Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Chicago, IL
Issued by NWS Chicago, IL
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030 FXUS63 KLOT 122018 AFDLOT Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville, IL 318 PM CDT Sun May 12 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Small chance for a couple of thunderstorms near the WI state line this evening. - Showers and thunderstorms expected (90%+ chance) Monday afternoon and evening, with locally heavy rainfall amounts. - Showers continue into Tuesday before ending from northwest to southeast in the afternoon and evening. - Seasonable temperatures and chances for showers and storms will return by the end of the week. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 318 PM CDT Sun May 12 2024 Through Tuesday: All is currently quiet across the area early this afternoon. While this is expected to continue to be the case for a majority of the area through tonight, we will be watching for the possibility for a couple of thunderstorms to move into parts of far northern IL (especially near the south central WI state line) late this afternoon into the early evening. These thunderstorms are already ongoing and developing across parts of IA in the vicinity of a surface boundary. Given their expected eastward movement it remains possible that some could shift into parts of far northern IL near the WI state line early this evening before weakening. Severe weather is not anticipated, but certainly cannot rule out some instances of locally gusty winds with them. These storms should weaken through the evening the boundary layer stabilizes. Our main weather maker for Monday afternoon through Tuesday continues to be the the upper low currently traversing the central and southern Rockies. This feature, along with an associated surface low will track eastward across the Mid-Mississippi Valley into the Ohio Valley late Monday through Tuesday. However, prior to its arrival, a backdoor cold front (associated with low pressure in Ontario) will drop southward into northern IL Monday afternoon and evening. As it does so, increasingly southerly low- level trajectories in advance of the approaching low will foster a northward surge of a moist and unstable airmass right into northern IL during the afternoon. Accordingly, numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop into the area Monday afternoon and evening. While poor deep layer wind shear should curtail the threat for a more organized severe weather threat, some instances of locally gusty winds may occur with the strongest storms during the afternoon and evening. Of most concern with these showers and storms is the threat for periods of heavy rainfall into Monday evening along and north of I-80. Seasonably high PWATS of 1.4"+ combined with the propensity for individual cells to train in northeastward oriented corridors across northern IL may result in some localized rainfall amounts in excess of 2-3", and hence could lead to hydro concerns across parts of the area. The main threat of thunder will sag south of I-80 late Monday night into Tuesday, though rain showers will linger areawide into Tuesday. The rain threat will then come to an end from northwest to southeast Tuesday afternoon and evening as the main storm system exits to our east. Aside from the rain, breezy and cool northeasterly low-level winds on Tuesday will result in a seasonably cool day for the area as inland temperatures hold in the low to mid 60s, and remain in the 50s near the lake. Tuesday Night through Sunday: A surface high and upper-level ridge will move over the region following the eastward departure of this system Tuesday night into Wednesday. This will support a period of quieter and warmer weather for the mid-week period (Wednesday into at least the first half of Thursday). Accordingly, inland temperatures both days look to rebound back into the 70s, though onshore flow will keep conditions several degrees cooler near the lake. Thereafter, there are signs in the ensemble guidance that the weather pattern could turn a bit more active again, potentially supporting some additional periods of showers and thunderstorms, particularly Thursday night into Friday. KJB && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z TUESDAY/... Issued at 1228 PM CDT Sun May 12 2024 Key Aviation Messages: - Small chance of a SHRA or TS near RFD late today-this evening - Widespread SHRA and scattered TS likely Monday afternoon - Wind shift to northeast likely Monday PM with uncertain timing Primarily quiet conditions are expected through Monday morning. While we still can`t rule out a gusty SHRA or TS near RFD late this afternoon through this evening, the chance is too low for continued inclusion in the TAF. Breezy southwest winds gusting in the 20-25 kt range are in store until near sunset, followed by steady around 10 kt southwest to SSW winds tonight and Monday morning. There may be sporadic gusts in the late evening and overnight as a low level jet moves overhead, especially at ORD and MDW. An active period is then likely Monday afternoon and evening from waves of showers and thunderstorms associated with an upper level disturbance and a cold front shifting south. Forecast soundings suggest a favorable setup for on station TS at times, though there`s some timing uncertainty. In addition, the anticipated wind shift to northeast behind the cold front could occur as early as 19z and as late as around 00z Monday evening. With the above in mind, indicated -SHRA VCTS in the ORD and MDW TAFs and included a PROB30 for IFR TS impacts and the northeast wind shift. An earlier wind shift could also support the development of lower CIGs streaming in off the lake. Castro && .LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...None. IN...None. LM...None. && $$ Visit us at weather.gov/chicago