Illinois Weather 3/9 Morning - Flood Warning

Good morning. Illinois. I'm Aaron Jolly. Step outside right now. You're at 44 degrees. And we're just getting started. Today brings the kind of warmth that makes you forget it's still winter. Sunshine floods the state as temperatures surge to 72 degrees in Chicago with breezy southwest winds gusting to 30 miles an hour. Northern Illinois hits 71. Central Illinois steals the show — Decatur and Springfield climb to 76 degrees, threatening records set back in 1925. That's nearly 20 degrees warmer than usual for early March. Tonight stays mild. Lows only drop to the upper 40s to near 60 degrees. Warmer than some March afternoons. But here's where things flip. Tuesday afternoon brings serious weather. The National Weather Service has issued an Enhanced Risk — level 3 of 5 — for severe thunderstorms across northern Illinois. Storms fire up after 1 P.M. Tuesday, capable of producing large hail over 2 inches, damaging winds. And tornadoes. Central Illinois hits near 80 degrees before storms arrive. Northern areas stay cooler behind a morning cold front with highs in the low 60s. Heavy rain spreads statewide Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. Totals could exceed an inch, with localized amounts near 2 inches. Flash flooding is a concern. Wednesday brings lingering rain and cooler air — highs in the mid 40s to low 60s. Thursday clears out nicely near 50 degrees. Another round of rain arrives Friday, followed by an unsettled weekend with possible rain and snow mix. Enjoy today's warmth, but keep an eye on Tuesday. Storms could be strong. See you this afternoon.