DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Watch for some areas of central and southern Illinois Thursday.Â
The Storm Prediction Center put the watch in place until 8 p.m. CT. It includes several counties, including Effingham County in the WAND viewing area.Â
The severe weather risk as determined by the National Weather Service for Illinois on Feb. 19, 2026. (WAND Weather)
NWS said tornadoes are possible, some severe and strong. Hail is also possible and some areas could see hail sizes bigger than walnuts. Wind gusts could also reach 60 to 70 miles per hour.Â
TRACK THE STORMS | Click here for a weather radar to keep an eye on the storms
The WAND Weather Team has been expecting severe weather for several days. An enhanced risk (3 of 5) is in place for most of Central Illinois. Strong to severe storms could happen in many places but forecast modeling has shown areas along I-70 in Illinois could see the strongest storms.Â
Storms have been picking up near the St. Louis area and are moving in a general northeast direction.Â
WAND meteorologists expect the window for severe weather to last until around 7 p.m.
Following the storms, temperatures are expected to drop into the 30s and 40s for the next several days.Â
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