Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for South Central and Southern Illinois Counties Until 7:15 PM

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Paducah KY has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for multiple counties in south central and southern Illinois. The alert was issued at 6:36 PM CDT and remains in effect until 7:15 PM CDT. The warning is classified under NWS alert type code SVW.

Affected Areas

The warning impacts the following geographic regions:

• South Central Illinois: Perry County, Jefferson County, and Franklin County.
• Southern Illinois: Northern Williamson County and Northern Jackson County.

Specific locations in the path of the storm include Mount Vernon, Herrin, West Frankfort, Murphysboro, Benton, Du Quoin, Pinckneyville, Christopher, Rend Lake Area, Sesser, Zeigler, De Soto, Royalton, Elkville, Hurst, Bluford, Valier, West City, Ava, and Tamaroa. The warning also covers Interstate 57 between mile markers 61 and 97, and Interstate 64 between mile markers 73 and 90.

What You Should Do

For your protection, move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. Residents should remain alert for a possible tornado, as tornadoes can develop quickly from severe thunderstorms. If you spot a tornado, go at once to a basement or a small central room in a sturdy structure. Additionally, a Tornado Watch remains in effect for the region until 11:00 PM CDT.

Expected Conditions

At 6:36 PM CDT, radar indicated severe thunderstorms located along a line extending from 6 miles northwest of Tamaroa to 7 miles southwest of Ava, moving east at 65 mph.

• Wind: Gusts up to 60 mph are expected. This may cause damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
• Hail: Maximum hail size is estimated up to .75 inches.
• Tornado Threat: Tornadoes are listed as possible.

Timeline

The alert is effective immediately as of 6:36 PM CDT, March 15. The warning is currently set to expire at 7:15 PM CDT.