Springfield, Illinois – Strong thunderstorms could sweep across Illinois late Monday night, bringing gusts up to 60 mph, quarter-size hail, and a low tornado risk mainly west of the Illinois River.
According to the National Weather Service in Lincoln, storms are expected to intensify after midnight and continue into early Tuesday morning. Areas along and west of Interstate 55 face a 2–5% tornado probability, with damaging winds and large hail likely. Tuesday’s storms will shift eastward, with the greatest risk for severe weather east of Interstate 57 through early afternoon.
Cities including Peoria, Bloomington, and Springfield will likely experience scattered strong winds overnight, while locations farther west such as Galesburg and Macomb could see the most intense storm activity. On Tuesday morning, communities like Champaign, Danville, and Effingham will face continued hazards, mainly from damaging wind gusts and isolated hail.
Drivers are urged to avoid travel during active warnings and to secure outdoor objects ahead of the storms. Residents should charge mobile devices and have multiple ways to receive emergency alerts overnight.
Minor flash flooding is possible in low-lying areas, especially where heavier rain bands develop early Tuesday. This setup resembles similar late-April severe weather outbreaks seen in recent years across central Illinois.
Severe weather risks will diminish by Tuesday afternoon, but more updates could be issued if storm conditions evolve overnight. Stay tuned to the latest warnings and advisories at weather.gov/lincoln.
