Peoria, IL – A sharp temperature drop late Monday night is set to push much of central Illinois below freezing, creating a high risk for crop damage and frozen pipes by early Tuesday morning.
According to the National Weather Service in Lincoln, a Freeze Watch is in effect from late Monday night through Tuesday morning for a broad stretch of central, east-central, and west-central Illinois. Temperatures could fall as low as 28°F, cold enough to kill sensitive vegetation and impact unprotected plumbing.
Cities including Peoria, Bloomington-Normal, Champaign-Urbana, and Danville are all within the watch area. Rural and low-lying locations in Tazewell, McLean, and Vermilion counties are most likely to see the coldest readings, especially before sunrise Tuesday. Gardeners and farmers across the region face a heightened risk to early-season crops.
Residents should bring plants indoors, cover outdoor vegetation, and wrap or drip exposed pipes overnight. Travel impacts are expected to be minimal, but frost could form on elevated surfaces during the early morning hours.
Additional alerts may be issued as confidence increases in sub-freezing temperatures heading into Tuesday morning.
