An area of low pressure tracked from the central Plains northeastward through Illinois into the eastern Great Lakes on February 17th, spreading a wide variety of wintry precipitation across the region. Mainly snow and sleet were noted along and north of a Canton to Bloomington-Normal line.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 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 tracked from the central Plains northeastward through Illinois into the eastern Great Lakes on February 17th, spreading a wide variety of wintry precipitation across the region. Mainly snow and sleet were noted along and north of a Canton to Bloomington-Normal line. 4 to 6 inches of snow fell across this area, with portions of Peoria and McLean counties measuring as much as half an inch of sleet. Further south, a mixture of freezing rain and sleet was observed southward to the I-70 corridor. Between one tenth and one quarter of an inch of ice was measured, with the greatest accumulation of around one quarter of an inch reported in Logan County.
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 Feb 17, 5:03 AM CST, 2 hours 27 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 503 AM CST Mon Feb 17 2014 .DISCUSSION... ISSUED 252 AM CST Mon Feb 17 2014 High pressure sliding off to the east and southerly return flow starting over the CWA, but little in the way of WAA as of yet. Forecast for this mornings system is a complicated one resulting in a messy forecast of mixed winter precip. In addition to the potential for mixed precip, the general lift across the area due to several mechanisms will result in sporadic intense precip rates. As a result, the event may be relatively short lived, but the impact under the more intense precip rates will be higher. Models are rather inconsistent with some of the details, with varying impacts in the short term. Beyond this system, the extended is somewhat quiet, but too highly influenced by climatology in the temperatures particularly if the snowpack is slow to melt. That being said, the next system later in the week in fairly good agreement in the stronger amplification of the pattern over the CONUS, looking more like a rain event. SHORT TERM...Today and tonight... Precip this morning starting to develop and spread in coverage across the region. Much more intensification expected as the upper wave leaves the plains and moves through the Midwest. Temperatures a bit cooler than prev advertised, resulting in an increased area of fzra potential. Models still bringing in the influence of a narrow warm wedge in the mid levels resulting in a precip mix including fzra and sleet potential. Evaporative cooling expected to change over much of the precip to snow in the afternoon. However, most of Central Illinois in a transition zone as the developing low center tracks overhead. Either way, very intense dynamics aloft and multiple mechanisms of lift aloft will result in enhanced convective potential and a threat for thunder. Both broad scale lift with approaching wave and lift on multiple theta surfaces. Mixed messages of both upright and vertical convection in multiple models...with close to moist adiabatic lapse rates from 600 mb up. Some discrepancies as to location of highest thunder threat and for now, will leave it out of the grids. However, with threat for convective enhancement and banding... there is a high possibility of getting a lot of snow quickly, particularly roughly north of the Interstate 74 from Galesburg to Bloomington/Normal. Upgrading the winter weather advisory to a Winter Storm Warning as a result. Though snowfall totals may fall short of traditional criteria, the impact of the rapid accumulations and convective potential will high. In addition, areas not included in the warning will need to be cautious of convective potential as well as the enhancement will result in highly varied accumulations of fzra/sleet. Rapidly changing conditions possible through today. Traveling should be discouraged. Precipitation expected to end by this evening and the overnight is dry. LONG TERM...Tomorrow through Saturday... Rather quiet forecast through the extended with the exception of Wed night and into Thursday night as a broad trof digs into the Rockies and develops a low over the Southern Plains and moves through the Midwest. Current runs of GFS and ECMWF both very similar with the track of the sfc low, if a little bit of an issue with the strength as the GFS is slightly weaker and less of a neg tilt trend as the sfc system moves through the Midwest. Also, extended will be a potential concern for a problematic sfc temperature forecast as the snow has a lot of melting to do before temperatures will start to warm as much as MOS is being pulled by climatology. HJS && .AVIATION... ISSUED 503 AM CST Mon Feb 17 2014 A rapidly moving storm system will impact the central Illinois terminals during the first half of the 12Z TAF valid time. This system is expected to produce mixed precipitation across the area. While KPIA and KBMI will see predominantly snow, with some sleet mixed in, KSPI, KDEC, and KCMI should see freezing rain and sleet at the onset that will gradually change to snow before ending. The snow, especially across KPIA and KBMI, has the potential to be quite heavy for a few hours around midday. VFR conditions will rapidly decrease to IFR or lower as the system pushes in this morning, before improving to VFR again behind the system this evening. Gusty southerly winds ahead of the system will shift westerly in its wake. Bak && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY until Noon CST today FOR ILZ066>068- 071>073. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY until 6 PM CST this evening FOR ILZ036- 040>057-061>063. WINTER STORM WARNING until 6 PM CST this evening FOR ILZ027>031- 037-038. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL 513 AM CST MON FEB 17 2014 ILZ027>031-037-038-181200- KNOX-MARSHALL-MCLEAN-PEORIA-STARK-TAZEWELL-WOODFORD- 513 AM CST MON FEB 17 2014 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SNOW...MIXED WITH SLEET AT TIMES...WILL BEGIN MOVING INTO AREAS WEST OF PEORIA EARLY THIS MORNING...SPREADING ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF THE BY MID MORNING. THE PRECIPITATION WILL CONTINUE INTO THE AFTERNOON HOURS...GRADUALLY ENDING FROM WEST TO EAST BEFORE SUNSET. THE HEAVIEST PRECIPITATION IS LIKELY TO OCCUR BETWEEN 10 AM AND 1 PM WHERE SNOWFALL RATES MAY EXCEED 1 INCH PER HOUR. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 7 INCHES ARE LIKELY...ALONG WITH MINOR SLEET ACCUMULATION. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY A STORM SYSTEM WILL IMPACT THE AREA WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY. TEMPERATURES WITH THIS SYSTEM SHOULD BE WARM ENOUGH FOR RAIN. HOWEVER...THIS SYSTEM MAY ALSO BE ACCOMPANIED BY HEAVY RAINFALL AND THUNDERSTORMS. THE RAINFALL AND WATER FROM RAPID SNOW MELT MAY BE SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE SOME FLOODING PROBLEMS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED THROUGH TONIGHT. ILZ036-040>048-181200- CASS-CHAMPAIGN-DE WITT-FULTON-LOGAN-MASON-MENARD-PIATT-SCHUYLER- VERMILION- 513 AM CST MON FEB 17 2014 ...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 SLEET WILL BEGIN MOVING INTO AREAS WEST OF I-55 EARLY THIS MORNING...AND SPREAD EASTWARD TO THE INDIANA BORDER THROUGH LATE MORNING. THE PRECIPITATION WILL TAPER OFF FROM WEST TO EAST THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. THE SNOW AND SLEET COULD MIX WITH FREEZING RAIN AT TIMES ALONG AND SOUTH OF A QUINCY TO DANVILLE LINE. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES ARE LIKELY...ALONG WITH LIGHT SLEET AND ICE ACCUMULATION. LOCALLY HIGHER SNOW ACCUMULATION IS POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY A STORM SYSTEM WILL IMPACT THE AREA WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY. TEMPERATURES WITH THIS SYSTEM SHOULD BE WARM ENOUGH FOR RAIN. HOWEVER...THIS SYSTEM MAY ALSO BE ACCOMPANIED BY HEAVY RAINFALL AND THUNDERSTORMS. THE RAINFALL AND WATER FROM RAPID SNOW MELT MAY BE SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE SOME FLOODING PROBLEMS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED THROUGH TONIGHT. ILZ049>057-061>063-181200- CHRISTIAN-CLARK-COLES-CUMBERLAND-DOUGLAS-EDGAR-MACON-MORGAN- MOULTRIE-SANGAMON-SCOTT-SHELBY- 513 AM CST MON FEB 17 2014 ...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 FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO AREAS WEST OF SPRINGFIELD EARLY THIS MORNING...AND SPREAD EASTWARD TOWARD THE INDIANA BORDER THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS. BY AFTERNOON... TEMPERATURES WILL WARM...CHANGING SOME OF THE FREEZING RAIN TO RAIN. HOWEVER...SLEET OR SNOW WILL MIX WITH THE PRECIPITATION AT TIMES DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS. ICE ACCUMULATIONS FROM 0.10 TO 0.15 INCHES ARE LIKELY FROM RUSHVILLE TO SPRINGFIELD TO MATTOON...SOUTHWARD... TOWARD I-70. SNOW ACCUMULATION OF AN INCH OR TWO IS POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY A STORM SYSTEM WILL IMPACT THE AREA WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY. TEMPERATURES WITH THIS SYSTEM SHOULD BE WARM ENOUGH FOR RAIN. HOWEVER...THIS SYSTEM MAY ALSO BE ACCOMPANIED BY HEAVY RAINFALL AND THUNDERSTORMS. THE RAINFALL AND WATER FROM RAPID SNOW MELT MAY BE SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE SOME FLOODING PROBLEMS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED THROUGH TONIGHT. ILZ066>068-071>073-181200- CLAY-CRAWFORD-EFFINGHAM-JASPER-LAWRENCE-RICHLAND- 513 AM CST MON FEB 17 2014 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT LIGHT FREEZING RAIN IS EXPECTED TO SPREAD INTO SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS THIS MORNING. BY MIDDAY...TEMPERATURES SHOULD BE WARM ENOUGH FOR RAIN. ICE ACCUMULATIONS SHOULD BE A TENTH OF AN INCH OR LESS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY A STORM SYSTEM WILL IMPACT THE AREA WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY. TEMPERATURES WITH THIS SYSTEM SHOULD BE WARM ENOUGH FOR RAIN. HOWEVER...THIS SYSTEM MAY ALSO BE ACCOMPANIED BY HEAVY RAINFALL AND THUNDERSTORMS. THE RAINFALL AND WATER FROM RAPID SNOW MELT MAY BE SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE SOME FLOODING PROBLEMS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED THROUGH TONIGHT. BAK
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Weather observers across Peoria County observed a mixture of sleet and snow. Total sleet accumulations were around one half inch, while snowfall averaged about 5 inches. Numerous traffic accidents were reported due to icy road conditions.
Weather observers across Logan County observed a mixture of freezing rain, sleet, and snow. Total ice accumulations were around one quarter of an inch. Numerous traffic accidents were reported due to icy road conditions.
Weather observers across McLean County observed a mixture of sleet and snow. Total sleet accumulations were around one half inch, while snowfall ranged from 2 to 4 inches. Numerous traffic accidents were reported due to icy road conditions.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, February 2014
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: 500712, 500710, 500711.