All articles tagged with #central illinois
More than 35,000 Illinois customers lost power after destructive storms swept central Illinois, with a tornado in Effingham County, a state of emergency declared in Charleston, significant damage in Petersburg and Blue Mound, and flooding in Decatur; numerous areas reported downed trees and hail, but no life-threatening injuries were reported.
A severe Central Illinois storm damaged Rivian's Normal plant, including Building 2 with a roof collapse in the receiving area; no injuries were reported. The full extent is still being assessed, and it’s unclear whether any R2 tooling or production is affected or how the incident might impact June first drives.
Hospitals in Central Illinois, including Memorial Health and others, are implementing visitor restrictions due to rising flu cases, limiting visitors to two per patient, requiring age and health criteria, and encouraging mask-wearing and hygiene to prevent illness spread.
Snow continues to fall across central Illinois with various locations reporting snow totals ranging from 3.5 to 7.5 inches, and totals may increase as the storm persists.
Accumulating snow is expected in Central Illinois on Sunday morning, with most areas seeing 1 inch or less. Some areas in northwest Illinois may receive 1-2 inches. Travel impacts are likely, especially in the morning, but conditions should improve by the afternoon.
Nineteen USPS workers in central Illinois have been indicted for wire fraud in connection with COVID-19 relief funds. The workers allegedly submitted false applications to receive financial assistance intended for those affected by the pandemic.
The damaging line of storms that hit Central Illinois on Thursday was classified as a "Derecho," a widespread and long-lived wind storm associated with rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms. Derechos can cause destruction similar to tornadoes, with damage typically directed in one direction along a relatively straight path. The storms produced wind gusts of 100 to 120 mph in parts of western Illinois, and there may have been several tornadoes in the area. The National Weather Service is still assessing the damage to determine wind speeds and tornado ratings.
Local communities in central Illinois are responding to ongoing power outages caused by a recent storm. Various villages have opened cooling centers and charging stations for residents, while others have asked residents to conserve water. Several locations, including libraries and malls, are designated as cooling centers. Medical facilities and schools are also affected by the outages. Clean-up efforts are underway, and residents are advised to be cautious of downed power lines and outside contractors. The City of Urbana is offering tree limb and brush pick-up to assist residents in recovery efforts.
Storm damage has been reported in Neoga and Toledo, particularly in the residential neighborhood of Neoga. Power outages are still affecting Neoga residents west of US Route 45, except for the northwest part of town. A dumpster will be provided for residents to dispose of spoiled food items. Power interruptions are also being experienced in Greenup, Mattoon, Shelbyville, and Tuscola in Central Illinois.
Central Illinois is experiencing storm damage and power outages due to severe weather. Over 30,000 customers are affected by power outages in Springfield, while Champaign's Willard Airport sustained roof damage and a power failure. The Urbana Park District has canceled events, and the Sangamon Mass Transit District has suspended service due to street damage. Multiple semis have rolled over on I-57, causing traffic diversions, and downed power lines are blocking lanes on Interstate 55.
Central Illinois is expected to receive much-needed rain this weekend, with the best chances of showers and storms overnight Saturday into Sunday morning. Another round of showers and storms is possible Sunday afternoon, with the potential for severe weather. Despite the rain, drought conditions in Central Illinois are expected to persist.
Central Illinois developer Kim Blickenstaff is selling three properties he renovated, including Sankoty Lakes Resort, The Scottish Rite Theatre, and The Betty Jayne Brimmer Center for the Performing Arts, for a total of $21.8 million. The properties are listed by Julie Bielfeldt of Keller Williams Premier Realty. Blickenstaff had previously scaled back his investments and laid off local workers in early January.
The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Watch for the western part of Central Illinois through 10 pm Tuesday due to severe thunderstorms capable of strong, long tracked tornadoes, destructive winds and large hail. Two windows for severe weather are expected, with the first round from 5 pm to 9 pm Tuesday and the second round from 4 am to 11 am Wednesday. All hazards are possible with both rounds, and strong tornadoes are possible with the first round. The Storm Prediction Center has placed areas west of the Illinois River within a level 4 risk area (Moderate Risk).