Central Illinois is in the crosshairs for another severe weather outbreak. A sharp cold front will lift into the region Wednesday afternoon setting off some intense storms with some storms turning severe Wednesday afternoon and early evening. The Storm Prediction Center has placed much of central Illinois under an Enhanced Risk, and there's even a Moderate Risk for severe storms for communities closer to I-70 near Effingham (levels 3 & 4, out of 5). Currently a Tornado Watch is in effect until 4 PM Wednesday afternoon for a handful of counties, but more counties will likely get included under a watch as well.

All forms of severe weather possible will be possible including isolated tornadoes and large hail, but the biggest threat will be powerful destructive wind gusts with some gusts potentially in excess of 70-80 MPH. Temperatures will be unseasonably warm on Wednesday with highs in the low to mid 70s, helping to destabilize the atmosphere. The main timing for the more robust storms would be in the afternoon and early evening when the cold front advances across our region. Then the risk of severe storms should be ending by Wednesday night and the weather calming down by 7-8 PM, with skies turning partly to mostly cloudy along with lows in the upper 40s.

For Thursday, expect increasing clouds once again with more scattered showers and storms especially in the afternoon and evening with highs near 60. And for Friday, look for more of the same as this weather maker stalls out over the Ohio River Valley, bringing more rounds of scattered showers and storms with highs in the upper 50s.

Keep your umbrellas handy through the weekend as well, as we'll still have more off-and-on bouts of rain and occasional storms with highs in the low 50s. With multiple waves of rain and storms, rainfall is likely to be quite excessive across central Illinois, and the forecast models suggest 2" to 5" could be possible. So, watch out for localized flooding throughout central Illinois.

Finally, by Sunday afternoon, the rain chances come to an end, and come Monday, expect mostly sunny skies to return with more unseasonably cool weather and highs near 50.