More than 130,000 people are being told to move indoors on Tuesday afternoon as a severe thunderstorm moved across Illinois.
National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologist Ben Deubelbeiss told Newsweek that Illinois has a secondary severe weather season that hits in the fall, although the severe storms are not as frequent as they are during the spring severe weather season.
Why It Matters
The urgent message was issued one minute after meteorologists detected a severe thunderstorm moving across parts of the area within the NWS Lincoln forecast area. Whereas some weather alerts can be issued hours or even days in advance, the immediacy of this warning signifies the urgency with which people in the impacted areas should take action.
What to Know
The NWS office in Lincoln, Illinois, issued two severe thunderstorm warnings on Tuesday afternoon.
The first, issued at 1:20 p.m. Central time, is in place for northern Moultrie County, southern Piatt County, southwestern Champaign County, northwestern Douglas County and southeastern Macon County. The warning is set to remain in place until 2 p.m. Central time.
At the time of the warning’s issuance, a severe thunderstorm was located over Decatur, moving east at 45 mph.
Meteorologists warned of quarter-sized hail capable of causing damage to vehicles.
The second warning was issued at 1:23 p.m. Central time after a severe thunderstorm was located near Hidalgo, or near Greenup, moving east at 45 mph.
This warning encompasses northwestern Crawford, northeastern Jasper, Clark, and southeastern Cumberland counties.
Hail could reach up to a half-dollar size. Hail this size is considered severe and can cause damage to property and injuries to people and animals.
“This severe thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of northwestern Crawford, northeastern Jasper, Clark and southeastern Cumberland Counties, including the following locations…. Hazel Dell, Lincoln Trail State Park, Darwin, Rose Hill, West Union, and Yale,” the warning said. “This includes Interstate 70 between mile markers 117 and 129, and between mile markers 147 and 154.”
What People Are Saying
NWS Lincoln in a severe thunderstorm warning: “For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.”
NWS Lincoln in a hazardous weather outlook: “Isolated thunderstorms are possible this afternoon south of I-74. Severe weather is not anticipated.”
What Happens Next
The severe thunderstorm warnings currently in place were expected to expire shortly after they were published, but similar alerts could be issued as the storms progress through the region. People living in Illinois were urged to remain storm aware and follow the advice of local weather officials.
