textproduct: Central Illinois

KEY MESSAGES

- A warming trend kicks off tomorrow. Above normal temperatures take hold for the start of the new week. By Tuesday, there is a 50-60% chance of highs greater than 50 degrees southwest of a Springfield to Olney line.

- There is a chance (20-40%) for precipitation late Tuesday into Wednesday, with the best chances along and south of the I-70 corridor.

- At least slight precipitation chances linger through the remainder of the week, with 20-30% chance on Thursday into Friday. With forecast temperatures flirting with freezing, there is potential that some of this falls as a wintry mix.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 133 PM CST Sat Feb 7 2026

High pressure is set up over the Great Lakes region today. Today will be just below normal for highs but a warm up will kick off tomorrow as a warmer airmass gets pushed in. Highs today of upper 20s to low 30s. Tomorrow highs will be in the mid 30s to low 40s. This warm up will continue into the new week as ridging strengthens, with highs reaching the mid 50s by Tuesday and lows in the 30s. There is a 50-60% chance of highs greater than 50 degrees southwest of a Springfield to Olney line on Tuesday.

Tuesday evening a cold front is set to move through central and southeastern IL. This cold front will bring mostly rain to the forecast area as temperatures will be above freezing. There could be some wintry mix where temperatures get near freezing Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. Precipitation amounts look to be quite light. QPF up to a quarter inch in southeastern IL. Any snow that falls won't be impactful or accumulate. Recent runs of the GFS and Euro are depicting the precipitation staying well to the south of the forecast area on Tuesday night, so we may not see much if any with this passage.

Behind the cold front, temperatures remain above normal by a few degrees during the day with well above normal lows overnight. Highs will remain in the upper 30s to mid 40s through the remainder of the week. Lows in the 20s.

There are periodic chances for precipitation through the next week beyond Tuesday night as multiple upper waves pass through the Midwest. The opportunity after Tuesday is Thursday into Friday with a 20-30% chance of precipitation, which could include rain, snow, or a wintry mix across central Illinois and rain in the southeastern Il area. Another low pressure system is being hinted at in long range models, but with it being a week or more out, we will continue to monitor trends for now.

Copple

AVIATION

(For the 00z TAFs through 00z Sunday Evening) Issued at 523 PM CST Sat Feb 7 2026

VFR conditions will linger through the overnight period as residual surface high pressure mitigates any low-level cloudiness.

Southeast winds increase Sunday morning as the pressure gradient tightens in between departing high pressure and incoming low pressure.

MJA

ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.