National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Powerful Winter Storm from the Upper Midwest into the Northeast; Severe Thunderstorms in the Midwest and Ohio Valley

A rapidly-intensifying storm is expected to bring heavy snow, blizzard conditions, and icing from the Upper Midwest through the Great Lakes and Northeast. Scattered severe thunderstorms may produce severe/damaging wind gusts and a couple of tornadoes across parts of the Midwest and lower Ohio Valley through the evening. Arctic air will expand across the central and southern U.S.. Read More >

The NOAA Weather Radio Routine Weekly Test will be conducted on Tuesday, March 3 at 10:00 am CST instead of Wednesday this week in recognition of Illinois Severe Weather Awareness Week.  This is done to coincide with testing of outdoor warning sirens done by many communities in Illinois on the first Tuesday of the month at 10:00 am CST.  The Weekly Test will return to its normal schedule next week.

Please take a moment to practice your severe weather emergency sheltering plan during the weekly test.  At the very least, answer this question – Where would I take shelter if a tornado were approaching me right now? The best shelters are in a basement, or in an interior room on the lowest floor of the building away from windows and exterior doors.

It is important to have multiple ways to receive hazardous weather information. Having a battery backup weather alert radio is one of the best ways.