ILLINOIS — A strong storm system is expected to move into the Midwest Thursday, bringing a two-round severe weather setup across portions of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Missouri, with forecasters highlighting a wind, hail, and brief tornado risk during the day.
First Round Develops Thursday Morning Along Lifting Warm Front
The first wave of storms is expected between 8 AM and 2 PM as a warm front lifts north across the region. Areas highlighted for monitoring include Peoria, Springfield, Decatur, Champaign, Galesburg, Quincy, Bloomington, and Effingham in Illinois, along with surrounding portions of western Indiana and eastern Missouri.
During this morning round, storms may produce strong wind gusts, hail, and a brief tornado risk, particularly near and just south of the advancing warm front. While widespread severe weather is not anticipated at this time, isolated stronger cells could quickly intensify. The threat remains conditional on storm organization, but even early-day systems can generate localized impacts if instability and wind shear align.
Afternoon Round After 3 PM Highly Conditional but Potentially Stronger
A second round of storms is possible after 3 PM, though this phase is described as highly conditional. Development will depend on how the morning storms evolve and whether the atmosphere can recover enough to support renewed severe activity.
If storms redevelop during the afternoon and evening hours, all severe modes would be possible, including damaging winds, hail, and isolated tornadoes. This secondary threat zone extends eastward into Indianapolis, Bloomington, and Lafayette, Indiana, as well as southward toward Louisville and Bowling Green, Kentucky…