Tag: snow

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Snowfall Totals from around Illinois

The winter storm of February 1-2, 2011, will be remembered by many in northern and central Illinois. The National Weather Service (NWS) did an excellent job of producing forecasts and warnings on this storm. In the aftermath, we have began collecting the snowfall measurements from a variety of networks. Rather than list all the data here, I have provided some links to data sources.
Snowfall totals and some maps provided by NWS offices are available here:

Here is a preliminary look at snowfall totals across the Midwest. Snowfall amounts in excess of 12 inches extend from Oklahoma, into Missouri, the northern half of Illinois, and on into northern Indiana and southern Michigan.

Experimental Hour Snowfall Analysis
Preliminary snowfall totals map for the February 1-2, 2011 storm (NWS image).

And zooming in on northern Illinois.
Snowfall totals for the February 1-2, 2011, event in northern IL (NWS image).

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Illinois Record Snowfall by County

According to information at the National Climatic Data Center, here are the record 1-day, 2-day, and 3-day snowfall totals by county. These are based on data through December 2006. At most locations, snowfall is only measured once a day and many snow storms can last more than one day. Therefore, the 2- and 3-day snowfalls may be more accurate in identifying the big snow events.

Illinois

Record 1-Day, 2-Day, and 3-Day Snowfall for Annual for stations sorted by county.

County name Station name 1-Day Snowfall 2-Day Snowfall 3-Day Snowfall NYRS
ADAMS GOLDEN 12.5 13.0 15.0 93
ADAMS PAYSON 10.0 12.0 12.0 52
ADAMS QUINCY 12.7 16.0 16.5 77
ADAMS QUINCY DAM 21 10.0 13.0 13.0 65
ADAMS QUINCY FAA AIRPORT 10.9 10.9 10.9 53
ADAMS QUINCY MEMORIAL BRIDGE 9.5 15.5 15.5 73
ALEXANDER CAIRO 3 N 12.8 12.8 13.8 54
BOND GREENVILLE 2 NE 14.0 16.5 16.5 111
BROWN MOUNT STERLING 11.2 14.0 18.0 65
BUREAU TISKILWA 2 E 15.0 17.3 19.3 94
BUREAU WALNUT 18.0 21.0 22.0 113
CALHOUN HARDIN 12.0 12.0 12.0 27
CARROLL MOUNT CARROLL 12.5 18.0 18.3 112
CASS BEARDSTOWN 12.0 13.0 13.8 90
CASS VIRGINIA 12.0 15.1 16.0 44
CHAMPAIGN RANTOUL 16.0 20.0 20.0 83
CHAMPAIGN URBANA 14.0 14.0 14.0 105
CHRISTIAN KINCAID 10.3 12.0 13.5 32
CHRISTIAN MORRISONVILLE 9.0 10.0 10.0 29
CHRISTIAN MORRISONVILLE 4 SE 10.0 10.7 10.7 75
CHRISTIAN PANA 3 E 11.1 14.6 17.8 109
CHRISTIAN TAYLORVILLE 11.0 11.1 11.1 38
CLARK CASEY 12.5 15.0 15.0 92
CLARK MARSHALL 10.0 12.0 12.0 48
CLAY CLAY CITY 6 SSE 9.0 10.0 10.0 30
CLAY FLORA 5 NW 12.0 15.0 15.0 113
CLINTON CENTRALIA 19.7 23.7 23.7 69
COLES CHARLESTON 12.0 13.0 18.0 110
COLES MATTOON 11.0 13.0 14.0 73
COOK BARRINGTON 3 SW 16.0 23.0 24.0 43
COOK CHICAGO BOTANICAL GARDEN 12.0 12.5 12.5 26
COOK CHICAGO MIDWAY AP 3 SW 17.6 22.1 22.1 79
COOK CHICAGO OHARE WSO AP 13.4 13.4 13.4 49
COOK PARK FOREST 14.0 23.0 23.0 55
CRAWFORD HUTSONVILLE POWER PLANT 8.0 8.0 10.5 61
CRAWFORD PALESTINE 2 W 12.5 14.0 14.0 114
CUMBERLAND GREENUP 13.0 16.0 16.0 62
DE WITT CLINTON 1 SSW 14.0 16.0 16.0 97
DE WITT FARMER CITY 8.0 9.0 13.0 41
DEKALB DE KALB 15.6 19.1 19.1 41
DEKALB SYCAMORE 12.0 14.1 18.0 73
DOUGLAS TUSCOLA 15.0 16.0 17.5 114
DUPAGE WHEATON 3 SE 14.0 16.4 16.4 78
EDGAR PARIS WATERWORKS 17.0 20.0 21.5 111
EDWARDS ALBION 14.0 14.0 14.0 89
EFFINGHAM EFFINGHAM 14.5 16.5 16.5 103
FAYETTE VANDALIA 12.0 12.0 12.0 61
FORD GIBSON CITY 1 E 10.0 10.5 10.7 72
FORD PIPER CITY 9.0 12.7 12.7 46
FORD ROBERTS 3 N 10.0 10.9 10.9 21
FRANKLIN BENTON 2 N 11.0 13.0 15.0 47
FULTON ASTORIA 18.0 18.0 18.0 34
FULTON AVON 5 NE 12.0 16.5 17.0 57
FULTON CANTON 1 ESE 10.0 12.0 13.0 65
GALLATIN SHAWNEETOWN OLD TOWN 9.0 12.8 12.8 81
GREENE GREENFIELD 8.3 8.3 8.5 30
GREENE WHITE HALL 1 E 14.0 14.5 14.5 111
GRUNDY CHANNAHON DRESDEN ISLAND 17.0 18.0 18.5 62
GRUNDY MORRIS 10.0 13.0 13.5 60
GRUNDY MORRIS 1 NW 12.0 15.0 16.0 72
HAMILTON MCLEANSBORO 2 ENE 11.0 12.0 12.0 110
HANCOCK BENTLEY 11.0 12.0 12.0 59
HANCOCK LA HARPE 14.0 15.0 17.0 112
HARDIN ELIZABETHTOWN 1 NW 8.5 9.8 10.0 26
HARDIN ROSICLARE 5 NW 9.8 13.6 13.6 38
HENDERSON GLADSTONE DAM 18 9.0 14.0 15.0 68
HENRY GALVA 13.0 18.0 19.0 113
HENRY GENESEO 16.0 16.6 16.6 97
HENRY KEWANEE 1 E 15.0 15.0 15.0 66
IROQUOIS WATSEKA 2 NW 16.0 16.0 16.0 110
JACKSON CARBONDALE SEWAGE PLANT 10.0 13.0 13.1 105
JACKSON GRAND TOWER 2 N 12.0 12.5 15.0 67
JACKSON MAKANDA 1 NW 8.1 8.5 8.9 26
JASPER NEWTON 2 NE 10.7 11.1 11.1 84
JASPER STE MARIE 10.0 10.5 10.5 60
JEFFERSON MT VERNON 3 NE 14.0 14.0 14.0 112
JERSEY GRAFTON 14.0 14.0 14.0 90
JERSEY JERSEYVILLE 2 SW 12.0 12.0 13.0 66
JO DAVIESS GALENA 14.5 19.0 19.0 88
JO DAVIESS STOCKTON 3 NNE 12.0 12.0 13.0 63
JOHNSON NEW BURNSIDE 13.5 16.3 16.7 70
KANE AURORA 15.0 18.0 18.0 112
KANE ELGIN 16.5 21.0 22.0 102
KANKAKEE KANKAKEE 3 SW 18.5 19.0 19.0 57
KANKAKEE KANKAKEE METRO WASTWTR 13.0 16.0 17.0 36
KNOX GALESBURG 11.0 16.0 16.0 96
LA SALLE LA SALLE PERU 12.9 13.3 13.5 54
LA SALLE MARSEILLES LOCK 15.0 16.0 17.0 66
LA SALLE OTTAWA 4 SW 12.0 16.0 16.3 115
LA SALLE PERU 11.0 18.0 18.0 44
LA SALLE UTICA STARVED ROCK DAM 17.0 18.5 18.5 62
LAKE ANTIOCH 19.0 21.0 21.0 88
LAKE LAKE VILLA 2 NE 17.3 17.6 17.9 21
LAKE WAUKEGAN 14.0 14.8 15.3 54
LAWRENCE LAWRENCEVILLE 12.0 12.0 12.0 41
LAWRENCE LAWRENCEVILLE 3 WSW 9.2 11.0 11.0 25
LEE DIXON 1 NW 14.0 19.0 20.2 114
LEE PAW PAW 1 E 14.0 20.0 20.0 95
LIVINGSTON PONTIAC 16.0 18.0 18.0 104
LIVINGSTON STREATOR 3 SE 18.0 18.0 18.0 103
LOGAN LINCOLN 13.0 14.6 14.6 101
LOGAN MOUNT PULASKI 13.0 14.0 14.0 78
MACON DECATUR 13.5 19.0 19.0 113
MACOUPIN CARLINVILLE 14.0 14.5 14.5 110
MACOUPIN MEDORA 14.0 14.5 14.5 62
MACOUPIN MOUNT OLIVE 1 E 12.5 14.0 16.0 66
MACOUPIN VIRDEN 11.0 14.0 15.0 66
MADISON ALTON MELVIN PRICE L&D 13.0 14.0 14.0 56
MADISON EDWARDSVILLE 2 W 15.0 16.9 16.9 94
MARION SALEM 13.5 13.5 13.5 92
MARSHALL LACON 1 N 12.0 12.8 14.8 51
MASON HAVANA 12.0 12.3 13.0 74
MASON HAVANA 4 NNE 14.0 16.0 17.0 83
MASON MASON CITY 1 W 8.0 11.0 11.0 50
MASSAC BROOKPORT DAM 52 13.0 13.0 13.0 77
MCDONOUGH MACOMB 12.0 13.0 14.0 104
MCHENRY MARENGO 12.0 14.0 16.0 114
MCHENRY MC HENRY 14.0 17.8 17.8 33
MCLEAN BLOOMINGTON NORMAL 20.0 21.0 21.0 85
MCLEAN BLOOMINGTON WATERWORKS 9.0 12.0 12.0 58
MCLEAN CHENOA 12.0 13.0 13.5 60
MCLEAN NORMAL 12.0 14.5 15.5 30
MENARD PETERSBURG 2 SW 6.9 11.2 11.2 19
MENARD PETERSBURG 3 SSW 8.0 12.0 12.0 52
MERCER ALEDO 14.0 14.0 14.0 107
MERCER KEITHSBURG 10.0 13.0 15.0 78
MERCER NEW BOSTON DAM 17 12.0 15.0 16.0 60
MONROE WATERLOO 15.0 15.0 15.0 94
MONTGOMERY HILLSBORO 14.0 18.0 19.0 107
MORGAN JACKSONVILLE 2 E 12.0 14.0 15.0 112
OGLE ROCHELLE 6 NW 11.1 13.0 15.6 55
PEORIA CHILLICOTHE 11.5 12.0 13.0 66
PEORIA PEORIA 12.2 12.5 13.7 44
PEORIA PEORIA WSO AIRPORT 8.1 11.0 12.0 74
PEORIA PRINCEVILLE 15.0 17.0 17.0 80
PERRY DU QUOIN 4 SE 14.0 16.0 22.0 113
PERRY PINCKNEYVILLE 2 N 7.0 9.5 9.5 19
PIATT MONTICELLO 8.0 9.0 9.0 28
PIATT MONTICELLO NO 2 12.0 18.0 22.0 40
PIKE BARRY WATERWORKS 11.0 12.0 12.0 36
PIKE GRIGGSVILLE 15.0 15.0 15.0 106
PIKE PLEASANT HILL 8.0 9.5 9.5 36
POPE DIXON SPRINGS AGR CENTER 10.5 13.5 13.5 34
POPE GOLCONDA RIVER 9.0 10.8 11.5 81
PULASKI GRAND CHAIN DAM 53 10.0 14.5 14.5 36
RANDOLPH CHESTER 13.2 15.5 15.5 64
RANDOLPH PRAIRIE DUROCHER 15.0 15.0 15.0 45
RANDOLPH RED BUD 5 SE 20.0 20.0 20.0 59
RANDOLPH SPARTA 1 W 12.0 12.0 13.0 114
RICHLAND OLNEY 2 S 12.0 15.0 15.0 112
ROCK ISLAND ILLINOIS CITY DAM 16 12.0 12.0 14.0 64
ROCK ISLAND MOLINE WSO AP 14.8 17.1 18.4 58
SALINE HARRISBURG 15.0 15.0 15.0 104
SANGAMON SPRINGFIELD WSO AP 17.0 17.4 17.4 59
SCHUYLER RUSHVILLE 14.0 16.0 16.0 112
SCOTT BLUFFS 8.0 10.0 11.0 47
SHELBY WINDSOR 14.0 14.0 16.5 103
ST. CLAIR BELLEVILLE SCOTT AFB 14.8 14.8 14.8 59
ST. CLAIR CAHOKIA 11.0 12.0 15.0 36
ST. CLAIR EAST ST LOUIS 14.0 15.5 15.5 32
STARK BRADFORD 1 S 9.2 14.3 14.3 27
STARK TOULON 10.0 11.2 11.2 40
STEPHENSON FREEPORT 14.0 16.0 18.0 66
STEPHENSON FREEPORT WASTE WTR PLT 9.5 13.3 15.3 59
TAZEWELL MACKINAW 11.0 13.5 15.5 66
UNION ANNA 2 NNE 20.0 20.0 20.0 110
VERMILION DANVILLE 14.0 16.2 16.9 106
VERMILION DANVILLE SEWAGE PLANT 11.0 17.5 17.5 59
VERMILION HOOPESTON 1 NE 12.3 13.0 13.0 105
VERMILION SIDELL 5 NW 11.0 17.0 17.0 67
WABASH MOUNT CARMEL 14.0 14.0 15.0 72
WABASH MOUNT CARMEL 3 N 14.0 14.0 14.0 70
WARREN MONMOUTH 15.0 17.4 17.4 114
WASHINGTON NASHVILLE 3 NW 14.0 17.3 17.3 107
WAYNE FAIRFIELD RADIO WFIW 12.0 12.0 12.0 111
WAYNE WAYNE CITY 1 N 8.2 10.0 10.0 41
WHITE CARMI 6 NW 10.2 10.2 11.3 79
WHITESIDE FULTON L&D #13 14.5 14.5 14.5 61
WHITESIDE MORRISON 13.5 15.0 17.0 111
WILL JOLIET 10.5 12.0 12.0 34
WILL JOLIET BRANDON RD DAM 12.0 12.0 12.0 55
WILL PEOTONE 14.0 19.0 19.7 67
WILLIAMSON MARION 4 NNE 17.5 20.7 20.7 57
WINNEBAGO ROCKFORD WSO AP 10.6 11.5 12.3 55
WOODFORD MINONK 14.0 15.0 15.5 112
Whether or Not snow fell on each day.
All snowfall amounts are in inches.
NYRS = Number of Years with non-missing data.
NA = Not Applicable, or insufficient data to compute.
* = value > 0 but less than units resolution.

Link:
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/ussc/USSCAppController?action=station_select_countysf&state=11

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First Half of January – Slightly Colder than Normal

The Illinois statewide average temperature for January 1-15, 2010, was 21.5 degrees, 2.3 degrees below normal. The statewide average precipitation for the same period was 0.75 inches, 84 percent of normal. Precipitation includes both rainfall and the water content of any snowfall.
After a very active December in terms of snowfall, January has been relatively quiet so far. The only significant snowfall totals are in western Illinois and along Lake Michigan. However, the persistently cold weather means the snow has stuck around.

snowfall
Snowfall for January 1-15, 2010, in Illinois.

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December 2010 in Illinois – Cold and Snowy

December 2010 in Illinois turned out to be one of the coldest and snowiest on record. I updated the numbers on January 3 and the maps on January 5.

Temperature

The average statewide temperature was 24.0 degrees, 5.8 degrees below normal and the 12th coldest on record, based on preliminary data.

Snowfall

Snowfall was above-normal throughout the state in December and heaviest in a band from northwest Illinois into east-central Illinois (see maps below). Snowfall totals for December include 20.4 inches in Champaign-Urbana (snowiest December on record), 18.1 inches in Bloomington-Normal(second snowiest December on record), and 19.2 inches in Peoria (third snowiest December on record). Champaign-Urbana beat both Rockford (19.2 inches) and Chicago O’Hare Airport (16.2 inches) on snowfall totals. The largest snowfall total reported in the state was 30.0 inches near Galena by a CoCoRaHS observer. Streator reported 28.5 inches, the highest amount from a NWS cooperative observer.

Precipitation

Even though snowfall was above average in most locations, the average statewide precipitation was 1.8 inches, 0.9 inch below normal. Some of the snowfall did not have a high water content, especially if it fell when the temperatures were in the 20s. While the rule of thumb is that 10 inches of snow equals 1 inch of water, a  10 to 1 ratio, I have seen ratios ranging from 4 to 1 to 22 to 1 in Illinois.
 

December 2010 snowfall
The December 2010 total snowfall in inches.

December 2010 snowfall departure in Illinois
The December 2010 snowfall departures (inches) in Illinois.