Winter Weather in Illinois, February 9, 2011

Name: Winter Weather in Illinois, February 9, 2011
Start: 2011-02-09T07:00
End: 2011-02-09T17:00
Location: Illinois

February 9, 2011 · NWS PAH · 12 events in 12 counties and zones

A large area of snow occurred along and to the east of a well-defined surface low pressure trough. East of the surface trough, northeasterly surface winds kept cold air in place.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 12 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: 1
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 12

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 PAH wrote it up.

A large area of snow occurred along and to the east of a well-defined surface low pressure trough. East of the surface trough, northeasterly surface winds kept cold air in place. Warmer air moving in aloft created conditions favorable for snow. As the low pressure trough moved east across the region, the snow ended in its wake. Snowfall totals were generally from 1 to 2 inches along and south of Route 13, which extends from Carbondale and Marion east across Harrisburg to the Ohio River. Specific snowfall totals included: 2.5 inches in Mound City (Pulaski County), 2 inches in Metropolis and Cairo, 1.5 inches in northwest Pope County, and 1 inch at Murphysboro. Due to very cold temperatures, roads quickly became snow-packed and very slippery. Numerous accidents were reported. In White County, a fatal vehicle crash occurred on Route 1 about two miles south of Norris City. A 17-year-old female lost control of her vehicle on a snow-covered bridge, then crossed into the lane of oncoming traffic. She was struck by a tractor-trailer rig and pronounced dead at a local hospital.

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 Paducah, KY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 9, 3:28 AM CST, 3 hours 32 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 9, 3:28 AM CST, 3 hours 32 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
328 AM CST WED FEB 9 2011

.DISCUSSION...
LATEST SURFACE MAP SHOWED ARCTIC HIGH PRESSURE SPRAWLED OVER
MUCH OF THE U.S. EAST OF THE ROCKIES. AN INVERTED TROF/FRONTAL
BOUNDARY WAS SET UP FROM NW ARKANSAS INTO CENTRAL TEXAS. WVAPOR
IMAGERY SHOWED MID LEVEL CIRCULATION OVER SW KANSAS MOVING EAST.
REGIONAL RADAR MOSAIC SHOWS LIGHT SNOW JUST TO OUR WEST. SNOW IS
NOW REACHING THE GROUND IN CENTRAL SECTIONS OF MISSOURI DOWN TO
AROUND JOPLIN AND INTO NW ARKANSAS. THIS EASTWARD TRANSLATION
SHOULD CONTINUE STEADILY THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS. THE MAIN
CHALLENGE WITH TODAY/S FORECAST WILL BE SNOWFALL AMOUNTS. I
BELIEVE ANOTHER KEY WILL BE...HOW MUCH IDENTITY AND STRENGTH WILL
REMAIN WITH THE SW KANSAS VORT. FOR NOW THE MODELS WEAKEN THIS
FEATURE THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE DAY AS IT MOVES EAST.
INTERESTING LATE GAME OBSERVATIONS. THE 6HR QPF FROM THE RUC IS
NOTABLY HIGHER OVER SW MISSOURI THROUGH 18Z...THAN THE GFS AND
SREF. PROBABLY CLOSER TO THE ECMWF. HPC/S 6 HR QPF FORECAST IS
MUCH CLOSER TO THE ECMWF THAN ANY OTHER MODEL. MAY BE ON TO
SOMETHING HERE.

FOR NOW...NO CHANGE TO THE GOING HEADLINE. GIVEN THE DEGREE OF
LOWER/MID TROPOSPHERIC COLD AIR...SLR RATIOS SHOULD BE RELATIVELY
HIGH. WENT ON THE ORDER OF 18/20:1 TO COMPUTE OUR AMOUNTS.
SOUNDING DATA SUGGESTS CLOSER TO 20:1 WHEN THE DERIVATION COMES
FROM THE MAX TEMP IN THE THERMAL PROFILE. SIDING CLOSER TO
ECMWF/HPC FORECAST QPF VALUES...THIS WOULD YIELD 2-4 INCHES
ACROSS FAR SOUTHERN SECTIONS...AND 1 TO 2 INCHES IN THE NORTH PART
OF OUR GOING ADVISORY...DROPPING OFF QUICKLY TO LESS THAN AN
INCH...TO A DUSTING HEADING NORTH TOWARD I-64. GIVEN THE DRY
NATURE TO THE SNOW...THE PROBABILITY OF A COATING EVEN IN OUR
NORTHERN COUNTIES IS ELEVATED. KEEPING WITH THE WINTER SEASON
TENDENCY...THIS IS A TRICKY SNOW FORECAST...GIVEN HIGHER SLR RATIO
AND SOME MODEL DISCREPANCIES WITH RESPECT TO QPF. COULD TREND
TOWARD LESS SNOW. COULD TEND HIGHER GIVEN SNOW PRODUCTION WILL
OCCUR IN COLD COLUMNAR CONDITIONS...AND DUE TO THE FACT THE LATEST
DATA SHOWS SLIGHTLY HIGHER QPF TO OUR WEST.

THE ACTIVITY SHOULD QUICKLY DEPART THIS EVENING. DRY AND COLD
WEATHER TO FOLLOW THROUGH THURSDAY. WENT ON THE COLD SIDE OF
GUIDANCE GIVEN THE AIRMASS AND SNOW COVER FACTOR. AS HAS BEEN
ADVERTISED FOR SEVERAL DAYS NOW...MODERATING TEMPERATURES ARE ON
THE WAY. OUR MID TROP HEIGHTS WILL RISE SOME 20 TO 30DM/S THROUGH
THE WEEKEND. THE FORECAST IS STILL DRY FOR NOW. WILL HAVE TO KEEP
AN EYE ON FRIDAY FOR LOW POP POTENTIAL.

..NOLES..

&&

.AVIATION...
VFR CONDITIONS WILL DROP RAPIDLY INTO IFR CATEGORIES BY MID TO LATE
MORNING WITH SNOW FOR KCGI AND KPAH. THEN BACK TO VFR AROUND 00Z
THU. FOR KEVV AND KOWB MAINLY VFR CONDITIONS WITH SNOW DROPPING VSBY
INTO IFR CATEGORY AT TIMES DURING THE DAY BUT RAPIDLY BACK TO VFR
AROUND 00Z. FLOW WILL PRIMARILY BE NORTHWEST THROUGH THE VALID TIME
AT ALL SITES.

..KH..

&&

.PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
KY...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 6 AM THIS MORNING TO MIDNIGHT CST
     TONIGHT FOR BALLARD-CALDWELL-CALLOWAY-CARLISLE-CHRISTIAN-
     CRITTENDEN-FULTON-GRAVES-HICKMAN-HOPKINS-LIVINGSTON-LYON-
     MARSHALL-MCCRACKEN-MCLEAN-MUHLENBERG-TODD-TRIGG-WEBSTER.

MO...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 6 AM THIS MORNING TO MIDNIGHT CST
     TONIGHT FOR BOLLINGER-BUTLER-CAPE GIRARDEAU-CARTER-
     MISSISSIPPI-NEW MADRID-RIPLEY-SCOTT-STODDARD-WAYNE MO.

IL...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 6 AM THIS MORNING TO MIDNIGHT CST
     TONIGHT FOR ALEXANDER-HARDIN-JOHNSON-MASSAC-POPE-PULASKI-
     UNION IL.

IN...NONE.
&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 9, 3:58 AM CST, 3 hours 2 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
358 AM CST WED FEB 9 2011

ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087-
100-107>112-114-101100-
JEFFERSON-WAYNE IL-EDWARDS-WABASH-PERRY IL-FRANKLIN-HAMILTON-
WHITE-JACKSON-WILLIAMSON-SALINE-GALLATIN-UNION IL-JOHNSON-POPE-
HARDIN-ALEXANDER-PULASKI-MASSAC-GIBSON-PIKE-POSEY-VANDERBURGH-
WARRICK-SPENCER-FULTON-HICKMAN-CARLISLE-BALLARD-MCCRACKEN-GRAVES-
LIVINGSTON-MARSHALL-CALLOWAY-CRITTENDEN-LYON-TRIGG-CALDWELL-
UNION KY-WEBSTER-HOPKINS-CHRISTIAN-HENDERSON-DAVIESS-MCLEAN-
MUHLENBERG-TODD-PERRY MO-BOLLINGER-CAPE GIRARDEAU-WAYNE MO-CARTER-
RIPLEY-BUTLER-STODDARD-SCOTT-MISSISSIPPI-NEW MADRID-
358 AM CST WED FEB 9 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN
ILLINOIS...SOUTHWEST INDIANA...WESTERN KENTUCKY AND SOUTHEAST
MISSOURI.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW...TODAY AND THIS EVENING FOR
PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI...WESTERN KENTUCKY AND THE SOUTHERN
TIP OF ILLINOIS. REFER TO THE ADVISORY PRODUCT FOR DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WE REQUEST SPOTTERS SUBMIT SNOWFALL AMOUNTS THROUGH THE COURSE
OF THE DAY...AND AT THE END OF THE EVENT.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

12 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Alexander

When: February 9, 7:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Alexander forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 37.192, -89.338 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Union

When: February 9, 7:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Union forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.471, -89.255 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Pulaski

When: February 9, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Pulaski forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.223, -89.127 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Massac

When: February 9, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Massac forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.219, -88.708 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Johnson

When: February 9, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Johnson forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.460, -88.881 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Pope

When: February 9, 9:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Pope forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.413, -88.562 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Jackson

When: February 9, 9:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Jackson forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.785, -89.382 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Williamson

When: February 9, 9:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Williamson forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.730, -88.930 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Hardin

When: February 9, 10:00 AM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Hardin forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.518, -88.267 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Saline

When: February 9, 10:00 AM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Saline forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.753, -88.541 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Gallatin

When: February 9, 10:00 AM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Gallatin forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.763, -88.230 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, White

When: February 9, 10:00 AM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: White forecast zone
Deaths: 0 direct, 1 indirect
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 38.088, -88.180 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Winter Weather, White	2011-02-09	17	Female	Vehicle/Towed Trailer	Indirect

What these are

Winter Weather: Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Illinois in 2011 Every state in 2011 This day in weather history Warnings in Illinois, February 2011

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: 276750, 276753, 276751, 276752, 276754, 276755, 276757, 276758, 276756, 276759, 276760, 282321.