textproduct: Central Illinois

KEY MESSAGES

- A disturbance this evening may bring a few flurries, but accumulations are unlikely, only around 20-30 percent along/north of I-74. Gusty winds to around 45 mph will accompany this feature.

- An arctic air mass will bring a return of bitterly cold temperatures Thursday night through the weekend. Wind chill values as cold as 10 to 30 below zero are expected Friday Morning north of I-70, and Saturday morning should see 10 to 20 below zero wind chills throughout central and southeast IL. An Extreme Cold Watch is in effect from Havana to Bloomington northward Friday morning.

- A major winter storm system will pass through the southern states Friday through the weekend, and will likely spread snow into most of central and southeast IL. Areas from around I-70 southward could see heavy snow, and a Winter Storm Watch is in effect Saturday morning through Sunday morning.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 246 PM CST Wed Jan 21 2026

A clipper-type weather system will traverse northern IL this evening, with some flurries or a light dusting of snow possible. Wind gusts up to 50 mph are noted in NW IA this afternoon, however HRRR model depicts these values subtly decreasing as they approach IL with the peak gusts just north of central IL.

The next major feature in the forecast is an arctic cold front surging through central IL starting Thursday afternoon in the NW and reaching southeast IL around Midnight. Brisk northerly winds 15-20 mph and temperatures plummeting below zero north of I-72 will amount to wind chills of around 25 below zero around Peoria to 5 to 10 below zero south of I-70 by Friday morning. An Extreme Cold Watch remains in effect from around Havana to Bloomington northward Friday morning.

The arctic air mass will remain over the area into next week before high pressure migrates into the southeast US initiating a southerly flow in the region. Expect highs in the single digits and teens until Tuesday, coldest on Friday, and lows primarily single digits to below zero. Wind chills look to dip below zero daily, with 10 to 20 below zero possible, especially Saturday and Monday.

Finally, a major winter storm over the southern states Friday through the weekend will impact parts of central and especially southeast IL as well. Gulf moisture overrunning the arctic front should spread snow into the area Saturday, with models continuing a northward shift of this feature over the last few runs. Have issued a Winter Storm Watch for areas south of I-70 where it currently looks like 4 to 6 inches of accumulation are possible Saturday into Sunday, along with the continued bitter cold temperatures. Areas to the north appear likely to see less snow, however few inches are certainly possible throughout central IL, with ensembles depicting a 20 percent chance for 3 inches as from north as Galesburg.

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AVIATION

(For the 18z TAFs through 18z Thursday Afternoon) Issued at 1128 AM CST Wed Jan 21 2026

Primarily VFR conditions are expected through the upcoming 24 hours, however a weak disturbance passing by mainly to the north could bring a brief snow shower this evening to KPIA and KBMI, and have included PROB30 for 5SM vsby in -SN between 00Z and 03Z. WNW winds 40-45 kts at 2000 ft AGL could provide a brief period of wind substantial wind shear this evening, mainly for KDEC and KCMI, but have not included in TAFs yet due to the brief/marginal character. Winds W 12-18 kts with gusts 20-25 kts this afternoon, decreasing slightly and shifting SW late this afternoon into evening, then increasing and becoming WNW behind the evening disturbance, with gusts 25-35 kts overnight. Winds decreasing again late in the night.

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ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Extreme Cold Watch from late Thursday night through Friday morning for ILZ027>031-036>038.

Winter Storm Watch from Saturday morning through Sunday morning for ILZ066>068-071>073.