After a period of above normal temperatures through the first half of January, a series of cold fronts brought a significant pattern change and much colder conditions for the latter part of the month. An Arctic cold front that pushed through central Illinois during the evening of January 22nd dropped temperatures below zero by the morning of January 23rd.
Every event with a place to put it; 8 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.
After a period of above normal temperatures through the first half of January, a series of cold fronts brought a significant pattern change and much colder conditions for the latter part of the month. An Arctic cold front that pushed through central Illinois during the evening of January 22nd dropped temperatures below zero by the morning of January 23rd. Due to the falling temperatures and brisk northwesterly winds gusting 25-30mph, wind chill values plummeted into the -25 to -35 degree range along and north of a Macomb to Bloomington line. Despite the dangerously cold temperatures, no cold-related injuries or deaths were reported.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
8 extreme cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.
Bitterly cold wind-chill values of -25 to -35 occurred across Knox County during the morning of January 23rd. The coldest hourly wind-chill reading observed at the Galesburg Airport (KGBG) was -35.
Bitterly cold wind-chill values of -25 to -35 occurred across Stark County during the morning of January 23rd.
Bitterly cold wind-chill values of -25 to -35 occurred across Marshall County during the morning of January 23rd. The coldest hourly wind-chill reading observed at the Lacon Airport (KC75) was -29.
Bitterly cold wind-chill values of -25 to -35 occurred across Fulton County during the morning of January 23rd.
Bitterly cold wind-chill values of -25 to -35 occurred across Peoria County during the morning of January 23rd. The coldest hourly wind-chill reading observed at the Peoria Airport (KPIA) was -28.
Bitterly cold wind-chill values of -25 to -35 occurred across Tazewell County during the morning of January 23rd.
Bitterly cold wind-chill values of -25 to -35 occurred across Woodford County during the morning of January 23rd.
Bitterly cold wind-chill values of -25 to -35 occurred across McLean County during the morning of January 23rd. The coldest hourly wind-chill reading observed at the Bloomington Airport (KGBG) was -29.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, January 2026
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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1306598, 1306599, 1306600, 1306601, 1306602, 1306603, 1306604, 1306605.