(11:15PM – Wednesday, January 7th, 2025) Severe t’storm potential and high winds on track for Thursday into Friday across the state… #ILWx
❗Update…
•With this update, we have increased peak wind gusts across the state to upwards of 35-50MPH, with the period of high winds expected across the state from Thursday midday through Friday morning. Otherwise, no other changes were needed this forecast cycle.
⏰Timing…
•Severe T’Storm Threat: Thursday afternoon – Friday Morning, January 8-9th.
•High Winds: Thursday midday – Friday morning, January 8-9th.
📍Location…
•Severe T’Storm Threat: Central & Southern Illinois.
•High Winds: All of Illinois.
⚡️💨Hazards…
•A level 1 severe t’storm threat is in place across all of Central and Southern Illinois from Thursday afternoon through Friday morning, for the threat of isolated severe t’storms. Damaging winds, small hail and a tornado will be the main threats with activity.
•Peak high wind gusts of 35-50MPH will be likely across the state during from Thursday midday through Friday morning. Winds will be southerly from Thursday midday through Thursday night, becoming westerly for Friday morning. The high winds will have the potential to blow around light-weight/loose items and may cause isolated tree damage.
✔️Summary…
•As a storm system moves through the region, impactful weather is likely across the state from Thursday into Friday.
•Widespread rain and t’storm activity will traverse the state between Thursday morning and Friday morning, as a warm front lifts northward across the state and then a cold front quickly sweeps eastward across the state. Of focus will be Central and Southern Illinois, where severe t’storms may be possible with some of this activity from Thursday afternoon through Friday morning.
•With a strong low-level jet and adequate atmospheric mixing on the front/warm side of the storm system, a period of high synoptic winds will be likely across the state from Thursday midday through Friday morning.