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MyPI Teen Summit

June 3, 2024 - June 7, 2024

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Blog Posts

green and brown field under stormy and sunny sky

Mild winter puts plants in a precarious place

April 29, 2024

Illinois experienced its 2nd warmest winter on record, cooler only than 1932. The mild winter caused perennials to break dormancy and advance...

A bright lightning bolt striking down at a city

Does lightning produce gamma rays?

April 30, 2024

Many people like watching lightning when it’s off in the distance. If it’s close, it becomes a hazard. While fatalities from lightning have come down...

Unseasonable weather makes for early plant arrivals

March 29, 2024

Over the past several weeks, residents in northern Illinois have experienced some unseasonable weather. Warm, spring-like temperatures, thunderstorms...

dirt road leading toward a dark cloudy stormy sky

Do storms really split apart and come back together?

March 29, 2024

When I do weather talks, I usually get a question like, “Why do we see storms split apart and come back together after they pass by?” Unfortunately...

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News Releases

April 23, 2024

BECOME A NATURE SUPERHERO: MASTER NATURALIST PROGRAM OFFERS TRAINING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Do you feel a calling to protect and preserve the natural world but aren't sure where to start? Look no further than the Master Naturalist program, where volunteers are transforming into nature superheroes, ready to make a lasting impact on their communities. A Master Naturalist embodies...

Text: When it Rains, It Pours. Over dark photo of rain storm on corn field

February 26, 2024

Meet the challenge of heavier spring rains with climate series for farmers
URBANA, Ill. — Weather trends are changing. Be prepared for how it can affect your farming operation with expert updates from University of Illinois and Purdue University. The bi-state climate webinar series brings together university experts and resources from...

hands holding soil with a plant with a graphic overlay of icons of recycling, renewable energy, CO2

February 2, 2024

New Extension initiatives empower Illinois to meet the challenges of changing climate
URBANA, Ill. — The science is clear; the world’s climate is changing. Illinois has already seen the impacts on everything from agriculture productivity and food access to public health hazards and diminishing natural resources. To meet these challenges and further its land-grant mission of...

A tornado in a field with a graphic of a warning sign with a tornado on it.

January 23, 2024

Help protect your community as a trained storm spotter
BENTON, Ill. – In preparation for peak weather season, Illinois Extension is partnering with the Franklin County Emergency Management Agency and the US National Weather Service-Paducah to offer storm...

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Videos

Electrical Hazards During and After a Storm

It is important to prepare in advance for a severe storm or natural disaster. Gathering emergency kit items, having a communication plan in place and knowing when, how and where to take shelter saves lives. It is easy to be complacent about storms or think that they won’t strike close to home....

Caught in a Storm: Lightning Safety

As the sun heats the air, energy is created with air movement, and lightning typically comes from towering storm clouds. Fortunately, accidents involving lightning are very avoidable. Safe Electricity has the following suggestions to stay safe from the dangers of lightning:

There is...

Staff

Christine Belless

Ag and Natural Resources Program Coordinator

Serving Fulton, Mason, Peoria and Tazewell Counties

Duane Friend

State Master Naturalist and Climate Change Specialist

Weather

Weather

Christine Belless

Duane Friend

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