Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Central Illinois

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656 FXUS63 KILX 300138 AFDILX Area Forecast Discussion...Updated National Weather Service Lincoln IL 838 PM CDT Wed May 29 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Rain chances (greater than 50% probability) return by Saturday, with additional chances extending into next week. - Heat and humidity will build by the middle of next week with WBGT values creeping toward a Moderate Threat (level 3 of 5). && .UPDATE...
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Issued at 838 PM CDT Wed May 29 2024 A lake breeze was pressing southwest into central IL this evening, showing up as a fine line on radar imagery stretched from Lacon to Champaign at 830 pm. Northeast winds briefly gust up to around 20 mph behind the boundary with dewpoints dropping off a few degrees. Skies will trend clear overnight with the dry airmass in place and winds will eventually go light/variable behind the boundary. This will provide for good radiational cooling and lows in the lower 50s for most, and a few upper 40s in favored cool spots. 25
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&& .DISCUSSION... Issued at 1240 PM CDT Wed May 29 2024 The stretch of dry and pleasant weather will run through Friday, at least, as central Illinois remains under the influence of a high- amplitude ridge and its attendant surface high pressure. A pattern change will occur Friday as a northern stream trough emerges and effectively pushes the ridge of high pressure eastward into the Mid-Atlantic region. At the same time, a shortwave trough will begin lifting northeastward across the Ozarks and into the Mississippi Valley. This feature will help draw moist Gulf air northward into central Illinois and augment the forcing/ascent needed for rain. Stubborn mid-level dry air could delay the onset of rain for central Illinois on Saturday, but the evolution of certain features such as the LLJ could support rain earlier in the day. Any nocturnal convection that occurs upstream Friday evening will likely outrun instability as it pushes eastward overnight, and instability progs look fairly poor over central Illinois by Saturday afternoon. But, the devil will be in the details for thunderstorm potential, as a more favorable LLJ position than currently depicted and/or a decaying MCV could afford better convective coverage. A subsident pattern behind the departing shortwave should keep Sunday dry, but then additional shortwave activity is expected to push across the Plains and into central Illinois by Monday with additional rain chances throughout early next week. Perhaps the greater threat as we head into next week will be the heat as mid-to-upper 80s temps return to the region Tuesday and Wednesday ahead of the next frontal system. Wet Bulb Globe Temperatures (WBGT) during this time will have reading in the lower 80s, which corresponds to a moderate heat threat (level 3 of 5). MJA && .AVIATION... (For the 00z TAFs through 00z Thursday Evening) Issued at 608 PM CDT Wed May 29 2024 Diurnal cumulus will dissipate over the next hour, leaving clear skies overnight. A drier airmass working in from the northeast on Thursday will lead to primarily clear skies, possibly some diurnal cu towards KSPI/KDEC. Winds to be light/under 10 kt from the northeast to east through Thursday afternoon. 25 && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$