Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Central Illinois

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603 FXUS63 KILX 230354 AFDILX Area Forecast Discussion...Updated Aviation National Weather Service Lincoln IL 1054 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - There is a 70% chance for thunderstorms Friday, with a level 1 of 5 (marginal) risk some of these storms become severe. The strongest storms could produce damaging wind gusts and large hail. - Scattered thunderstorms are likely (70-80% chance) on Sunday with severe storms possible. && .UPDATE... Issued at 856 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024 Weak high pressure will be the dominant feature overnight, promoting clear skies and light winds for much of the area, although it still appears that a disturbance emanating from convection over Arkansas vicinity could bring some showers and possibly a few thunderstorms to areas near/south of I-70 late in the night. Lows could be a touch on the cool side north of I-72 with lower 50s possible in the clear skies and low dewpoints mainly in the 40s. Fog looks like it will be hard to develop despite the light winds and clear skies due to the dry conditions to the north and cloud cover developing to the south where dewpoints in the upper 50s are more prevalent. Updates this evening have been mainly to remove precipitation chances until well after midnight. 37 && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 314 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024 The cold front that passed through the area last night has pushed deep into southern IL and currently lies in the OH River Valley. Some showers and isolated thunderstorms have pushed into the Taylorville area and may bring some light accumulations of rain to parts of the south and eastern zones through the rest of the afternoon hours. The upper wave associated with these showers is expected to clear central IL by the evening hours. A strong or marginally severe storm is possible in the far southern zones (Crawford, Clay, Richland, Lawrence), but trends have signaled the likelihood is decreasing. We may see a return of showers/storms late tonight in the far south in the vicinity of the stationary front. Otherwise, expect Thursday to be rather quiet weather-wise with highs in the low 80s with sunny skies north and partly sunny skies south near the stationary front. On Friday, an upper wave will move from the Northern Rockies and into the Northern Plains, becoming negatively tilted. The surface low will stay in the Northern Plains, but cold front will push east into IL. We`ll see a surge of high theta-E air north into IL on Friday ahead of the front, but the upper support will remain to the north. As a result, we`ll just see a Marginal Risk for severe storms on Friday. MLCAPE will be around 3000 J/kg and deep shear around 25-35 kts, although some models have more shear. We`ll see a break on Saturday as high pressure moves in over the area behind Friday`s cold front. Sunday looks to have the best chance for severe weather in the next seven days. We`ll see better upper support as an upper wave moves through the area. We`ll likely have a lead shortwave Sunday morning followed by the main wave Sunday afternoon/evening. Central IL is currently in a 15% (Slight) risk for severe weather for Sunday given +3000 J/kg of CAPE and 40-55 kts of deep shear. The area could see 1 to 2" of rain with this system as well. Northwest flow is expected for Monday and Tuesday, with some light showers possible in the northwest flow to start the week. Generally, expect a break from precipitation by midweek next week. Knutsvig && .AVIATION...
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(For the 06z TAFs through 06z Thursday Night) Issued at 1054 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024 VFR conditions expected across the central IL terminals over the upcoming 24 hours as high pressure along with a relatively dry air mass drift across the area, while showers associated with a frontal system to the south remain confined to areas south of the central IL terminals. Other than mid level cloud cover affecting some of the I-72 terminals overnight, mostly clear skies can be expected until diurnal cumulus around 5000 ft AGL develop after 16Z. Winds light and variable overnight becoming SE 6-10 kts after 16Z. 37
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&& .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$