National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Office Overview

 


Location

WFO Central IllinoisThe Central Illinois Weather Forecast Office is located at the Logan County Airport in Lincoln. The office is along state highway 10 east of town, just east of Lincoln Christian University.

What We Do

The Lincoln NWS office provides warnings, forecasts, and other weather and climate information to the public, media, emergency management, and other customers. Our office is open around the clock, 365 days of the year. The Central Illinois WFO is one of 122 that are operated by the National Weather Service, which is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Our office opened in 1995.

Many of the employees work rotating shifts. Meteorologists prepare graphical, digital, and aviation forecasts, as well as issue weather watches, warnings and advisories. They also monitor weather observations, launch weather balloons, monitor NOAA Weather Radio, operate the Cooperative Observer Network, and provide public service.

Check out this ArcGIS Story Map to learn more about who works here, what we do, and our history.
 

Forecast and Warning Area

 


The Lincoln NWS forecast office is responsible for 35 counties across central, east central, and southeast Illinois, covering a total of 19,343 square miles and a population of approximately 1.65 million. Additionally, we serve as the liaison between the NWS offices that cover Illinois, and the State Emergency Operations Center in Springfield. County Warning Area

Our County Warning Area includes the cities of Bloomington/Normal, Champaign/Urbana, Decatur, Effingham, Galesburg, Jacksonville, Mattoon,  Olney, Peoria, and Springfield.

Our Hydrologic Service Area includes the following rivers in central and southeast Illinois:

  • Illinois River from the Bureau/Putnam County border south to Beardstown.
  • Mackinaw River
  • Spoon River
  • Sangamon River
  • Vermilion River near Danville
  • Embarras River
  • Little Wabash River from Clay City upstream

 

Contact Us

 

By E-mail: nws.lincoln@noaa.gov

By Phone: (217) 732-3089

Tours:

Tours are best suited for 3rd grade and above.
  • Groups over 20 people will need to be divided into smaller groups.
  • A typical tour will last about an hour.
  • All tours are subject to rescheduling, due to inclement weather. 
Contact:  Ed Shimon
Phone:  (217) 732-3089 ext. 726
E-mail:  Edward.Shimon@noaa.gov

Job Shadows:
 
  • Job shadows are typically arranged for high school or college students.
  • Job shadows sit with forecasters in our operations area, to learn about  our operations, and to ask questions regarding the weather, careers,  educational requirements, etc.
Contact:  Andy Taylor
Phone:  (217) 732-3089 ext. 766
E-mail:  Andrew.Taylor@noaa.gov


Employment Opportunities: