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Severe Storms Bring Tornadoes, Hail And Flooding To Central IL

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From Meteorologist Andrew Pritchard: Impressive supercell continues south of Decatur at 650 PM CT on May 3, 2021.
  • Photo: Andrew Pritchard/Chambana Weather

Updated Monday at 9:10 p.m. 

URBANA – No major damage has been reported after severe storms swept through Central Illinois Monday night. The National Weather Service reported multiple sightings of tornadoes in Sangamon, Macon, Moultrie and Coles counties. Golf ball size hail was reported in Montgomery County, south of Springfield. The National Weather Service in Lincoln issued a Flash Flood Warning in Coles County late Monday night after 1 to 2 inches of rain fell.  – Reginald Hardwick, Illinois Newsroom

Below are posts as the Illinois Newsroom followed the developing weather situation on Monday evening.

Updated Monday at 8:55 p.m.

LINCOLN – The National Weather issued a Flash Flood Warning for Coles County including Charleston, Mattoon, and Lerna until 12:00 AM CDT.

 

Updated Monday at 8:37 p.m.

Updated Monday at 8:30 p.m.

LINCOLN – The National Weather issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Coles and Moultrie Counties until 9:00 pm.

Updated Monday at 8:12 p.m.

Updated Monday at 8:06 p.m.

Updated Monday at 8:05 p.m.

LINCOLN – The National Weather issued a Tornado Warning for Coles County until 8:30 pm.

Updated Monday at 7:25 p.m.

LINCOLN – The National Weather issued a Tornado Warning for Moultrie County until 7:45 pm. The Tornado Warning for Decatur was allowed to expire.

Updated Monday at 7:20 p.m. 

Just before 7:00 p.m., meteorologist Andrew Pritchard joined Steve Morck live on WILL-AM to talk about a tornado warned storm moving south of Decatur towards the southern part of Champaign County.

Updated Monday at 7:15 p.m.

Updated Monday at 7:10 p.m.

LINCOLN – The National Weather issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Coles, Moultrie, Macon and Douglas Counties. The Tornado Warning issued for Macon County is set to expire at 7:15 p.m.

Updated Monday at 6:44 p.m.

LINCOLN – The National Weather issued a Tornado Warning for Macon County, including the city of Decatur until 7:15 p.m.

Updated Monday at 6:40 p.m.

Updated Monday at 6:35 p.m.

 

Updated Monday at 6:25 p.m.

LINCOLN – The National Weather issued a Tornado Warning including Harristown, Illiopolis,  and Niantic until 6:45 PM CDT. Brief touchdowns are being reported near Mechanicsburg and Dawson.

Updated Monday at 4:00 p.m.

URBANA – The National Weather Service placed much of Illinois under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 9:00 p.m. CDT on Monday.

WILL meteorologist Andrew Pritchard says people need to stay aware for destructive storms for much of the evening.

 “The most likely time frame for any strong storms in the WILL severe weather coverage is between 5pm and 10pm on Monday evening with damaging wind gusts, large hail or a tornado or two possible,” said Pritchard.

According to the National Weather Service, you should do the following if a tornado warning is issued for your area:

  • Stay Weather-Ready: Continue to listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio to stay updated about tornado watches and warnings.
  • At Your House: If you are in a tornado warning, go to your basement, safe room, or an interior room away from windows. Don’t forget pets if time allows.
  • At Your Workplace or School: Follow your tornado drill and proceed to your tornado shelter location quickly and calmly. Stay away from windows and do not go to large open rooms such as cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums.
  • Outside: Seek shelter inside a sturdy building immediately if a tornado is approaching. Sheds and storage facilities are not safe. Neither is a mobile home or tent.  If you have time, get to a safe building.
  • In a vehicle: Being in a vehicle during a tornado is not safe. The best course of action is to drive to the closest shelter. If you are unable to make it to a safe shelter, either get down in your car and cover your head, or abandon your car and seek shelter in a low lying area such as a ditch or ravine.

Stay up to date on weather warnings by staying tuned to WILL AM or FM.. or by following Illinois Newsroom on Twitter or Facebook.

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Reginald Hardwick

Reginald Hardwick is the News & Public Affairs Director at Illinois Public Media. He oversees daily newscasts and online stories. He also manages The 21st Show, a live, weekday talk show that airs on six NPR stations throughout Illinois. He is the executive producer of IPM's annual environmental TV special "State of Change." And he is the co-creator of Illinois Soul, IPM's Black-focused audio service that launched in February 2024. Before arriving at IPM in 2019, he served as News Director at WKAR in East Lansing and spent 17 years as a TV news producer and manager at KXAS, the NBC-owned station in Dallas/Fort Worth. Reginald is the recipient of three Edward R. Murrow regional awards, seven regional Emmy awards, and multiple honors from the National Association of Black Journalists. Born in Vietnam, Reginald grew up in Colorado and is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado. Email: rh14@illinois.edu Twitter: @RNewsIPM