A strong winter storm brought widespread snow to the region Thursday, with widespread amounts  between 1 to 4 inches. Strong winds also accompanied the snow, which caused significant blowing and drifting, especially in rural areas.  Many accidents were reported on Interstate 80, causing frequent backups.  Even stronger winds were observed on Friday across the area, and.  Wind gusts between 40-50 mph were common, creating ground blizzard conditions primarily along and north of Interstate 80.
Additionally, temperatures dropped sharply behind the arctic cold front on Thursday and continued to fall throughout the day.  Single digit temperatures with wind chills between -20 and -40 degrees were common.

Winter Storm in CARROLL, ILLINOIS
From 22-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 24-DEC-22 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The COOP observer in Mount Carroll reported 4.0 inches of snow. Other snowfall reports ranged from 2.1 inches from a trained spotter in Milledgeville to 4.7 inches from a trained spotter 6 miles south southeast of Elmoville.  Winds increased quickly behind a strong cold front with gusts of 40 to 50 MPH leading to reduced visibilities in blowing and drifting snow. Temperatures also dropped quickly with wind chills of -20 to -30. The coldest wind chills occurred on the 23rd.

Winter Storm in ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS
From 22-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 24-DEC-22 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The official NWS observation at the Moline-Quad Cities Airport was 0.9 inches of snow. An additional snowfall report from a mesonet site 3 miles north northeast of Rock island was 1.5 inches. Snowfall reports ranged from 2.0 inches from the COOP observer in Freeport to 3.8 inches from a CoCoRAHS observer 3 miles north northeast of McConnell.  Winds increased quickly behind a strong cold front with gusts of 40 to 50 MPH leading to reduced visibilities in blowing and drifting snow. The peak measured gust by the ASOS at the Moline Quad Cities Airport was 49 MPH. Temperatures also dropped quickly with wind chills of -20 to -30. The lowest wind chill reported was -24The coldest wind chills occurred on the 23rd.

Winter Storm in HANCOCK, ILLINOIS
From 22-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 24-DEC-22 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The COOP observer snowfall reports ranged from 1.0 inches in Augusta to 3.2 inches in Bentley. Winds increased quickly behind a strong cold front with gusts of 40 to 50 MPH leading to reduced visibilities in blowing and drifting snow. Temperatures also dropped quickly with wind chills of -20 to -30. The coldest wind chills occurred on the 23rd.

Winter Storm in MCDONOUGH, ILLINOIS
From 22-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 24-DEC-22 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A COOP observer 2 miles south of Prairie city reported 1.0 inches of snow and a CoCoRAHS observer 3 miles west of Macomb also reported 1.0 inches. Winds increased quickly behind a strong cold front with gusts of 40 to 50 MPH leading to reduced visibilities in blowing and drifting snow. Temperatures also dropped quickly with wind chills of -20 to -30. The coldest wind chills occurred on the 23rd.

Blizzard in WHITESIDE, ILLINOIS
From 23-DEC-22 12:00:00 to 24-DEC-22 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Trained spotter reports ranged from 1 inch in Fulton to 2 inches 3 miles south southwest of Malvern. After the snow fell, winds increased with gusts of 40 to 50 MPH for several hours on the 22nd.  This lead to whiteout conditions especially in rural and open areas. The strong winds also caused dangerously cold wind chills with -27 reported at the Sterling-Rock Falls Airport.

Winter Storm in MERCER, ILLINOIS
From 22-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 24-DEC-22 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The COOP observer in Aledo reported 1.8 inches of snow. Winds increased quickly behind a strong cold front with gusts of 40 to 50 MPH leading to reduced visibilities in blowing and drifting snow. Temperatures also dropped quickly with wind chills of -20 to -30. The coldest wind chills occurred on the 23rd.

Winter Storm in HENRY, ILLINOIS
From 22-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 24-DEC-22 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Snowfall reports ranged from 1.0 inches form a COOP observer in Geneseo to 1.5 inches from a CoCoRAHS observer 2 miles northwest of Geneseo. the COOP observer in Kewanee reported a dusting of snow. Other CoCoRAHS reports in the county were 1.2 inches at 2 miles northeast of Coal valley and New Windsor Winds increased quickly behind a strong cold front with gusts of 40 to 50 MPH leading to reduced visibilities in blowing and drifting snow. Temperatures also dropped quickly with wind chills of -20 to -30. The coldest wind chills occurred on the 23rd.

Winter Storm in JO DAVIESS, ILLINOIS
From 21-DEC-22 18:00:00 to 24-DEC-22 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Snowfall reports ranged from 1.9 inches from a COOP observer 3 miles north northeast of Stockton to a CoCoRAHS observer 2 miles east of east Dubuque.  Winds quickly increased with gusts of 40 to 50 MPH which lead to widespread blowing and drifting snow.  Additionally, the winds also produced wind chills.

Winter Storm in WHITESIDE, ILLINOIS
From 22-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 23-DEC-22 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Snowfall reports ranged from 1.0 inches from a trained spotter in Fulton to 2.0 inches 3 miles south southwest of Malvern. Winds quickly increased with peak gusts of 40 to 50 MPH.  The peak gust at the Sterling Rock Falls Airport was 46 MPH. Additionally, the peak wind chills were  -20 to -30.  The lowest wind chill in Sterling Rock Falls was -27.

Winter Storm in STEPHENSON, ILLINOIS
From 22-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 24-DEC-22 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Snowfall reports ranged from 2.0 inches from the COOP observer in Freeport to 3.8 inches from a CoCoRAHS observer 3 miles north northeast of McConnell.  Winds increased quickly behind a strong cold front with gusts of 40 to 50 MPH leading to reduced visibilities in blowing and drifting snow. Temperatures also dropped quickly with wind chills of -20 to -30. The coldest wind chills occurred on the 23rd.

Winter Storm in BUREAU, ILLINOIS
From 22-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 24-DEC-22 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The COOP observer in Princeton reported 1.6 inches of snow Winds increased quickly behind a strong cold front with gusts of 40 to 50 MPH leading to reduced visibilities in blowing and drifting snow. Temperatures also dropped quickly with wind chills of -20 to -30. The coldest wind chills occurred on the 23rd.

Winter Storm in PUTNAM, ILLINOIS
From 22-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 24-DEC-22 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

The CoCoRAHS observer 1 mile northwest of McNabb reported 1.0 inches of snow.  Winds increased quickly behind a strong cold front with gusts of 40 to 50 MPH leading to reduced visibilities in blowing and drifting snow. Temperatures also dropped quickly with wind chills of -20 to -30. The coldest wind chills occurred on the 23rd.

Winter Storm in HENDERSON, ILLINOIS
From 22-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 24-DEC-22 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A CoCoRAHS observer 2 miles northwest of Stronghurst reported 1.5 inches of snow.  A COOP observer at Gladstone Lock and Dam 18 reported about 3 inches of new snow. Winds increased quickly behind a strong cold front with gusts of 40 to 50 MPH leading to reduced visibilities in blowing and drifting snow. Temperatures also dropped quickly with wind chills of -20 to -30. The coldest wind chills occurred on the 23rd.

Winter Storm in WARREN, ILLINOIS
From 22-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 24-DEC-22 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

COOP observer snowfall reports ranged from 1.0 inches 4 miles northwest of Monmouth to 2.0 inches in Monmouth. Winds increased quickly behind a strong cold front with gusts of 40 to 50 MPH leading to reduced visibilities in blowing and drifting snow. Temperatures also dropped quickly with wind chills of -20 to -30. The coldest wind chills occurred on the 23rd.