Heavy rainfall from scattered thunderstorms is expected across the Southwest, Intermountain West, and Plains. Isolated dry thunderstorms may initiate additional fires across the west. The coastal Carolinas may experience flash floods in the coming days due to repeated thunderstorms. Additionally, a wave of intense summer heat will hit the Southern Plains and central Gulf Coast States this week. Read More >
Central Illinois
Weather Forecast Office
Sunday, September 27th marks our 25 year anniversary of full-time operations in Lincoln.
Weather balloon observations had begun in February of 1995, but because that was the only function of the office at the time, our office was initially only open part time. It wasn't until September 27, 1995, that the equipment and operations of the Springfield and Peoria NWS offices were relocated to Lincoln, and we began operations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We took over aviation forecasts for central Illinois from the Chicago NWS office in April 1996, and public forecasts in July 1999.
The first employee of our office was Ernie Goetsch, who was named the Meteorologist in Charge in 1994, while the office was still under construction. He remains the only Meteorologist in Charge we have had. Four other staff members have also been here for the last 25 years.
Click here for a pictorial history of our office.
US Dept of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Weather Service
Central Illinois
1362 State Route 10
Lincoln, IL 62656
217-732-7321 (forecast recording) or 217-732-3089
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