by Steve Dunford

There is a slight risk (level 2 of 5)  of severe weather mainly for the overnight hours for the north part of Southern Illinois, including Franklin County .  The rest of the region is under a marginal risk (level 1 of 5)

The Storm Prediction Center claims the biggest threat is from damaging winds.  There is a minor threat of large hail.  The tornado threat is near zero.

One thing I am keeping an eye on is the enhanced risk (level 3 of 5) of severe weather keeps getting closer to our region.  Two hours ago, it was just a sliver into Indiana.  Now it is from a Mattoon to Kankakee line and east.

I will be up tonight until the severe threat is over.  If a watch is issued, I will declare an emergency alert day for the website.  My main focus will be covering the severe weather event.  I will be sharing things from all three of the TV stations in this market, from the National Weather Service and Franklin County Emergency Management Agency.

Because of how fast information can come in, monitor the website’s Facebook page.  The main focus will be Franklin County in events.  There will be a significant focus on the six surrounding counties, as the page has been reaching into those markets.  There will be an eye kept though, on all the counties from I-64 south.

If you have the day off enjoy it, and take one last dip in the pool.

Here are the advisories in effect and the seven day forecast for Franklin County.

Lake Wind Advisory

…LAKE WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS
EVENING…

* TIMING…Winds will increase this morning, peaking this
afternoon. Winds will decrease toward sunset. The strongest
winds will be over southwest Indiana and adjacent portions of
Illinois and Kentucky this afternoon.

* WINDS…Peak gusts will be 20 to 30 mph, especially over
southwest Indiana and adjacent portions of Illinois and
Kentucky this afternoon. |

* IMPACTS…Holiday recreational activities, especially boating,
will be the most impacted. Choppy and increasingly hazardous
wave conditions will develop. Long fetches of south to north
oriented lakes and rivers will be most impacted.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Lake Wind Advisory indicates that winds will cause rough chop
on area lakes. Small boats will be especially prone to capsizing.

Hazardous Weather Outlook

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southern
Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast
Missouri.

.DAY ONE…Today and Tonight

Thunderstorms are forecast Tonight and Tuesday. There is a Slight
Risk of severe thunderstorms across northern parts of southern
Illinois and southwest Indiana. Otherwise, a few strong to severe
storms will be possible tonight. Gusty and potentially damaging winds,
frequent lightning and locally heavy rain may accompany the
stronger storms.

Minor flooding is forecast on parts of the Green River. See the
latest river flood warning products for details.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…Tuesday through Sunday

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT…

Spotter activation may be requested tonight.

Seven Day Forecast

Labor Day
Sunny, with a high near 90. Southwest wind around 16 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.
Tonight
A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South southwest wind 5 to 8 mph becoming light and variable.
Tuesday
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10am. Partly sunny, with a high near 76. Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph.
Tuesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 51. North northwest wind 3 to 6 mph.
Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 72. Light northwest wind becoming north northwest 5 to 9 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 49. North northwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 73. Calm wind becoming northwest 5 to 7 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 50. North northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday
Sunny, with a high near 74. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 50. Light east wind.
Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 74. East wind 3 to 6 mph.
Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 52. East northeast wind 3 to 5 mph.
Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 75. East northeast wind 5 to 7 mph.

 

 

 

By Steve Dunford

BENTON, IL-  There has been a two car accident involving a pickup truck and a camper just north of the 71 mile marker on I-57 southbound .  This happened just after noon today.

Reports on Social Media claim that traffic is backed up at the Sesser exit.  Please use an alternate route and be aware that Route 37 could be congested.

Benton and West City fire departments responded as well as Abbott EMS.

Information from Southern Illinois Fire Incidents and Southern Illinois Fire Dispatch provided to this story.

by Steve Dunford

The Zeigler-Royalton girls softball team beat Sesser-Valier on Wednesday of last week.  I am unsure of the final.  Haley Pasquino fanned 15 in the game.

Allison Giles and Olivia Kirkpatrick went 3-5 at the plate on the afternoon, Bella Bate 2-3, Skylar Hudson 2-4  Lainey Morris, Olivia Crain, Hadley Sweetin, and Pasquino picks up hits for the Tornadoes.

On Friday, Z-R travels to McLeansboro to face the Hamilton County Foxes, and fall 7-6.   Hudson leads the offense that day going 3-4, Giles, Harris, Crain, and Sweetin end up 2-4 at the plate.  Pasquino goes 1-2 with a walk and a sacrifice.

Z-R is 5-6 on the season.

From Mike Kern, Associate Commissioner, Missouri Valley Football Conference

Best in the FCS

The MVFC is well represented on national pre-season rankings/player recognition lists. The Conference has an FCS-best five teams on the FCS coaches poll; an FCS-best six teams on the STATS FCS top-25 poll; an FCS-best five student-athletes on the STATS Buck Buchanan Award Watch List; an FCS-best 17 student-athletes on the STATS FCS pre-season All-America teams, which includes an FCS-best seven individuals on the first-team unit. South Dakota State, meanwhile, has an FCS-best three student-athletes on the STATS Walter Payton Award Watch List (TE Dallas Goedert, QB Taryn Christion, and WR Jake Wieneke).

Against the FBS
MVFC schools set a league record with four wins against FBS schools last year. Three MVFC games this weekend are at FBS sites. The Conference has had at least one FBS win in each of the last seven seasons.

Home Sweet Home
Last year, MVFC schools recorded a 16-4 record in home non-conference games. In the last eight seasons (since 2009), MVFC schools have combined for a 131-17 (.885) record in games played at MVFC sites.

by Steve Dunford

I went ahead and shared this information in case you have plans for outdoor activities this afternoon.

There is a cell with heavy rain getting ready to cross the Mississippi in Perry County, Mo.  I am going to add a lightning detector in the future, but as intense as the cell is, there might be some cloud to ground lightning in it.  The storms are not severe.

The showers should clear off by early morning.  There is going to be three very mild days ahead, and a chance of storms by the weekend.

UPDATE:  3:30 p.m.  The showers and thunderstorms that I was keeping an eye on are weakening.  The cell was in Western Perry county a half hour ago and fell apart.  There are still some light to moderate showers in SEMO.  They are weakening as well.

 

Chance of  showers and thunderstorms on Friday, it could play havoc with football Friday night

Hazardous Weather Outlook

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southern
Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast
Missouri.

.DAY ONE…Today and Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms are expected today and tonight, mainly
during the afternoon and evening hours. The main hazards will be
lightning and heavy rain.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…Tuesday through Sunday

A chance of thunderstorms is forecast over all or a portion of the
area Thursday through Sunday. Heavy rainfall and lightning will be
the primary concerns.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT…

Spotter activation is not anticipated at this time.

Seven Day Forecast

Today
Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 81. Light and variable wind becoming northwest around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Tonight
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. Light north northeast wind. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. Calm wind becoming north northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. Light north wind.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Calm wind becoming north northeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. Light east northeast wind.
Thursday
Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming northeast around 6 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. East northeast wind around 6 mph.
Friday
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 81. East northeast wind 6 to 8 mph.
Friday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. East wind 3 to 7 mph.
Saturday
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Light and variable wind becoming south southeast around 6 mph in the morning.
Saturday Night
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. South southwest wind 3 to 5 mph.
Sunday
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. Southwest wind 3 to 6 mph.