National Weather Service

Illinois has already experienced a record-breaking number of tornadoes in 2026, but this year even thunderstorms are proving to be dangerous.

The National Weather Service in Lincoln opened its doors to the public on Saturday for the first time in 19 years, and wants to be more accessible in the future.

U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen has been tabbed to lead a new legislative panel on weather preparedness.

An air quality alert is in effect Monday for a second straight day in Bloomington-Normal and most of Illinois, as smoke from Canadian wildfires drifts into the U.S. The air quality locally was deemed Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.

The National Weather Service office in Lincoln issued an extreme heat warning Tuesday that is in effect until midnight Thursday. All of Central and Southeast Illinois could see heat index values between 105 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

The National Weather Service confirmed 172 tornadoes have struck the state this severe weather season. That's an all-time state record, and the most for any state in the U.S. this year.

An extended run of hot temperatures and high humidity is forecast to arrive across Central Illinois on Sunday and last through most of the week.

The National Weather Service is preparing for the possibility of two rounds of severe storms on Wednesday, less than one week after nine confirmed tornadoes tore through the region.

The National Weather Service has preliminary confirmation of nine tornadoes in Central Illinois on Wednesday and Thursday of last week.

No injuries have been reported in the storms that hit McLean County Thursday evening.