National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Regional Outbreaks of Severe Weather Through Early Next Week; Early Season Heat Wave across the South

Active spring pattern across the center of our nation with several episodes of severe weather and heavy rainfall expected into next week. The potential for very large hail, long track tornadoes, severe wind gusts, frequent cloud to ground lightning strikes and flash flooding are in the outlook. Furthermore, dangerous early season heat wave continues for the Gulf Coast states into early next week. Read More >

 

While portions of southern Illinois will be able to view a total solar eclipse on August 21st, most of our area will experience a significant partial eclipse with between 91% and 98% percent of the sun covered at the time of maximum around 1:20 PM CDT.  NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has created a web application that you can access through your web browser by clicking the link above (or by going directly to http://eyes.jpl.nasa.gov/eyes-on-eclipse-web-app.html).  It will help you gain an idea of the duration and intensity of the eclipse at any location in the world. Of course, viewing will also depend on cloud cover. Although, the chances of clear or partly cloudy skies are normally pretty high toward the end of August in Illinois we won't get a clearer picture as to what to expect until a week or so before. 

Remember, NEVER look directly at the sun without proper safety precautions!

For more on the eclipse, visit our eclipse page at:

https://www.weather.gov/source/crh/eclipse.html?sid=ilx

and visit the NASA site at:

http://eclipse2017.nasa.gov