Weather Bureau, constructed at the cost of $7,969 the station measured temperatures, wind speeds, precipitation, snowfall, and barometric pressure.

[2] In 1928 the Springfield Weather Bureau moved temporarily to the Abe Lincoln Hotel and the old office was subsequently destroyed for construction of a new federal courthouse.

[2] In 1955 parts of Central and Western Illinois became covered by the new weather radar WSR-1 at Lambert Field in Saint Louis.

[2] A new radar, WSR-74C, was installed in Moline and helped the Peoria NWS issue severe weather warnings for the region.

[10] On October 1, 1995, the National Weather Service offices in Peoria and Springfield were officially closed after serving Central Illinois since the early 20th century.

[2][11] By the early 21st century the weather radio network in the region was greatly expanding and Lincoln could transmit warnings and general forecasts via such stations.

[2] In addition the Lincoln office is also in charge of Automated Surface Observing Systems (ASOS) at General Wayne A.

[2] NWS Lincoln employs both short and long term weather forecasters who each have vital duties.

[13] The National Weather Service Central Illinois is in charge of weather forecasts, warnings and local statements for 35 counties in Central and Southeastern Illinois: Cass, Champaign, Christian, Clark, Clay, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, De Witt, Douglas, Edgar, Effingham, Fulton, Jasper, Knox, Lawrence, Logan, McLean, Macon, Marshall, Mason, Menard, Morgan, Moultrie, Peoria, Piatt, Richland, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, Stark, Tazewell, Vermilion, and Woodford.

In addition the office is in charge of aviation forecasts for five regional airports, Peoria, Springfield, Decatur, Champaign and Bloomington/Normal.

[2] In June 1957 Hurricane Audrey's extratropical remnants caused a major rain, and flooding event across much of Central Illinois.

[2] During the North American blizzard of 1999 several Lincoln forecasters were forced to spend 1–2 consecutive days at the office when their replacements could not get to them.