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Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Chicago, IL
Issued by NWS Chicago, IL
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350 FXUS63 KLOT 261150 AFDLOT Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville, IL 650 AM CDT Wed Jun 26 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Isolated to scattered thunderstorms may develop this afternoon, mainly along and southeast of I-55 (40-60% chance) - Strong to severe thunderstorms and flash flooding are possible Friday night and potentially into Saturday. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 319 AM CDT Wed Jun 26 2024 Through Thursday: A recent hand surface analysis revealed a surface low pressure system centered in southern Ontario and an associated surface pressure trough extending westward across the Lower Great Lakes. A wide reservoir of instability remains in place along and south of the surface pressure trough, which continues to feed several forward- propagating clusters of thunderstorms from Topeka, Kansas to Clarksville, Tennessee. A distinct MCV (convectively-generated low pressure system) is evident swirling northeastward along the Ohio River between clusters of thunderstorms. Meanwhile, upper- level water vapor imagery depicts a wound-up shortwave propagating southeastward into central Minnesota, and surface observations across the Upper Great Lakes depict a southward- moving cold front extending from near Isle Royale to Mackinaw, Michigan. When put altogether, our area is in a somewhat benign region within the broad and unstable zone of low-level confluence characterizing the surface pressure trough, but far from the zones of active thunderstorms to our south, the cold front well to our north, and the incoming upper-level shortwave to our northwest. As a result, it`s somewhat stagnant outside with relatively light winds and relatively high humidity levels thanks to surface dew points in the upper 60s to lower 70s. With limited to no signs of low-level forcing to activate the instability plume in our region this morning, prospects for showers and thunderstorms appear low (only a 15-20% chance) and may be limited to nebulous micro-scale objects of forcing, such as a weak gravity wave feature that kicked off a few short-lived thunderstorms earlier this morning near Chicago. Later today however, forcing for ascent by means of low-level lift along/ahead of the approaching cold front from the north and DCVA provided by upper-level shortwave from the northwest (which may actually link up with the MCV lifting into central Indiana), should provide enough "oomph" to kick off isolated to scattered thunderstorms. Timing out the approach of all features as well as the expected southward "ooze" of the instability axis, such a threat should materialize near and southeast of I-55 this afternoon (40 to 60% PoPs). Meanwhile, behind the cold front, we can`t rule out a few sprinkles beneath the deepest stratocumulus clouds (only a 10 to 15% chance). This evening, winds over Lake Michigan will become breezy out of the north to northeasterly direction causing waves to chop up to 3 to 6 feet along all shoreline beaches. For this reason, will go ahead and issue a Beach Hazards Statement, valid from 10 PM to 10 AM. Tomorrow looks relatively quiet beneath a passing surface high pressure system. Highs in the mid to upper 70s (mid to upper 60s lakeside), plenty of sunshine, and light winds should be the norm. Borchardt Thursday Night through Tuesday: High pressure over the Great Lakes region on Thursday will drift eastward through Friday as a mid-level wave lifts ENE from the Great Plains into a flattening low-amplitude ridge. Initial convection over the central Great Plains Thursday evening will quickly shift into an airmass characteristic of poor mid-level lapse rates and a weakening kinematic field around and east of the Mississippi River Valley. Expectations are for an area of decaying showers with perhaps some embedded storms to shift across the forecast area through the day Friday. Strong low-level moisture transport below a plume of modest mid-level lapse rates across the mid and Upper-Mississippi River Valley will then advect toward the area Friday night. Conditional on an available impetus (most likely low-level WAA/isentropic ascent) for convection Friday night, effective shear profiles and PWATs rising over 2" will foster strong to possibly severe storms capable of producing hail, gusty winds, and flash flooding. An approaching cold front late Friday night will provide an added focus for regenerating convection and a continued potential for flash flooding well into Saturday. Spread of the placement of potential flooding concerns remains quite broad, with guidance ranging from far southern WI through the south half of Illinois. We transition from June to July with a couple dry and seasonably cool days Sunday and Monday before another signal for active weather appears Tuesday into Wednesday. Kluber && .AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/... Issued at 650 AM CDT Wed Jun 26 2024 VFR conditions are expected through the period. While dry conditions are generally favored across northern IL and northwest IN through the period, spotty -SHRA cannot be ruled out through early afternoon. There remains a very low chance (10%) that an isolated elevated TS develops through around 15Z over the Chicago metro with lingering elevated instability ahead of an approaching cold front. If a TS does develop, it would be capable of +RA and potentially small GR. WNW winds up to 10 knots will shift NNW this morning as the cold front begins to shift southward across the area. A lake breeze is expected to develop, then stall, in the vicinity of ORD/MDW early this afternoon, with the current forecast depicting a NE wind shift at MDW early in the afternoon and at ORD late in the afternoon. There is a decent chance (40%) that the lake breeze arrives as early as 19-20Z before stalling just west of the airfield. A synoptic NE wind shift of 10 knots or higher is then expected at all sites by early evening. Kluber && .LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...Beach Hazards Statement from this evening through Thursday morning for ILZ006-ILZ103-ILZ104. IN...Beach Hazards Statement from this evening through Thursday morning for INZ001-INZ002. LM...Small Craft Advisory from 10 PM this evening to 10 AM CDT Thursday for the IL and IN nearshore waters. && $$ Visit us at weather.gov/chicago