Heavy snow accumulations between 6 and 8 inches fell across a large part of Central and Southeast IL between noon on 12/24/02 and 4 AM on 12/25/02.  The heavy snow accumulations generally occurred east of I-55 with another heavy snow band just east of the IL River across Mason and Cass Counties.  There were local 9 inch amounts of snow in Effingham and Sidell (Southwest Vermilion county). The Christmas Eve snow caused numerous vehicle related accidents, especially during the afternoon and early evening of 12/24/02 when 35 to 40 accidents occurred in Champaign county.  There were no deaths in Central and Southeast IL, but there were two minor vehicle related injuries in Springfield where snowfall amounts averaged 5 inches.  There was only minor blowing and drifting snow with this winter storm.  With the exception of Lawrence County, this was the first heavy snow of the season across Central and Southeast IL.

Heavy Snow in SHELBY, ILLINOIS
From 24-DEC-02 13:00:00 to 25-DEC-02 03:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in DOUGLAS, ILLINOIS
From 24-DEC-02 16:00:00 to 25-DEC-02 04:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in EDGAR, ILLINOIS
From 24-DEC-02 16:00:00 to 25-DEC-02 04:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in LAWRENCE, ILLINOIS
From 24-DEC-02 14:00:00 to 25-DEC-02 04:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in MACON, ILLINOIS
From 24-DEC-02 15:00:00 to 25-DEC-02 03:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in JASPER, ILLINOIS
From 24-DEC-02 14:00:00 to 25-DEC-02 04:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in PIATT, ILLINOIS
From 24-DEC-02 15:00:00 to 25-DEC-02 04:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in CRAWFORD, ILLINOIS
From 24-DEC-02 14:00:00 to 25-DEC-02 04:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in CUMBERLAND, ILLINOIS
From 24-DEC-02 14:00:00 to 25-DEC-02 04:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in DE WITT, ILLINOIS
From 24-DEC-02 15:00:00 to 25-DEC-02 04:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in CASS, ILLINOIS
From 24-DEC-02 12:00:00 to 25-DEC-02 01:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in CLAY, ILLINOIS
From 24-DEC-02 12:00:00 to 25-DEC-02 03:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in VERMILION, ILLINOIS
From 24-DEC-02 16:00:00 to 25-DEC-02 04:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in CLARK, ILLINOIS
From 24-DEC-02 14:00:00 to 25-DEC-02 04:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in EFFINGHAM, ILLINOIS
From 24-DEC-02 13:00:00 to 25-DEC-02 03:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in MASON, ILLINOIS
From 24-DEC-02 12:00:00 to 25-DEC-02 01:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in MOULTRIE, ILLINOIS
From 24-DEC-02 15:00:00 to 25-DEC-02 03:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in COLES, ILLINOIS
From 24-DEC-02 14:00:00 to 25-DEC-02 04:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.