Mon, Aug 6th Severe Weather event

(2:00PM - 8/6/18) A brief update on the severe weather potential across portions of the state today...

In the wake of early day scattered showers and thunderstorms across portions of Northern and Central Illinois, areas of clearing are occurring, which is allowing for some destabilization. By mid-afternoon an environment should be in place featuring moderate to high instability levels, ample shear and good moisture.

As a disturbance moves in from the west, scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop this afternoon across portions of Western Illinois. This activity will pose a severe risk as it pushes eastward across portions of Northern and much of Central Illinois. Damaging winds and hail will be the biggest threats, though and isolated tornado can’t be ruled out. It appears there may be an area of where the severe threat is the highest, in and around a box from Peoria to Springfield to Champaign to Kankakee. Across this area some significant severe may occur. This is represented by the orange area on our TAM map below. While this scenario is not fully likely, it is possible given the environment in place, and worth a mention.

The severe threat will greatly diminish by early tonight, with only an isolated severe threat overnight with general showers and thunderstorms across portions of Central and Southern Illinois

JP