National Weather Service

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for McLean, Mason, Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford, Fulton and Schuyler counties from 9 a.m. Saturday until midnight Sunday night.

All Peoria Public Schools will be closed Friday, in response to the extreme cold forecast for the region. The Bradley University campus will also be closed, with classes shifted to remote learning.

The warning is in effect from 3 a.m. to noon Friday for McLean, Woodford, Tazewell, Peoria, Marshall, Stark and Knox counties.

Much of Central Illinois will be facing some extreme cold Thursday night into Friday. Dangerously cold wind chills as low as 25 to 30 degrees below zero are possible.

Accumulation of between 2 to 5 inches is possible with snowfall starting in the afternoon and continuing primarily until around 10 p.m. Lighter snow may continue overnight.

A Facebook group providing frequent reports on weather events in Central Illinois has gained traction.

Another round of severe spring storms is expected to sweep through the Greater Peoria area Wednesday.

A line of severe storms is expected to reach Central Illinois heading into the weekend.

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.

The National Weather Service has wrapped up its assessment of the July 15 derecho, with a total of 10 tornadoes recorded around Central Illinois that evening.