Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued: Hail, Damaging Winds and Power Outages Expected—What You Need to Know Now

A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect this afternoon across parts of Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, and Nebraska as an unusually potent November cold front ignites fast-moving squall lines capable of 60 mph wind gusts and hail up to one inch in diameter. The National Weather Service (NWS) urges residents in the warned areas to seek sturdy shelter and monitor live radar as the storms sweep east at highway speeds. Illinois hot spot • At 2:11 p.m. CST the NWS office in Lincoln, IL, issued a warning for Coles, Edgar, Clark, northeastern Cumberland, and eastern Douglas counties. Radar indicated a line of severe storms from Camargo to Charleston racing east at 55 mph with quarter-size hail and damaging winds that could down trees and power lines, especially along Interstates 57 and 70. Nebraska’s rare November rumble • Overnight thunderstorms surprised Lincoln and surrounding Lancaster and Seward counties, producing lightning-filled skies, pea-size hail, and brief downpours before daybreak. Monday night’s storms marked one of the latest severe events on record for southeast Nebraska. Why late-season storms are erupting 1. Sharp temperature gradient: Arctic air diving south meets Gulf moisture lingering over the lower Mississippi Valley. 2. Powerful jet-stream winds: A 140-kt upper-level jet is providing strong wind shear that organizes thunderstorms into bowing segments capable of producing widespread straight-line wind damage. 3. Surface trigger: A rapidly deepening low over the Great Lakes is dragging a cold front southeastward, forcing warm, unstable air to rise explosively. Short-term forecast • Through early evening, the most intense cells will track from central Illinois into western Indiana, with additional development possible southward into the Ozarks. • Overnight, the front weakens east of the Appalachians, but pockets of lightning and 40-mph gusts could linger across Kentucky and Tennessee before dawn. • Behind the front, brisk northwest winds will usher in temperatures 15–25 °F cooler on Wednesday. Impacts you can expect • Power outages where wind gusts exceed 55 mph. • Travel delays on Interstates 70, 55, and 80 due to sudden visibility drops and debris. • Sporadic crop and roof damage from hail, especially on the leading edge of the line. Safety checklist • Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built structure and stay there until the warning expires. • Keep phones charged; battery backups maintain essential alerts if power fails. • Secure loose outdoor items such as holiday decorations, patio furniture, and trash bins. • When driving, never seek shelter under bridges; exit the roadway and find a safe building if visibility drops. • After the storm, avoid downed power lines and report outages to your utility provider. What’s next Meteorologists will update warnings in real time; if you live east of the current watch area, review your safety plan now. Download a reliable weather app, have NOAA Weather Radio on standby, and follow trusted local media for minute-by-minute bulletins. Even though the calendar says mid-November, today’s atmospheric setup can rival spring in terms of severe potential—stay weather-aware until the front clears your area.