Standing under the open bay door to the firehouse, several Carbondale firefighters watched as the sky quickly passed by, occasional bolts of lightning flashing a purple hue around. In the next room, several people are focused on the storm radars pulled up on several computers, waiting for the notion to sound off the tornado sirens.
Dark clouds and heavy winds rolled into southern Illinois on April 2, 2025. Beginning a multiple day-long stretch of storms that are anticipated to sweep through southern Illinois from Wednesday to Sunday, meteorologists are calling for widespread rain that could bring anywhere from six to 12 inches of rain through the region, according to News 3 WSIL.
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A shift change between the firefighters occurred just as the storms began to roll in, keeping several members of the previous shift on the clock for overtime, the building now buzzing with double of its usual numbers. Fire gear was switched between firetrucks and equipment lay close by to the truck doors for easy access if a call were to occur.
At around 6 p.m., a tornado warning went into effect for Jackson County encouraging residents to seek shelter. As the sirens blared through Carbondale, the fire department paced back and forth between the radar and the bay – waiting for a call.
By 9 p.m., the severe weather threat had dissipated in Jackson County and the overtime firefighters were sent home. Surrounding counties continued to weather the storms that swept through the region.
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