Springfield, Ill. – Residents across central Illinois should prepare for strong to severe thunderstorms Monday night as a line of storms moves southeast from the Midwest, bringing the potential for damaging wind gusts, heavy rainfall and isolated hail that could affect overnight travel and early Tuesday morning conditions.
According to the National Weather Service in Lincoln, thunderstorms are expected to develop across the region Monday night, with the primary hazards including wind gusts exceeding 60 mph, isolated hail up to 1 inch in diameter and locally heavy rainfall. The greatest severe weather threat extends across northern Illinois, but much of central Illinois remains at risk for impactful storms.
Communities including Peoria, Bloomington, Springfield, Decatur, Champaign, Lincoln, Jacksonville, Beardstown and surrounding areas could see strong thunderstorms capable of producing scattered power outages from downed tree limbs, reduced visibility during heavy rain and isolated pockets of flooding in low-lying or poor drainage locations. Motorists traveling along Interstates 55, 57, 72 and 74 should be prepared for rapidly changing weather conditions Monday night.
Residents are encouraged to secure loose outdoor items before storms arrive, charge electronic devices in case of power outages and ensure they have multiple ways to receive weather warnings overnight, when severe weather can be more dangerous because many people are asleep.
Forecast confidence continues to increase that thunderstorms will affect much of central Illinois Monday night, although the exact track and intensity of the strongest storms may still change. Additional severe thunderstorm watches and warnings could be issued as the system approaches.
