A tremendous blizzard, one of the worst in memory, impacted much of the region on February 1-2, 2011, as deep low pressure tracked from Texas to southern Indiana. Snowfall totals ranged from 10 to 20 inches with drifts as high as 7 feet. Blizzard conditions were widespread with visibilities near zero in heavy snow and winds gusting to over 50 to 60 mph. Temperatures were in the teens which added to the misery and the fluffy snow was easily blown around. Actual snow accumulations were difficult to measure due to the very high winds. Most roads, including interstates, were closed with numerous vehicles stuck in drifts or sliding into ditches, but no major accidents were reported. Many people became stranded but were eventually rescued. Many schools and events were cancelled or closed for a couple of days, as it took crews a while to open up rural roads and even side streets. Much of eastern Iowa and northwest Illinois received 10 to 15 inches of snow, with western Illinois and extreme northeast Missouri reporting 15 to 20 inches. The highest total was a whopping 20 inches at Monmouth, Illinois in Warren county. At the height of the blizzard during the late afternoon and evening hours on February 1, snowfall rates were as high as 1 to 3 inches per hour. These rates were enhanced by thunder-snows that developed in the evening across eastern Iowa and northwest Illinois. The strongest winds also occurred during the evening with gusts of 66 mph reported at Clinton, Iowa; 56 mph at Mount Pleasant and Davenport, Iowa; and 52 mph at Lowden, Iowa. A 24-hour record snowfall of 16.7 inches was set at Moline, Illinois which broke the old record of 16.4 inches set on January 3, 1971. A record storm total snowfall of 18.4 inches was tied at Moline, which was first set on January 11-13, 1979. A 58 year old male died of hypothermia during the blizzard on a rural road near Mount Pleasant, Iowa in Henry county. During the late evening on Tuesday February 1 the victim left his residence in his SUV to go 4-wheeling but became stuck in the ditch in snow and mud. While trying to dig out the vehicle by hand he collapsed next to the vehicle and fell into the ditch, and died of hypothermia. His body was found about 200 yards from his residence by a road grader operator plowing snow on the morning of February 2.

Blizzard in BUREAU, ILLINOIS
From 01-FEB-11 12:00:00 to 02-FEB-11 08:45:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter reported 13.5 inches of snow 1 mile southeast of Princeton.

Blizzard in CARROLL, ILLINOIS
From 01-FEB-11 13:30:00 to 02-FEB-11 08:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Blizzard in HANCOCK, ILLINOIS
From 01-FEB-11 08:00:00 to 02-FEB-11 08:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter reported 13.0 inches of snow at La Harpe.

Blizzard in HENDERSON, ILLINOIS
From 01-FEB-11 08:00:00 to 02-FEB-11 08:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Blizzard in HENRY, ILLINOIS
From 01-FEB-11 11:00:00 to 02-FEB-11 08:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter estimated 17.6 inches of snow 1 mile east of Kewanee.

Blizzard in JO DAVIESS, ILLINOIS
From 01-FEB-11 13:30:00 to 02-FEB-11 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter estimated 15.0 inches of snow at 3 miles northwest of Stockton, with snow drifts as high as 7 feet.

Blizzard in MCDONOUGH, ILLINOIS
From 01-FEB-11 08:15:00 to 02-FEB-11 08:45:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter reported an incredible 19.0 inches of snow 1 mile west of Tennessee.

Blizzard in MERCER, ILLINOIS
From 01-FEB-11 10:30:00 to 02-FEB-11 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Blizzard in PUTNAM, ILLINOIS
From 01-FEB-11 12:45:00 to 02-FEB-11 08:45:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Blizzard in ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS
From 01-FEB-11 10:00:00 to 02-FEB-11 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The NWS observer for the Quad City International Airport at Moline measured 18.4 inches of snow. A 24-hour record snowfall of 16.7 inches was set at Moline, breaking the previous record of 16.4 inches set on January 3, 1971.  Also, the storm total of 18.4 inches tied the record which first occurred January 11-13, 1979.

Blizzard in STEPHENSON, ILLINOIS
From 01-FEB-11 12:15:00 to 02-FEB-11 08:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

A CoCoRaHS observer estimated 14.5 inches of snow about 4 miles southeast of Winslow.

Blizzard in WARREN, ILLINOIS
From 01-FEB-11 08:30:00 to 02-FEB-11 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter reported a whopping 20.0 inches of snow at Monmouth.

Blizzard in WHITESIDE, ILLINOIS
From 01-FEB-11 12:00:00 to 02-FEB-11 08:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter