Three waves of storms are expected to impact central and northern Illinois today, and the National Weather Service is imploring the public to be mindful of the ever-changing forecast today.

On the WHOW Morning Show Tuesday, Ed Shimon at the National Weather Service in Lincoln told the Hart Media Group, the first wave of storms will develop over central Illinois around noon or 1 pm and will move eastward.

The big storm wave is expected later this evening, between 7 pm and 10 pm. Shimon is imploring everyone to be aware of the conditions, keep an ear out for those warnings and notices, and be ready to take shelter in the event a storm develops near you.

Be on the lookout again for more severe weather after midnight. Shimon indicates a cold front is going to move through and that is going to create more severe weather.

According to Shimon, there is a weather pattern called 'coupling jets' and it can create massive and intense storms - which is what we're in store for today.

A NOAA weather radio is always recommended by the National Weather Service. Also, keep it to WHOW and the Hart Media Group throughout the day for the latest in severe weather updates, watches, and warnings.