(OLNEY/NEWTON) With near record warmth over this past weekend and a new record high temperature for Olney set yesterday, a fast-moving cold front dropped southeastward across our downstate area last evening bringing in some severe weather, varies amounts of rain, some hail, and dangerous lightning. After nearly tying record high temperatures by 2 degrees on Friday and by 4 degrees on Saturday, yesterday’s (Sunday) high of 88 degrees broke the previous record high of 87 degrees for March 22nd, originally set 119 years ago in 1907. Then less than two hours later, the frontal system moved through, switching the wind from southwest to north with 35 to 45 miles-per-hour gusts and followed by nine weather statements from the National Weather Service, all of which were severe thunderstorm warnings for the area counties of Effingham, Clay, Jasper, Richland, Crawford, and Lawrence. Some damage reported, but no injuries. Stay tuned for updates and monitor a NOAA Weather Alert Radio for more weather forecast details.
