Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Chicago, IL

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521 FXUS63 KLOT 110736 AFDLOT Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville, IL 236 AM CDT Tue Jun 11 2024 .KEY MESSAGES...
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- Scattered thunderstorms possible Thursday, some of which may be severe in the afternoon and evening. - Hot/humid conditions expected early next week.
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&& .DISCUSSION...
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Issued at 236 AM CDT Tue Jun 11 2024 Through Wednesday: It will be a notably cooler start to the day with temperatures having already dropped into the upper 40s and lower 50s with few more hours of cooling yet to go. As a shortwave mid-upper ridge axis and associated surface high pressure shifts to the east, wind directions return to a prevailing southwest to westerly direction. This will allow temperatures to readily warm back into the mid-upper 70s today. Increasing cloud cover this afternoon from an approaching disturbance to our west will likely limit the degree of warming, however, and have accordingly nudged down temperatures a bit out toward Rockford and near the WI/IL stateline. If clouds arrive later than expected, some spots could reach the lower 80s. As for rain chances today, vertical profiles suggest the lower- levels will remain quite dry through most of the day. A lead axis of showers may remain mostly in the form of virga late afternoon/early evening, with perhaps a few sprinkles or stray shower (20% chance). With time the column will attempt to saturate, potentially enough for slightly greater coverage of showers overnight as the mid-level wave moves overhead. Any showers that do develop likely outrun any lingering weak instability west of the Mississippi River and have opted to remove any mention of thunder with this update. Wednesday will be notably warmer after the cool start to the workweek with highs back into the upper 80s to around 90. With hi-res guidance beginning to capture the Wednesday afternoon period, there are indications that a lake breeze may attempt to push inland enough to limit warming to the upper 70s/lower 80s near the immediate lakeshore. Dry conditions are forecast through Wednesday afternoon. Petr Wednesday Night through Monday: Two primary concerns for the extended, thunderstorm chances on Thursday and heat/humidity next week. A cold front will be moving southeast across the upper midwest Wednesday night. Convection is expected to develop ahead of this front across MN/WI/IA and move southeast. There still remains uncertainty for how much, if any, of this activity will reach the local area Thursday morning before dissipating. The general consensus has been that at least showers with perhaps some thunder will reach the northwest cwa by daybreak Thursday in a weakening phase. Chance pops across the northwest cwa seem on track. It may be difficult to get any more specific with this time period until trends emerge Wednesday evening. While convective trends on Thursday may be impacted by earlier precipitation Thursday morning, which would push the effective front into the southern cwa, there also seems to be a trend in the models of the main cold front possibly reaching the I-80 corridor by early Thursday afternoon. This would allow the focus for new thunderstorms to be mainly across the southern cwa Thursday afternoon into Thursday evening, before exiting to the south. Severe thunderstorms and heavy rain/flooding will still exist wherever thunderstorms develop. Blended pops for Thursday afternoon and evening are generally in the 40 percent range and that seems reasonable for now, perhaps too high in the north if the southern development materializes. High temps on Thursday may be tricky if precip/cloud cover move further into the area Thursday morning and/or thunderstorms develop further north than currently expected. Highs in the upper 80s to lower 90s are possible, but also may end up a few degrees too warm. Highs will be back into the lower/mid 80s on Friday and Saturday, cooler near the lake. The upper ridge will begin to build across the region Sunday into Monday next week with high temps likely to be in the lower to mid 90s. With dewpoints possibly into the lower 70s, heat index values may reach 100 by Monday afternoon. Most of the models show a chance of thunderstorms skirting the northern cwa Sunday afternoon/evening as the ridge is building north, but overall, Monday and Tuesday are looking dry with the ridge possibly breaking down Tuesday night or Wednesday. With the ring of fire nearby, forecasts this far our can often turn out different and maintaining slight chance pops Monday afternoon/evening seem reasonable with chance pops Tuesday afternoon/evening. cms
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&& .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 1224 AM CDT Tue Jun 11 2024 Only forecast concern this period is a chance for showers this afternoon into this evening. The low levels will remain fairly dry as a weak disturbance moves across the area. There will likely be some virga aloft and possibly an isolated shower, but coverage is expected to remain low. Opted to remain dry with this forecast. Its possible some short tempo mention will be needed for showers, or possibly vicinity mention as trends emerge later today. Light/calm winds early this morning will become southwesterly generally under 10kts later this morning and then turn back to southerly this evening. cms && .LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
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IL...None. IN...None. LM...None.
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