Tornado damages property of Champaign County farmers
Severe storms damaged farm equipment and business on Friday night.
Victim identified in deadly Belvidere roof collapse, five remain in critical condition
One person is dead after a roof collapse during a concert in Belvidere in northern Illinois, about an hour west of Chicago.
Tornadoes strike Arkansas, Illinois; 4 dead, dozens injured
Authorities said a theater roof collapsed during a tornado in Belvidere, Illinois, killing one person and injuring 28.
‘There’s nothing left’: Deep South tornadoes kill 26
Rescuers raced Saturday to search for survivors and help hundreds of people left homeless after a powerful tornado cut a devastating path through Mississippi, killing at least 25 people and injuring dozens. The tornado flattened entire blocks as it carved a path of destruction for more than an hour.
Parts of Central Illinois could see heavy rain on Thursday
Illinois Public Media News is monitoring heavy rain forecasted for Central Illinois on March 23. This post will be updated with information from the National Weather Service in Lincoln and Chambana Weather meteorologist Andrew Pritchard. A line of strong to severe thunderstorms may develop later this evening. The primary hazards with these storms include large hail to the…
No wind, no sun, no problem! Energy costs could be driven down with thermal batteries
CHAMPAIGN – Rising costs driven by inflation have affected nearly every aspect of daily life. From soaring grocery prices to high gas costs, budgets have been strained across the board. Electricity prices have jumped sharply over the past year, rising 15.8%. Much of that increase can be attributed to the rising cost of natural gas,…
Rain/snow expected Saturday night
Illinois Public Media News is monitoring rain and snow forecasted for Central Illinois on March 11-12. This post will be updated with information from the National Weather Service in Lincoln and Chambana Weather meteorologist Andrew Pritchard. Snow or a rain/snow mix is occurring in the red circled region, with minor accumulations expected (up to around an inch)….
U of I grad remembered following his death in Turkey earthquake
U of I graduate Berkhan Eminsoy was one of the thousands killed by a massive earthquake in Turkey and Syria.
Illinois considers legalizing ‘human composting’
While proponents say it’s greener than traditional burial, critics doubt its dignity.
All rain and no snow makes winter a dull season
CHAMPAIGN – Ah, winter. When nature compensates for shortened days and frigid nights by enveloping the landscape in blankets of crystalline snow. When the soul is warmed by the kaleidoscopic magic of a snowflake caught on an upturned palm. When snowmen and snowball fights make children of us all. Yeah, not this year. This year,…
Storms bring snow to Central Illinois
Illinois Public Media News is monitoring storms forecasted for Champaign-Urbana and surrounding areas on March 3. This post will be updated with information from the National Weather Service in Lincoln and Chambana Weather meteorologist Andrew Pritchard. Conditions continue to deteriorate in areas where it's still snowing. And much of the state will see overnight lows below freezing, so…
Three tornadoes sighted in Champaign County Monday AM; Tornado Watch until 4pm
Illinois Public Media News is monitoring storms forecasted for Champaign-Urbana and surrounding areas on February 27. This post will be updated with information from the National Weather Service in Lincoln and Chambana Weather meteorologist Andrew Pritchard. Trying to wrap my head around what just happened. Observed a pair of tornadoes just outside the Champaign-Urbana, #ilwx…
Weather stations that provide critical climate data are threatened by unstable funding
Accurate weather information is important for farmers, emergency responders and researchers managing extreme conditions. But many monitoring networks are limited by unstable, patchwork funding. VALPARAISO, Neb. — In fields and pastures across Midwestern and Great Plains states, unmanned weather stations quietly record data on temperature, precipitation, humidity, soil conditions, wind and other factors. It’s fed…
Tornado Watch now until 6pm for Central Illinois
The National Weather Service in Central Illinois has issued a Tornado Watch for Champaign, Coles, Douglas, Macon, Moultrie, Piatt, and Vermilion Counties until 6:00 p.m. CST. We will update this post with forecast updates. A tornado watch has been issued for parts of Illinois, Kentucky and Missouri until 6 PM CST pic.twitter.com/4C8urqvwwT — NWS Lincoln…
More bald eagles are nesting on the Illinois River. Here’s why that’s a good sign
Mike Miller has had his eagle eyes trained on the Illinois River Valley for a long time, and he says there’s a lot more of the national bird to see around these parts than in years’ past. The Peoria Park District supervisor of environmental and interpretive services and Community Word contributor has participated in the annual winter…