* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR…

NORTHWESTERN CLAY COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS…

CUMBERLAND COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS…

EFFINGHAM COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS…

WESTERN JASPER COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS…

* UNTIL 200 PM CDT

Due to continued rainfall, flood warnings are in effect for area rivers and streams.  Click on the link, then click on the river location that concerns you.  It will show you current and projected levels.  Remember, more rain is likely, so projected river levels could change.  http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=ind

Today: The unsettled weather pattern continues, but there will be several dry hours this afternoon with only a chance of isolated rain and thundershowers. A warm front will lift through the Valley today, so temps will be a bit warmer with highs in the mid 70s.

Tomorrow: Thursday will start off dry, warm and breezy. Temps in the mid 60s with wind gusts from the southeast up to 25 mph. A few isolated thundershowers will fire-up ahead of the cold front tomorrow afternoon. Otherwise it will be warm and windy. Highs will reach near 80° and winds will pick up out of the south gusting near 35 mph at times.

Severe potential…. is highest from approximately 11 p.m. Thursday through 3 a.m. Friday…

As we head through late Thursday night, the cold front will bring widespread thunderstorms, some reaching severe limits. Preliminarily, it looks like this will be a high wind event. Hail and lightning are concerns as well.

The line of strong storms exits to the east by 8 a.m. Friday.  Lingering showers will be possible, but temperatures will be much cooler! We’ll only see highs in the lower 50s Friday afternoon.

The energy from a huge Solar flare may offer us a chance to see a rare view of the Northern Lights tonight.  You’ll have to get out to a very dark place, away from artificial lights.  The light show may be very subtle for us, but it’s certainly worth a try at viewing.  Good luck!  I didn’t make the graphic and want to credit AccuWeather (I believe).  The map is very good and has been posted on several sites.  There is no ideal time for viewing, but it has to be well after dark.

Scattered showers will linger through the early evening hours.  Colder tonight and cooler for the next couple of days.  Then, we’ll warm up a bit as another chance for rain moves in.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH for all News 10 counties, except Knox, Greene, Daviess and Martin until 9pm, Indiana time.  Expect heavy rain, gusty wind and dangerous lightning in these storms.  Up to the minute information will be broadcast on WTHI-TV 10.

Today: Cloudy, warm and windy conditions continue today. High temperatures will reach near 80° this afternoon with winds out of the southwest up to 20 mph. A good portion of the Wabash Valley will stay dry during the afternoon hours today with a chance of an isolated shower to the north along a stalled frontal boundary.

Tonight: A cold front will approach the Valley during the overnight hours tonight bringing heavy rainfall and thunderstorms. Some storms have the potential to reach severe limits with damaging wind gusts and large hail. Heavy rain from 1-2″could produce localized flooding as well. Timing…. the line of storms will move into western IL just after midnight and impact our area mainly after 2 a.m. through early Thursday morning.

Tomorrow:  The threat for severe weather comes to an end by Thursday morning and much cooler air filters in. Highs tomorrow will only be in the mid 60s. Lingering rain showers will be possible.

Extended Outlook: We’ll see a drastic change in temperatures from today to Friday. Highs will only be in the lower 50s for the end of the week and first part of the weekend. We’ll see a warm-up by Sunday that will continue into next week with rain chances returning as well.

Today: The spring-like, unsettled weather pattern continues today. Temperatures will be well above the average daytime high of 64° when we climb into the upper 70s this afternoon. That will make today the warmest day of the year so far! (Previously 75° yesterday and Sunday) It’ll also be breezy with southerly wind gusts in excess of 30 mph at times with a slight chance of spotty rain showers.

Tonight: Spotty rain showers and thundershowers will be possible throughout the overnight. Temperatures stay mild in the lower 60s.

Tomorrow: There will be a chance for isolated rain and thundershowers during the day on Wednesday out ahead of a cold front. Temperatures remain rather warm with highs in the upper 70s.

Tomorrow Night/Thursday Morning (main timing of severe weather): The front will push through the Wabash Valley Wednesday night into early Thursday morning bringing widespread rain and thunderstorms with some storms reaching severe limits. Main threats include damaging wind gusts, large hail and localized flooding. Severe threat ends Thursday late morning.

Extended Outlook: Temperatures turn much colder once that front passes through. We’ll see highs only near 60° on Thursday, then struggling to reach 50 by Friday. Rain showers will linger through early Friday morning. We’ll stay dry this weekend and temperatures will return to the upper 60s by Sunday.

After weeks of below-average temperatures (and even snow) it finally feels like April. That means warmer temperatures and plenty of sunshine. It also means April showers. We’re getting just about all of those over the next few days. While temperatures will stay warm, we do have chances for isolated showers and even some thunder through Sunday and the workweek.

Spring weather will move in within the matter of a day as temperatures rise to around 70° Saturday afternoon. Gusty south winds will drive temperatures above average and will help keep them there through the weekend. Rain showers will move in late Saturday night with thunderstorms possible Sunday through next Thursday! Temperatures will warm up into the 60s each day next week with the greatest threat for severe thunderstorms next Wednesday as a cold front approaches.