Severe weather is expected throughout Illinois this week. Some parts of the state may see tornadoes, hail, and heavy rainfall.
Most of the state is expected to see an “enhanced” risk Wednesday, which means it is a level three out of five risk for storms, according to the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center. Severe weather may be starting as soon as Tuesday night and will continue in some regions throughout the week. Here’s what to know.
Central Illinois
NWS issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook starting Tuesday for several counties in
central and west central Illinois . On Tuesday night, a few thunderstorms will develop as a warm front moves northward into the region. Gusty winds and hail are possible along and west of the Illinois 55 corridor after midnight. On Wednesday, a "more significant severe weather event" will unfold as a strong cold front pushes into central Illinois. Storms may bring damaging wind gusts, hail, and isolated tornadoes. The severe weather will be present in the morning through mid-afternoon along and west of the Illinois 55 corridor. The entirety of the region is also expected to experience winds outside of the storms, ranging from 35 to 45 mph Wednesday. Those winds will be more severe in the southeast portions of the region. The counties under a Hazardous Weather Outlook in central Illinois are Knox, Stark, Peoria, Marshall, Woodford, Fulton, Tazewell, McLean, Schuyler, Mason, Logan, Cass, Menard, Scott, Morgan, and Sangamon.
Southern Illinois
"A significant severe weather outbreak is expected Wednesday afternoon and evening into Wednesday night" for southern Illinois and surrounding states,
NWS predicts. "All severe hazards will be in play," they added, including very large hail, damaging winds, and strong tornadoes. The region is in a level four of five for tornado risk. Wednesday will also mark the first round of what will be several rounds of heavy rain that could bring flash flooding through the weekend. River flooding is already forecast. Gradient winds will be high even outside of the thunderstorms Wednesday. Those gusts are predicted to be 40 to 50 mph. There also may be strong or severe storms Thursday through Saturday. The counties under a Hazardous Weather Outlook in southern Illinois are Jefferson, Wayne, Edwards, Wabash, Perry, Franklin, Hamilton, White, Jackson, Williamson, Saline, Gallatin, Union, Johnson, Pope, Hardin, Alexander, Pulaski, and Massac.
Northern Illinois
NWS provides a Hazardous Weather Outlook for portions of north central Illinois, northeast Illinois, and northwest Indiana for Tuesday afternoon as well as Wednesday. Nearly all of the northern part of the state is predicted to see the enhanced risk from the storm. Scattered thunderstorms are expected late Tuesday, the outlook said, with the strongest storms capable of bringing hail that is up to one inch in diameter. Some of the storms late Tuesday may produce heavy rainfall that could lead to flooding in low lying or flood prone areas. Wednesday will bring more waves of thunderstorms at times, some of which may be severe with damaging winds, large hail, tornadoes, and localized flooding. The counties under a Hazardous Weather Outlook are Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, Lake, Ogle, Lee, DeKalb, Kane, DuPage, LaSalle, Kendall, Grundy, Kankakee, Livingston, Iroquois, Ford, Cook, and Will.
Tom Ackerman covers breaking news and trending news along with general news for the Springfield State Journal-Register. He can be reached at [email protected].
