Hazardous weather possible midday though evening

High winds, small tornadoes, heavy rain, ponding on roadways possible

[December 31, 2010]  The National Weather Service in Lincoln released a hazardous weather outlook at 5:43 a.m. Friday for portions of central, east-central and southeastern Illinois.

This outlook is for Friday and Friday night for the counties of Cass, Champaign, Christian, Clark, Clay, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar, Effingham, Fulton, Jasper, Knox, Lawrence, Logan, Macon, Marshall, Mason, McLean, Menard, Morgan, Moultrie, Peoria, Piatt, Richland, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, Stark, Tazewell, Vermilion and Woodford.

Thunderstorms will be most numerous this morning across central Illinois, especially west of Interstate 55. Some of the storms may produce gusty winds and small hail, along with some very heavy rain. The best chances for severe weather should remain to our southwest. A few additional storms may develop just ahead of the cold front later this afternoon and evening, although they are not expected to become severe.

Rainfall amounts are expected to average from three-quarters of an inch to 1 inch, with locally higher amounts. In combination with the frozen ground and melting snowpack, the heavy rain may result in some ponding of water in poor drainage areas.

[Text from file received from National Weather Service, Lincoln office]