Severe thunderstorms possible Thursday Night and Friday

PEORIA (25News Now) - All eyes are on Thursday night and Friday as we’ll have the potential for strong and severe thunderstorms in Central Illinois. This severe weather risk may be spread out over two or three rounds. There are still some uncertainties which we’ll need to figure out over the next few days, but the overall setup looks conducive for severe storms.

What We Know:

A warm front will lift north through Central Illinois late Thursday into Thursday night. This could produce a few strong or severe storms, which would mostly be a hail and heavy rain threat.

We’ll be seasonably warm on Friday behind the warm front with highs near 70. Dew points could be as high as the 60s, meaning it may feel a little muggy on Friday. The favorable combination of warmth, moisture and wind shear will be another factor which could lead to severe storms.

There will be two potential severe weather risk on Friday, one during the afternoon and evening and one overnight. These will occur before and during the passage of a strong cold front. This cold front will move through accompanied by favorable mid-level and upper level dynamics which will increase our severe weather risk.

Any storms that become strong or severe could produce large hail and high, damaging winds. A few tornadoes may be possible, especially during the daytime hours on Friday.

What We Don’t Know:

While the “big picture” weather pattern is fairly clear, there are some smaller scale differences in the forecast models such as the timing, strength and path of the low. Depending on how these factors come together, that could increase or decrease the severe weather risk locally and regionally. This could also impact the intensity of our three rounds of storms.

It is too early right now to talk about specifics with storms, such as their timing on Friday and how high of a specific risk we’ll have for severe weather, including winds, hail and/or tornadoes, but as forecast details become more clear over the next few days we’ll be able to fine-tune the forecast.

Preparing For The Storm:

Because this is still an evolving forecast, it is important that you continue to check in with the latest over the next few days. We’ll be keeping you updated on-air, online and on social media leading up to and during this severe weather there.

Now is also a great time to download our free 25News First Alert Weather app. You can download it now here.

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