A powerful winter storm system impacted parts of central and southeast Illinois on February 24th, bringing snow and strong winds.  Low pressure tracked from east Texas during the evening of February 23rd to Ohio by the evening of the 24th.  This particular track focused the heaviest precipitation across east-central Illinois, mainly east of the I-55 corridor.  Snowfall amounts generally ranged from 3 to 6 inches: however, very strong northerly winds gusting as high as 45 to 55 mph created blizzard conditions for several hours.  Considerable blowing and drifting snow reduced visibility to less than 1/4 mile at times, and caused numerous traffic accidents.  One person died in Cumberland County as a result of a collision with a semi truck.

Blizzard in MCLEAN, ILLINOIS
From 24-FEB-16 06:00:00 to 24-FEB-16 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Weather observers across McLean County reported snowfall amounts of 3 to 4 inches.  Winds gusting to between 40 and 50 mph created whiteout conditions from 0800 to 1300 CST.  Snow-covered roads and poor visibility due to falling and blowing snow contributed to numerous traffic accidents across the county, especially on I-74.  Portions of I-74 and IL-9 were closed at times.  In addition, many trees and power lines were blown down, resulting in scattered power outages.

Blizzard in PIATT, ILLINOIS
From 24-FEB-16 06:30:00 to 24-FEB-16 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Weather observers across Piatt County reported snowfall amounts of 3 to 4 inches.  Winds gusting to between 40 and 50 mph created whiteout conditions from 1100 to 1500 CST.  Snow-covered roads and poor visibility due to falling and blowing snow contributed to numerous traffic accidents across the county, especially on I-74.  In addition, many trees and power lines were blown down, resulting in scattered power outages.

Winter Storm in MACON, ILLINOIS
From 24-FEB-16 05:00:00 to 24-FEB-16 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Weather observers across Macon County reported snowfall amounts of 3 to 4 inches, with drifts to around 1 foot.  Winds gusting to between 40 and 50 mph created near whiteout conditions from 0900 to 1100 CST.  Snow-covered roads and poor visibility due to falling and blowing snow contributed to numerous traffic accidents across the county, especially on I-72 which was closed for 2 to 4 hours.  Several cars were stranded in deep snow and a snow plow got stuck on a county road.  In addition, many trees and power lines were blown down, resulting in scattered power outages.

Blizzard in CUMBERLAND, ILLINOIS
From 24-FEB-16 08:00:00 to 24-FEB-16 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Weather observers across Cumberland County reported snowfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches.  Winds gusting to between 45 and 55 mph created whiteout conditions from 1000 to 1400 CST.  Snow-covered roads and poor visibility due to falling and blowing snow contributed to numerous traffic accidents across the county, especially on I-57.  A fatal traffic accident occurred on IL-130 south of Greenup when a semi truck collided with another vehicle.  A 57 year-old male in the vehicle was killed.  In addition, many trees and power lines were blown down, resulting in scattered power outages.

Blizzard in DOUGLAS, ILLINOIS
From 24-FEB-16 08:00:00 to 24-FEB-16 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Weather observers across Douglas County reported snowfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches.  Winds gusting to between 45 and 55 mph created whiteout conditions from 1030 to 1430 CST.  Snow-covered roads and poor visibility due to falling and blowing snow contributed to numerous traffic accidents across the county, especially on I-57 and US-36.  In addition, many trees and power lines were blown down, resulting in more than half the county being without power for 5 to 8 hours.

Blizzard in EDGAR, ILLINOIS
From 24-FEB-16 08:00:00 to 24-FEB-16 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Weather observers across Edgar County reported snowfall amounts of 4 to 6 inches.  Winds gusting to between 40 and 50 mph created whiteout conditions from 1000 to 1300 CST.  Snow-covered roads and poor visibility due to falling and blowing snow contributed to numerous traffic accidents across the county, especially on US-150 and US-36.  In addition, many trees and power lines were blown down, resulting in scattered power outages.

Blizzard in MOULTRIE, ILLINOIS
From 24-FEB-16 06:30:00 to 24-FEB-16 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Weather observers across Moultrie County reported snowfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches.  Winds gusting to between 40 and 50 mph created whiteout conditions from 1100 to 1500 CST.  Snow-covered roads and poor visibility due to falling and blowing snow contributed to numerous traffic accidents across the county.  In addition, many trees and power lines were blown down, resulting in scattered power outages.

Blizzard in SHELBY, ILLINOIS
From 24-FEB-16 06:30:00 to 24-FEB-16 18:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Weather observers across Shelby County reported snowfall amounts of 4 to 6 inches.  Winds gusting to between 45 and 55 mph created whiteout conditions from 1100 to 1600 CST.  Snow-covered roads and poor visibility due to falling and blowing snow contributed to numerous traffic accidents across the county, with several stranded vehicles in rural areas.  In addition, many trees and power lines were blown down, resulting in scattered power outages.

Blizzard in VERMILION, ILLINOIS
From 24-FEB-16 08:00:00 to 24-FEB-16 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Weather observers across Vermilion County reported snowfall amounts of 4 to 6 inches, with drifts between 1 and 2 feet.  Winds gusting to between 40 and 50 mph created whiteout conditions from 1000 to 1500 CST.  Snow-covered roads and poor visibility due to falling and blowing snow contributed to numerous traffic accidents across the county, especially on I-74 where part of the road west of Danville was closed.  In addition, many trees and power lines were blown down, resulting in scattered power outages.

Blizzard in CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS
From 24-FEB-16 08:00:00 to 24-FEB-16 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Weather observers across Champaign County reported snowfall amounts of 5 to 6 inches.  Winds gusting to between 45 and 56 mph created whiteout conditions from 0930 to 1430 CST.  Snow-covered roads and poor visibility due to falling and blowing snow contributed to numerous traffic accidents across the county, especially on I-72 and I-74.  Several motorists were stranded on IL-47 near Mahomet.  In addition, many trees and power lines were blown down, resulting in scattered power outages.

Blizzard in COLES, ILLINOIS
From 24-FEB-16 07:30:00 to 24-FEB-16 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Weather observers across Coles County reported snowfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches.  Winds gusting to between 45 and 55 mph created whiteout conditions from 1100 to 1400 CST.  Snow-covered roads and poor visibility due to falling and blowing snow contributed to numerous traffic accidents across the county, especially on I-57.  In addition, many trees and power lines were blown down, resulting in scattered power outages.

Winter Storm in DE WITT, ILLINOIS
From 24-FEB-16 05:00:00 to 24-FEB-16 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Weather observers across DeWitt County reported snowfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches, with drifts of 1 to 2 feet on east-west rural roads.  Winds gusting to between 30 and 40 mph, created considerable blowing and drifting snow and several traffic accidents on area roads, especially I-74 and IL-54.  In addition, many trees and power lines were blown down, resulting in scattered power outages.