A vigorous upper-level disturbance tracking from the Northern Rockies into the Ohio River Valley brought a period of moderate to heavy snow to north-central Illinois during the afternoon and evening of February 5th. depositing 6 to 10 inches of snow along and north of a Galesburg to Lacon line.
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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 vigorous upper-level disturbance tracking from the Northern Rockies into the Ohio River Valley brought a period of moderate to heavy snow to north-central Illinois during the afternoon and evening of February 5th. A persistent mesoscale band developed...depositing 6 to 10 inches of snow along and north of a Galesburg to Lacon line.
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 5, 11:05 AM CST, 3 hours 25 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 1105 AM CST Mon Feb 5 2018 .UPDATE... Issued at 1105 AM CST Mon Feb 5 2018 Approaching low pressure system snow from southwestern Iowa to northeast Iowa and showing some tendency to dig farther south than previously forecast, as well as being slightly faster than earlier forecasts. Have therefore trended timing of precipitation onset earlier in the northwest portion of the forecast area, and increased chances of precipitation toward the south. Snowfall totals this evening have been increased, mainly south of the advisory area, with areas from Rushville to Lincoln to Danville southward generally in the 1 to 3 inch storm total range. Just a bit less expected south of I-70. This area also may still have a minor concern with freezing drizzle instead of snow, but so far satellite trends show a deep enough cloud layer to indicate this is a low probability. && .SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight) ISSUED AT 317 AM CST Mon Feb 5 2018 Broad area of high pressure across the Plains and into the Midwest on the surface analysis this morning. Clear skies and snow cover with the ridge axis moving through the region this morning have set up very efficient cooling. Temps dropping into the single digits above and below zero. A chilly start to the morning with winds coming around to more southerly as the ridge gives way to a quick and aggressive wave moving out of the WNW and rippling through Illinois. This feature has been one of the more consistent systems in the forecast, if a bit wobbly at times with the axis of highest precip. Getting an assist from a divergent jet quadrant aloft, the wave will produce some measurable snow this afternoon and into the evening hours. The northern tier of the state will see the higher amounts and an earlier start...with the axis stretching back into Central IA. Areas along and north of a line from roughly Havana through Bloomington/Normal will be in the 3" to 5" range by early Tuesday morning. Same area is under a Winter Weather Advisory and no changes to that are necessary at this point. Winds will be less than 10kts and out of the south, relatively light, but the snow will be very fluffy with SLRs ranging from 15-19 to 1 for the bulk of the snowfall. This light and fluffy snow and winds out of the south will set up the potential for some drifting on east/west oriented roads. Any moderate melting through the afternoon on treated roads will potentially turn into another slick evening with temperatures tonight dropping back into the teens and then single digits as the snow continues. Snow comes to an end after midnight and allows for at least a short break ahead of the next system. .LONG TERM...(Tuesday through Sunday) ISSUED AT 317 AM CST Mon Feb 5 2018 There will be a brief break Tuesday morning as the next system develops. This system has little to no consistency even at this short range into the forecast. Differences in tracks are making the forecast problematic, with this latest run much further north and completely opposite the more southerly trend that had been almost continuous. As a result, not going big with wording or totals or further complicating the headlines. From an axis over the southern half of the state 24 hrs ago to adding an inch or two to the same area in the advisory for today... confidence in the forecast for Tuesday night/Wed is extremely low. Considering this run may well be an outlier...not going to fuss with detail yet. Another round of snow is coming, putting the chance for an inch or so across much of Central IL. With the more northerly track, however, it should be noted that the forecast soundings shift a bit, drying out the upper levels, resulting in no crystals aloft...and setting up for FZRA chances along and south of Interstate 70 early Wednesday morning. On the other side of the snowfall, temperatures will remain below seasonal norms with snow cover in place. Wednesday night chilly into the single digits again before the lows climb back to closer to normal by the end of the week. Daytime highs on Thursday and Friday not climbing above the upper 30s in the southeast by the end of the week. From Thursday through the end of the week, the progressive weather pattern continues to send a few weak waves with brief snow chances into the weekend. None of them look particularly impressive at this point until Sat night/Sunday when a wave moving through the Plains and into the Midwest collides with a system trying to develop to the SW and pushing warmer air into the region, setting up another mixed precip potential. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Tuesday morning) Issued at 552 AM CST Mon Feb 5 2018 VFR conditions early as clear skies continue with light winds for a few hours this morning. Southerly winds settling in mid morning and MVFR cigs midday moving in with a quick storm system this afternoon and IFR vis and cigs with the heavier snow, most likely towards sunset and after. Snow looks to start around 18-20z at PIA, 20z-22z at BMI and by 23z at DEC and CMI. Vsbys look to drop to around a mile at PIA and BMI and may drop below that briefly in some of the heavier bands of snow, while further south and east vsbys will be around 2-3 miles in light snow. Bringing up the cigs to higher MVFR/VFR after 06z tonight, keeping to VCSH at least up to that time. && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory until midnight CST tonight for ILZ027>031-036-037. Winter Weather Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to midnight CST tonight for ILZ038. && UPDATE...37 SHORT TERM...HJS LONG TERM...HJS AVIATION...HJS
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Lincoln IL 1135 AM CST Mon Feb 5 2018 ILZ027>031-036-037-061100- Fulton-Knox-Marshall-Peoria-Stark-Tazewell-Woodford- 1135 AM CST Mon Feb 5 2018 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... Snow will move back into the area this afternoon, then will continue through much of the evening. Total snow amounts of 3 to 5 inches are expected, with the highest values near Galesburg. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY... Another storm system passing south of the area will bring some more light snow Tuesday night. Snowfall totals of an inch or two are possible. Periodic weather systems will pass through the area Thursday into the weekend, each with the potential for light snow. It is too early to determine specific amounts. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be required, but any reports of snowfall would be appreciated. ILZ038-061100- McLean- 1135 AM CST Mon Feb 5 2018 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Illinois. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... Snow will move back into the area by mid to late afternoon, and continue much of the evening. Total snow amounts of 3 to 4 inches are expected. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY... Another storm system passing south of the area will bring some more light snow Tuesday night. Snowfall totals of an inch or two are possible. Periodic weather systems will pass through the area Thursday into the weekend, each with the potential for light snow. It is too early to determine specific amounts. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be required, but any reports of snowfall would be appreciated. ILZ040>048-061100- Cass-Champaign-De Witt-Logan-Mason-Menard-Piatt-Schuyler- Vermilion- 1135 AM CST Mon Feb 5 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Illinois, east central Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... Snow is expected to move into the area during the afternoon, and continue much of the evening. An inch or two of accumulation is likely. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY... Another storm system passing south of the area will bring some more light snow Tuesday night. Snowfall totals of an inch or two are possible. Periodic weather systems will pass through the area Thursday into the weekend, each with the potential for light snow. It is too early to determine specific amounts. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be required, but any reports of snowfall would be appreciated. ILZ049>057-061-061100- Christian-Coles-Douglas-Edgar-Macon-Morgan-Moultrie-Sangamon- Scott-Shelby- 1135 AM CST Mon Feb 5 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Illinois, east central Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... Areas of light snow will move in beginning late afternoon, and continuing into the evening. Amounts of around an inch are likely. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY... Another storm system passing south of the area will bring some more light snow Tuesday night. Snowfall totals of around an inch are possible. Periodic weather systems will pass through the area late Friday into the weekend, each with the potential for light snow. It is too early to determine specific amounts. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be required, but any reports of snowfall would be appreciated. ILZ062-063-066>068-071>073-061100- Clark-Clay-Crawford-Cumberland-Effingham-Jasper-Lawrence-Richland- 1135 AM CST Mon Feb 5 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of east central Illinois and southeast Illinois. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... Scattered snow showers are possible late this afternoon, but will mainly occur this evening. Amounts should be fairly light, a half inch or less. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY... A storm system will pass just to the south of the area Tuesday night. Snow is expected to move into the area Tuesday night, which may mix with or change to freezing rain after midnight. Snow accumulations around an inch are likely. A light glaze of ice is likely as well, especially on elevated surfaces. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be required, but any reports of snowfall would be appreciated. Barnes
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Several weather observers across Knox County reported 6 to 10 inches of snow...including 9.0 in Altona and 7.0 in Galesburg. Numerous traffic accidents occurred due to snow-covered roadways.
Several weather observers across Marshall County reported 6 to 10 inches of snow...including 10.0 in Sparland, 9.0 in Camp Grove, and 8.3 in Toluca. Numerous traffic accidents occurred due to snow-covered roadways.
Several weather observers across Stark County reported 6 to 10 inches of snow...including 9.0 in Wyoming and 6.2 in West Jersey. Numerous traffic accidents occurred due to snow-covered roadways.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, February 2018
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: 731234, 731235, 731236.