National Weather Service

The National Weather Service [NWS] in Lincoln says rain is expected during the day Wednesday and it could mix with snow. The rain-snow mix may return after 9 p.m. but little or no snow accumulation is expected.

Bloomington-Normal could see its first snow of the season Thursday, but don’t pull out the sleds and shovels just yet. It won’t be much.

Illinois has had 70 confirmed tornadoes so far this year. That’s 25% more than the 30-year average. Last year, the state had 121 tornadoes, three short of the record.

The eastern McLean County communities of Colfax, Lexington, and Anchor were all hit pretty hard according to McLean County Emergency Management Agency Director Cathy Beck. No injuries were reported.

Last December tied for the fourth warmest on record in Bloomington-Normal. The National Weather Service says the Twin Cities averaged 38.3 degrees last month, and got only a trace of snow all month.

Air quality dropped in Bloomington-Normal and across central Illinois on Tuesday, as smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to pour in from the north.

Bloomington-Normal is expecting to see 2 to 3 inches of snow starting overnight and through the day Wednesday. A winter weather advisory is in effect from 9 p.m. Tuesday until 6 p.m. Wednesday.

This winter is expected to be colder than usual in the Upper Midwest, and possibly a snowy one as well.

The National Weather Service has confirmed a weak tornado touched down in LeRoy during the late night storm Sunday and early Monday.

If you think the air smells especially smoky Friday in Bloomington-Normal, no, you're not going crazy. And no, nothing here is on fire.The National…