Weather

While two of the tornadoes were southeast of Bloomington-Normal, the bulk of the twisters were in west-central Illinois. The strongest was an EF-2 reported northeast of Jacksonville in Morgan County.

With today officially marking the first day of summer, extreme heat and humidity are expected to sweep through Central Illinois and the Midwest.

A dust storm, also known as a haboob, forms when strong, straight-line winds meet soil residue sitting among crops, collecting the dust there, rising it from the ground and bringing it together to form a wall-like cloud.

A new report from the National Weather Service concluded that a combination of drier soil, recent agricultural tilling, and dry windy conditions formed the rare dust storm that swept through Central Illinois on May 16.

At State Farm’s Technological Research and Innovation Lab, researchers are not only working on how to best protect policy holders, but also on how they can help to create the best products in housing materials.

Bloomington-Normal's weird weather streak continued Friday with a rare dust storm warning in McLean County, which has now expired.

Another round of severe weather is headed for Bloomington-Normal on Wednesday.

Sirens sounded in parts of McLean County on Wednesday afternoon as another spring storm system crashed through the area. At least one person was reported injured.

A tornado watch is in effect for McLean County until 3 a.m. Saturday, as a powerhouse spring storm system nears Bloomington-Normal. McLean County is at a Level 4 (out of 5) risk of severe weather, according to the National Weather Service.

Among the agencies targeted for staff reductions by the Trump Administration are the National Weather Service and its parent agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford says the cuts will have wide-ranging detrimental effects.