A series of upper-level disturbances brought a prolonged period of accumulating snow to much of central Illinois from the late afternoon of February 28th through the early afternoon of March 1st. Snowfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches were common along and south of a Rushville to Bloomington line, with as much as 8 to 10 inches being reported across portions of Macon, Piatt, and Champaign counties.
Every event with a place to put it; 18 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 series of upper-level disturbances brought a prolonged period of accumulating snow to much of central Illinois from the late afternoon of February 28th through the early afternoon of March 1st. Snowfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches were common along and south of a Rushville to Bloomington line, with as much as 8 to 10 inches being reported across portions of Macon, Piatt, and Champaign 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 Feb 28, 12:04 PM CST, 2 hours 36 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL 1204 PM CST Sat Feb 28 2015 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 1056 AM CST SAT FEB 28 2015 Made minor adjustments to the forecast for this afternoon and this evening for the timing of the advancing snow. The latest radar mosaic and infrared satellite loops show the snow slowly advancing into central and southeast Missouri. The 12z Lincoln upper air sounding indicated a lot of dry air that will need to be overcome below 5,000 feet. NAM forecast soundings indicate that this dry air will moisten quickly in central IL by late this afternoon. However, this may be a bit too quick, so pushed back the beginning of the snow until early evening in most of the forecast. The exception will be in west central IL where late afternoon should see the beginning of the snow. A quick look at the latest 12z forecast runs of the NAM and GFS indicate that the strongest isentropic lift should tap increasing low level moisture to result in the higher snow amounts south of a Springfield to Danville line - and along/north of I-70 - where 5-6 inches of snow looks likely. Should be a sharp cutoff in southeast Illinois, especially from Flora to Lawrenceville where a mix with freezing rain is expected toward daybreak. This will temper snow accumulations there to 2-3 inches. The same amounts are expected north of a Canton/Peoria-El Paso line where the weaker upper level support is anticipated. && .SHORT TERM...(Today through Monday) ISSUED AT 254 AM CST SAT FEB 28 2015 First of two significant winter weather systems poised to begin spreading across the area later today. Latest water vapor imagery showing an upper trough along the Montana/North Dakota border, with a strong southern stream jet across the southern tier of states. Upper low over Oregon will be sinking southward into California, which will help orient the southern stream into a southwest- northeast configuration in time, with various disturbances riding along it toward our area. Latest guidance indicates the morning hours will remain dry, but rapid development of light snow is expected to our southwest toward midday as isentropic lift strengthens into the afternoon. The forecast was updated during the evening to hit the PoP's harder during the afternoon, and have kept this basic philosophy with some minor refinements. Bulk of the snow threat will be from this evening into Sunday afternoon. However, the models have continued with their slight southward trend in the 00Z runs, shifting more into the I-72 to I-70 corridor. Will issue a winter weather advisory for most of the area except the extreme northwest CWA during this period. While we cannot rule out some areas seeing just over 6 inches, the duration of it (about 24 hours) would be too long to justify a winter storm warning. However, the general thought is more of a broad 4-6 inch total, with lesser amounts across the northwest and southeast parts of the CWA. There also starts to be a precip type question on Sunday. Forecast soundings north of I-70 generally support all snow, but a rain/snow mix is more likely along and south by late morning as temperatures rise just above freezing. Have also added a short period of freezing rain toward Flora and Lawrenceville during the morning before temperatures rise above freezing. Any lingering precipitation should exit the southeast CWA during the evening on Sunday, with Monday dry as an area of high pressure moves overhead. && .LONG TERM...(Monday night through Friday) ISSUED AT 254 AM CST SAT FEB 28 2015 An active split flow pattern to amplify into a large central U.S. trof by the middle of the week as energy from the northern stream phases with the southern stream upper wave. Very dynamic subtropical jet will aid in the strong moisture transport northward into the Midwest starting late Monday ahead of our next weather maker with precipitable water values by Tuesday in the 1-1.25 inch range, some 2-3 standard deviations above normal for early March. This will be a concern for area rivers and streams as the snow melt combined with 0.50 to 1 inch of rainfall will lead to significant rises along many of our basins by midweek. Strong warm advection/isentropic ascent will lead to a rapid increase in clouds late Monday night with precipitation breaking out late evening or just after midnight. Models have trended a bit slower with the onset of the precip but all forecast soundings continue to suggest a period of sleet and freezing rain will develop from southwest to northeast late in the evening and encompass most of our forecast area by morning. Ice accumulations Monday night still look as if it will average a tenth of an inch or less with temperatures slowly rising overnight. Have most of the area above freezing by 15z/9am Tuesday morning with rain expected for the remainder of the day with even some isolated thunder possible in the south as forecast soundings across southern Illinois indicate some elevated instability during the afternoon hours as the deepening surface low tracks to our north dragging a cold front through our area by evening. The strong surface low will push well to our north but the boundary will start to slow down as it becomes parallel to the upper flow late Tuesday night into Wednesday. Highest POPs will shift into southeast Illinois Tuesday night into Wednesday when models indicate another wave to push east across the southern Plains and at the same time an intensifying jet with the right rear quadrant and enhanced upper level divergence/lift over the Ohio River valley during the day Wednesday. In response to the upper wave and jet lift, models indicate a surge northeast with precip again by Wednesday afternoon which would bring the threat for snow to southeast Illinois into the late afternoon or early evening hours before the lift departs Wednesday night. GFS is a bit more progressive with the wave and does not show as much precip building back to the north as the ECMWF. For now will continue to support the more conservative look to the GFS with just chance POPs over southeast IL during the day with just slight chances for light snow Wednesday night as the system pulls away from our area. After that, colder air moves in for a brief stint as high pressure settles over the region on Thursday with our coldest overnight lows Thursday morning when we will see single digits CWA-wide. The cold air will not hang around very long as the surface high slips off to our east by Friday as a northern stream shortwave tracks to our north for the end of the week. This will bring a southerly flow back into our area with afternoon temperatures by Friday rising back into the 30s, with 30s and 40s by Saturday before a cold front sweeps across our area Saturday afternoon. No significant rain or snow is expected with the late week shortwave. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Sunday afternoon) ISSUED AT 1204 PM CST SAT FEB 28 2015 Backed off a bit on the timing of the advancing snow and associated lower visibility and ceilings for central and eastern IL TAF sites. The 12Z ILX sounding indicated plenty of dry air that will need to be overcome below 5,000 feet AGL this afternoon. Many of the echoes on the Midwest mosaic radar approaching the MS River were aloft due to the dry air. Thus, have adjusted the start of the light snow in VFR conditions between 21-23Z. As the lower atmosphere moistens, MVFR ceilings and visibility are anticipated after 00z in central IL and toward 02z in eastern IL. A weakening pressure gradient should keep wind speeds around 5 knots or less through much of the snow event this evening through Sunday morning. Many of the short range models are indicating that the snow may start to taper off around mid-morning. However, will keep IFR conditions in place because of the uncertainty involving lift with a 150kt jet max moving into north central IL. As a result, the GFS and NAM both produce a narrow band of snow and low ceilings/visibility between I-72 and I-70 by late Sunday morning. && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY from 6 PM this evening to 6 PM CST Sunday FOR ILZ029-031-036>038-040>057-061>063-066>068-071>073. && UPDATE...Miller SHORT TERM...Geelhart LONG TERM...Smith AVIATION...Miller
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL 1156 AM CST SAT FEB 28 2015 ILZ027-028-030-011200- KNOX-MARSHALL-STARK- 1156 AM CST SAT FEB 28 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT SNOW WILL DEVELOP BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR EARLY THIS EVENING AND THEN CONTINUE THROUGH THE NIGHT PRODUCING SNOW COVERED ROADWAYS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY SNOWFALL TOTALS FROM TONIGHT NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON WILL TOTAL BETWEEN 1 AND 3 INCHES. THERE IS ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM THAT WILL LIKELY BRING A PERIOD OF SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN MONDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY TUESDAY MORNING BEFORE THE WINTRY MIX CHANGES OVER TO RAIN LATER TUESDAY MORNING INTO TUESDAY AFTERNOON. THE RAIN WILL LIKELY TURN TO LIGHT SNOW OVERNIGHT TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED THROUGH TONIGHT. HOWEVER...SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY SNOW ACCUMULATIONS TONIGHT AND SUNDAY TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. ILZ029-031-036>038-040>057-061>063-011200- CASS-CHAMPAIGN-CHRISTIAN-CLARK-COLES-CUMBERLAND-DE WITT-DOUGLAS- EDGAR-FULTON-LOGAN-MACON-MASON-MCLEAN-MENARD-MORGAN-MOULTRIE- PEORIA-PIATT-SANGAMON-SCHUYLER-SCOTT-SHELBY-TAZEWELL-VERMILION- WOODFORD- 1156 AM CST SAT FEB 28 2015 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM CST SUNDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS AND EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT SNOW WILL DEVELOP LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND THEN CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT...WHICH WILL PRODUCE SNOW COVERED AND HAZARDOUS ROADWAYS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY BY THE TIME THE SNOW ENDS BY SUNDAY EVENING...BETWEEN 4 AND 6 INCHES OF SNOW IS LIKELY...WITH SOME LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 72. FURTHER TO THE NORTHWEST TOWARDS THE ILLINOIS RIVER...SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED TO RANGE FROM 2 TO 4 INCHES. THERE IS ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM THAT WILL LIKELY PRODUCE A PERIOD OF SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN MONDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY TUESDAY MORNING BEFORE THE WINTRY MIX CHANGES OVER TO RAIN LATER TUESDAY MORNING INTO TUESDAY AFTERNOON. THE RAIN WILL LIKELY TURN TO LIGHT SNOW TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY. HOWEVER...NO ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED THROUGH TONIGHT. HOWEVER...SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SNOWFALL AMOUNTS TONIGHT AND SUNDAY TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. ILZ066>068-071>073-011200- CLAY-CRAWFORD-EFFINGHAM-JASPER-LAWRENCE-RICHLAND- 1156 AM CST SAT FEB 28 2015 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM CST SUNDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT SNOW WILL OVERSPREAD THE AREA LATE TODAY AND ESPECIALLY TONIGHT WHICH WILL PRODUCE SNOW COVERED AND HAZARDOUS ROADWAYS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY SNOW...AND POSSIBLY SOME LIGHT FREEZING RAIN...WILL OCCUR TOMORROW MORNING BEFORE MORE OF A RAIN/SNOW MIX PREVAILS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY. BETWEEN 2 AND 4 INCHES OF SNOW ARE LIKELY BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON...WITH SOME HIGHER TOTALS NEAR THE I-70 CORRIDOR. THERE IS ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM THAT WILL LIKELY BRING A PERIOD OF SLEET AND FREEZING MONDAY NIGHT BEFORE THE WINTRY MIX CHANGES TO RAIN BY TUESDAY MORNING. THE RAIN WILL CHANGE TO LIGHT SNOW LATER TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY WITH NO ACCUMULATIONS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED THROUGH TONIGHT. HOWEVER... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OR ANY WINTRY PRECIPITATION TYPE AND AMOUNTS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. BAK
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
12 winter weather, 6 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Weather observers measured 5 to 7 inches of snow across Sangamon County, with localized amounts of 8 to 9 inches from Springfield to Williamsville. Numerous traffic accidents occurred due to snow-covered and hazardous roadways, particularly in Springfield and along I-55 to the Logan County line.
Weather observers measured 4 to 7 inches of snow across Logan County, with localized amounts of around 8 inches in the southwest part of the county. Numerous traffic accidents occurred due to snow-covered and hazardous roadways, including several miles of I-55 to the Sangamon County line.
Weather observers measured around 8 inches of snow across Effingham County, including 8.0 inches in Effingham and 7.5 inches in Watson. Numerous traffic accidents were reported due to snow-covered and hazardous roadways.
Weather observers measured 8 to 10 inches of snow across Macon County, including 9.5 inches in Mt. Zion and 8.5 inches 2 miles northwest of Decatur. Numerous traffic accidents were reported due to snow-covered and hazardous roadways.
Weather observers measured 8 to 10 inches of snow across Piatt County. Numerous traffic accidents were reported due to snow-covered and hazardous roadways.
Weather observers measured 4 to 6 inches of snow across Christian County, including 6.2 inches 12 miles south of Taylorville and 5.2 inches 2 miles southwest of Taylorville. Numerous traffic accidents occurred due to snow-covered and hazardous roadways.
Weather observers measured 5 to 7 inches of snow across Dewitt County, with localized amounts of 8 to 10 inches in the extreme southern part of the county. An observer in the town of Lane recorded 10.0 inches. Numerous traffic accidents occurred due to snow-covered and hazardous roadways.
Weather observers measured 8 to 10 inches of snow across central and southern Champaign County, including 9.7 inches in Ogden, 9.0 inches in Tolono, and 8.3 inches in Urbana. Numerous traffic accidents were reported due to snow-covered and hazardous roadways.
Weather observers measured 8 to 9 inches of snow across Jasper County, including 8.8 inches in Newton and 8.2 inches 1 mile northwest of St. Marie. Numerous traffic accidents were reported due to snow-covered and hazardous roadways.
Weather observers measured 5 to 7 inches of snow across Moultrie County, including 5.8 inches in Lovington. Numerous traffic accidents occurred due to snow-covered and hazardous roadways.
Weather observers measured 5 to 7 inches of snow across Shelby County, including 6.5 inches in Windsor and 6.0 inches in Shelbyville. Numerous traffic accidents occurred due to snow-covered and hazardous roadways.
Weather observers measured 8 to 9 inches of snow across Crawford County, including 9.0 inches in Palestine and 8.0 inches 3 miles west of Robinson. Numerous traffic accidents were reported due to snow-covered and hazardous roadways.
Weather observers measured 5 to 7 inches of snow across Clark County, including 7.0 inches in Casey. Numerous traffic accidents occurred due to snow-covered and hazardous roadways.
Weather observers measured 5 to 7 inches of snow across Coles County, including 6.0 inches in Charleston. Numerous traffic accidents occurred due to snow-covered and hazardous roadways.
Weather observers measured 5 to 7 inches of snow across Cumberland County, including 5.9 inches in Neoga. Numerous traffic accidents occurred due to snow-covered and hazardous roadways.
Weather observers measured 6 to 8 inches of snow across Douglas County, including 8.0 inches in Arthur and 6.0 inches 3 miles south of Newman. Numerous traffic accidents occurred due to snow-covered and hazardous roadways.
Weather observers measured 6 to 7 inches of snow across Edgar County, including 6.5 inches 11 miles southeast of Paris and 6.0 inches in Paris. Numerous traffic accidents occurred due to snow-covered and hazardous roadways.
Weather observers measured 5 to 7 inches of snow across Vermilion County, with isolated amounts of 8 to 9 inches along the I-74 corridor from the Champaign County line to Danville. Numerous traffic accidents occurred due to snow-covered and hazardous roadways.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, February 2015
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: 561339, 561347, 561296, 561300, 561303, 561310, 561352, 560867, 561297, 561331, 561335, 561282, 561313, 561318, 561320, 561323, 561327, 561354.