Springfield, Illinois – Severe thunderstorms packing damaging winds, large hail, and the threat of strong tornadoes are sweeping across central Illinois this afternoon, with the greatest risk stretching along and east of the I-55 corridor through 9 p.m. Friday. Cities like Springfield, Decatur, and Bloomington could face fast-moving storms capable of producing winds over 70 mph and hail larger than golf balls.
According to the National Weather Service in Lincoln, intense storm cells began entering west-central Illinois shortly after 2 p.m., moving east-northeast at roughly 55 mph. The storms are expected to pass south and east of Springfield by 3:30 p.m., impacting areas from Jacksonville to Effingham and Champaign through the evening.
The highest risk zone includes much of central and south-central Illinois, with Level 3 and Level 4 designations on the severe weather scale. These areas face the potential for a few strong tornadoes and significant wind damage. Residents are urged to review severe weather safety plans, stay off roads if possible, and have multiple ways to receive emergency alerts.
Storms are expected to continue through mid-evening, with additional warnings likely. Stay weather-aware as conditions evolve, especially in high-risk counties east of I-55.
