Hello from Central IL. Sunday’s high will be or at 70*; Monday forecast is a low of 5* (yes, 65* change) with -5* windchill. Lovin’ it!

Peoria (Central Illinois) was 26* this morning and reached 70* about 2:30 this afternoon. Went from running the furnace to having the windows open. Lots of Robins moving through headed north. But then, cold and snow due on Sunday, so I won’t get Spring fever quite yet.

Speaking of clippers, Henry, you used to talk about ALBERTA clippers all the time. I don’t think I have heard you say that even once this season. Can you explain? Thank you.

Henry, your video today said “and the snow storms are just going to continue and continue and continue”… and for ONCE central IL seems to be included. You couldn’t be sharing any nicer forecast to me than that, thank you.

Sitting in central IL hoping we will be included in the snow festivities: fingers crossed, long underwear at the ready, boots and snow pants waiting to go outside and play. Oh please send a snow storm…….

I can view A I weather predictions all over the internet. The reason I come to Henry is that, while he has access to the computer-generated info, he isn’t afraid to use his extensive experience AND common sense/intuition to make predictions. All forecasts are just that – predictions. With Henry there is a why and wherefore provided, and I…Read More

I live in central IL, just east of Peoria. Today the National Weather Service out of Lincoln, IL is predicting temps highs of 63* – 69* on Christmas Day. Would someone please explain how this could occur this time of year and after all this cold. I would appreciate having some understanding of this. Yesterday the wind chills were well below zero.

Just a comment on Matt K’s weekly summary. Today’s (11.30) is the best he’s done so far, covering a complicated map with clarity and confidence. He improves every week. Good job!

Central IL update: 94 degrees on 9.30, no rain since mid-August. Few Fall colors, just brown leaves dropping from the drought. And the HEAT goes on . . .

Hello from Central IL. Minus 10 this morning with minus 30 wind chill. Schools closed. Sunshine, bits of snow still here and there. Out of the deep freeze tomorrow, 46* forecasted for the 29th.
Roller Coaster continues, wheeee!

Update from the heart Jan 15 temp reach Zero and 5″ snow on the ground. Jan 17 it was 47* and I washed both cars in the driveway. Jan 19 was 4* at noon, -16 wind chill, with colder temps still to come through Jan 22. I love a Winter roller coaster!

In Central IL, each storm or clipper has been on the low side BUT – those 1-3 inches are starting to add up. The yard is fully covered, we have shoveled a few times, and beautiful snow drifts are 12″+. Because we are getting snow in rounds, the plows are doing a great job of keeping up and clearing roads. We have the best of both worlds for…Read More

So let me understand this: it is going to snow in TX, but not Central IL. Under the heading of ‘fair’, that isn’t. Oh well, I will just enjoy the cold.

Central Illinois – 59* – Heavy fog this morning. This afternoon I washed my car by hand and enjoyed it. Crazy!

Reporting from Central IL.
6 days ago we had 2″ snow. 3 days ago we woke up to 8* with -7* windchill. Yesterday was much needed rain, last night the temp rose all night, woke up to 40* and FOG. Expecting to see temps in upper 50’s tomorrow, then back to 10* on Saturday. What a roller coaster, but I love it. At least it isn’t HOT!

Henry, when…Read More

Central IL had 1-3″ of snow today over about 5 hours. Pretty and fluffy, nothing to write home about, but it gives me hope for more to come. We are still in drought conditions here and will gladly take precip any way we can get it.

I have to smile at ‘winter’ people. All summer we dream of and long for cold, snow and clippers. They finally arrive (after YEARS of nothing) and all we can talk about is the next ‘break’ from it. I live in the middle of Illinois on a field where the NW winds are unimpeded. Tonight the wind-chill may be -8. There is hope of snow soon. I love it…Read More

McLean County, CENTRAL IL – 20* and holding today, NW winds creating wind chill of 4* with snow flurries, no accumulation but beautiful to behold and brings home of much more to come.

Here are the magic words I am waiting to hear: freeze warning & 540 line down to central IL, blizzard warnings, and Alberta clipper. Bring it on!

Henry, after following you for many years, I encourage you to continue to follow where your gut leads you. Time & again I’ve watched you “see” what the machines and programs miss because they cannot “reason” like you can, nor do they have experience (not just historical data) to unsnarl seemingly conflicting data.

I see the 540 line showing up…Read More

McLean County, central IL. Wake up temp this morning: 47* Yeah!!
Corn and soy beans just beginning to turn, harvest should be well under way by end of Sept.
Awesome sunset last Sunday, reminded me of the vivid purple & gold colors we see in December.
All this to say: I hope, I hope Henry is correct and this is a Winter worth waiting for -…Read More

I sincerely appreciate Henry’s on-going warnings about flash flooding in remote hiking areas. Just read another report that a hiker died in the Grand Canyon by flash flooding. How can people head to remote areas and NOT do proper preparation and stay aware of changing conditions? Very sad and so unnecessary. Henry, keep on preaching!

Here in…Read More

McLean County, central IL – last three nights in the upper 40’s, within a couple of degrees of the record low set in 1927. 3 days from now we will have heat index of 100+ and 2 nights that don’t get below 70. After that, bring on that early Fall!

In Central Illinois, 50 miles south of I-80, we had frost and 29 degrees last night.

Report from Central IL for Feb 27-28. At 3:30 PM on 2.27 the temp was 76 degrees, record-setting for this area. At 3:30 AM on 2.28 my backyard weather station read 16 degrees and a wind chill of -1. I am 71 years old and this is by far the biggest 12 hour temp drop I ever remember.

Henry mentioned the temp dropping 20-30 degrees on the 27-28th. In Central IL we are supposed to reach 71* (this may set a record high) on the 27th with a low that night of 23* and a low on the 28th of 17*. That’s a drop of 54* . Early Spring in March in Illinois – I love it.
The robins and Starlings returned Feb 10th this year, way too early,…Read More

McLean County, Central Illinois, we had a fast but potent storm overnight. Thunder, lightning, heavy downpour for about 10 minutes, and enough marble-sized hail to cover the ground, all at 3: 50 am!

If weather prediction was easy, we wouldn’t need or appreciate Henry and those like him that watch the models and indices, but ultimately use their experience and knowledge to do the best they can to help us be ready for what comes. Thank you, Henry and keep standing your ground.

“Please sir, can I have some more?” I think for central IL for this winter, the answer is NO!
I am trying not to be disappointed, but hope is dwindling with every extended forecast.

Henry, in your choice between happy about the weather or not happy and shoveling the weather: get that snow blower out and SMILE as as you use it!

Henry, thanks for explaining about looking for a coastal trough, and congrats on being right. I also agree with the cold air having dug in and becoming a battle ground with the cooler ‘thaw’ air, not giving way too easily. Here in Central IL, I expect a slight warmup, but nothing balmy like people are talking about.

Update from McLean County, Central IL. We woke up to -15 F with – 35 F windchill. Sadly, the bulk of the snow went north, but the ground is covered and lovely in the brilliant morning sun. Enjoying every bit of it!

2 ½-3 lovely inches of snow this morning in Central IL. Won’t last, but that’s ok, I am enjoying what comes. This is used to be too little to bother about, now it’s all I can hope for. Perhaps more coming with the parade of storms ahead. Weather-fingers crossed.

I’ve been sitting here calmly in McLean County, center of IL, just waiting. Today Henry used the “B” word for this area – BLIZZARD. Henry: may you be correct. It’s been SO LONG, I would love one to plow through here. Even if it doesn’t, thanks for the hope.

Still digesting the information you provided in today’s newsletter about the El Nino. Greatly appreciate you doing the background work and sharing it with everybody.

Central and Northern IL look to stay high and dry, while Southern IL gets the snow this winter.

It seems to me the un-professional but descriptive word we are looking is that we are being SIDE-SWIPED by El Nino this year and nothing more. Perhaps it will take until 24-25 for it to make up its mind?

Henry, what does El Nino mean for Central Illinois this winter? It looks like we will be pretty much bypassed by snow/precip. Am I reading it right?

Henry, you had been talking about a cold March (right target) and then skipping Spring and going right in to Summer in April. Do you still see that? If not, what is happening to change that scenario?

Snow in November (central IL) – YIPEE – bring it on and let it last right through til March. Us snow lovers are hungry for a white winter!

Hi Henry, I would like some help understanding the ‘yellow’ map that shows Geopotential Ht, Cyclonic Vorticity and wind. Can you break those terms down a little so I can more out of this map? Thanks.

I am a little confused. Are you saying we are always either in a La Nina or EL Nino pattern? If not, what are the other options to be ‘in’? By the way, here in Central IL my weather station recorded a low of 49 degrees the night of 6.18-19, and a high of 100 degrees on 6.21. Hope you are correct about rain coming in July, we sure could use…Read More

Henry, thanks for the ‘teaching’ you did on 6.10 long range forecast. I found it very informative and helpful to understand the summer patterns.

Local (central IL) weather today said that the tropical storms will be mainly in the Eastern Gulf or along the US Eastern seaboard this season. Do you agree? Can you explain why? Thanks, and HUGE THANKS for mentioning the potential for lots of snow next Winter. I will keep that in mind as the summer heat arrives.

I suggest we stop using the word “normal” in weather and stick with “average”, which is really what is meant. Also, people use the word “normal” as though it is their RIGHT to have “normal” weather. There are no ‘rights’ with weather, you get what you get. I love that USA weather is so fluid and multi-faceted. Same weather every day would be…Read More

Update from McLean County, Central IL: 1 .5″ rain overnight, 1/2 hour of light sleet changed rapidly to snow. Has been snowing and drifting heavily for nearly 3 hours with winds 20-28 mph on my home weather station, visibility about 200-300 feet, looks to be about 4-6 inches on the ground, but hard to tell with the drifting. Loving every minute of it!

It is our turn AT LAST – Central IL (McLean County) right in the heart of the heavy snow. I hope we get 15+” but will be delighted with whatever comes, including the NW winds and bitter cold. One, good storm, that was all I was hoping for and here it comes! Cannot wait to get outside with something substantial to shovel. Hope those that get…Read More

Cold, snowy, early – yippee! Thanks for the encouraging Winter forecast.

What its keeping the tropical low off of the Carolina’s from coming west?

We (central IL) received 4.06″ of rain in under two hours this morning. Glad to get it!

Reminding us that SNOW isn’t far away was the nicest news I could have had today. THANK YOU, Henry.