The combination of strong winds, dry conditions, and warm temperatures increases the risk of wildfires, particularly in grassy or wooded areas.

Dry, gusty conditions in Northeastern Illinois led the National Weather Service to issue a fire weather watch for the entire Chicago area Monday. Here's a breakdown of what it means.

A wind advisory and a fire weather watch were issued Monday for parts of the Chicago area, the National Weather Service said, with dry air and gusty winds of up to 50 miles-per-hour possible at times.

St. Louis and parts of Illinois face a cold start to the week, with NWS issuing advisories and temperatures dropping sharply.

Trainings for Illinois residents looking to join the National Weather Service's severe storm spotter program will be held virtually for the first time this year. There will also be in-person Community Weather Preparedness training sessions.

Freezing winds are expected to remain in the area until Wednesday. Monday and Tuesday morning are expected to be the coldest periods of the stretch. Monday's high will be 10 and the low minus 6. Tuesday's high will be 5 and the low minus 1,

Dangerous cold and biting wind chills are expected across Central Illinois in the early part of the week, according to the National Weather Service at Lincoln. ❄️ Wind chills as low as 20 degrees below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin after just half an hour.

A cold weather advisory is in effect for a wide swath of central Illinois means area schools are closing or going to e-learning.

The National Weather Service issued two advisories from 6 p.m. Sunday to noon Monday, and from 9 p.m. Monday to noon Tuesday.

The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued Cold Weather Advisories for the area through 3 pm on Tuesday. While it’s not the coldest air we’ve ever

Police in Illinois are investigating after two dogs appeared to have frozen to death in the yard of a home in Decatur, Macon County. Newsweek reached out to the Decatur Police Department outside of normal working hours via email for comment.

Gale warnings indicate severe maritime weather that could endanger vessels, including recreational boats and commercial fishing operations. Wind speeds of up to 50 knots and waves reaching 18 feet in some locations pose a significant threat.