A strong low pressure system positioned north of the Great Lakes resulted in a cold front sweeping across Illinois on the evening of December 4th. Breezy northwest winds occurred across central Illinois, with measured gusts as high as 55 to 60 mph.
Every event with a place to put it; 5 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 strong low pressure system positioned north of the Great Lakes resulted in a cold front sweeping across Illinois on the evening of December 4th. Breezy northwest winds occurred across central Illinois, with measured gusts as high as 55 to 60 mph. These high winds produced isolated damage to power lines.
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 4, 5:51 PM CST, 2 hours 4 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion...Updated Aviation National Weather Service Lincoln IL 551 PM CST Wed Dec 4 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - There is a low (20-30%) chance that a band of briefly moderate snow accompanies a cold front this evening north of a roughly Macomb to Robinson line. The combination of gusty winds and snow could result in diminished visibilities and slick roads at times. - There is a 60% chance west-northwest winds gust to around 45 mph this evening, resulting in difficult travel conditions for high profile vehicles. A Wind Advisory is in effect for areas along and north of roughly I-70, in effect until midnight. - There is an 80% chance minimum wind chills tonight are between roughly -10 and -4 north of I-70 and between -4 and 0 further south. This would increase the risk of hypothermia and frostbite to those outdoors who are inadequately dressed. && .SHORT TERM... (Through Late Thursday Night) Issued at 256 PM CST Wed Dec 4 2024 A pre-frontal trough continues to move east through eastern Illinois this afternoon while the main cold front moves into northwestern Illinois and will continue to move through the CWA this evening. West winds have increased with gusts of 25 to 30 already being reported at some sites. Models still show that gusts up to around 45 mph are still possible this evening, so confidence is high that this will occur. Therefore, the advisory will continued. Dynamics associated with the cold front this evening are sufficient for rain or snow showers. Some of the dynamics suggest that some of the showers could be moderate at times. When these moderate showers are associated with snow, then a brief snow burst is possible that could, though briefly, quickly reduce visibilities, especially with winds getting over 40 mph. The chance of this is quite low, 20-30%, and our confidence level is low as well since some of the models do not suggest these snow bursts/snow squalls are possible. If they do occur, then caution should be used while driving out in rural areas this evening if you come upon a snow burst. The good thing is this precip will be brief this evening and any snow accumulations should be minor. Dry weather is then expected Thur into Thur night as high pressure builds into the area. This high pressie will be a cold one and below normal temps area expected tonight through tomorrow night. The gusty winds tonight/tomorrow morning will combine with the cold temps to bring wind chills down to below zero across the entire area. As winds decrease in speed on Thur, wind chills will improve and not be as cold Thur night. Auten .LONG TERM... (Friday through Next Wednesday) Issued at 256 PM CST Wed Dec 4 2024 High pressure will slide southeast on Friday and bring the return of southwesterly winds during the day. However, temps will still remain below normal and highs are expected to only reach above freezing in west central IL while around 30 is expected in the east parts of the CWA. However, waa will continue into the weekend with normal temps in t he 40s is expected for Sat and above normal temps in the 50s is expected for Sun and Mon. Another weather system is expected to move toward the area with more rain and rain showers Sunday afternoon into the first part of the new week. The good part is that with the warmer temps, the precip will be all liquid. Unfortunately, once this system moves through and east of the area, cooler temps return for Tue and Wed. Currently the colder air will arrive as the precip is ending, so a mix of rain and snow is possible on the back edge of the precip as it is ending. Of course this forecast is far enough away that lots could change before then. Auten && .AVIATION... (For the 00z TAFs through 00z Thursday Evening) Issued at 551 PM CST Wed Dec 4 2024 2330z obs show a cold front extending from near KORD to just south of KGBG. Westerly winds ahead of the front are currently gusting 15-25kt: however, immediately behind the boundary winds veer to northwesterly and are gusting 35-45kt through northwest Illinois and much of Iowa. This higher momentum air will reach the central Illinois terminals between 01z and 04z...with strong/gusty winds expected to persist through midday Thursday before gradually decreasing to less than 10kt by sunset Thursday. A band of SCT- BKN VFR cloud cover and showers accompanies the front, with skies rapidly clearing behind the boundary. Based on radar trends, have included -SHRA at KPIA through 01z. Further southeast, have opted to include -SHRA or -SHSN at KBMI/KCMI through late evening...with flurries or very light snow showers possibly lingering at KCMI until after midnight. Will need to keep an eye on MVFR ceilings and snow-showers further north across Minnesota/Wisconsin and far northern Iowa: however, satellite trends suggest these will largely remain N/NE of the I-74 corridor. Barnes && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory until midnight CST tonight for ILZ027>031-036>038- 040>057-061>063. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Lincoln IL 248 PM CST Wed Dec 4 2024 ILZ027>031-036>038-040>057-061>063-051200- Knox-Stark-Peoria-Marshall-Woodford-Fulton-Tazewell-McLean-Schuyler- Mason-Logan-De Witt-Piatt-Champaign-Vermilion-Cass-Menard-Scott- Morgan-Sangamon-Christian-Macon-Moultrie-Douglas-Coles-Edgar-Shelby- Cumberland-Clark- 248 PM CST Wed Dec 4 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Illinois, east central Illinois and west central Illinois. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. A wind advisory is in effect through 10 pm this evening. Winds will gust 35 to 45 mph from late this afternoon through this evening. West winds will shift northwest during this evening and be strongest from 5 to 10 pm with isolated snow showers possible. This could cause difficult travel for high profile vehicles. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Sharply colder conditions arrive during overnight into Thursday morning, with wind chill values from zero to 10 degrees below zero overnight into mid Thursday morning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated tonight. ILZ066>068-071>073-051200- Effingham-Jasper-Crawford-Clay-Richland-Lawrence- 248 PM CST Wed Dec 4 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Illinois. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and Tonight. Winds will gust 30 to 40 mph late this afternoon and evening, with the strongest winds from I-70 north. West winds through early evening, will shift northwest during mid to late evening. This could cause difficult travel for high profile vehicles. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Sharply colder conditions arrive overnight into Thursday morning, with wind chill values from 5 below to 5 above zero overnight into mid Thursday morning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated tonight. 07
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
5 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Wind gust measured at Vermilion Regional Airport (KDNV).
Power lines blown down on both Prospect Road and Laramie Street in Peoria.
Wind gust measured at Peoria International Airport (KPIA).
Wind gust measured at Central Illinois Regional Airport (KBMI).
Wind gust measured at Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport (KSPI).
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, December 2024
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: 1226160, 1226162, 1226161, 1226163, 1226164.