A powerful storm system tracked from the Oklahoma panhandle on the morning of December 13th into Kentucky by the morning of December 14th, spreading wintery precipitation across central and southeast Illinois. While a mixture of freezing rain, sleet, and snow occurred along and south of I-70, mostly snow fell further north across much of central Illinois.
Every event with a place to put it; 21 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 powerful storm system tracked from the Oklahoma panhandle on the morning of December 13th into Kentucky by the morning of December 14th, spreading wintery precipitation across central and southeast Illinois. While a mixture of freezing rain, sleet, and snow occurred along and south of I-70, mostly snow fell further north across much of central Illinois. By the time the snow ended, widespread amounts of 4 to 6 inches had accumulated, with higher totals between 8 and 10 inches being reported across parts of Fulton, Schuyler, Douglas, Champaign, and Vermilion counties.
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 13, 2:16 PM CST, 1 hour 44 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 216 PM CST Fri Dec 13 2013 .DISCUSSION... ISSUED 205 PM CST Fri Dec 13 2013 Clouds continue to lower and thicken this afternoon ahead of the winter storm system expected to affect our area tonight into Saturday. Already seeing some light rain and sleet pushing into extreme southwest IL early this afternoon as the upper level wave tracks across the southern Plains. SHORT TERM...Tonight through Monday Significant snowfall expected over parts of central through east central Illinois tonight thru Saturday morning...but not much in the way of strong winds with this particular storm system. The main forecast challenge this period will be with snowfall totals starting tonight thru early Saturday afternoon. Will continue to hold on to the winter weather advisory with a few locations across central thru east central Illinois edging close to 6 inches by the time the snow tapers off to flurries Saturday afternoon. Forecast soundings, at least for a few hours late this afternoon into early this evening, continues to suggest a brief period of rain, sleet and possibly some freezing rain over parts of west central Illinois before we see the lower layers saturate and cool sufficiently enough to support mostly snow thru the overnight hours. NAM-WRF time height cross sections indicate the best forcing coupled with the deeper moisture/and dendritic growth zone will be mainly tonight thru about 14z Saturday. Using a 13:1 SLR indicates 4 to 6 inches will be common across the area by the time the snow diminishes on Saturday. Still a bit concerned about the potential for banding, especially along the inverted trof, which is expected to push across our area early Saturday morning. Several of the hi-res models suggest the threat is there but unfortunately, are not very consistent in depicting the location. Past few runs of the HRRR have indicated one band to move north across the area this evening, with a break over parts of central thru east central IL around midnight, before another band pushes acrs the area towards morning with the inverted trof. Wouldn't at all be surprised to see a few areas with 6 to 8 inches accumulation by late Saturday morning, but at this time, the threat appears too isolated. Models are a bit more consistent in showing an increase in snow totals just to our east as the weak surface low and inverted trof shift off to our east and we see a better coupled 250mb jet structure and associated upper level divergence. The upper level wave and surface reflection should push well off to our east by late tomorrow afternoon with all of the precip shifting out of the forecast area. The weather should be on the quiet side for the rest of the short term period with a brief cool down in the wake of the winter system Saturday night through Sunday night before we see milder temperatures move into our area early next week. LONG TERM...Tuesday through Friday Medium range models indicate some fast moving waves approaching our area from the northwest at the start of this forecast period with little in the way of moisture available to produce much in the way of precip in our area. The first such wave will move across the lower Great Lakes on Monday with a hint for some very light precip during the day, mainly to our north. The next wave moves quickly southeast along the tight 850 mb baroclinic zone on Tue, at least according to the latest ECMWF, with again little in the way of moisture to work with. Will continue to keep the first part of the week dry but could see some low chance pops added in later forecasts. Warmer temperatures expected in the Wed-Fri time frame as a deep upper level trof drops southeast into the southern Rockies and brings about a strong southwest flow aloft over our area. This should result in mild temps, at least compared to what we have been experiencing, through the end of the week. However, as the deep upper level trof edges east into the central Plains, a strong Arctic cold front will approach our area on Friday increasing the precip chances Thursday night into Friday, followed by much colder weather for next weekend. Smith/07 && .AVIATION... ISSUED 1159 AM CST Fri Dec 13 2013 Shield of mixed precipitation moving ne across MO nearing the MS river at noon and will spread ne to SPI around 20Z/2 pm, DEC by 21Z/3 pm and I-74 TAF sites of PIA, BMI & CMI between 22Z-23Z/4-5 pm. Precipitation should mainly fall as snow, but will begin as a period of mixed precipitation with sleet, rain and freezing rain especially sw TAF sites this afternoon. Moderate to even bands of heavy snow to set up this evening and continue overnight. VFR conditions early this afternoon to deteoriate during 2nd half of afternoon into this evening with LIFR/IFr conditions setting in with the widespread snow. Snow will diminish from west to east during 15Z-18Z Sat with MVFR vsbys and IFR-low end MVFR ceilings. SSE winds 7-10 kts to turn ENE this evening and north Sat morning. Deepening 1005 mb low pressure along the NM/OK border to weaken to 1010 mb over south central KY by 18Z/noon Sat with an inverted trof extending into IL/IN. 07 && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY until Noon CST Saturday FOR ILZ038- 042>046-051>057-061>063-066>068-071>073. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY until 6 AM CST Saturday FOR ILZ027>031- 036-037-040-041-047>050. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL 259 PM CST FRI DEC 13 2013 ILZ027>031-036-037-040-041-047>050-141200- CASS-FULTON-KNOX-MARSHALL-MASON-MENARD-MORGAN-PEORIA-SCHUYLER- SCOTT-STARK-TAZEWELL-WOODFORD- 259 PM CST FRI DEC 13 2013 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST SATURDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT SNOW WILL SPREAD NORTHEAST ACROSS CENTRAL ILLINOIS DURING THE MID AND LATE AFTERNOON...CONTINUING THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY MORNING. CURRENT INDICATIONS SUGGEST 4 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW ARE LIKELY WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS ALONG I-72. A BRIEF PERIOD OF MIXED PRECIPITATION IS POSSIBLE DURING MID AFTERNOON SOUTH OF I-72. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED THROUGH TONIGHT. ILZ062-063-066>068-071>073-141200- CLARK-CLAY-CRAWFORD-CUMBERLAND-EFFINGHAM-JASPER-LAWRENCE-RICHLAND- 259 PM CST FRI DEC 13 2013 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST SATURDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS AND SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT MIXED PRECIPITATION WILL SPREAD NORTHEAST ACROSS SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS LATE THIS AFTERNOON...CONTINUING THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING. CURRENT INDICATIONS SUGGEST 3 TO 5 INCHES OF SNOW ARE LIKELY BY NOON SATURDAY. THE MIXED PRECIPITATION OF RAIN... FREEZING RAIN...SLEET AND SNOW WILL TURN TO ALL SNOW BY LATE EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED THROUGH TONIGHT. ILZ045-046-055>057-141200- CHAMPAIGN-COLES-DOUGLAS-EDGAR-VERMILION- 259 PM CST FRI DEC 13 2013 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST SATURDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT SNOW WILL SPREAD NORTHEAST ACROSS EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS LATE THIS AFTERNOON...CONTINUING THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING. CURRENT INDICATIONS SUGGEST 4 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW ARE LIKELY WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS ALONG I-72 AND I-74. A BRIEF MIXTURE OF PRECIPITATION WITH SLEET AND RAIN IS POSSIBLE LATE THIS AFTERNOON FROM I-72 SOUTH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED THROUGH TONIGHT. ILZ038-042>044-051>054-061-141200- CHRISTIAN-DE WITT-LOGAN-MACON-MCLEAN-MOULTRIE-PIATT-SANGAMON- SHELBY- 259 PM CST FRI DEC 13 2013 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST SATURDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT SNOW WILL SPREAD NORTHEAST ACROSS CENTRAL ILLINOIS DURING MID AND LATE AFTERNOON...AND CONTINUE THROUGH MID MORNING SATURDAY. CURRENT INDICATIONS SUGGEST 4 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW ARE LIKELY WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS ALONG I-72. A BRIEF PERIOD OF MIXED PRECIPITATION WITH SLEET AND RAIN IS POSSIBLE DURING THIS AFTERNOON FROM I-72 SOUTH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED THROUGH TONIGHT. 07
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
16 winter weather, 5 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Weather observers measured between 8 and 10 inches of snow across Fulton County, including 8.2 inches in both St. David and Avon and 10.0 inches in Astoria. Numerous traffic accidents were reported as a result of the heavy snowfall.
Weather observers measured between 8 and 9 inches of snow across Schuyler County, including 8.5 inches in Rushville. Numerous traffic accidents were reported as a result of the heavy snowfall.
Weather observers measured between 8 and 9 inches of snow across Champaign County, including 8.5 inches near Urbana and 9.2 inches in Ogden. Numerous traffic accidents were reported as a result of the heavy snowfall.
Weather observers measured between 7 and 8 inches of snow across Douglas County, including 7.2 inches in Tuscola. Numerous traffic accidents were reported as a result of the heavy snowfall.
Weather observers measured between 6 and 8 inches of snow across Knox County, including 6.0 inches in Galesburg and 6.6 inches in Gilson. Numerous traffic accidents were reported as a result of the snowfall.
Weather observers measured between 6 and 9 inches of snow across Moultrie County, including 6.0 inches near Sullivan and 9.0 inches in Arthur. Numerous traffic accidents were reported as a result of the snowfall.
Weather observers measured between 6 and 9 inches of snow across Macon County, including 6.0 inches in Decatur and 8.5 inches in Mt. Zion. Numerous traffic accidents were reported as a result of the snowfall.
Weather observers measured between 6 and 9 inches of snow across Christian County, including 7.0 inches in Morrisonville and 8.5 inches in Pana. Numerous traffic accidents were reported as a result of the snowfall.
Weather observers measured between 6 and 8 inches of snow across Tazewell County, including 6.8 inches in Morton and 7.5 inches in Pekin. Numerous traffic accidents were reported as a result of the snowfall.
Weather observers measured between 6 and 8 inches of snow across McLean County, including 6.7 inches in Normal and 7.5 inches in Bloomington. Numerous traffic accidents were reported as a result of the snowfall.
Weather observers measured between 5 and 7 inches of snow across Marshall County, including 5.8 inches in Hopewell and 7.0 inches in Henry. Numerous traffic accidents were reported as a result of the snowfall.
Weather observers measured between 5 and 7 inches of snow across Peoria County, including 6.2 inches near Mossville and 6.7 inches in Peoria. Numerous traffic accidents were reported as a result of the snowfall.
Weather observers measured between 5 and 7 inches of snow across Sangamon County, including 5.5 inches in Chatham and 6.7 inches in Springfield. Numerous traffic accidents were reported as a result of the snowfall.
Weather observers measured between 5 and 7 inches of snow across Piatt County, including 6.5 inches in Atwood. Numerous traffic accidents were reported as a result of the snowfall.
Weather observers measured between 5 and 6 inches of snow across Shelby County, including 5.5 inches near Windsor and 6.0 inches in Findlay. Numerous traffic accidents were reported as a result of the snowfall.
Weather observers measured between 5 and 6 inches of snow across Logan County, including 5.1 inches in Lincoln and 6.0 inches in Mt. Pulaski. Numerous traffic accidents were reported as a result of the snowfall.
Weather observers measured between 5 and 6 inches of snow across Woodford County, including 5.9 inches in Eureka. Numerous traffic accidents were reported as a result of the snowfall.
Weather observers measured between 5 and 6 inches of snow across Stark County, including 5.7 inches in Toulon. Numerous traffic accidents were reported as a result of the snowfall.
Weather observers measured between 5 and 6 inches of snow across Mason County, including 5.5 inches near Manito. Numerous traffic accidents were reported as a result of the snowfall.
Weather observers measured between 5 and 6 inches of snow across DeWitt County, including 5.5 inches in Clinton. Numerous traffic accidents were reported as a result of the snowfall.
Weather observers measured between 8 and 9 inches of snow across Vermilion County, including 8.0 inches 3 miles west of Bismarck and 8.3 inches in Danville. Numerous traffic accidents were reported as a result of the heavy snowfall.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, December 2013
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: 490086, 490087, 490084, 490085, 490089, 490091, 490092, 490094, 490095, 490096, 490097, 490099, 490100, 490101, 490102, 490105, 490106, 490107, 490109, 490110, 490088.