by Steve Dunford

Here is a “snapshot” of the expected sky cover ending at 1 pm CDT today, beginning with the onset of the passage of the Solar Eclipse through the Quad State region. Persons at most locations should be able to see the eclipse during that time. However, there will be an increasing potential for afternoon showers and thunderstorms over southern Illinois and southeast Missouri, shortly after the passage of the solar eclipse through the area. If you are outdoors during and after the solar eclipse, have a plan to find shelter should showers and thunderstorms develop in your area. Cloud cover may change rapidly from moment to moment across the area today, so stay tuned!!! (NWS Paducah)

There is a chance of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon.  The rain chances for Carbondale is 80%.  For eclipse viewing, it seems Johnson County will be the prime spot for Southern Illinois.  Here in Franklin County, the further you go east the better.  According to the forecast, the Thompsonville area would be better than the west side.

For those in Carbondale I could see some repositioning to the Goreville and Vienna areas.  This might cause some additional traffic on Route 13, Interstates 57 and 24.

I will be monitoring the situation closely this morning.

The boundaries for the slight risk of severe weather tomorrow is areas from Route 45 east.  All of Southern Illinois is under a marginal risk.

Please stay hydrated if you are outside today. It will be another hot one.  The heat index will be between 100-105 again.

The eclipse will be a once in a lifetime experience.  Enjoy the show.

Below is a special weather statement from the national weather service, hazardous weather outlook and seven day forecast.

Special Weather Statement

…Heat Index Values 100 to 105 expected this afternoon over part
of the Quad State region…

Hot and humid conditions will be the rule today, regardless of the
passage of the solar eclipse through the region this afternoon, as
air temperatures top out in the lower 90s.

Heat index readings are expected to reach 100 degrees by noon over
Southeast Missouri. As temperatures rise into the lower 90s, heat
index readings above 100 degrees will build northeast across
southern Illinois and the Purchase area of West Kentucky, west of
the Land between the Lakes. Heat index values at or above 100
degrees will likely persist through 6 pm CDT today.

The rest of the Quad State region will see heat index values top
out in the upper 90s this afternoon.

If you are planning to be outside today for an extended period of
time, be sure to keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Look
for opportunities to get out of the heat from time to time, and
into the shade or in an air conditioned building.

Keep watch on those with you that may be susceptible to or
unaccustomed to the heat and humidity, typical for late August in
this region.

Hazardous Weather Outlook

.DAY ONE…Today and Tonight

Heat index values between 100 and 105 degrees will be possible
across southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois, and the Purchase
area of West Kentucky between Noon and 6 pm CDT.

Scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop near the I-64
corridor in southern Illinois and southwest Indiana, as well as
the foothills of southeast Missouri around 1 pm and work southward
into west Kentucky during the early evening. Another round of
thunderstorms are expected after midnight near the I-64 corridor.

Some of the thunderstorms in southern Illinois and southeast
Missouri may produce isolated wind gusts between 40 to 55 mph
during the afternoon. Locally heavy rain and lightning will also
be a hazard with these thunderstorms.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…Tuesday through Sunday

The Storm Prediction Center continues outlook a Marginal to
Slight Risk of Severe Thunderstorms for the entire area for
Tuesday and Tuesday night. The Slight risk of Severe Thunderstorms
stretches east of a line from Benton Illinois and Benton
Kentucky, and includes all of southwest Indiana, most of the
Pennyrile region of west Kentucky, and part of southeast
Illinois.

Damaging wind and Hail will be the primary hazards Tuesday
afternoon and evening. Locally heavy rain, capable of producing
isolated flooding, may be possible during the evening.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT…

Skywarn spotter activation may be requested for Tuesday and
Tuesday night.

Seven day forecast

Today
Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly between 3pm and 4pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tonight
Scattered showers and thunderstorms before 7pm. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 73. South wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tuesday
Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 10am and 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. South southwest wind 6 to 8 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Tuesday Night
Isolated showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. West northwest wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 80. North northeast wind 5 to 8 mph.
Wednesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 58. North northeast wind 3 to 5 mph.
Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 79. Northeast wind 3 to 6 mph.
Thursday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 57. Northeast wind around 6 mph.
Friday
Sunny, with a high near 80. East northeast wind 5 to 7 mph.
Friday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. East northeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. East northeast wind around 6 mph.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. East northeast wind 3 to 5 mph.
Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. East wind 3 to 5 mph.

by Steve Dunford

I-57 southbound between the Sesser and Benton exits yesterday afternoon. (Tanyah Eubanks photo)

During a lot of winter weather events, it seems that Southern Illinois sits on the line of receiving rain/snow/sleet.  Over the years WSIL-TV Chief Meteorologist Jim Rasor has used the term “mixed bag of precipitation”.  It seems like local businesses are reporting the same thing.

Leigh Caldwell, co-host of the WJPF morning news watch with Tom Miller, sent out a plea on social media to the locals.  She stated, there was no problem with traffic between Carterville and Carbondale.  She went to Carbondale twice during the day.  She said that local businesses were dead and requested that everyone in Southern Illinois get out and enjoy the local festivals.

River Radio, especially WJPF, has committed to give people that are residents of Southern Illinois and tourists up to the minute news coverage about the eclipse.

There have been reports of traffic tie-ups for days in the Pacific Northwest, trying to get a good viewing spot to see the eclipse. Accu-weather.com has the area rated as good in that region, with Southern Illinois and most of the Midwest rated as fair.  I am wondering if that resulted in less traffic.

There was an SUV that caught fire on Interstate 57, just north of the Johnston City exit around mid morning.  The above photo was taken yesterday afternoon on I-57 between the Sesser and Benton exits.

On the other side of the coin, there were reports of traffic and local business being busier than usual.  Mindy Vanfossan of Hometown T-Shirts and Graphics said they had a very busy day yesterday.  It was (and maybe still is) one of the few places with eclipse glasses still.

Jim Emberton, of the Zeigler Police department, stated the town had around a 50% increase in traffic yesterday, with a lot of out of state plates in the city.

WSIL-TV said that Mary Lou’s grill, which is on the north side of the strip in Carbondale, was very busy, after a summer that was slow.  If there are some tourists that read this, the food there is awesome, especially the biscuits and gravy in a nostalgic setting.

Channel 3 also had another report the campgrounds are filling up quickly.

Personally, I feel the biggest of traffic for Franklin County will be tomorrow afternoon after the eclipse, until around noon on Tuesday.  I will be monitoring the situation closely until then.