Southern Illinois was on the northwest fringe of the wintry precipitation associated with a low pressure system over the Tennessee Valley. Snowfall amounts were heaviest along the Ohio River from Metropolis to Shawneetown (in Gallatin County), where 4 to 7 inches fell. Further northwest, 1 to 3 inches fell as far northwest as a line from Cairo to Vienna to Harrisburg and Carmi. The intensity of the snowfall varied greatly from one location to the next. The heavy snow occurred in bands associated with the deformation zone on the northwest side of the storm system. Snowfall rates in some of the bands were an inch per hour, with visibility reduced to about one-quarter mile. Some specific snowfall totals included: 7 inches in Hardin County (2 miles northwest of Elizabethtown), 7 inches in southwest Gallatin County (at Leamington), 6 inches in Pope County (5 miles north of Golconda), 3 inches at Cairo, and 2.5 inches at Harrisburg. Following the ending of the snow, strong north winds gusting from 30 to 40 mph caused widespread drifting. The drifts were especially deep in open farm country, where the lack of trees and other obstructions resulted in stronger winds. The winter storm was caused by a deepening 500 mb trough that swung eastward from the Plains across the Mississippi Valley early on the 22nd. A weak low pressure center formed over Texas early on the 21st. The low gradually strengthened as it moved northeast across Alabama early on the 22nd, reaching the Virginia coast early on the 23rd.  The low pressure system was accompanied by plenty of Gulf of Mexico moisture, which pivoted as far northwest as southeast Illinois. There was sufficient cold air in place for most of the precipitation to fall as snow.

Winter Storm in POPE, ILLINOIS
From 22-JAN-16 01:00:00 to 22-JAN-16 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Winter Storm in MASSAC, ILLINOIS
From 22-JAN-16 01:00:00 to 22-JAN-16 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Winter Storm in HARDIN, ILLINOIS
From 22-JAN-16 01:00:00 to 22-JAN-16 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Winter Storm in GALLATIN, ILLINOIS
From 22-JAN-16 01:00:00 to 22-JAN-16 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Winter Weather in ALEXANDER, ILLINOIS
From 22-JAN-16 04:00:00 to 22-JAN-16 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in PULASKI, ILLINOIS
From 22-JAN-16 03:00:00 to 22-JAN-16 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in JOHNSON, ILLINOIS
From 22-JAN-16 02:00:00 to 22-JAN-16 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in WILLIAMSON, ILLINOIS
From 22-JAN-16 03:00:00 to 22-JAN-16 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in WHITE, ILLINOIS
From 22-JAN-16 04:00:00 to 22-JAN-16 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Weather in SALINE, ILLINOIS
From 22-JAN-16 03:00:00 to 22-JAN-16 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter