Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Central Illinois
Issued by NWS Central Illinois
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776 FXUS63 KILX 291736 AFDILX Area Forecast Discussion...Updated Aviation National Weather Service Lincoln IL 1236 PM CDT Mon Apr 29 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Showers and a few thunderstorms will push eastward toward the Indiana border by dawn, and diminish west of I-57 during this morning. Chances of showers and isolated thunderstorms continues this afternoon and into the evening in eastern IL. The severe potential has greatly decreased, though heavy rains and localized flooding remains risks early this morning. - Above normal temperatures will prevail for the remainder of the week. Fair weather is expected Tuesday. Periodic chances of showers and thunderstorms will then occur Tue night through Friday. && .UPDATE... Issued at 1051 AM CDT Mon Apr 29 2024 Persistent band of showers lingers along the I-57 corridor this morning...while the remainder of central Illinois has dried out. Skies are still overcast: however, the leading edge of clearing off to the west has edged into far western Schuyler County as of 1530z/1030am. Weak cold front will make only slow progress eastward today, resulting in continued rain chances along/east of I-57. Meanwhile further west, skies will partially clear along/west of I-55 by mid to late afternoon. High temperatures will top out in the lower 70s. Barnes && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 400 AM CDT Mon Apr 29 2024 A large area of showers and a few embedded thunderstorms was moving east over central IL early this morning, as was as far east as I-57 where thunderstorms were present by 330 am. Showers were diminishing west of the IL river. MRMS was showing rainfall estimates as high as a half to 1 inch from highway 51 west with this convection. Heavier pockets of rainfall over 1 inch estimated from Jacksonville and sw of Litchfield southwest into portions of central and southwest MO. This convection is supported by a 35-50 kt SSW low level jet over eastern and southern IL, with strongest winds going into southeast IL. PW values of 1.2-1.5 inches assisting with moderate to heavier rainfall rates and WPC has marginal risk of excessive rainfall over much of area early this morning. Predawn surface map shows 1003 mb low pressure over sw MN with its cold front through eastern Iowa, central MO. Temps had cooled into the upper 50s to near 60F with the rain showers from highway 51 west while milder temps 65-70F in east central and southeast IL. Latest CAMs shift the convection eastward to the Indiana border by sunrise and continues to diminish eastward from the IL river toward I-57 during this morning. Total rainfall amounts of a half to 1 inch expected with local 1-2 inch amounts possible and could lead to localized flooding due to a saturated ground from recent heavy rainfall past few days. Lincoln is up to 5.86 inches of rain so far this month through 1 am and is just 0.02 inches from the 10th wettest April. Cold front to slowly push eastward into central IL by early afternoon and through southeast IL by early overnight. Will continue to see good chances of showers and isolated thunderstorms in eastern IL this afternoon and lingering in southeast IL into mid evening. Highs today in the lower 70s with breezy sw winds gusting 20-25 mph. Lows overnight range from around 50F from I-72 north to the mid to upper 50s southeast of I-70. Some lingering clouds in southeast IL Tue morning, otherwise a fair amount of sunshine expected over the area Tuesday as weak high pressure 1016 mb moves over IL. Lighter winds expected with nearby high pressure ridge and comfortable temperatures and humidity levels. Highs Tue in the mid to upper 70s and dewpoints in the 50s. A short wave trof near the Pacific Northwest coast to track eastward into the upper MS river valley during Tue night and bring next chance of showers and thunderstorms to central IL overnight Tue night while southeast IL stays dry. Some upper level ridging into IL on Wed to keep most areas dry that day, though isolated convection possible over the IL river valley later Wed afternoon and evening. Warm highs Wed in the upper 70s and lower 80s with partly sunny skies. Deepening mid/upper level trof over the Rockies during mid week helps eject a wx system from the Central High Plains Wed afternoon ne toward the upper Midwest Thu night and bringing a cold front eastward through IL overnight Thu night into Fri morning. Convection chances to increase from the west later Thu and Thu night and then diminish from the west after frontal passage on Friday. Breezy south winds gusting 25-35 mph on Thu brings warm highs in the low to mid 80s along with moist dewpoints in the low to mid 60s. Could be a risk of strong to possibly severe storms later Thu afternoon into Thu night though SPC does not have an outlooked area yet. WPC has marginal to slight risk of excessive rainfall for Thu night over IL with the higher risk (slight risk) west of the IL river. Highs Fri and Saturday mostly in the lower 70s, near 75F at Lawrenceville. Drier weather looks to return overnight Fri night into Saturday night. Some signals to chances of showers and thunderstorms next Sunday though models not in very good agreement that far out. The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) 8-14 Day outlook for May 6-12th has 50-60% chance of above normal temperatures over central and southeast IL, while precipitation trending near or slightly above normal. 07 && .AVIATION... (For the 18z TAFs through 18z Tuesday Afternoon) Issued at 1235 PM CDT Mon Apr 29 2024 IFR/MVFR ceilings persist at the central Illinois terminals at midday: however, latest satellite imagery shows the lower clouds beginning to steadily clear across the Illinois River Valley. Based on satellite trends, have scattered ceilings at KPIA by 21z...then further east to KCMI by 23z. Aside from high/thin clouds streaming northeastward along the I-57 corridor this evening, the remainder of central Illinois will be clear through Tuesday morning. Winds will initially be S/SW at 10-15kt, then will veer to W/SW after FROPA late this afternoon into the evening. SW winds at 5-10kt will resume Tuesday morning under mostly clear skies. Barnes && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$