Springfield, Ill. – Residents across central Illinois should prepare now as the most dangerous storms of the day are expected to rapidly intensify late this afternoon, with peak impacts between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m.
According to the National Weather Service in Lincoln, a Level 2 severe weather risk now covers a larger portion of central Illinois, especially areas east of the Illinois River and north of I-70. While a few isolated storms this morning may produce hail near and west of the river, the primary threat will shift into the evening hours.
Cities including Peoria, Bloomington, Springfield, Decatur, and Champaign are in the zone where storms could produce wind gusts over 60 mph and hail up to 1 inch in diameter. A brief tornado cannot be ruled out, particularly in northeastern parts of the region.
Major routes such as I-55, I-72, and I-74 could see rapidly deteriorating travel conditions during the evening commute, with heavy rain reducing visibility and water pooling on roadways.
Residents should secure outdoor items, ensure alerts are enabled, and be ready to take shelter quickly if warnings are issued. Storms will move out later tonight, but additional updates are expected as conditions develop.
