANGAMON     0800 PM
  3.0    FORSYTH              MACON        0800 PM
  3.0    SHELBYVILLE          SHELBY       0655 PM
  3.0    CHATHAM              SANGAMON     0608 PM
  2.7    2 E NORMAL           MCLEAN       0945 PM
  2.5    4 NE BLOOMINGTON     MCLEAN       0955 PM
  2.5    PEORIA               PEORIA       0925 PM
  2.5    RIVERTON             SANGAMON     0838 PM
  2.5    SPRINGFIELD          SANGAMON     0430 PM
  2.4    RANTOUL              CHAMPAIGN    0818 PM
  2.3    4 NW MANITO          TAZEWELL     0830 PM
  2.2    8 E PETERSBURG       MENARD       0739 PM
  2.2    LINCOLN              LOGAN        0550 PM
  2.0    HENRY                MARSHALL     1014 PM
  2.0    CHAMPAIGN            CHAMPAIGN    0800 PM
  2.0    BEARDSTOWN           CASS         0800 PM
  2.0    TUSCOLA              DOUGLAS      0657 PM
  2.0    FLORA                CLAY         0550 PM
  2.0    4 E MONTROSE         JASPER       0500 PM
  2.0    AVON                 FULTON       0450 PM
  1.9    ROME                 PEORIA       0833 PM
  1.9    CANTON               FULTON       0744 PM
  1.6    2 E URBANA           CHAMPAIGN    0930 PM
  1.6    OGDEN                CHAMPAIGN    0930 PM
  1.6    MORTON               TAZEWELL     0815 PM
  1.5    2 N HOMER            CHAMPAIGN    0900 PM

SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN REPORTS LISTED BY AMOUNT...

 INCHES  LOCATION             COUNTY       TIME     TYPE
 ------  -------------------  -----------  -------  -------------
  0.00   CASEY                CLARK        0955 PM  FREEZING RAIN

SCHAFFER

Local storm report, Jan 31, 10:47 PM CST, 1 hour 13 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
1047 PM CST THU JAN 31 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1030 PM     SNOW             4 SW SPRINGFIELD        39.74N 89.70W
01/31/2008  M4.8 INCH        SANGAMON           IL   MESONET

            SWOP REPORT

&&

SCHAFFER

Local storm report, Jan 31, 10:54 PM CST, 1 hour 6 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
1054 PM CST THU JAN 31 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1050 PM     SNOW             MONTICELLO              40.03N 88.57W
01/31/2008  M3.1 INCH        PIATT              IL   MESONET

            SWOP REPORT

&&

SCHAFFER

Local storm report, Jan 31, 11:39 PM CST, 21 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
1139 PM CST THU JAN 31 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1100 PM     SNOW             2 SW CHAMPAIGN          40.09N 88.29W
01/31/2008  M3.5 INCH        CHAMPAIGN          IL   MESONET

            COCORAHS REPORT

1115 PM     SNOW             2 N HOMER               40.06N 87.96W
01/31/2008  M2.7 INCH        CHAMPAIGN          IL   MESONET

            COCORAHS REPORT

1125 PM     SNOW             2 E CHAMPAIGN           40.11N 88.23W
01/31/2008  M3.0 INCH        CHAMPAIGN          IL   MESONET

            SWOP REPORT

1125 PM     SNOW             EFFINGHAM               39.12N 88.55W
01/31/2008  M3.7 INCH        EFFINGHAM          IL   MESONET

            SWOP REPORT

1130 PM     SNOW             1 E GALESBURG           40.95N 90.36W
01/31/2008  M4.0 INCH        KNOX               IL   PUBLIC

1130 PM     SNOW             PEORIA                  40.74N 89.61W
01/31/2008  M3.3 INCH        PEORIA             IL   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            OFFICIAL PEORIA TOTAL SO FAR

&&

SCHAFFER

Local storm report, Jan 31, 11:43 PM CST, 17 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
1143 PM CST THU JAN 31 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1130 PM     SNOW             4 SW SPRINGFIELD        39.74N 89.70W
01/31/2008  M5.4 INCH        SANGAMON           IL   MESONET

            SWOP REPORT

&&

SCHAFFER

Local storm report, Jan 31, 11:59 PM CST, 1 minute before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
1159 PM CST THU JAN 31 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1155 PM     SNOW             LINCOLN                 40.15N 89.37W
01/31/2008  M4.7 INCH        LOGAN              IL   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

&&

SCHAFFER

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

22 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Cass

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to 6:00 AM CST
Where: Cass forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.974, -90.247 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Champaign

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to 10:30 AM CST
Where: Champaign forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.140, -88.199 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Christian

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Christian forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.546, -89.277 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, De Witt

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to 9:30 AM CST
Where: De Witt forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.175, -88.904 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Douglas

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to 10:30 AM CST
Where: Douglas forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.770, -88.217 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Fulton

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to 5:30 AM CST
Where: Fulton forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.473, -90.207 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Logan

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to 9:30 AM CST
Where: Logan forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.125, -89.367 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Marshall

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where: Marshall forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.033, -89.345 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Macon

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Macon forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.860, -88.962 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Mason

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to 7:00 AM CST
Where: Mason forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.240, -89.917 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, McLean

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to 9:30 AM CST
Where: McLean forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.491, -88.847 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Menard

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where: Menard forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.027, -89.802 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Morgan

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to 6:00 AM CST
Where: Morgan forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.716, -90.201 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Moultrie

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to 10:30 AM CST
Where: Moultrie forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.642, -88.619 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Peoria

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to 7:00 AM CST
Where: Peoria forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.788, -89.760 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Piatt

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to 10:30 AM CST
Where: Piatt forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.010, -88.591 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Sangamon

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to 9:30 AM CST
Where: Sangamon forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.758, -89.659 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Scott

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to 5:30 AM CST
Where: Scott forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.644, -90.475 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Shelby

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to 10:30 AM CST
Where: Shelby forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.391, -88.805 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Tazewell

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where: Tazewell forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.508, -89.513 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Vermilion

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to 10:30 AM CST
Where: Vermilion forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.183, -87.733 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Woodford

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where: Woodford forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.788, -89.211 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Illinois in 2008 Every state in 2008 This day in weather history Warnings in Illinois, February 2008

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: 78629, 78630, 78631, 78632, 78633, 78634, 78635, 78636, 78637, 78638, 78639, 78640, 78641, 78643, 78644, 78645, 78646, 78647, 78648, 78649, 78651, 78652.