National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Heat Persists in the South Central U.S. and Southwest; Heavy rains in the Desert Southwest and Central Plains

Sweltering heat remains across the South-Central Plains, Lower/Middle Mississippi Valley, and the Southwest this week with limited nighttime relief. Thunderstorms will bring heavy rainfall leading to localized flash flooding in portions of the Desert Southwest and central Plains. Isolated strong to severe thunderstorms are possible across portions of the central Plains into the Northeast. Read More >

 

The National Weather Service is implementing new heavy snow criteria. This is being done across the contiguous United States. 

Changes are being done to eliminate non-meteorological discontinuities such as NWS office boundaries, adjust the length of time from a specific time frame to the overall event (not to exceed 48 hours), and to improve decision support services and communication. 

An interactive mapping of the criteria is available at this link:
https://www.weather.gov/snow-criteria

Mapping of heavy snow criteria across central Illinois and nearby areas

 

For central Illinois, the following changes are being made:

Old heavy snow criteria for winter storm watches and warnings:

All of the Lincoln NWS coverage area 6 inches in 12 hours, or
8 inches in 24 hours

New heavy snow criteria for winter storm watches and warnings:

Fulton, Knox, Marshall, McLean, Peoria, Stark, Tazewell, and Woodford Counties

Includes Galesburg, Peoria, and Bloomington/Normal

6 inches for an event

Champaign, Christian, Clark, Clay, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, De Witt, Douglas, Edgar, Effingham, Jasper, Lawrence, Logan, Macon, Mason, Morgan, Moultrie, Piatt, Richland, Sangamon Scott, Schuyler, Shelby, and Vermilion Counties

Includes Champaign/Urbana, Danville, Decatur, Effingham, Flora, Havana, Jacksonville, Lincoln, Mattoon, Newton Olney, Paris, Shelbyville, Springfield, and Taylorville

5 inches for an event