(11:00PM – Thursday, April 16th, 2026) Severe t’storm threat expected Friday thru early Saturday…
⚠️Update…
•With this update cycle, on the forecast for Friday/Firday night, we have expanded level 2 severe t’storm probabilities and upgraded portions of Northwestern/Western Illinois to a level 3 risk. These changes were to account for increasing chances of increased coverage of severe t’storm potential.
⏰📍Timing & Location…
•Friday Midday – Early Saturday Morning, April 17-18th: Much of Illinois.
⚡️Hazards…
•A level 1 to 3 severe t’storm threat is in place across much of Illinois from Friday midday through early Saturday morning, for the threat of isolated to scattered severe t’storms. All modes of severe weather will be possible, including large hail, damaging winds and an a few tornadoes. Some significant severe t’storms will be possible across Northern and Central Illinois as well, capable of producing very large hail (2.00″+), significant damaging winds (75MPH+) and/or a strong tornado.
✔️Summary…
•Friday Midday – Early Saturday Morning… Scattered showers and t’storms will develop along and ahead of an advancing cold front on Friday afternoon, across portions of Minnesota, Southwestern Wisconsin, Iowa, Northwestern Illinois and Missouri. While activity may begin more discrete/cellular in nature, with time activity will likely grow upscale into a broken line of activity (QLCS), as it sweeps across the state through late Friday night/early Saturday morning. Additionally, there is the chance that more discrete activity may develop within the warm sector across portions of Northern and Central Illinois on Friday afternoon as well.
