National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Regional Outbreaks of Severe Weather Through Early Next Week; Early Season Heat Wave across the South

Active spring pattern across the center of our nation with several episodes of severe weather and heavy rainfall expected into next week. The potential for very large hail, long track tornadoes, severe wind gusts, frequent cloud to ground lightning strikes and flash flooding are in the outlook. Furthermore, dangerous early season heat wave continues for the Gulf Coast states into early next week. Read More >

Overview

Sunday, January 7 saw persistent light freezing rain and drizzle over the area over a span of six to nine hours. At brief times this was mixed with sleet and snow, but was mainly an icing event during the afternoon. After dark, the precipitation gradually transitioned to snow by mid-evening.

This event came on the heels of a significant cold weather period from Dec 26-Jan 6, which meant ground and pavement temperatures were below freezing.  This furthered the icing on roads and created very hazardous travel conditions. 

A Winter Weather Advisory was issued for generally south of Interstate 80 in the early morning of January 7, and this was expanded northward early in the afternoon.

 

Radar Loop
January 7 13-hour radar loop from 10:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m.  Overlaid in yellow are mPing observations.  Symbols are drops (rain), drops with a horizontal "S" (freezing rain), S with a circle (sleet), and asterisk shape (snow).

Meteorology

Precip Types Sounding
An explanation of different precipitation types. A look at the observed atmosphere over central Illinois on January 7 that was  representative of much of the local area.

 

 

 


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