Effingham, IL – Severe thunderstorms are threatening Central and East Central Illinois tonight, with a watch in effect for nine counties—including Effingham, Shelby, and Lawrence—until midnight Sunday. Residents from Shelbyville to Lawrenceville could see strong winds, heavy rain, and the risk of damaging hail through the late evening.
According to the National Weather Service in Lincoln, Severe Thunderstorm Watch 533 remains active for Shelby, Clark, Cumberland, Clay, Crawford, Effingham, Jasper, Lawrence, and Richland counties until 12 a.m. Monday. The watch area includes cities such as Flora, Marshall, Newton, Olney, Robinson, and Greenup, where storm conditions may quickly intensify.
Travel could become hazardous, especially on rural highways like U.S. Route 40 and Illinois Route 33. Emergency managers advise securing loose outdoor items and remaining indoors as storms approach. Power outages and localized flooding are possible, particularly in low-lying or flood-prone areas.
This is the latest in a string of summer storm threats for Central Illinois, with several communities already seeing saturated ground from recent rainfall. Residents should monitor local alerts and be prepared to take shelter quickly if warnings are issued.
The severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until midnight, and additional alerts may follow if storms continue overnight.
