The month of July and the 4th of July weekend could start off with a “bang” from Mother Nature, as the southeastern Illinois region has the chance for some severe weather developing at some point this weekend, as at least a few rounds of showers and thunderstorms are expected to move through between now and Sunday evening.
The latest information from the National Weather Service in Paducah, Kentucky, says the area has at least a slight risk for some strong or severe thunderstorms to develop at some point this weekend. The WFIW/WOKZ listening area was under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for most of Friday evening. Wayne County was placed under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning Friday evening as a complex of storms moved through the area. A second complex of storms moved through shortly after midnight, and more showers and thunderstorms have developed and moved through early this Saturday morning. This follows the lines of showers and thunderstorms that moved through the area Thursday morning and into the afternoon hours, dropping some needed rainfall in the area, but also causing some scattered damage, particularly to the east of the Fairfield area and into parts of southwestern Indiana. There was also hail and tree damage reported Thursday afternoon in parts of Wabash County, and several large hail reports in Clay and Richland counties.
WFIW and WOKZ will pass along weather information throughout the weekend as needed.