82 Years Ago, Missouri & Illinois Shocked by Snow in September

For Missouri and Illinois, October is considered to be a very early time for snowfall. However, there was one event that happened 82 years ago that shocked residents in both states when a surprise snowfall fell in September.

The National Weather Service has recorded memories of that surprise snow storm which began on September 24, 1942 and continued through September 26. A winter storm system developed over the northern plains of America and continued toward the Great Lakes. By the time it was over, snow fell as far south as northern parts of Missouri and most of the northern half of Illinois.

Here are some of the snow totals from that storm:

The National Weather Service in Wisconsin has another map showing how this winter storm resulted in record early season snowfall in many states including Missouri and Illinois.

They said the storm was caused by "an abnormally cool air mass" which resulted in September high temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees below normal. They said "the heaviest snow was found between Monmouth and Kankakee, Illinois".

This historic storm is one reason why Missouri and Illinois residents pay attention to weather patterns as early as September. You never know when nature will decide to unload a snow surprise on us.