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WEATHER ALERT: Severe storms expected late this afternoon and evening

Warming centers open as bitter cold descends on Central Illinois

West Side Park in Champaign.

CHAMPAIGN – Many Central Illinois communities are opening warming centers so people without regular shelter are not exposed to subzero temperatures settling into the area.

The National Weather Service in Central Illinois forecasts a low around 10 degrees and wind chill values as low as -4 on Wednesday night/Thursday morning in Champaign Urbana. Temperatures will fall even further on the next night. Meteorologists are predicting a low of 2 degrees and wind chill values as low as -13 on Thursday night/Friday morning.

The City of Champaign says the Phoenix Daytime Drop-In Center in 70 E Washington on January 5, 6, and 7 from 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. The center will also be open on January 8 between 8:00 a.m.-noon. Also, the Salvation Army Stepping Stone Program and Daytime Warming Center at 2212 N. Market St. will be open Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Click here for other shelter options in Champaign.

In the Bloomington-Normal area, the cities list the TA Truck Stop at 505 Truckers Lane, Bloomington Public Library at 205 E. Olive St., Normal Public Library at 206 W. College Ave., and Uptown Train Station at 11 Uptown Circle as places people can go during the weekdays to keep warm. Click here for other shelter options throughout McLean County.

Reginald Hardwick

Reginald Hardwick

Reginald Hardwick is the News & Public Affairs Director for the Illinois Newsroom. He started at WILL in October of 2019 after serving as News Director for WKAR in East Lansing, Michigan. Previously, he was a news producer and manager at the NBC station in Dallas, where he won 7 Emmy awards. Born in Vietnam, Reginald is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado. Email: rh14@illinois.edu Twitter: @RNewsWILL

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