Illinois, 2026

Heavy Snow in Illinois, January 24 to 25, 2026

January 24 to 25, 2026 · NWS ILX · 25 events in 25 counties and zones

A vigorous upper-level disturbance interacting with a nearly stationary frontal boundary draped across the Deep South produced a prolonged overrunning snowfall event across central and southern Illinois from the morning of January 24th to the morning of January 25th. especially along and south of the I-70 corridor where amounts of 8 to 12 inches were common.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 25 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
25

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS ILX wrote it up.

A vigorous upper-level disturbance interacting with a nearly stationary frontal boundary draped across the Deep South produced a prolonged overrunning snowfall event across central and southern Illinois from the morning of January 24th to the morning of January 25th.

By the time the snow tapered off and came to an end, significant amounts had been observed...especially along and south of the I-70 corridor where amounts of 8 to 12 inches were common. Some of the highest totals were recorded across southern Richland County around Olney where a few reports indicated 13-14 inches. Amounts decreased further north, with 4-8 inches along the I-72 corridor from Jacksonville to Danville...and just 1 to 3 inches along and north of a Macomb to Peoria line. Northeasterly winds gusting 20-25mph on January 24th and north-northwesterly winds gusting 25-30mph on January 25th created considerable drifting of the snow in places.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

25 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Scott

When
January 24, 7:15 AM CST to January 25, 2:00 PM CST
Where
Scott forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
39.644, -90.475 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Weather observers measured 5 to 7 inches of snow across Scott County. Due to both falling and drifting snow, travel became extremely hazardous...leading to numerous traffic accidents on area roadways.

Heavy Snow, Clay

When
January 24, 7:45 AM CST to January 25, 3:30 PM CST
Where
Clay forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
38.754, -88.490 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Weather observers measured 8 to 12 inches of snow across Clay County...including 10.2 inches in Flora. Due to both falling and drifting snow, travel became extremely hazardous...leading to numerous traffic accidents on area roadways.

Heavy Snow, Effingham

When
January 24, 7:45 AM CST to January 25, 3:30 PM CST
Where
Effingham forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
39.060, -88.590 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Weather observers measured 8 to 12 inches of snow across Effingham County...including 8.7 inches in Effingham. Due to both falling and drifting snow, travel became extremely hazardous...leading to numerous traffic accidents on area roadways.

Heavy Snow, Morgan

When
January 24, 7:45 AM CST to January 25, 2:00 PM CST
Where
Morgan forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
39.716, -90.201 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Weather observers measured 6 to 8 inches of snow across Morgan County...including 6.0 inches in Jacksonville. Due to both falling and drifting snow, travel became extremely hazardous...leading to numerous traffic accidents on area roadways.

Heavy Snow, Jasper

When
January 24, 8:15 AM CST to January 25, 3:30 PM CST
Where
Jasper forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
39.010, -88.154 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Weather observers measured 8 to 12 inches of snow across Jasper County...including 10.5 inches in Newton. Due to both falling and drifting snow, travel became extremely hazardous...leading to numerous traffic accidents on area roadways.

Heavy Snow, Richland

When
January 24, 8:15 AM CST to January 25, 4:30 PM CST
Where
Richland forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
38.712, -88.085 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Weather observers measured 8 to 12 inches of snow across Richland County...including 12.0 inches 2 miles south of Olney. Due to both falling and drifting snow, travel became extremely hazardous...leading to numerous traffic accidents on area roadways.

Heavy Snow, Sangamon

When
January 24, 8:15 AM CST to January 25, 2:30 PM CST
Where
Sangamon forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
39.758, -89.659 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Weather observers measured 5 to 7 inches of snow across Sangamon County...including 5.0 inches in Springfield. Due to both falling and drifting snow, travel became extremely hazardous...leading to numerous traffic accidents on area roadways.

Heavy Snow, Cass

When
January 24, 8:45 AM CST to January 25, 2:00 PM CST
Where
Cass forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
39.974, -90.247 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Weather observers measured 4 to 6 inches of snow across Cass County. Due to both falling and drifting snow, travel became extremely hazardous...leading to numerous traffic accidents on area roadways.

Heavy Snow, Christian

When
January 24, 8:45 AM CST to January 25, 2:30 PM CST
Where
Christian forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
39.546, -89.277 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Weather observers measured 6 to 8 inches of snow across Christian County...including 6.9 inches 2 miles southeast of Taylorville. Due to both falling and drifting snow, travel became extremely hazardous...leading to numerous traffic accidents on area roadways.

Heavy Snow, Crawford

When
January 24, 8:45 AM CST to January 25, 4:30 PM CST
Where
Crawford forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
39.003, -87.760 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Weather observers measured 8 to 12 inches of snow across Crawford County...including 11.0 inches in Robinson. Due to both falling and drifting snow, travel became extremely hazardous...leading to numerous traffic accidents on area roadways.

Heavy Snow, Lawrence

When
January 24, 8:45 AM CST to January 25, 4:30 PM CST
Where
Lawrence forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
38.720, -87.727 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Weather observers measured 8 to 12 inches of snow across Lawrence County...including 11.5 inches 2 miles west-southwest of Lawrenceville. Due to both falling and drifting snow, travel became extremely hazardous...leading to numerous traffic accidents on area roadways.

Heavy Snow, Shelby

When
January 24, 9:00 AM CST to January 25, 2:30 PM CST
Where
Shelby forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
39.391, -88.805 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Weather observers measured 6 to 8 inches of snow across Shelby County...including 6.5 inches in Shelbyville. Due to both falling and drifting snow, travel became extremely hazardous...leading to numerous traffic accidents on area roadways.

Heavy Snow, Clark

When
January 24, 9:30 AM CST to January 25, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Clark forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
39.334, -87.788 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Weather observers measured 8 to 12 inches of snow across Clark County...including 8.0 inches in Casey. Due to both falling and drifting snow, travel became extremely hazardous...leading to numerous traffic accidents on area roadways.

Heavy Snow, Coles

When
January 24, 9:30 AM CST to January 25, 2:30 PM CST
Where
Coles forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
39.520, -88.222 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Weather observers measured 6 to 8 inches of snow across Coles County...including 7.6 inches in Charleston. Due to both falling and drifting snow, travel became extremely hazardous...leading to numerous traffic accidents on area roadways.

Heavy Snow, Douglas

When
January 24, 9:30 AM CST to January 25, 3:30 PM CST
Where
Douglas forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
39.770, -88.217 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Weather observers measured 6 to 8 inches of snow across Douglas County...including 7.0 inches in Tuscola. Due to both falling and drifting snow, travel became extremely hazardous...leading to numerous traffic accidents on area roadways.

Heavy Snow, Macon

When
January 24, 9:30 AM CST to January 25, 2:30 PM CST
Where
Macon forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
39.860, -88.962 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Weather observers measured 6 to 8 inches of snow across Macon County...including 6.0 inches in Decatur. Due to both falling and drifting snow, travel became extremely hazardous...leading to numerous traffic accidents on area roadways.

Heavy Snow, Moultrie

When
January 24, 9:30 AM CST to January 25, 2:30 PM CST
Where
Moultrie forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
39.642, -88.619 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Weather observers measured 6 to 8 inches of snow across Moultrie County...including 7.4 inches in Lovington. Due to both falling and drifting snow, travel became extremely hazardous...leading to numerous traffic accidents on area roadways.

Heavy Snow, Cumberland

When
January 24, 10:00 AM CST to January 25, 4:30 PM CST
Where
Cumberland forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
39.273, -88.240 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Weather observers measured 8 to 12 inches of snow across Cumberland County...including 8.2 inches in Neoga. Due to both falling and drifting snow, travel became extremely hazardous...leading to numerous traffic accidents on area roadways.

Heavy Snow, Edgar

When
January 24, 10:00 AM CST to January 25, 3:30 PM CST
Where
Edgar forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
39.679, -87.746 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Weather observers measured 6 to 10 inches of snow across Edgar County...including 8.5 inches in Paris. Due to both falling and drifting snow, travel became extremely hazardous...leading to numerous traffic accidents on area roadways.

Heavy Snow, Menard

When
January 24, 10:00 AM CST to January 25, 2:30 PM CST
Where
Menard forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
40.027, -89.802 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Weather observers measured 5 to 7 inches of snow across Menard County. Due to both falling and drifting snow, travel became extremely hazardous...leading to numerous traffic accidents on area roadways.

Heavy Snow, Champaign

When
January 24, 12:45 PM CST to January 25, 3:00 PM CST
Where
Champaign forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
40.140, -88.199 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Weather observers measured 6 to 8 inches of snow across Champaign County...including 7.6 inches in Ogden. Due to both falling and drifting snow, travel became extremely hazardous...leading to numerous traffic accidents on area roadways.

Heavy Snow, Piatt

When
January 24, 12:45 PM CST to January 25, 2:30 PM CST
Where
Piatt forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
40.010, -88.591 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Weather observers measured 5 to 7 inches of snow across Piatt County. Due to both falling and drifting snow, travel became extremely hazardous...leading to numerous traffic accidents on area roadways.

Heavy Snow, Vermilion

When
January 24, 12:45 PM CST to January 25, 3:30 PM CST
Where
Vermilion forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
40.183, -87.733 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Weather observers measured 6 to 8 inches of snow across Vermilion County...including 7.2 inches in Danville. Due to both falling and drifting snow, travel became extremely hazardous...leading to numerous traffic accidents on area roadways.

Heavy Snow, De Witt

When
January 24, 1:30 PM CST to January 25, 2:30 PM CST
Where
De Witt forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
40.175, -88.904 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Weather observers measured 5 to 7 inches of snow across DeWitt County...including 5.6 inches 1 mile south-southwest of Clinton. Due to both falling and drifting snow, travel became extremely hazardous...leading to numerous traffic accidents on area roadways.

Heavy Snow, Logan

When
January 24, 1:30 PM CST to January 25, 2:30 PM CST
Where
Logan forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
40.125, -89.367 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Weather observers measured 5 to 7 inches of snow across Logan County...including 5.5 inches in Lincoln. Due to both falling and drifting snow, travel became extremely hazardous...leading to numerous traffic accidents on area roadways.

What these are

Heavy Snow
Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Illinois in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, January 2026

Sources

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: 1318029, 1318011, 1318018, 1318024, 1318019, 1318027, 1318028, 1317874, 1318009, 1318013, 1318020, 1318030, 1318010, 1318012, 1318016, 1318022, 1318025, 1318014, 1318017, 1318023, 1317875, 1318026, 1318031, 1318015, 1318021.