An area of low pressure tracking from Arkansas to West Virginia brought heavy snow to southeast Illinois during the morning of December 26th. The heaviest snow and blizzard conditions occurred from Lawrence County southeastward into the Ohio River Valley.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 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.
An area of low pressure tracking from Arkansas to West Virginia brought heavy snow to southeast Illinois during the morning of December 26th. The heaviest snow and blizzard conditions occurred from Lawrence County southeastward into the Ohio River Valley. Further north across Jasper County, the snow was a bit lighter and the winds were not quite as strong. Three to six inches of snow fell across the county, including 4.1 inches 3 miles southwest of Hidalgo. Strong winds of 25 to 30 mph created extensive drifting.
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 26, 6:00 AM CST, 2 hours earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL 600 AM CST WED DEC 26 2012 .DISCUSSION... ISSUED 330 AM CST WED DEC 26 2012 SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY 00Z MODELS IN FAIR AGREEMENT NEXT FEW DAYS AND WILL USE A BLEND. WILL CONTINUE BLIZZARD WARNING FOR SOUTHEAST 10 COUNTIES TODAY UNTIL 6 PM FROM EFFINGHAM...CUMBERLAND...COLES AND EDGAR COUNTIES SE FOR 4-9 INCHES OF SNOW. WILL ALSO CONTINUE THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY TODAY FOR SHELBY...MOULTRIE...DOUGLAS...CHAMPAIGN AND VERMILION COUNTIES FOR 1-4 INCHES OF SNOW. BLOW AND DRIFTING SNOW LIKELY TODAY ACROSS EASTERN IL WITH NORTHERLY WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH WITH BLIZZARD CONDITIONS AT TIMES IN SOUTHEAST IL WITH WORST CONDITIONS IN FAR SE 3 COUNTIES OF RICHLAND...LAWRENCE AND CRAWFORD WITH 8-10 INCHES OF SNOW LIKELY. BETWEEN 4-6 INCHES OF SNOW ALONG I-70 AND DOWN TO 1-2 INCHES ALONG A CHAMPAIGN/URBANA TO SHELBYVILLE LINE. CARBONDALE REPORTED 7 INCHES OF SNOW AND CARTERVILLE IN SOUTHERN IL EAST OF CARBONDALE HAS REPORTED 5 INCHES OF SNOW SO FAR TONIGHT. FAIRFIELD IN CENTRAL WAYNE COUNTY SOUTH OF CLAY COUNTY IS UP TO 1 INCH OF SNOW IN PAST 1-2 HOURS. SNOWFALL RATES IN SOUTHERN IL SOUTH OF I-70 ARE CURRENTLY AS HIGH AS 1-1.5 INCHES PER HOUR ESPECIALLY SOUTH OF I-64. STRONG 996 MB LOW PRESSURE JUST SOUTH OF NASHVILLE IN MID TN HAS BEEN DEEPENING A BIT MORE ON ITS NE JOURNEY. LOW PRESSURE MOVING ABOUT 3 HOURS QUICKER THAN EARLIER FORECAST AND ON THE SAME TRACK INTO MID TN. SNOW WAS SLOWER TO SPREAD NORTHWARD INTO SE IL SOUTH OF I-70...MAINLY AFTER 2 AM. SO SNOWFALL AMOUNTS MAY BE A BIT LESS THAN EARLIER EXPECTED SINCE WE HAD 1 TO 2 INCHES AT LAWRENCEVLLE THROUGH 2 AM WHICH DID NOT OCCUR. NONETHELESS RADAR MOSAIC SHOWS HEAVY SNOW JUST SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 50 AND HAD A FEW THUNDERSTORMS TOO IN WESTERN KY. SO SNOWFALL RATES OF 1-1.5 INCHES PER HOUR DURING THE MORNING WOULD BRING SNOWFALL AMOUNT TO THE 8-10 INCH RANGE AT LAWRENCEVILLE AND SE. LOW PRESSURE TO LIFT NE INTO CENTRAL WV BY SUNSET WITH SNOW DIMINISHING OVER EASTERN IL FROM WEST TO EAST DURING THE AFTERNOON WHILE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW LIKELY CONTINUES. LITTLE OR NO SNOW EXPECTED ALONG I-55 TODAY WHILE DRY OVER THE IL RIVER VALLEY BUT BLUSTERY NORTH WINDS ACROSS AREA ALONG WITH CLOUDS TO ALLOW LITTLE TEMPERATURE RISE WITH HIGHS MOSTLY IN THE LOWER 30S. STILL BREEZY DURING THE EVENING WITH SNOW PUSHING EAST OF IL BY EARLY EVENING WITH DIMINISHING WINDS OVERNIGHT AS LOW PRESSURE PULLS AWAY AND REFORMS NEAR THE MID ATLANTIC COAST. UPPER LEVEL RIDGING INTO IL THU WITH SURFACE RIDGE MOVING INTO THE MS VALLEY TO BRING DRY WX TO CENTRAL/SE IL WITH PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES WITH MORE CLOUDS OVER NORTHERN AND EASTERN AREAS. HIGHS AGAIN IN THE LOWER 30S THU AFTER LOWS TONIGHT IN THE UPPER TEENS AND LOWER 20S...WITH GALESBURG AROUND 15F. MODELS CONTINUE TO SHOW LESS QPF/LIGHT SNOW OVER IL FRI/SAT AS UPPER LEVEL TROF MOVES INTO THE MIDWEST AND SYSTEM APPEARS TO BE SPLIT WITH BETTER CHANCES OF LIGHT SNOW NORTHERN IL INTO WI WITH WEAK SURFACE LOW PRESSURE AND SE OF CENTRAL IL WITH STRONGER LOW PRESSURE OVER GULF COAST STATES AND MORE MOISTURE TO WORK WITH. LOWERED POPS ACCORDINGLY TO 20-40% WITH HIGHEST POPS IN SE IL FRI NIGHT AND LOWEST IN THE NORTH. JUST SLIGHT CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW OVER EASTERN IL SAT. LONG TERM...SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT NOT TOO MANY CHANGES MADE TO EXTENDED FORECAST WITH SEASONABLY COLD CONDITIONS EXPECTED AND PERIODIC LIGHT SNOW CHANCES ESPECIALLY OVER SOUTHERN AREAS MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUE NIGHT. 07 && .AVIATION... ISSUED 600 AM CST WED DEC 26 2012 GUSTY NORTHERLY WINDS ARE EXPECTED FOR MUCH OF TODAY TO THE WEST OF A STRONG STORM SYSTEM. THE GUSTS WILL EXCEED 30 KTS AT TIMES...ESPECIALLY AT KCMI AND KDEC. THE SNOW ASSOCIATED WITH THE STORM SYSTEM WILL ALSO BRUSH THE AREA...AGAIN ESPECIALLY AT KCMI AND KDEC. MVFR CONDITIONS SHOULD PREVAIL AT MOST TERMINALS THROUGH THE DAY WITH THE STORM SYSTEM IN THE VICINITY...BUT VFR CONDITIONS WILL DEVELOP FOR A TIME TONIGHT AS THE SYSTEM PULLS AWAY. HOWEVER...MVFR FOG IS APT TO DEVELOP AT MOST OF THE TERMINAL OVERNIGHT. BAK && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... BLIZZARD WARNING UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR ILZ056-057-062- 063-066>068-071>073. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR ILZ045- 046-054-055-061. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL 553 AM CST WED DEC 26 2012 ILZ027>031-036>038-040>044-047>053-271200- CASS-CHRISTIAN-DE WITT-FULTON-KNOX-LOGAN-MACON-MARSHALL-MASON- MCLEAN-MENARD-MORGAN-PEORIA-PIATT-SANGAMON-SCHUYLER-SCOTT-STARK- TAZEWELL-WOODFORD- 553 AM CST WED DEC 26 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT WINDY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TODAY...WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH...AS A WINTER STORM TRACKS EAST OF THE AREA. MINOR SNOW ACCUMULATION IS POSSIBLE EAST OF I-55 AS THE STORM MOVES BY...ESPECIALLY IN AREAS EAST OF DECATUR. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM MAY BRING LIGHT ACCUMULATING SNOW FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED THROUGH TONIGHT. ILZ045-046-054-055-061-271200- CHAMPAIGN-DOUGLAS-MOULTRIE-SHELBY-VERMILION- 553 AM CST WED DEC 26 2012 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS AND EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL DEVELOP TODAY...WITH 1 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATION LIKELY BY THE TIME THE SNOW TAPERS OFF LATER TODAY. THE HIGHEST TOTALS WILL FALL CLOSE TO THE I-70 CORRIDOR. WIND GUSTS OF 35 TO 40 MPH WILL RESULT IN AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM MAY BRING LIGHT ACCUMULATING SNOW FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED. HOWEVER...REPORTS OF SNOW AMOUNTS WOULD BE APPRECIATED. ILZ056-057-062-063-066>068-071>073-271200- CLARK-CLAY-COLES-CRAWFORD-CUMBERLAND-EDGAR-EFFINGHAM-JASPER- LAWRENCE-RICHLAND- 553 AM CST WED DEC 26 2012 ...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS AND SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT ACCUMULATING SNOW WILL CONTINUE TODAY...TAPERING OFF BY THIS EVENING. STORM TOTAL AMOUNTS OF 5 TO 9 INCHES ARE LIKELY SOUTH OF I-70...WITH 3 TO 5 INCHES NORTH OF I-70. BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED AT TIMES... ESPECIALLY DURING THE MORNING...AS WINDS GUST TO 35 TO 40 MPH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM MAY BRING LIGHT ACCUMULATING SNOW FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED. HOWEVER...REPORTS OF SNOW AMOUNTS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. BAK
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
639 AM CST WED DEC 26 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0620 AM SNOW SUMNER 38.72N 87.86W
12/26/2012 M3.5 INCH LAWRENCE IL MESONET
FOUR HOUR TOTAL. HEAVY SNOW STILL FALLING. SWOP REPORT.
&&
BAKPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
640 AM CST WED DEC 26 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0600 AM SNOW 6 SSE CLAY CITY 38.61N 88.31W
12/26/2012 M2.5 INCH CLAY IL CO-OP OBSERVER
&&
JRPPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
644 AM CST WED DEC 26 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0644 AM SNOW SUMNER 38.72N 87.86W
12/26/2012 M5.5 INCH LAWRENCE IL EMERGENCY MNGR
&&
BAKPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
739 AM CST WED DEC 26 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0720 AM SNOW NEWTON 38.99N 88.16W
12/26/2012 M2.2 INCH JASPER IL MESONET
SWOP REPORT
&&
BAKPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
743 AM CST WED DEC 26 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0730 AM SNOW CASEY 39.30N 87.99W
12/26/2012 M2.0 INCH CLARK IL CO-OP OBSERVER
&&
JRPPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
756 AM CST WED DEC 26 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 AM SNOW ROBINSON 39.01N 87.74W
12/26/2012 M3.8 INCH CRAWFORD IL CO-OP OBSERVER
&&
JRPThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Three to six inches of snow accumulated across Jasper County during the morning of December 26th. Strong winds of 25 to 30 mph created considerable blowing and drifting of the snow.
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: 424802.