The National Weather Service has issued two Hazardous Weather Outlook statements for our listening area.
First, for Champaign, Coles, Douglas, Edgar, Moultrie, Piatt, Shelby and Vermilion counties: For today showers and storms will move across west central Illinois today and tonight as a cold front moves through the area. Some of these storms could be strong to severe, with damaging winds and hail the primary threat. Locally heavy rainfall is also possible as amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible, with the heaviest rainfall occurring tonight.
Thursday – Tuesday: More showers and storms will be possible Friday through Sunday night as a series of weather systems move through the area. Rainfall amounts over this 3 day period could range from 2.75 to 4.25 inches, with the highest amounts falling Saturday night. The heavy rain falling on saturated soil from earlier storms will produce rain falling on saturated soil from earlier storms will produce rapid runoff and a potential for localized flooding, as well, as river flooding across the region.
If you are in Clark, Clay, Crawford, Cumberland, Effingham, Jasper, Lawrence or Richland county, your hazardous outlook is almost the same as the other with a couple of exceptions. A half inch to an inch of rain will be possible today with the heaviest rainfall occurring tonight. Your rainfall amounts over the 3 day period, Thursday – Saturday, could range from 3.5 to 4.5 inches, with the highest amounts falling Saturday night.
Additionally, there is a slight risk that some of your storms Friday through Friday night could become severe with damaging winds and large hail.