Springfield, IL – A round of strong to potentially severe storms could rattle parts of Illinois late Sunday and into Monday, with wind gusts reaching up to 60 mph and lightning expected across central and western counties.
According to the National Weather Service in Lincoln, a cold front will sweep through the region beginning Sunday evening. Areas including Macomb, Beardstown, and Jacksonville fall under a marginal risk for severe weather, with the most intense activity expected after sunset. Hazards include isolated damaging winds, frequent cloud-to-ground lightning, and pockets of heavy rain.
By Monday afternoon and evening, the risk expands eastward toward Springfield, Decatur, Mattoon, and Champaign. The severe threat remains isolated, but residents should stay alert for rapidly changing conditions. Travel may be impacted by brief power outages, reduced visibility, and water ponding on roads.
Officials recommend securing outdoor objects, charging mobile devices ahead of time, and limiting outdoor activity during storms. This system could mirror previous late-June cold front events that produced isolated wind damage and lightning-related outages across the region.
Storm chances linger through Monday night. More updates may be issued as new data becomes available.
