Tuesday, April 10, 2012
 
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Freeze warning tonight; dry conditions with increasing wind gusts make burning ill-advised

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[April 10, 2012]  A statement from the National Weather Service in Lincoln at 3:44 a.m. Tuesday indicated that widespread freezing temperatures are likely early Wednesday morning.

A freeze warning is in effect from 3 to 8 a.m. Wednesday for the counties of Knox, Stark, Peoria, Marshall, Woodford, Fulton, Tazewell, McLean, Schuyler, Mason, Logan, DeWitt, Piatt, Champaign, Vermilion, Cass, Menard, Scott, Morgan, Sangamon, Christian, Macon, Moultrie, Douglas, Coles, Edgar, Shelby, Cumberland, Clark, Effingham, Jasper, Crawford, Clay, Richland and Lawrence, including the cities of Galesburg, Peoria, Bloomington, Normal, Havana, Lincoln, Champaign, Urbana, Danville, Jacksonville, Springfield, Taylorville, Decatur, Charleston, Mattoon, Shelbyville, Effingham, Flora and Lawrenceville.

Temperatures: Expect lows tonight to range from 29 to 32 degrees.

Impacts: The cold temperatures may damage sensitive outdoor plants.

Precautionary, preparedness actions: A freeze warning means subfreezing temperatures are imminent or highly likely. These conditions may kill crops and other sensitive vegetation. If possible, bring plants indoors or cover those that will remain outside overnight.

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In addition, outdoor burning is discouraged today.

A special related statement was released by the National Weather Service at 3:36 a.m. Tuesday for the counties of Knox, Stark, Peoria, Marshall, Woodford, Fulton, Tazewell, McLean, Schuyler, Mason, Logan, DeWitt, Piatt, Champaign, Vermilion, Cass, Menard, Scott, Morgan, Sangamon, Christian, Macon, Moultrie, Douglas, Coles, Edgar, Shelby, Cumberland, Clark, Effingham, Jasper, Crawford, Clay, Richland and Lawrence, including the cities of Galesburg, Peoria, Bloomington, Normal, Havana, Lincoln, Champaign, Urbana, Danville, Jacksonville, Springfield, Taylorville, Decatur, Charleston, Mattoon, Shelbyville, Effingham, Flora and Lawrenceville.

According to the statement, high pressure at the surface and continued northwesterly flow are keeping central Illinois very dry at the surface. Minimum relative humidity values are expected to fall into the 20-25 percent range this afternoon. Ten-hour fuels are ample across the region as well. Both conditions are indicative of issues for fire weather interests. However, sustained winds are expected to remain just below the criteria for a red flag warning. With anticipated deeper diurnal mixing, gusts to 30 mph will be possible later in the afternoon.

Burning in central Illinois today would be ill-advised, and fire weather concerns should remain alert for potential issues with any attempted burn this afternoon and be aware that conditions could change rapidly.

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In a summary weather outlook, at 6 a.m. Tuesday the NWS released a freeze warning in effect from 3 to 8 a.m. Wednesday 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.

The following weather outlook is for portions of central, east-central and southeast Illinois.

Tuesday and Tuesday night

Low temperatures will reach 29 to 32 degrees tonight. These temperatures may harm tender vegetation that cannot be covered or brought indoors.

Outdoor burning is discouraged today. Northwest winds of 15 to 25 mph will combine with dry vegetation and low humidity to create conditions favorable for the spread of fires. Even small, attended fires may quickly spread out of control due to blowing embers.

Wednesday through Monday

Subfreezing temperatures will be likely again Wednesday night over most of the area, with east-central Illinois seeing the lowest temperatures.

The chances for thunderstorms will increase beginning Friday and will continue into early next week as an upper-level storm and associated cold front move into the Midwest and stall. Increasing amounts of moisture will come northward from the Gulf of Mexico through the Mississippi Valley, so the potential will exist for occasional heavy rain or severe storms.

Keep informed of later forecasts as the situation becomes better defined:
National Weather Service forecast for Lincoln

[Text from National Weather Service, Lincoln office]

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