Summary

A major winter storm brought widespread snowfall to the Midwest, including historic snowfall amounts to portions of the NWS St. Louis County Warning Area (LSX CWA). This prolonged event began during the late morning on Friday, January 11th 2019 and ended during the early evening on Sunday, January 13th 2019. The northern two-thirds of the LSX CWA received over 8 inches of snow, and a few locations in central Missouri received over 20 inches of snow. A storm total snowfall map is shown below, and individual storm total snowfall reports are listed on the "Storm Reports" tab above. The "Records" tab lists various 1-day, 2-day, and 3-day snowfall records for St. Louis and Columbia.

The storm had tremendous impacts across Missouri and Illinois, especially on Friday afternoon and Friday night when the heaviest snowfall was occurring. Heavy snow moved into the St. Louis metropolitan area just before the Friday afternoon/evening rush hour, and snowfall rates in excess of 1 inch per hour were observed. Many people reported evening commutes of 6 hours or more due to the persistent heavy snow which fell during rush hour. Some drivers were forced to stay in their vehicles for over 15 hours (Friday evening through Saturday) on I-44 due to hazardous road conditions and several road closures. The Missouri State Highway Patrol responded to nearly 4,000 calls for help, rescued nearly 1,800 stranded motorists, and recorded 878 crashes on interstates and highways. Fifty-seven people were injured and four died in those traffic accidents. Illinois state troopers responded to nearly 300 traffic crashes (one of which was fatal) and nearly 800 calls for assistance from motorists during the winter storm. Lambert St. Louis International Airport canceled 108 arriving flights and 101 departing flights during January 11-12. The heavy and wet nature of the snow caused tree limbs to break, and some of the tree limbs fell onto power lines. At the height of the storm, up to 100,000 people were without power in parts of central Missouri, including the city of Columbia.

 

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Photos & Video

Photos from January 11th through 13th

Snow near Columbia, MO	Nearly 10" of wet snow caused tree limbs to break in Jefferson City, MO	Close-up of snowflakes near Hannibal, MO	Snow near Columbia, MO
Approximately 15" of snow on the ground at William Woods University campus in Fulton, MO	Approximately 15" of snow on the ground at the William Woods University campus in Fulton, MO	Heavy snow bursts quickly cover the road at I-55 and Pevely on 1/12/2019	Slow traffic and wrecked/abandoned vehicles on Tesson Ferry Road about 2 miles south of St. Anthony's Hospital.
Slow traffic and wrecked or abandoned vehicles on Tesson Ferry Road about 2 miles south of St. Anthony's Hospital.	Deteriorating weather conditions led to accidents across the region, including this one on I-44 southwest of St. Louis (Photo courtesy of the Missouri Department of Transportation)	At the intersection of Lindbergh and Schutz on Jan 11th	Belleville, IL near IL-158 and Frank Scott Parkway on Jan 11th
I-44 eastbound at Eureka, MO on Jan 11th. At the time of this photo, traffic had not moved for over 3 hours.	I-44 eastbound at Eureka, MO on Jan 11th. At the time of this photo, traffic had not moved for over 3 hours.	Near-standstill traffic at I-64/40 and MO-141 as well as stalled vehicles on the approach to Mason Road	Snow-covered trees and roads near Columbia, MO on Jan 11th (Photo courtesy of the KOPN weather team)
Falling snow illuminated by the lights at Gateway Arch National Park on Jan 11th	MoDOT snowplow in St. Louis, MO (Photo courtesy of Christy Schneller, VisionsofHisGlory Photography)	Jan 12th in central MO	Jan 12th in central MO
11.5" of snow in Wentzville on Jan 12th (Photo courtesy of JW)

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Storm total snowfall reports from January 11th-13th, 2019

Illinois
Adams County
Quincy	9.8 in	0100 PM 01/12	39.93N/91.40W
Brown County
Versailles	12.0 in	1221 AM 01/13	39.89N/90.66W
Clinton County
Aviston	7.5 in	1119 AM 01/13	38.61N/89.61W
Fayette County
Ramsey	7.8 in	0700 AM 01/13	39.14N/89.11W
Greene County
1 E White Hall	12.6 in	0700 AM 01/13	39.44N/90.39W
Jersey County
1 NNW Elsah	8.0 in	1258 PM 01/12	38.97N/90.36W
1 SW Jerseyville	7.0 in	0600 AM 01/14	39.10N/90.34W
Macoupin County
1 ENE Fidelity	8.1 in	0600 AM 01/14	39.16N/90.14W
Madison County
3 SSE Alton	8.3 in	0700 AM 01/14	38.87N/90.14W
1 NNE Edwardsville	7.7 in	0600 AM 01/14	38.81N/89.96W
2 NE Highland	6.3 in	0600 AM 01/14	38.76N/89.66W
Marion County
2 ENE Patoka	5.5 in	0700 AM 01/13	38.77N/89.06W
4 W Kell	5.4 in	0600 AM 01/14	38.49N/88.97W
1 N Central City	5.0 in	0600 AM 01/14	38.56N/89.13W
Salem	4.0 in	0600 AM 01/14	38.63N/88.95W
Monroe County
Waterloo	8.0 in	0515 AM 01/12	38.34N/90.16W
Randolph County
Steeleville	7.5 in	0800 AM 01/13	38.01N/89.66W
1 SSE Roots	3.5 in	0600 AM 01/14	38.01N/89.96W
St. Clair County
Freeburg	8.1 in	1014 AM 01/12	38.43N/89.91W
Saint Libory	8.0 in	0600 AM 01/14	38.37N/89.71W
Washington County
1 E Nashville	8.5 in	0800 AM 01/13	38.35N/89.37W
Ashley	5.5 in	0837 AM 01/12	38.33N/89.19W
Missouri
Audrain County
Mexico	19.0 in	0345 PM 01/12	39.16N/91.88W
Mexico	17.0 in	0234 PM 01/12	39.17N/91.87W
Boone County
1 S Columbia	17.3 in	0700 AM 01/13	38.94N/92.33W
Ashland	17.0 in	0109 PM 01/12	38.77N/92.26W
Columbia Regional Airport (KCOU)	16.9 in	01/14	38.82N/92.22W
6 WNW Carrington	16.0 in	0200 PM 01/12	38.85N/92.16W
1 NNW Columbia	15.8 in	0400 PM 01/12	38.97N/92.34W
Columbia	15.5 in	0149 PM 01/12	38.95N/92.33W
Callaway County
Fulton	18.0 in	0841 PM 01/13	38.86N/91.95W
3 SW Holts Summit	14.5 in	0248 PM 01/12	38.61N/92.15W
Williamsburg	13.5 in	0520 AM 01/12	38.92N/91.70W
Lake Mykee	13.3 in	0717 PM 01/12	38.67N/92.10W
Cole County
1 SSE Jefferson City	15.0 in	0430 PM 01/12	38.56N/92.19W
1 NNE Jefferson City	11.0 in	0600 AM 01/14	38.59N/92.18W
Crawford County
Steelville	4.0 in	1033 AM 01/12	37.97N/91.36W
Franklin County
3 N Union	10.5 in	0444 PM 01/12	38.50N/91.01W
Washington	8.5 in	0600 AM 01/14	38.56N/91.01W
Beaufort	8.0 in	0756 AM 01/12	38.42N/91.19W
Gasconade County
7 S Bland	12.3 in	0420 PM 01/13	38.20N/91.64W
Rosebud	10.4 in	0700 AM 01/13	38.39N/91.40W
5 NW Gerald	10.6 in	0600 AM 01/14	38.45N/91.38W
Iron County
Viburnum	4.7 in	0600 AM 01/14	37.72N/91.14W
Jefferson County
2 NE Hematite	16.5 in	1232 AM 01/13	38.22N/90.46W
De Soto	11.2 in	0800 AM 01/13	38.14N/90.56W
Festus	8.7 in	0730 AM 01/13	38.22N/90.40W
1 N Festus	8.1 in	0848 AM 01/12	38.24N/90.41W
Knox County
Edina	11.3 in	0800 PM 01/12	40.17N/92.17W
Lewis County
Canton	14.0 in	0600 AM 01/14	40.13N/91.52W
Lewistown	13.5 in	0713 PM 01/12	40.09N/91.81W
Lincoln County
5 W Foley	13.0 in	0430 PM 01/12	39.05N/90.83W
1 SSW Foley	13.0 in	0459 PM 01/13	39.04N/90.75W
1 N Elsberry	13.0 in	0836 AM 01/12	39.18N/90.79W
Troy	11.2 in	0130 PM 01/12	38.98N/90.98W
2 NW Old Monroe	11.0 in	0430 PM 01/12	38.95N/90.78W
Madison County
Fredericktown	2.2 in	0600 AM 01/14	37.56N/90.30W
Marion County
Palmyra	13.0 in	0718 PM 01/12	39.80N/91.53W
Monroe County
3 W Florida	16.0 in	1122 AM 01/13	39.50N/91.85W
Madison	14.0 in	0500 PM 01/13	39.48N/92.21W
Montgomery County
Montgomery City	20.0 in	0600 PM 01/12	38.98N/91.51W
3 SW Middletown	17.4 in	0300 PM 01/12	39.10N/91.45W
4 SW Middletown	13.4 in	0745 AM 01/12	39.09N/91.46W
Osage County
3 SE Schubert	10.1 in	0600 AM 01/14	38.49N/92.01W
5 W Mount Sterling	9.5 in	0600 AM 01/14	38.46N/91.70W
Pike County
Bowling Green	16.5 in	1106 AM 01/13	39.34N/91.20W
1 E Bowling Green	15.0 in	0800 AM 01/13	39.34N/91.19W
Louisiana	15.0 in	1131 AM 01/13	39.44N/91.06W
Ralls County
1 ESE Saverton	16.2 in	0600 AM 01/14	39.64N/91.25W
Saverton	16.0 in	0700 AM 01/13	39.64N/91.27W
3 SW Hannibal	15.0 in	1106 AM 01/13	39.68N/91.42W
3 S Hannibal	14.3 in	0930 AM 01/13	39.67N/91.38W
2 N New London	14.0 in	0450 PM 01/13	39.61N/91.40W
2 SSW Hannibal	13.7 in	0600 AM 01/14	39.68N/91.40W
Shelby County
Shelbina	10.5 in	0600 AM 01/14	39.69N/92.04W
St. Charles County
1 E Saint Charles	12.0 in	0121 PM 01/14	38.79N/90.49W
1 N Dardenne Prairie	12.0 in	0904 AM 01/14	38.78N/90.73W
2 WNW Flint Hill	12.0 in	0600 AM 01/14	38.87N/90.90W
St. Charles	12.0 in	0114 PM 01/14	38.79N/90.49W
1 WNW OFallon	11.6 in	0600 AM 01/14	38.79N/90.72W
1 N Harvester	10.7 in	0648 PM 01/12	38.77N/90.58W
2 N Saint Charles	9.5 in	0600 AM 01/14	38.82N/90.51W
St. Francois County
1 NNW Farmington	5.1 in	1256 PM 01/12	37.80N/90.43W
2 NE French Village	4.5 in	0852 AM 01/12	38.00N/90.36W
St. Louis County
Ballwin	12.0 in	0800 PM 01/12	38.59N/90.55W
Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (KSTL)	11.4 in	1200 AM 01/14	38.75N/90.35W
1 WNW Spanish Lake	11.2 in	1019 PM 01/13	38.79N/90.23W
1 NE Clarkson Valley	10.8 in	0600 AM 01/14	38.63N/90.58W
1 E Ballwin	9.3 in	1123 AM 01/13	38.59N/90.54W
1 N Kirkwood	9.0 in	0222 PM 01/12	38.60N/90.42W
St. Louis City
2 E Richmond Heights	10.5 in	0500 PM 01/12	38.63N/90.29W
Ste. Genevieve County
3 SSW Weingarten	5.0 in	0600 AM 01/14	37.84N/90.23W
Warren County
4 SE Jonesburg	18.0 in	0737 AM 01/14	38.82N/91.26W
4 SSW Foristell	15.0 in	1125 AM 01/13	38.76N/90.99W
1 N Warrenton	12.5 in	0600 AM 01/14	38.84N/91.14W
Washington County
2 SE Potosi	8.5 in	0949 PM 01/12	37.92N/90.76W
4 SW Potosi	5.9 in	0600 AM 01/14	37.90N/90.83W

Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying equipment and exposures. We thank all volunteer weather observers for their dedication. Not all data listed are considered official.

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Records

3-day snowfall totals

This winter storm brought 11.4" of snow to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport over 3 days (Jan 11-13). As of 1/15/2019, this storm ranked #7 among all 3-day snowfall totals at St. Louis in January. Records go back to 1892 for the St. Louis area.

This winter storm brought 16.9" of snow to Columbia Regional Airport over 3 days (Jan 11-13). As of 1/15/2019, this storm ranked #5 among all 3-day snowfall totals at Columbia in January. Records go back to 1889 for the Columbia area.

1-day snowfall totals

This winter storm brought 7.8" of snow to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport on January 11th. As of 1/15/2019, that single day's snowfall was ranked #9 for 1-day snowfall totals at St. Louis in January. Records go back to 1892 for the St. Louis area.

This winter storm brought 5.8" of snow to Columbia Regional Airport on January 12th. As of 1/15/2019, that single day's snowfall was ranked #10 for 1-day snowfall totals at Columbia in January (3-way tie with 1/2/1999 and 1/18/1962). Records go back to 1889 for the Columbia area.

Daily records

7.8" of snow fell at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport on 1/11/2019. As of 1/15/2019, this was the 2nd highest snowfall on record for January 11th at St. Louis. The daily snowfall record for 1/11 is 11.0" on 1/11/1909.

5.8" of snow fell at Columbia Regional Airport on 1/12/2019. This set a new daily snowfall record for 1/11 at Columbia.

Other

The FAA weather observers at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport reported "SNINCR" (SNow INcreasing Rapidly) for 5 consecutive hourly observations on January 11th. Since December 1996, there have only been 7 other times when "SNINCR" was reported for 5 or more consecutive hourly observations.

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Meteorology

Here is a radar loop of snow across the LSX CWA from 6am Friday Jan 11th through 6pm Sunday Jan 13th.

Here is a time series of air temperature and snow depth at St. Louis. The air temperature continued to fall as the snow accumulated.

The following three surface plots show how the low-level atmosphere cooled across the region from 18z through 00z UTC (12pm through 6pm CST on January 11th).

The FAA weather observers at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport reported "SNINCR" (SNow INcreasing Rapidly) for 5 consecutive hourly observations on January 11th. Since December 1996, there have only been 7 other times when "SNINCR" was reported for 5 or more consecutive hourly observations. The timing of the prolonged period of rapidly accumulating snow lined up perfectly with the evening rush hour, which is very unusual and likely contributed to the widespread travel impacts associated with this winter storm.

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