(This story was updated with new information and a new video.)
SPRINGFIELD – Several Illinois counties are under a tornado watch.
The National Weather Service issued the warning just before 4 p.m. It is in effect until 11 p.m. Springfield was placed under a tornado watch until 2 a.m.
The watch came hours after a Hazardous Weather Outlook was in place for several central Illinois counties including Sangamon County. Two rounds of potentially severe thunderstorms are possible.
There is an enhanced risk (level 3 of 5) for severe weather along and north of the I-72 corridor (including Springfield) this afternoon through tonight.
Areas south of I-72 currently show a slight risk (level 2 of 5) for severe weather.
Round one will develop along and north of a warm front between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Any cells that form at this time will rapidly become severe, resulting in a risk for strong tornadoes, very large hail, and damaging wind gusts, according to the Hazardous Weather Outlook.
Round two will materialize from late evening into the overnight hours.
Meteorologist Rebekka Copple out of Lincoln told the SJ-R said weather information will be updated on weather service’s website later this morning, per a change from the Storm Prediction Center, but the main change from is an increase in the max intensity of tornados possible on March 10. It will be a max intensity of EF3 strength.
Damaging wind gusts will be the main risk in the storms that form later, but an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out, the Hazardous Weather Outlook added.
Pockets of flash flooding will be possible where excessive rainfall rates overwhelm urban draining systems.
Springfield may see 1 inch to 1.5 inches of precipitation from Tuesday morning to Thursday morning.
The central U.S. faces the severe storms just days after tornadoes killed eight people in Oklahoma and Michigan.
Tom Ackerman covers breaking news and trending news along with general news for the Springfield State Journal-Register. He can be reached at tackerman@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Possible tornados in central Illinois could be max intensity of EF3
Reporting by Tom Ackerman, Springfield State Journal-Register / State Journal-Register
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