


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Chicago, IL
Issued by NWS Chicago, IL
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447 FXUS63 KLOT 081553 AFDLOT Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville, IL 1053 AM CDT Tue Jul 8 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Isolated to scattered thunderstorms this afternoon into the evening, with highest coverage favored near and south of Interstate 80. - There is a low chance (20 to 30%) for isolated thunderstorms on Wednesday, primarily near the lake breeze. - Showers and thunderstorms are likely Friday into Saturday (50 to 70% chance), though there is still some timing uncertainty. - High and low temperatures through the end of the week will be seasonable and in the mid to upper 80s and low to mid 60s, respectively. && .UPDATE... Issued at 1053 AM CDT Tue Jul 8 2025 Festering convection west of the I-39 corridor early this morning encountered a more hostile environment with eastward extent (weak instability and weak mid-level lapse rates). This resulted in an outflow boundary moving out ahead of the convection off to the east and southeast with mainly just isolated to scattered showers and the occasional rogue in cloud lightning flash with the activity behind the outflow. As the outflow races farther ahead, new updrafts will likely have a tougher time developing into showers toward the I-55 corridor through about noon. The key feature of note driving this elevated warm advection decaying convection this morning that we`re also expecting to drive this afternoon`s scattered thunderstorm threat is an MCV crossing into far western IL evident on visible satellite and automated observations. With northward extent, the festering generally weak convection already present and cooled/stabilized air behind outflow (ie. RFD 73 deg of this writing) call into question the extent of deep renewed convection this afternoon. For locales near and south of I-80, there appears to be a better overlap of less "mucking up" from existing convection, deeper moisture sloshing back north, and the MCV trajectory generally to the south of I-80 to favor higher thunderstorm coverage this afternoon. In the gridded forecast, we`re highlighting this (I-80 and south) area for scattered showers and thunderstorms, with isolated to widely scattered showers and perhaps isolated thunderstorms north of I-80. Despite the moist adiabatic lapse rate and weak deep layer shear environment, up to or more than 1500 J/kg of uncapped MLCAPE, and perhaps slightly enhanced 0-3km shear from the MCV may contribute to isolated strong to marginally severe storms capable of localized downbursts (50-60 mph gusts). Swath of seasonably high 1.5 to 1.7" PWATs also sloshing eastward may support localized corridors where torrential rainfall rates could cause some flooding. The primary threat timing window for scattered gusty storms, localized torrential rainfall, and occasional to frequent cloud to ground lightning strikes is roughly in the 2-9pm CDT timeframe, again favoring areas near and south of I-80. To the north, with ongoing weak convection and perhaps widely scattered showers this afternoon (~30% coverage but only isolated/20% chance of storms), the main threat will be occasional localized downpours and isolated sporadic lightning, winding down in the ~6-8pm timeframe. Castro && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 226 AM CDT Tue Jul 8 2025 Through Wednesday: Early morning radar and satellite imagery depict a gradually decaying MCS tracking east-southeastward along the IA/MO border. An MCV is evident on the northern side of the MCS, which is similarly tracking east-southeastward toward west-central IL. Meanwhile, isolated showers and even a few thunderstorms continue to percolate within a broad zone stretching from near Davenport, IA to Milwaukee, WI. Evidently, a modest northeastward-pointing 15-20kt 925 to 850mb low- level jet has provided just enough moisture advection to activate an ACCAS plume based at about 6500ft. Thankfully, the environment across northern IL is pretty darn hostile anything beyond weak convection this morning, per paltry mid-level lapse rates less than 6 K/km and a pocket of dry air above 500mb sampled by the 00Z DVN RAOB. Elsewhere, it`s a fairly quiet morning across our area with partly cloudy skies and "cool" temperatures in the low to mid 60s. Toward sunrise, the aforementioned low-level jet should begin to wane. As a result, would expect any remaining showers across northwestern IL to dissipate. Interestingly, most CAM guidance paint a different picture with renewed shower and even storm development west of I-39 by 10AM. Such development appears tied to another, but simulated, MCV emanating out of north-central IA. At this point, don`t really see any signs of another MCV north of the aforementioned circulation in southern Iowa in radar, satellite, or observational data. However, the presence of ACCAS west of the Mississippi River does provide enough justification to maintain 20 to 30% chances for showers through about noon, primarily west of I- 39. This afternoon, rising boundary layer temperatures and dew points will render the atmosphere uncapped by early afternoon. Accordingly, will advertise scattered thunderstorms in our forecast for this afternoon, first developing west of I-39 just after noon and then spreading eastward toward Lake Michigan and northwestern Indiana by late afternoon. Even with convective temperatures being met, coverage of storms remains an item of lower than average forecast confidence given nebulous large- scale forcing. With that said, coverage may end up highest south of I-80 in relative close proximity to the remnant MCV moving through central IL. Will cap PoPs at 50% for now and let the day shift make adjustments upward or downward based on morning observations. Where storms to occur today, 1500-1750J/kg of MLCAPE, 500-700J/kg of DCAPE, PWATs near 1.75", and 20-25 kt of deep- layer shear should relegate cell behavior to the "pulse" variety with loosly-organized upscale growth into eastward-propgating clusters behind surging outflow boundaries. Such a regime should support locally gusty winds (45 to 55 mph) and torrential downpours (1-2"/hr rainfall rates). Will touch base with SPC later this morning to see if a northward extension of the Level 1/5 threat area currently positioned to our south is needed to cover an isolated threat for downed tree limbs. Outside of thunderstorms, highs today should range from the low to upper 80s. Coverage of showers and storms should wane after sunset, though would not be surprised to see a few cells fester near the Wisconsin State line ahead of a very weak frontal zone through about midnight. With a surface high pressure directly overhead to promote nearly calm winds and pockets of wet soil, can envision pockets of shallow ground fog developing during the early morning hours of Wednesday. Overnight lows should fall to the mid to upper 60s. On Wednesday, residual low-level moisture and the warming boundary layer may allow for an isolated shower or storm to develop by early afternoon. However, coverage may be quite limited owing to increasing mid-level subsidence. Like prior shifts, am noting a signal for a stronger than typical lake breeze given a building high pressure system over the northern Great Lakes. At this point, it appears winds and waves may fall under the level for concern for rip currents, but this will be something to monitor closely. Highs will range from the low to mid 80s inland, but only the mid to upper 70s lakeside. Borchardt Wednesday Night through Monday: Primary forecast concern and challenge is thunderstorm potential Friday into Saturday. Weak high pressure is expected to move across the western Great Lakes Wednesday night and shift east of the area on Thursday. This should allow for mainly dry weather through Thursday evening though can`t rule out an isolated shower or storm, especially across central IL. A lake breeze is expected Thursday afternoon with temps a few degrees cooler, with mid 80s expected inland. Confidence is slowly increasing for showers and thunderstorms for the end of the week into the first part of the weekend. An upper trough will be moving across the northern Plains and upper midwest while a wave ejects out of the central Plains. Models develop a surface low over the Lakes region Friday night into Saturday with a cold front moving across the region. Quite a bit of support among the ensembles during this time period as well. However, there still remains uncertainty for timing and the location/track of a surface low. Blended pops have increased a bit with some likely pops Friday evening for the western cwa. Blended pops also continue Saturday night into Sunday, which may end up being too long but no changes for now. If storms were to be moving across the area Friday afternoon/evening with peak heating, there could be the potential for strong/severe storms. Precipitable water values will be in the 2 inch range during this time, with heavy rain and localized flooding also possible. If precip trends/frontal boundary noted above pan out, temps could trend back toward normal values for the weekend, lower to mid 80s for highs, 60s for lows. Trends then support warmer temps going into early next week, with highs perhaps back into the lower 90s. cms && .AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 640 AM CDT Tue Jul 8 2025 Forecast concerns include... Chance of thunderstorms this morning over northwest IL. Chance of thunderstorms this afternoon into early this evening. Potential for fog early Wednesday morning. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are developing across far eastern IA and northwest IL currently. This activity is likely to continue through mid morning and remain north of the Chicago terminals, but confidence is low. For now, have included tempo thunder for a few hours at RFD and trends will need to be monitored. There remains a chance of thunderstorms this afternoon into early this evening with uncertainty for coverage. Latest model trends support the best chances and higher coverage mainly southwest of the terminals and prob mention still seems reasonable for all of the terminals. There may be some lingering showers through the evening, but mainly dry conditions are expected tonight into Wednesday morning with isolated showers or isolated thunderstorms possible by early Wednesday afternoon. Light southerly winds to start will turn southwest this morning and increase into the 10-12kt range with some higher gusts possible through early afternoon. Speeds will diminish with sunset and turn west/southwest but if precip does become more widespread, a period of light southeast winds is possible this evening. Winds may turn more west/northwest by Wednesday morning as a weak frontal boundary moves into northern IL. Light winds both at the surface and in the low levels, along with this front, may lead to some fog development, but confidence is low and no mention with this forecast. cms && .LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...None. IN...None. LM...None. && $$ Visit us at weather.gov/chicago