Weather Realness

How a dust storm swept across central Illinois earlier this week

Dust storms are unusual in Illinois, but they can be dangerous. We talk about the dust warning we received earlier this week and how it happened.

What wildfire season looks like in Illinois and the risks they bring

While wildfires aren’t common in Illinois, they do occur twice every year. We take a deeper look at the wildfire season in our state and how they’re changing under climate change.

How language barriers can put lives at risk during severe weather

Severe weather warnings are meant to save lives. But what happens when non-english speakers are unable to understand them?

What caused this week’s severe weather in Illinois

Severe weather has alerted residents in Illinois earlier this week. We talk about how it happened and what spring weather brings.

Why meteorologists still rely on weather balloons

Meteorologists observe the weather with satellites and aircraft. But, scientists still use weather balloons, one of their most reliable instruments.