Heavy Snow — Macon, Illinois

2025-12-13 · Macon, Illinois

Event narrative

Weather observers measured 6 to 8 inches of snow across Macon County...including 7.5 inches in Decatur and 7.0 inches in Decatur. Due to snow-covered and slick roadways, numerous traffic accidents occurred.

Wider weather episode

An upper-level disturbance interacting with an advancing Arctic cold front brought a period of heavy snow to central Illinois on December 13th. Despite limited deep-layer moisture, strong synoptic lift and high snow-to-liquid ratios of 15:1 to 20:1 led to enhanced snowfall rates and an efficient accumulation. Storm total snowfall was 3 to 6 inches everywhere north of the I-70 corridor...with as much as 6 to 8 inches occurring along a Canton...to Bloomington...to Danville line. Due to snow-covered and slick roadways, numerous traffic accidents and road closures were reported. A seven-vehicle accident on southbound I-57 in Coles County resulted in the death of a man and the injury of his wife. Meanwhile a separate multi-vehicle crash on I-55 near the Clear Lake exit in Springfield claimed the life of a teenaged girl.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1301768. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.