 Hazardous
Weather Outlook
On Saturday -
A strong storm system will move out of the Rockies today and will
begin to affect central and southeast Illinois tonight.
An unseasonably warm and moist air mass will flow northward from the
Gulf of Mexico ahead of this system setting the stage for heavy rain
once the cold front arrives on Saturday. The heaviest rain is
expected Saturday and Saturday evening. The highest totals are
currently expected roughly along the I-55 corridor...with 2 to 3
inches common. All of the precipitation should taper off by early
Sunday morning.
The soil across Illinois is very saturated from previous
precipitation, which will cause the rain to run off instead of
soaking in. Also, the ground is still frozen in many areas, which
will add to the flooding as the ice melts and contributes to the
overall excessive runoff. As a result, flash flooding will be
possible along with a likelihood for flooding of rivers and streams.
Knox, Stark, Peoria, Marshall, Woodford, Fulton, Tazewell, McLean,
Schuyler, Mason, Logan, DeWitt, Cass, Menard, Scott, Morgan,
Sangamon, Christian, Macon.
Including the cities of: Galesburg, Peoria, Bloomington, Normal,
Havana, Lincoln, Jacksonville, Springfield, Taylorville, Decatur
2:52 a.m. CST Fri Dec 26, 2008...flash flood watch remains in effect
from late tonight through Saturday afternoon.
The flash flood watch continues from late tonight through
Saturday afternoon. Heavy rain will likely develop over the area
late tonight and continue through much of Saturday. Storm total
rainfall amounts of 2 to 3 inches will be common. When combined with
saturated soil and residual ice on the ground, this amount of rain
could cause significant flash flooding, along with flooding of
rivers and streams.
A flash flood watch means that conditions may develop that lead to
flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation.
You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action
should flash flood warnings be issued.
[See
updates from the NWS]
Forecast:
Today: A 30 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high
near 52. South wind between 16 and 18 mph, with gusts as high as 25
mph.
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Tonight: Occasional showers and thunderstorms, mainly after
midnight. Low around 50. Breezy, with a south wind between 18 and 22
mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Saturday: Occasional showers and thunderstorms. Some of the
storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 57. Breezy, with a
southwest wind 23 to 26 mph decreasing to between 13 and 16 mph.
Winds could gust as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
Saturday Night: Rain and snow likely before midnight, then a
chance of snow. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with
a low around 27. West wind between 10 and 18 mph, with gusts as high
as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 37. West southwest
wind between 11 and 16 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 24.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 41.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 24.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 41.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 23.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 33.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 18.
New Year's Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 32.
[For continued updates of the weather forecast, watches and warnings
from the National Weather Service, and to view satellite image
click here]
[By
JAN YOUNGQUIST]
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