Springfield, IL – Severe storms could rapidly intensify within hours Thursday evening, bringing the risk of tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds across central and southeast Illinois.
According to the National Weather Service in Lincoln, a level 2 to level 3 severe weather risk is in place Thursday, with the most dangerous conditions expected from late afternoon through late evening. Storms may first develop near and north of I-74 before expanding and strengthening across the region.
Cities including Springfield, Champaign, Decatur, and Bloomington sit in the higher-end risk zone, where discrete storms could produce very large hail exceeding golf ball size and a few tornadoes. As storms merge into a line later in the evening, the primary threat will shift toward widespread damaging winds, with gusts potentially exceeding 75 mph.
Travel along I-55, I-72, and I-57 could become hazardous during peak storm activity, with sudden visibility drops and debris possible on roadways. Residents are urged to secure outdoor items and ensure alerts are enabled on mobile devices ahead of the evening hours.
Storms will move quickly to the east at 45 to 50 mph, limiting reaction time once warnings are issued. Additional watches and warnings are likely Thursday afternoon as conditions evolve.
