An upper-level disturbance brought a narrow band of accumulating snow to portions of north-central Illinois during the morning of March 14th. Snow amounts of 1 to 4 inches occurred along and north of a Havana to Rantoul line.
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 upper-level disturbance brought a narrow band of accumulating snow to portions of north-central Illinois during the morning of March 14th. Snow amounts of 1 to 4 inches occurred along and north of a Havana to Rantoul line. Further south, a mix of light rain and snow created scattered slick spots on area roadways. Several traffic accidents were reported in Macon County, including one that resulted in the death of a 23-year old woman.
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 Mar 14, 3:19 AM CST, 41 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 419 AM CDT Sat Mar 14 2020 .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 400 AM CDT Sat Mar 14 2020 A weather system will bring a mixture of rain and snow to central Illinois today with mainly rain in southeast IL today. Between 1 and 3 inches of slushy snow is expected north of I-72, mainly on grassy surfaces. Light rain will linger in southeast IL this evening, then dry weather will prevail across the area overnight through Sunday night, with a slight chance of light rain showers south of I-72 on Monday. Chilly temperatures in the mid 30s to near 40 today, will moderate closer to normal by Monday with highs in the lower 50s. && .SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight) ISSUED AT 400 AM CDT Sat Mar 14 2020 Predawn surface map showed weak surface low pressure over the Southern Plains with an inverted trof extending ne into central MO/IL. An associated short wave was over the Central Plains. Strong Canadian high pressure 1040-1050 mb was ridging se into the western Great Lakes and Ohio river valley. A band of light snow was moving into northern CWA, and starting out briefly as period of light rain/sprinkles. Macomb had recently switched from light rain to light snow, while Quincy reporting light rain. More widespread and heavier precipitation was sw over central and sw MO into OK and eastern KS where some thunderstorms were. Dewpoints were in the mid to upper 20s in central IL and evaporative cooling is bringing temps down toward mid 30s with light precipitation. Temps still in the lower 40s from I-72 south where it remained dry so far and more moist dewpoints in the 30s from I-70 south. Precipitation will overspread the CWA during early and mid morning and evaporative cooling will change rain to mixed pcpn or even snow for a time this morning in central IL. Southeast IL should mainly see just rain though could see a period of light mixed pcpn and sleet this morning that far south. Have increased snowfall amounts a bit higher to 1-3 inches from Rushville to Lincoln to Champaign and Danville north today, with much of this slushy snow falling this morning into early afternoon. Mixed pcpn north of I-72 this afternoon while rain south and diminishing in southeast IL during this evening as weather system pulls away. Chilly highs today in the mid to upper 30s in central IL and lower 40s south of I-70. Cooler lows tonight in the upper 20s in central IL and lower 30s in southeast IL. Issued a special weather statement for 1 to 3 inches of slushy snow possible along and north of a Rushville to Lincoln to Champaign and Danville line from this morning into early afternoon. && .LONG TERM...(Sunday through Friday) ISSUED AT 400 AM CDT Sat Mar 14 2020 Skies become partly to mostly sunny on Sunday as a chuck of strong Canadian high pressure moves into the Great Lakes region and ridging sw into IL. Highs in the mid 40s in central IL Sunday and upper 40s in southeast IL with northeast winds near 10 mph. Fair Sunday night with high pressure ridge still near central/se IL with lows in the upper 20s and lower 30s. An upper level disturbances passes south of IL on Monday, and have just slight chance of light rain showers over southern CWA, while much of area should stay dry with more clouds. Highs Monday in the lower 50s, closer to normal for mid March. A weak cold front moves se thru area Monday night but should pass thru dry. Lows Monday night in the upper 30s from I-74 north and lower 40s south. Dry weather should persist from Monday night thru early Wed across the area as another Canadian high pressure system settles se into the Midwest. More sunshine over northern CWA Tue while mostly cloudy south of I-72. Highs Tue in the low to mid 50s, with some upper 50s south of I-70. Large high pressure settles over the Great Lakes and Ohio river valley by midday Wed, while a weather system ejects ne into the MO valley. This will be the start of an unsettled weather pattern from Wed thru Friday along with moderating temps and dewpoints. Mostly cloudy skies on Wed with chance of rain showers Wed afternoon. Highs in the upper 40s central IL and around 50 in southeast IL. A strong upper level low/trof digging off the southern CA coast on Wed will move into the central and southern Rockies on Thu and into the Midwest on Friday. The 1st disturbances likely brings a period of rain showers Wed afternoon and Wed night. Could be a lull in rain chances Thu morning, but then more showers spread ne into the area Thu afternoon thru Friday, with thunderstorms also possible. Highs in the 60s on Friday, then turning cooler and dryer next Sat with highs in the 40s. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Saturday night) Issued at 1140 PM CDT Fri Mar 13 2020 Light north winds will start off the 06z TAF period, as high pressure across northern Illinois recedes to advancing low pressure from the Plains. Winds are still expected to turn to the northeast later tonight and Saturday morning, in response to the high pressure north of the area. Northeast winds will continue all day Saturday at 8-12KT. A warm advection wing nosing into our northwestern counties is finally being depicted by the high resolution guidance. They are pointing toward sufficient low level saturation across our northern counties earlier than southern counties, so started snow at PIA by 12Z, but flakes could be flying as early as 09Z in that area. MVFR conditions will follow shortly after the onset of precipitation, with IFR conditions at times by mid-afternoon. There are some indications in the forecast soundings that precip type may remain snow a bit longer, now lasting into early afternoon for areas north of I-72. We still expected all TAF sites will eventually change to rain as surface temperatures warm, but some snow accumulation could develop for a period of time on travel surfaces. The snow will likely melt after several hours, as rain develops and the warm ground has time to work on any snow accumulation. && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SYNOPSIS...07 SHORT TERM...07 LONG TERM...07 AVIATION...Shimon
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Lincoln IL 301 PM CDT Fri Mar 13 2020 ILZ027>031-037-038-042-043-142015- De Witt-Knox-Logan-Marshall-McLean-Peoria-Stark-Tazewell-Woodford- 301 PM CDT Fri Mar 13 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... A mixture of rain and snow is expected across the area late tonight into Saturday afternoon. Accumulations of around an inch is possible, mainly on grassy areas. .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. ILZ036-040-041-047-142015- Cass-Fulton-Mason-Schuyler- 301 PM CDT Fri Mar 13 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... A mixture of rain and snow is expected across the area late tonight into Saturday afternoon. Accumulations of around an inch is possible, mainly on grassy areas. The Illinois River near Havana and Bearstown will remain near bankfull. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY... The Illinois River near Havana and Bearstown will remain near bankfull through next week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated through tonight. ILZ048>053-142015- Christian-Macon-Menard-Morgan-Sangamon-Scott- 301 PM CDT Fri Mar 13 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... A mixture of rain and snow is expected across the area late tonight into Saturday afternoon. Accumulations of around one half inch are possible, mainly on grassy areas. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY... Isolated thunderstorms are possible Thursday afternoon. Severe weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated through tonight. ILZ054-056-061>063-066>068-072-073-142015- Clark-Coles-Crawford-Cumberland-Effingham-Jasper-Lawrence- Moultrie-Richland-Shelby- 301 PM CDT Fri Mar 13 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Illinois, east central Illinois and southeast Illinois. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY... Isolated thunderstorms are possible Thursday afternoon. Severe weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated through tonight. ILZ044>046-055-057-142015- Champaign-Douglas-Edgar-Piatt-Vermilion- 301 PM CDT Fri Mar 13 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Illinois and east central Illinois. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... A mixture of rain and snow is expected across the area late tonight into Saturday afternoon. Accumulations of around an inch are possible, mainly on grassy areas. .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. ILZ071-142015- Clay- 301 PM CDT Fri Mar 13 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southeast Illinois. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... The Little Wabash River near Clay City will linger near flood stage today and tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY... The Little Wabash River near Clay City will linger near flood stage through the weekend. Isolated thunderstorms are possible Thursday afternoon. Severe weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated through tonight. Barker
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Lincoln IL 342 AM CDT Sat Mar 14 2020 ILZ027>031-036>038-040>048-142000- Knox-Stark-Peoria-Marshall-Woodford-Fulton-Tazewell-McLean- Schuyler-Mason-Logan-De Witt-Piatt-Champaign-Vermilion-Cass- Menard- Including the cities of Galesburg, Toulon, Peoria, Lacon, Eureka, Canton, Pekin, Bloomington, Normal, Rushville, Havana, Lincoln, Clinton, Monticello, Champaign, Urbana, Danville, Beardstown, and Petersburg 342 AM CDT Sat Mar 14 2020 Mixed precipitation will spread eastward into central IL early this morning and change to a period of snow during part of this morning and into midday north of I-72. Between 1 and 3 inches of slushy snow is possible by early afternoon from Rushville to Lincoln to Champaign and Danville north. Untreated roads could become slippery during this morning and into midday, so allow extra time to reach your destination if traveling today. 07
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
A 23-year old Ohio woman died when her car skidded on icy roads and struck the concrete wall of the I-72 overpass near Oreana in Macon County at around 9am on March 14th. A light rain/snow mix was falling at the time with temperatures hovering near freezing.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Weather, Macon | 2020-03-14 | 23 | Female | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Indirect |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, March 2020
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: 879223.