A deepening area of low pressure tracking from the southern Plains toward the Great Lakes brought snow and high winds to central Illinois on December 20th. ranging from around 1 inch along the I-55 corridor to as much as 4 to 5 inches northwest of the Illinois River across parts of Knox and Stark counties.
Every event with a place to put it; 19 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS ILX wrote it up.
A deepening area of low pressure tracking from the southern Plains toward the Great Lakes brought snow and high winds to central Illinois on December 20th. Snowfall totals were generally light...ranging from around 1 inch along the I-55 corridor to as much as 4 to 5 inches northwest of the Illinois River across parts of Knox and Stark counties. As the low passed through central Illinois, winds increased to between 35 and 45 mph...with gusts exceeding 55 mph. The highest wind gust recorded was 65 mph at a mesonet station 3 miles northeast of Galesburg in Knox County. The very strong winds combined with the falling and blowing snow created blizzard conditions along and west of I-55. Numerous car accidents were reported as a result of the snow and wind.
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 Dec 20, 11:11 AM CST, 19 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL 1111 AM CST THU DEC 20 2012 .DISCUSSION... ISSUED 1058 AM CST THU DEC 20 2012 RAPIDLY INTENSIFYING STORM OVER CENTRAL ILLINOIS WILL CHANGE OVER TO SNOW THIS AFTERNOON AND WESTERLY AND NORTHWESTERLY WINDS PICKING UP AFTER THE SFC LOW PASSES THROUGH. WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH AND GUSTS OVER 50 TO 55 MPH THIS AFTERNOON WILL ACCOMPANY THE SNOWFALL RESULTING IN VISIBILITY DROPS. TEMPERATURES SHOULD BE FALLING THROUGH THE AFTERNOON ONCE THE COLD AIR MOVES IN ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE DEEPENING SFC LOW. FORECAST AT THIS POINT IS WELL ON TRACK AND UPDATES ARE NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. HJS && .AVIATION... ISSUED 505 AM CST THU DEC 20 2012 BAND OF RAIN WITH ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WAS TRACKING NORTHEAST AND SHOULD CLEAR OUR TAF SITES BY MID MORNING WITH A BREAK IN THE STEADY RAINS UNTIL THIS AFTERNOON WHEN THE COLD FRONT SWEEPS ACRS THE AREA ACCOMPANIED BY WIND GUSTS TO 45 KTS OR EVEN HIGHER AND SNOW. WE SHOULD SEE IFR CONDITIONS AT MOST OF OUR TAF SITES THIS MORNING AND THAT SHOULD CONTINUE THRU THE FORECAST PERIOD WITH LIFR TO VLIFR CONDITIONS IN SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW LATER THIS AFTN AND EVENING. ACCUMULATIONS WILL RANGE FROM 3 TO 5 INCHES WEST OF THE ILLINOIS RIVER WITH 2 TO 3 INCHES ALONG AND WEST OF I-55 WITH LESSER AMOUNTS TO THE EAST. THE COMBINATION OF THE STRONG WINDS AND FALLING SNOW MAY LIMIT VSBYS TO LESS THAN ONE HALF MILE AT PIA THIS AFTN AND BMI BY LATE AFTN OR EARLY THIS EVENING. POOR CIGS AND VSBYS ARE EXPECTED THIS EVENING AS THE STORM SHIFTS AWAY FROM THE AREA WITH ONLY A SLOW IMPROVEMENT EXPECTED AFTR 05Z. SOUTHEAST WINDS AT 12 TO 27 KTS THIS MORNING WILL GRADUALLY VEER MORE INTO THE SOUTH AROUND 15Z...AND THEN WITH FROPA EARLY THIS AFTN...WINDS WILL SWING INTO THE WEST TO NORTHWEST AT 25 TO 35 KTS WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS OF AROUND 45 KTS. THE ONLY EXCEPTION WOULD BE IN PEORIA WHERE THEY WILL BE NORTHWEST OF THE TRACK OF THE LOW. AS A RESULT...THEIR WINDS WILL START OUT FROM THE EAST AND THEN BACK INTO THE NORTH BY NOON...AND THEN NORTHWEST AT 25 TO 35 KTS WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 KTS AS WELL. LATER OVERNIGHT SMITH && .PREV DISCUSSION... ISSUED 205 AM CST THU DEC 20 2012 SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY... WINTER STORM RAMPING UP AS EXPECTED...WITH CENTER OF LOW PRESSURE LOCATED IN WEST CENTRAL MISSOURI AS OF 2 AM. WARM FRONT HAS SURGED NORTHWARD AND TEMPERATURES OVER THE SOUTH HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA ARE ALREADY IN THE 50S. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BECOME MORE CONCENTRATED IN AREAS EAST OF THE ILLINOIS RIVER DOWN INTO THE SOUTHEAST CWA. DRY SLOT ON WATER VAPOR IMAGERY WAS PUNCHING NORTHEAST INTO MISSOURI...AND WILL BE WORKING INTO CENTRAL ILLINOIS THIS MORNING. 00Z MODELS IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH TRACKING THE SURFACE LOW TO JUST NORTHWEST OF ST LOUIS BY 6 AM...TO JUST NORTH OF BLOOMINGTON AT NOON...AND NEAR THE SOUTHERN TIP OF LAKE MICHIGAN BY 6 PM. THAT PART HAS NOT CHANGED MUCH FROM EARLIER PROJECTIONS. HOWEVER... ONE BIG CHANGE WAS WITH MUCH MORE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DEFORMATION ZONE TO OUR WEST DURING THE MORNING...WHICH WILL PUSH ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA THIS AFTERNOON. THE NAM MODEL WAS VERY AGGRESSIVE WITH SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOW ALONG THE ILLINOIS RIVER VALLEY... WHILE THE GFS AND MANUAL GUIDANCE IS MORE IN THE 3-4 INCH RANGE ACROSS THE WESTERN CWA. TIMING OF THE CHANGEOVER TO SNOW LOOKS TO BE AROUND 9 AM IN THE FAR WESTERN CWA...SHORTLY AFTER MIDDAY AROUND PEORIA/SPRINGFIELD...AND AROUND SUNSET ACROSS THE FAR EASTERN COUNTIES. NO CHANGES IN THE THOUGHTS ON THE VERY STRONG WINDS...AS IMPRESSIVE 3-HOUR PRESSURE CHANGES ON THE ORDER OF 7-8 MB AND WINDS OF 50 KNOTS RIGHT OFF THE SURFACE RESULT IN SUSTAINED WINDS APPROACHING 40 MPH AND GUSTS OF 55-60 MPH DURING THE AFTERNOON... BEGINNING FROM JACKSONVILLE TO LAWRENCEVILLE AROUND MIDDAY AND STEADILY INCREASING NORTHEASTWARD. THE WORST OF THE WINDS WILL BE PAST THE AREA BY 10-11 PM...BUT WILL STILL BE GUSTING OVER 40 MPH ACROSS THE NORTHEAST CWA AFTER MIDNIGHT. WITH ALL THIS IN MIND...THE FOLLOWING SIGNIFICANT CHANGES ARE: /1/ WINTER STORM WARNING IS BEING ISSUED BEGINNING AT 9 AM FOR AREAS WEST OF THE ILLINOIS RIVER...WHERE THERE WAS PREVIOUSLY A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. WHILE SNOW AMOUNTS WILL BE BELOW TRADITIONAL WARNING CRITERIA...THE WINDS WILL PRODUCE EXTENSIVE BLOWING SNOW AND NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS AT TIMES. DAY SHIFT WILL NEED TO WATCH CLOSELY FOR ANY UPGRADE TO BLIZZARD WARNINGS. /2/ WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS BEING ISSUED FROM THE ILLINOIS RIVER EAST TO THE I-55 CORRIDOR...MAINLY FOR SNOWFALL OF 2-3 INCHES AND THE BLOWING SNOW...RUNNING FROM NOON TO MIDNIGHT. /3/ THE HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN PLACE...OVERLAPPING THE ADVISORY IN THE CENTRAL CWA. THE STARTING TIME WAS MOVED UP TO NOON...AND EXTENDED TO MIDNIGHT. A WIND ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED OVERNIGHT ACROSS THE NORTHEAST CWA. AS FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY...HIGH PRESSURE WILL BE THE MAIN WEATHER FEATURE...BUILDING INTO THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY AND RESULTING IN DRY CONDITIONS. FRIDAY WILL REMAIN RATHER BLUSTERY BEFORE THE WINDS FINALLY DIE DOWN. GEELHART LONG TERM...SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY... MORE OF A ZONAL PATTERN ACROSS THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE COUNTRY ON SUNDAY WITH A TRANSITION TO A SPLIT FLOW AS WE HEAD TOWARDS WEDNESDAY...WHICH WILL COMPLICATE THE PRECIP TIMING AND CHANCES. MEDIUM RANGE MODELS DEPICT A WEAK SHORTWAVE PUSHING ACRS THE REGION ON MONDAY WITH LOW PRESSURE EXPECTED TO MOVE NORTHEAST INTO THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY BY LATE IN THE DAY. THERMAL PROFILES ON MONDAY SUGGEST MAINLY LIQUID ACRS THE AREA BUT MAY TRANSITION TO LIGHT SNOW MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY. AS THE SURFACE WAVE AND INVERTED TROF TRACK NE INTO THE LOWER GREAT LAKES TUESDAY...COLDER AIR WILL FILTER SOUTHEAST INTO THE MIDWEST. OUR NEXT UPPER LEVEL WAVE IS FORECAST TO DIG SHARPLY ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PLAINS AND THEN PUSH EAST. MEDIUM RANGE MODELS THEN SUGGEST JUST AHEAD OF THE UPPER WAVE...A SURFACE LOW WILL FORM ACROSS THE GULF COAST STATES AND THEN TRACK NORTHEAST AND DEEPEN AS THE SOUTHERN AND NORTHERN STREAMS PHASE. QUESTION IS...JUST WHERE THE PHASING WILL OCCUR LATER TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY...WHICH WILL PLAY A BIG PART AS TO HOW FAR THE SURFACE LOW WILL RE-CURVE BACK TO THE NORTHWEST. ENSEMBLES AND OPERATIONAL MODELS SHOWING QUITE A BIT OF SPREAD WITH THE MID-WEEK SYSTEM AS THE ECMWF MODEL NOW SUGGESTING THE SURFACE LOW WILL RE-CURVE TO THE NORTHEAST BUT NOT UNTIL LATER WEDNESDAY AND MUCH FURTHER SOUTH THAN IT WAS DEPICTING ON YESTERDAY'S 12Z SOLUTION. MEANWHILE...THE GFS WAS TAKING THE SOUTHERN UPPER WAVE MORE TO THE NORTHEAST ON WEDNESDAY AND THEN CLOSING THE 500 MB LOW OFF AS IT APPROACHES OUR AREA. AT THIS POINT...WITH SO MUCH DISAGREEMENT AS TO THE EVOLUTION OF THE PATTERN TOWARDS THE END OF THIS FORECAST PERIOD...WILL MAKE VERY FEW CHANGES TO WHAT WE HAD EARLIER. ONE THING THE MODELS DO AGREE UPON IS THE TRANSITION TO COLDER WEATHER AFTER OUR WAVE MOVES OFF TO THE EAST LATE MONDAY INTO TUESDAY. AFTER THAT...WILL CONTINUE TO HANG ON TO SOME LOW CHANCE POPS IN THE GRIDS FOR TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY WITH TEMPERATURES ACTUALLY AVERAGING AT OR BELOW NORMAL STARTING ON WED. SMITH && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT FOR ILZ031-037-038- 041>057-061>063-066>068-071>073. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT FOR ILZ031- 037-038-041-042-047>051. WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT FOR ILZ027>030- 036-040. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL 610 AM CST THU DEC 20 2012 ILZ027>030-036-040-211200- FULTON-KNOX-MARSHALL-PEORIA-SCHUYLER-STARK- 610 AM CST THU DEC 20 2012 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING TO MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT NO PROBLEMS FOR THE MORNING DRIVE TO WORK OR SCHOOL...BUT CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO DETERIORATE RAPIDLY LATE THIS MORNING AND THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON AS STRONG WINDS AND SNOW MOVE IN...ALONG WITH FALLING TEMPERATURES. RAIN WILL CHANGE OVER TO SNOW BY LATE THIS MORNING OR EARLY THIS AFTERNOON WITH ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES...WITH HIGHER TOTALS JUST TO OUR WEST AND NORTH. STRONG WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS...GUSTING AS HIGH AS 50 MPH AT TIMES...ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVER THE AREA BY LATE MORNING INTO THE EARLY EVENING HOURS. THESE STRONG WINDS WILL PRODUCE BLOWING SNOW AND RESTRICTED VISIBILITIES. WIND CHILLS WILL LOWER TO BETWEEN THREE BELOW AND 5 ABOVE ZERO LATE TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING. THE STRONG WINDS WILL ALSO BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SOME TREE DAMAGE AND POTENTIAL POWER OUTAGES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY THERE WILL BE A CHANCE FOR SNOW AGAIN ON CHRISTMAS DAY AND WEDNESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED TONIGHT. HOWEVER...ANY REPORTS OF SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AND WIND GUSTS OVER 40 MPH WOULD BE MOST APPRECIATED. ILZ031-037-038-041-042-047>051-211200- CASS-LOGAN-MASON-MCLEAN-MENARD-MORGAN-SANGAMON-SCOTT-TAZEWELL- WOODFORD- 610 AM CST THU DEC 20 2012 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT... ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT NO PROBLEMS FOR THE MORNING DRIVE TO WORK OR SCHOOL...BUT CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO DETERIORATE RAPIDLY THIS AFTERNOON AS STRONG WINDS AND SNOW MOVE IN...ALONG WITH FALLING TEMPERATURES. RAIN WILL CHANGE OVER TO SNOW DURING THE AFTERNOON WITH ACCUMULATIONS OF 2 TO 3 INCHES POSSIBLE BY THIS EVENING...WITH HIGHER TOTALS JUST TO OUR WEST AND NORTH. STRONG WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS...GUSTING AS HIGH AS 55 MPH AT TIMES...ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVER THE AREA BY LATE MORNING INTO THE EARLY EVENING HOURS. THESE STRONG WINDS WILL PRODUCE BLOWING SNOW AND MAY CAUSE SOME TREE DAMAGE...AND POTENTIAL POWER OUTAGES. WIND CHILLS WILL LOWER TO BETWEEN THREE BELOW AND 5 ABOVE ZERO LATE TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY THERE WILL BE ANOTHER CHANCE FOR SNOW ON CHRISTMAS DAY AND WEDNESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED TONIGHT. HOWEVER...ANY REPORTS OF SNOW ACCUMULATION AND WIND GUSTS GREATER THAN 40 MPH WOULD BE MOST APPRECIATED. ILZ043>046-052>057-061-211200- CHAMPAIGN-CHRISTIAN-COLES-DE WITT-DOUGLAS-EDGAR-MACON-MOULTRIE- PIATT-SHELBY-VERMILION- 610 AM CST THU DEC 20 2012 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS AND EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT NO PROBLEMS FOR THE MORNING DRIVE TO WORK OR SCHOOL...BUT CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO DETERIORATE RAPIDLY LATE THIS AFTERNOON AS STRONG WINDS AND SNOW MOVE IN...ALONG WITH FALLING TEMPERATURES. RAIN WILL CHANGE OVER TO SNOW DURING THE AFTERNOON WITH ACCUMULATIONS OF AROUND 1 INCH BY THIS EVENING...WITH HIGHER TOTALS JUST TO OUR WEST AND NORTH. STRONG WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS...GUSTING AS HIGH AS 55 MPH AT TIMES...ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVER THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THESE STRONG WINDS WILL PRODUCE BLOWING SNOW AND MAY CAUSE SOME TREE DAMAGE...AND POTENTIAL POWER OUTAGES. WIND CHILLS WILL LOWER TO BETWEEN THREE BELOW AND 5 ABOVE ZERO LATE TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY THERE WILL BE ANOTHER CHANCE FOR SNOW ON CHRISTMAS DAY AND WEDNESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED THROUGH TONIGHT. HOWEVER...ANY SNOWFALL REPORTS OR REPORTS OF HIGH WINDS WOULD BE MOST APPRECIATED. ILZ062-063-066>068-071>073-211200- CLARK-CLAY-CRAWFORD-CUMBERLAND-EFFINGHAM-JASPER-LAWRENCE-RICHLAND- 610 AM CST THU DEC 20 2012 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS AND SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT STRONG WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS...GUSTING AS HIGH AS 50 MPH AT TIMES...WILL MOVE IN BEHIND A COLD FRONT THIS AFTERNOON. SOME LIGHT SNOW OR FLURRIES MAY MOVE IN LATER THIS AFTERNOON BUT ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE LESS THAN AN INCH. THE STRONG WINDS MAY PRODUCE SOME TREE DAMAGE...AND POTENTIAL POWER OUTAGES. WIND CHILLS WILL LOWER TO BETWEEN 5 TO 10 ABOVE ZERO LATE TONIGHT AND INTO FRIDAY MORNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY THERE WILL BE A CHANCE FOR RAIN OR SNOW ON CHRISTMAS...AND WEDNESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED TONIGHT. HOWEVER...ANY REPORTS OF WIND GUSTS OVER 40 MPH WOULD BE APPRECIATED. SMITH
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
744 AM CST THU DEC 20 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 W FARMER CITY 40.24N 88.70W
12/20/2012 M1.08 INCH DE WITT IL CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN PARIS 39.62N 87.69W
12/20/2012 M1.40 INCH EDGAR IL CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 W BISMARCK 40.27N 87.66W
12/20/2012 M1.11 INCH VERMILION IL MESONET
SWOP
0730 AM HEAVY RAIN CASEY 39.30N 87.99W
12/20/2012 M1.41 INCH CLARK IL CO-OP OBSERVER
&&
OUSLEYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
756 AM CST THU DEC 20 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0500 AM HEAVY RAIN WATSON 39.03N 88.57W
12/20/2012 M1.47 INCH EFFINGHAM IL MESONET
24 HOUR RAINFALL. SWOP REPORT
0640 AM HEAVY RAIN EFFINGHAM 39.12N 88.55W
12/20/2012 M1.31 INCH EFFINGHAM IL MESONET
24 HOUR RAINFALL. SWOP REPORT
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 W BISMARCK 40.27N 87.66W
12/20/2012 M1.11 INCH VERMILION IL MESONET
24 HOUR RAINFALL. SWOP REPORT
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 SW EFFINGHAM 39.09N 88.59W
12/20/2012 M1.44 INCH EFFINGHAM IL CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN PARIS 39.62N 87.69W
12/20/2012 M1.40 INCH EDGAR IL CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 W BISMARCK 40.27N 87.66W
12/20/2012 M1.11 INCH VERMILION IL MESONET
SWOP
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 W FARMER CITY 40.24N 88.70W
12/20/2012 M1.08 INCH DE WITT IL CO-OP OBSERVER
0716 AM HEAVY RAIN DANVILLE 40.14N 87.62W
12/20/2012 M1.25 INCH VERMILION IL EMERGENCY MNGR
24 HOUR RAINFALL. SWOP REPORT
0730 AM HEAVY RAIN CASEY 39.30N 87.99W
12/20/2012 M1.41 INCH CLARK IL CO-OP OBSERVER
0730 AM HEAVY RAIN 5 NW SIDELL 39.96N 87.89W
12/20/2012 M1.15 INCH VERMILION IL CO-OP OBSERVER
24 HOUR RAINFALL.
&&
OUSLEYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
810 AM CST THU DEC 20 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0756 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 NE NEOGA 39.34N 88.43W
12/20/2012 M1.42 INCH CUMBERLAND IL MESONET
&&
OUSLEYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
840 AM CST THU DEC 20 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0800 AM HEAVY RAIN 1 W ARTHUR 39.72N 88.49W
12/20/2012 M1.01 INCH MOULTRIE IL CO-OP OBSERVER
&&
OUSLEYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
845 AM CST THU DEC 20 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 4 NW NEOGA 39.36N 88.50W
12/20/2012 M1.20 INCH SHELBY IL CO-OP OBSERVER
&&
OUSLEYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
926 AM CST THU DEC 20 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0500 AM HEAVY RAIN WATSON 39.03N 88.57W
12/20/2012 M1.47 INCH EFFINGHAM IL MESONET
24 HOUR RAINFALL. SWOP REPORT
0640 AM HEAVY RAIN EFFINGHAM 39.12N 88.55W
12/20/2012 M1.31 INCH EFFINGHAM IL MESONET
24 HOUR RAINFALL. SWOP REPORT
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 W FARMER CITY 40.24N 88.70W
12/20/2012 M1.08 INCH DE WITT IL CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 4 NW NEOGA 39.36N 88.50W
12/20/2012 M1.20 INCH SHELBY IL CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 W BISMARCK 40.27N 87.66W
12/20/2012 M1.11 INCH VERMILION IL MESONET
24 HOUR RAINFALL. SWOP REPORT
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 SW EFFINGHAM 39.09N 88.59W
12/20/2012 M1.44 INCH EFFINGHAM IL CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN PARIS 39.62N 87.69W
12/20/2012 M1.40 INCH EDGAR IL CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 W BISMARCK 40.27N 87.66W
12/20/2012 M1.11 INCH VERMILION IL MESONET
SWOP
0716 AM HEAVY RAIN DANVILLE 40.14N 87.62W
12/20/2012 M1.25 INCH VERMILION IL EMERGENCY MNGR
24 HOUR RAINFALL. SWOP REPORT
0730 AM HEAVY RAIN CASEY 39.30N 87.99W
12/20/2012 M1.41 INCH CLARK IL CO-OP OBSERVER
0730 AM HEAVY RAIN 5 NW SIDELL 39.96N 87.89W
12/20/2012 M1.15 INCH VERMILION IL CO-OP OBSERVER
24 HOUR RAINFALL.
0756 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 NE NEOGA 39.34N 88.43W
12/20/2012 M1.42 INCH CUMBERLAND IL MESONET
0800 AM HEAVY RAIN 1 W ARTHUR 39.72N 88.49W
12/20/2012 M1.01 INCH MOULTRIE IL CO-OP OBSERVER
&&
OUSLEYThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
19 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.
Two to three inches of snow accumulated across Schuyler County on December 20th. Winds gusting over 50 mph at times created blizzard conditions, causing numerous traffic accidents across the county.
Two to three inches of snow accumulated across Cass County on December 20th. Winds gusting over 50 mph at times created blizzard conditions, causing numerous traffic accidents across the county.
Two to three inches of snow accumulated across Fulton County on December 20th. Winds gusting over 50 mph at times created blizzard conditions, causing numerous traffic accidents across the county. Several tree branches were snapped off around the county due to the snow and wind.
Four to five inches of snow accumulated across Knox County on December 20th. Winds gusting over 50 mph at times created blizzard conditions, causing numerous traffic accidents across the county. One of the most serious accidents occurred when a semi jack-knifed across the westbound lanes of I-74 about 8 miles north of Galesburg, creating an 8-mile traffic back-up.
One to two inches of snow accumulated across Morgan County on December 20th. Winds gusting over 50 mph at times created blizzard conditions, causing numerous traffic accidents across the county.
One to two inches of snow accumulated across Scott County on December 20th. Winds gusting over 50 mph at times created blizzard conditions, causing numerous traffic accidents across the county.
One to two inches of snow accumulated across Mason County on December 20th. Winds gusting over 50 mph at times created blizzard conditions, causing numerous traffic accidents across the county.
One to two inches of snow accumulated across Menard County on December 20th. Winds gusting over 50 mph at times created blizzard conditions, causing numerous traffic accidents across the county. An observer 3 miles southeast of Greenview measured a peak wind gust of 62 mph, which caused a dead tree to be snapped off in his yard.
Two to three inches of snow accumulated across Peoria County on December 20th. Winds gusting over 50 mph at times created blizzard conditions, causing numerous traffic accidents across the county. Several large mainly-dead trees were blown down around Peoria.
Four to five inches of snow accumulated across Stark County on December 20th. Winds gusting over 50 mph at times created blizzard conditions, causing numerous traffic accidents across the county.
Around one inch of snow accumulated across Logan County on December 20th. Winds gusting over 50 mph at times created blizzard conditions, causing numerous traffic accidents across the county. Numerous vehicles were stalled on I-55 south of Lincoln. In addition, a multiple vehicle accident occurred at mile marker 6 on I-155 north of Lincoln. Power outages were reported in Latham and Chestnut.
Around one inch of snow accumulated across Sangamon County on December 20th. Winds gusting over 50 mph at times created blizzard conditions, causing numerous traffic accidents across the county. A mesonet station 1 mile northeast of Divernon measured a peak wind gust of 61 mph. A 3-foot diameter tree was blown down onto Route 54 just east of Riverton.
One to two inches of snow accumulated across Tazewell County on December 20th. Winds gusting over 50 mph at times created blizzard conditions, causing numerous traffic accidents across the county. Several accidents were reported on I-155 southeast of Delavan. An IDOT RWIS station on Highway 9 just northwest of Pekin measured a peak wind gust of 58 mph.
Around 1 inch of snow accumulated across Christian County on December 20th. Winds gusting over 50 mph at times created blizzard conditions, causing numerous traffic accidents across the county. A weather observer in Pana measured a peak wind gust of 62 mph and reported widespread power outages in town.
Around 1 inch of snow accumulated across DeWitt County on December 20th. Winds gusting over 50 mph at times created blizzard conditions, causing numerous traffic accidents across the county.
Two to three inches of snow accumulated across Marshall County on December 20th. Winds gusting over 50 mph at times created blizzard conditions, causing numerous traffic accidents across the county.
Around one inch of snow accumulated across Macon County on December 20th. Winds gusting over 50 mph at times created blizzard conditions, causing numerous traffic accidents across the county. The Decatur Airport measured a peak wind gust of 58 mph.
Around one inch of snow accumulated across McLean County on December 20th. Winds gusting over 50 mph at times created blizzard conditions, causing numerous traffic accidents across the county.
Two to three inches of snow accumulated across Woodford County on December 20th. Winds gusting over 50 mph at times created blizzard conditions, causing numerous traffic accidents across the county.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, December 2012
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: 424760, 424743, 424747, 424748, 424757, 424761, 424754, 424756, 424758, 424762, 424750, 424759, 424764, 424744, 424745, 424751, 424752, 424755, 424765.