Strong storms bring rain and tornadoes to Central Illinois

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From Meteorologist Andrew Pritchard: Video capture of lightning striking the blade tip of a wind turbine near Alexander, Illinois on October 11, 2021.
  • Photo: Andrew Pritchard/Chambana Weather

Updated Monday at 7:15 p.m.

URBANA – Meteorologists in Central Illinois are warning people to stay weather aware for strong to severe storms on Monday afternoon and evening. A tornado watch has been issued for Northern Illinois and parts of western Indiana until 9:00 p.m.

Meteorologist Andrew Pritchard, who forecasts the weather for Illinois Public Media, says the primary time frame for any severe weather in East-Central Illinois arrives between 3:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. Damaging winds and isolated tornadoes will be the primary hazards with the strongest storms as they quickly move northeast.

Weather service: Reported tornado damages truck on freeway

ALEXANDER — A reported tornado has damaged a semi-trailer on Interstate 72 in central Illinois as a line of storms rumbled across parts of the state. National Weather Service meteorologist Alex Erwin says a storm spotter reported seeing a twister cross the freeway Monday afternoon near Alexander. Alexander is west of Springfield. Another spotter reported seeing a tornado about 3:30p.m. near Roodhouse, southwest of Springfield. A line of thunderstorms was moving quickly Monday afternoon through that part of Illinois. Erwin says the weather service has not yet confirmed the reports of tornadoes. A tornado watch was issued for portions of north central and northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana as part of storms that also moved through the region. – Associated Press

 

Updated Sunday evening
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The National Weather Service in Central Illinois tweeted that storms with possible tornadoes, large hail, and strong wind gusts are possible west of I-55 after the noon hour on Monday and east of I-55 between 4:00 and 7:00 p.m. The Weather Service also expects south winds with 30 to 40 mile per hour gusts ahead of the cold front’s arrival. 

 

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Reginald Hardwick

Reginald Hardwick is the News & Public Affairs Director at Illinois Public Media. He oversees daily newscasts and online stories. He also manages The 21st Show, a live, weekday talk show that airs on six NPR stations throughout Illinois. He is the executive producer of IPM's annual environmental TV special "State of Change." And he is the co-creator of Illinois Soul, IPM's Black-focused audio service that launched in February 2024. Before arriving at IPM in 2019, he served as News Director at WKAR in East Lansing and spent 17 years as a TV news producer and manager at KXAS, the NBC-owned station in Dallas/Fort Worth. Reginald is the recipient of three Edward R. Murrow regional awards, seven regional Emmy awards, and multiple honors from the National Association of Black Journalists. Born in Vietnam, Reginald grew up in Colorado and is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado. Email: rh14@illinois.edu Twitter: @RNewsIPM