(11:45AM – Thursday, January 8th, 2025) Severe t’storm threat & a period of high winds expected across the state through early Friday…
❗Update…
•No changes were needed this forecast cycle, as the going forecast is on track based on the latest guidance and observations.
⏰Timing…
•Severe T’Storm Threat: This Afternoon – Early Friday Morning, January 8-9th.
•High Winds: This Afternoon – 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 this afternoon through early Friday morning, for the threat of isolated severe t’storms. Damaging winds, small hail and a tornado or two will be the main threats with activity.
•Peak high wind gusts of 35-50MPH will be likely across the state from this afternoon through Friday morning. Winds will be southerly from this afternoon through tonight, then 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 today into Friday.
•Widespread areas of rain and t’storm activity will traverse the state through early Friday morning, as a warm front lifts northward across the state and a cold front then 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 this afternoon through early Friday morning.
•With a strong low-level jet and adequate atmospheric mixing, a period or two of high synoptic winds will be likely across the state from this afternoon through Friday morning. The first period of high winds will be possible from this afternoon through early Friday morning, with southerly winds in the warm sector of the storm system and ahead of an approaching cold front. Then, as the cold front sweeps through and cold air advection occurs, a secondary period of westerly high winds will be possible on Friday morning.