 A flood watch is in effect through Thursday afternoon, and a
high-wind warning is in effect from 3 p.m. Thursday to 3 a.m. Friday
for the counties of Cass, Champaign, Christian, DeWitt, Fulton,
Knox, Logan, Macon, Marshall, Mason, McLean, Menard, Morgan, Peoria,
Piatt, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Stark, Tazewell, Vermilion and
Woodford.Thursday and Thursday night
Rain and thunderstorms will continue through much of Thursday
before diminishing from the west during the late afternoon. While
severe weather is not likely, isolated storms may produce strong
winds. Another half-inch of rain is likely, continuing the threat
for flooding. River levels will be on the rise, and there is some
potential for minor river flooding to develop. This will be enhanced
by the potential for ice jams as the warm temperatures and water
runoff cause ice to break up and move downstream.
Strong southwest to west winds are expected behind the storm late
Thursday afternoon and Thursday night, with gusts of 50 to 60 mph
likely for a period late in the afternoon into the evening.
Friday through Wednesday
No hazardous weather is expected at this time.
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High wind warning
3 p.m. Thursday to 3 a.m. Friday
According to the National Weather Service in Lincoln at 3:15 a.m.
Thursday, high winds are expected Thursday evening.
A deepening area of low pressure will track from near Kansas City
on Thursday morning to southwestern Wisconsin by evening. As the low
moves into Wisconsin, very strong winds will develop across central
Illinois during the late afternoon and evening. Westerly winds will
increase to between 35 and 40 mph, with gusts potentially reaching
55 to 60 mph at times.
A high wind warning is in effect from 3 p.m. Thursday to 3 a.m.
Friday for the counties of Knox, Stark, Peoria, Marshall, Woodford,
Fulton, Tazewell, McLean, Schuyler, Mason, Logan, De Witt, Piatt,
Champaign, Vermilion, Cass, Menard, Scott, Morgan, Sangamon,
Christian, Macon, Moultrie, Douglas, Edgar, including the cities of
Galesburg, Peoria, Bloomington, Normal, Havana, Lincoln, Champaign,
Urbana, Danville, Jacksonville, Springfield, Taylorville and
Decatur.
Timing: Very strong winds will develop behind a departing
cold front by late Thursday afternoon, then continue into the
overnight hours.
Winds: Westerly winds will increase into the 35 to 40 mph
range, with gusts potentially reaching 55 to 60 mph at times.
Impacts: Travel will become difficult on north-south-oriented
roads such as Interstate 55 and Interstate 57. Motorists are advised
to drive with caution.
Precautionary, preparedness actions: A high-wind warning
means a hazardous high-wind event is expected or occurring.
Sustained wind speeds of at least 40 mph or gusts of 58 mph or more
can lead to property damage.
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Flood watch
According to the National Weather Service in Lincoln at 3:17 a.m.
Thursday, a flood watch remains in effect through Thursday afternoon
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,
including the cities of Galesburg, Peoria, Bloomington, Normal,
Havana, Lincoln, Champaign, Urbana, Danville, Jacksonville,
Springfield, Taylorville and Decatur.
The flood watch continues for portions of central and
east-central Illinois, including the following areas: Cass,
Christian, De Witt, Fulton, Knox, Logan, Macon, Marshall, Mason,
McLean, Menard, Morgan, Peoria, Piatt, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott,
Stark, Tazewell and Woodford in central Illinois and Champaign and
Vermilion in east-central Illinois.
A storm system will bring moderate to heavy rains to portions of
central Illinois through Thursday. Rain totals of over an inch are
likely from Beardstown to Bloomington northward, with one-half to
three-fourths of an inch of rain along the Interstate 72 corridor
east to Danville.
Some areas under stronger showers may see locally higher amounts.
Most of these areas still have a deep snow cover on the ground, with
significant water content within it. The ground is frozen to a depth
of 10 to 15 inches, so despite the warmer temperatures, the rain and
melting snow will run off instead of significantly soaking into the
ground. Thunderstorms producing a lot of precipitation quickly will
intensify the threat for flooding.
Area creeks and rivers will likely see rises associated with the
rainfall and snowmelt. Water will fill ditches and possibly cover
roads, particularly in low-lying areas. Urban areas will also likely
see some flooding in poor drainage areas and where storm drains are
clogged by snow and ice.
Precautionary, preparedness actions: A flood watch means
there is a potential for flooding based on current forecasts. You
should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible flood
warnings. People living in areas prone to flooding should be
prepared to take action should flooding develop. Do not drive across
areas where water covers the road.
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NWS main page with graphics:
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ilx/
[Text from National Weather
Service, Lincoln office]
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