National Weather Service

Bloomington-Normal's weird weather streak continued Friday with a rare dust storm warning in McLean County, which has now expired.

Among the agencies targeted for staff reductions by the Trump Administration are the National Weather Service and its parent agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford says the cuts will have wide-ranging detrimental effects.

A pair of winter storms expected this week could bring Central Illinois its biggest snowfall of the season so far.

With predicted snow comes some relief from the cold. Highs are expected around 30 throughout the weekend.

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.