DANGEROUS STORMS POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT FRIDAY INTO EARLY SATURDAY MORNING

MARCH 14, 2025 -- A significant severe weather event appears to be unfolding, potentially impacting Southern Illinois late Friday night and early Saturday morning. The Storm Prediction Center has all of Southern Illinois in a Level 4 (out of 5).

By 6 p.m. Friday evening, storms are expected to be developing across central Missouri, gradually extending southward across southern Missouri in an increasingly unstable atmosphere with extremely strong shear. This set up will favor the development of supercells, storms that are most known for producing very large hail, extreme winds, and tornadoes.

Meanwhile, further east across Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois, dew points will be on the rise as moisture rides north into the region, creating a very favorable environment for severe storms. These severe storms ingredients appear to peak between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. with a focus point in areas of Southwest Illinois and Southeast Missouri, where I believe the highest tornado threat to be.

Later into the night, mainly after 3 a.m., storms may begin outrunning the more favorable severe storm ingredients, and some weakening should begin to occur with time into the early morning hours on Saturday.

The severity of the storms is concerning to me. The timing of the day, mainly late at night, is also concerning. Nocturnal tornadoes are much more deadly than daytime tornadoes due to people being asleep, unprepared, and unable to see in the darkness.

TIMING:

While a few storms are possible as early as 7 p.m., the main window for severe storms in Southern Illinois will likely be between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m.

THREATS:

Damaging winds: Some wind gusts could be 70 - 80 miles per hour

Hail: Up to golf ball sized

Tornadoes: One or two could be strong and long-tracking

WHAT TO DO

Have multiple ways to receive warnings. If you have the Nick Hausen Weather app, be sure that push notifications and location settings are turned ON. Charge your phone before you go to bed. Know where you would go in the case of a tornado in the middle of the night.

Severe storms are nothing to panic over, but it is something to be prepared for, as it's a way of life living in Southern Illinois.