A major winter storm dumped up to a foot of snow in southern Illinois. Snowfall amounts increased from north to south, ranging from just a few inches along Interstate 64 to one foot along the Ohio River at Metropolis. Rain gradually changed over to snow during the day. A few hours of sleet and freezing rain occurred during the transition from rain to snow. Up to one-tenth inch of sleet and ice accumulated, followed by snow. The steadiest and heaviest snow was south and east of the Marion/Carbondale area, where visibility was occasionally below one-half mile in heavy snow. Snowfall rates were one to two inches per hour during the evening. Specific snowfall amounts included: 11 inches in Brookport and Mound City (both along the Ohio River), 8 inches in Anna (Union County), Carrier Mills (Saline County), and Cave-In-Rock (Hardin County), about 6 inches in the Marion/Carbondale area, 5 inches in Mount Carmel, 4 inches in Du Quoin (Perry County), and 2 inches in Mount Vernon. North winds gusted up to 25 mph, causing some drifting of the snow. Travel became very difficult. In far southern parts of the state, unplowed roads were impassable to smaller, lighter vehicles. Near Murphysboro, Illinois Route 149 was shut down due to several semis that could not climb a hill. Schools were closed for the remainder of the week in most counties. Just across the Ohio River in Paducah, Kentucky, there were 12.1 inches of snow, which was the heaviest March snowstorm on record for that location. It was also the third largest snowstorm for any time of the year at Paducah. Some of the coldest air ever recorded in the month of March invaded southern Illinois the day after the snowstorm, hampering snow removal efforts. The low temperature was 3  below zero at Carbondale on March 6. In the wake of a strong cold front that passed through on the night of the 3rd, an arctic high pressure center moved southeast into the central Plains. A deep 500 mb trough progressed slowly eastward from the Rockies across the Plains. This trough was responsible for a sustained period of moist southwest flow aloft. The relatively moist air overrunning cold air near the surface set the stage for widespread moderate to heavy snow.

Winter Weather in JEFFERSON, ILLINOIS
From 04-MAR-15 07:00:00 to 04-MAR-15 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Winter Storm in PERRY, ILLINOIS
From 04-MAR-15 07:00:00 to 04-MAR-15 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Winter Storm in FRANKLIN, ILLINOIS
From 04-MAR-15 08:00:00 to 04-MAR-15 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in JACKSON, ILLINOIS
From 04-MAR-15 08:00:00 to 04-MAR-15 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in WILLIAMSON, ILLINOIS
From 04-MAR-15 09:00:00 to 04-MAR-15 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in UNION, ILLINOIS
From 04-MAR-15 09:00:00 to 04-MAR-15 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in JOHNSON, ILLINOIS
From 04-MAR-15 10:00:00 to 05-MAR-15 00:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in ALEXANDER, ILLINOIS
From 04-MAR-15 11:00:00 to 05-MAR-15 01:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in PULASKI, ILLINOIS
From 04-MAR-15 11:00:00 to 05-MAR-15 01:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in MASSAC, ILLINOIS
From 04-MAR-15 11:00:00 to 05-MAR-15 01:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in WAYNE, ILLINOIS
From 04-MAR-15 08:00:00 to 04-MAR-15 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in EDWARDS, ILLINOIS
From 04-MAR-15 09:00:00 to 04-MAR-15 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in WABASH, ILLINOIS
From 04-MAR-15 09:00:00 to 04-MAR-15 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in HAMILTON, ILLINOIS
From 04-MAR-15 09:00:00 to 04-MAR-15 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in WHITE, ILLINOIS
From 04-MAR-15 09:00:00 to 04-MAR-15 22:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in SALINE, ILLINOIS
From 04-MAR-15 10:00:00 to 04-MAR-15 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in GALLATIN, ILLINOIS
From 04-MAR-15 11:00:00 to 04-MAR-15 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in POPE, ILLINOIS
From 04-MAR-15 11:00:00 to 05-MAR-15 01:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in HARDIN, ILLINOIS
From 04-MAR-15 11:00:00 to 05-MAR-15 01:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter