Heavy Snow — Stark, Illinois

2025-11-29 · Stark, Illinois

Event narrative

Numerous weather observers measured 5 to 10 inches of snow across Stark County. Due to both falling snow and considerable blowing and drifting snow, travel became extremely hazardous...leading to numerous accidents on area roadways.

Wider weather episode

Low pressure tracking from western Kansas during the evening of November 28th to southern Lake Michigan by the morning of November 30th brought widespread heavy snowfall to much of central Illinois. The snow began during the pre-dawn hours of November 29th, then became moderate to heavy at times during the morning and afternoon of the 29th as the low approached. Despite the wet nature of the snow, strong southeasterly winds gusting 30-40mph created considerable blowing and drifting. As the low tracked toward the southern Great Lakes, it pulled a warm front through the region during the evening...leading to temperatures rising into the middle to upper 30s and the lingering very light precipitation to change to drizzle or sprinkles. Once the low tracked further away, colder air returned and caused the slush and water on roads to re-freeze overnight into the morning of November 30th, creating slick and hazardous driving conditions. Storm total snowfall ranged from 5 to 10 inches everywhere north of the I-70 corridor...with a few locations from eastern Sangamon County into southern Christian County picking up as much as 11 to 12 inches. Daily snowfall records were established at Peoria (5.2 inches), Springfield (8.9 inches), and Lincoln (7.8 inches).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1301148. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.