


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Central Illinois
Issued by NWS Central Illinois
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806 FXUS63 KILX 041050 AFDILX Area Forecast Discussion...Updated Aviation National Weather Service Lincoln IL 550 AM CDT Fri Jul 4 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Mostly dry conditions will prevail through Saturday morning across central and southeast IL. Isolated showers and thunderstorms are possible west of the IL river during mid and late Saturday afternoon. - Hot and humid conditions are expected during this 4th of July holiday weekend, with highs in the lower 90s and afternoon heat indices in the mid 90s to near 100 degrees. - A better chance of showers and thunderstorms returns Saturday night through Monday (30-50% chance) as a cold front slowly moves through later this weekend. Locally heavy rainfall, lightning and a few strong wind gusts are possible. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 345 AM CDT Fri Jul 4 2025 Radar mosaic shows convection over southern and western portions of WI into far northeast IL north of Chicago and tracking southeast, associated with a warm frontal boundary. Clouds associated with this convective system are along and north of I-80 while patches of mid/high clouds were over from I-72 south. Patchy fog over southern IL with a pocket of dense fog at Mt Vernon. Added patchy fog to southeast IL until around 8 am. Weak 1018-1020 mb high pressure was over the eastern Great Lakes and eastern Ohio river valley and ridging back into the mid MS river valley. A cold front was over central MT into far nw ND. Aloft a 590-592 dm 500 mb high was over the Eastern Plains and is projected to build over IL during today as 500 mb heights rise above 591 dm. Subtropical ridge to bring hot and humid conditions to the area today with highs in the lower 90s and dewpoints in the mid 60s to near 70F, with heat indices (feels like temperatures) reaching mid to upper 90s this afternoon. Partly to mostly sunny skies today with some passing high clouds along with scattered cumulus clouds developing late morning and afternoon. Fairly light winds again today with nearby high pressure ridge to our east, with south winds generally less than 10 mph. Fair wx continues tonight and should be a good viewing of fireworks though on the warm and muggy side with 9 pm temps in the lower 80s and upper 70s by 10 pm. A 591-592 dm 500 mb ridge still over central and southeast IL on Saturday to bring another hot and humid day, and keeping much of CWA dry. Though a cold front moving se into central parts of WI and Iowa by late Sat afternoon to have isolated convection possible during mid/late Sat afternoon west of the IL river in more unstable airmass. Highs Sat in the lower 90s with afternoon heat indices in the mid 90s to near 100F. Cold front projected to track se into nw IL by dawn Sunday and slowly move into heart of central IL Sunday night and into southeast IL Monday. Will see increasing chances of convection over nw half of CWA during Sat night and into rest of CWA by Sunday afternoon/Sunday night. SPC does not have CWA in any severe wx outlooks through Monday though can not rule out a few stronger cells with gusty winds and heavy rains and lightning over IL river valley late Sat afternoon and evening and over rest of area Sunday afternoon/evening. PW values could top 2 inches with tropical air mass in place this weekend into Monday. WPC has marginal risk of excessive rainfall Sunday afternoon/Sunday night over much of area and over southeast IL on Monday. Flash flood guidance values are running fairly high, with 1.75-2.25 inches/1 hr, 2-3 inches/3 hr and 3-4 inches/6 hr. Highs Sunday in the mid to upper 80s central IL and lower 90s in southeast IL. Heat indices Sunday afternoon in the mid to upper 90s with southeast IL near 100F. Highs Monday in the mid to upper 80s and heat indices 90-95F Mon afternoon. Consensus of models show drier wx returning Monday night into Tue morning, though could be isolated convection southeast IL Mon evening which is closer to front moving over southern IL and northern KY. Strong mid/upper level ridge builds over the Rockies during next week with weak upper level trof over the Eastern States. More unsettled wx pattern to return to the area during mid and later part of next work week with daily chances of showers and thunderstorms from Tue afternoon on especially on Wed as another front moves southward into IL. Heavy rains again will be a threat in tropical air mass in place. Very warm and humid Tue with highs in the upper 80s to near 90F and afternoon heat indices in the mid 90s. Seasonable highs in the mid to upper 80s Wed-Friday with humid conditions lingering with dewpoints in the mid 60s to lower 70s. 07 && .AVIATION... (For the 12z TAFs through 12z Saturday Morning) Issued at 550 AM CDT Fri Jul 4 2025 VFR conditions expected through tonight, with mainly high clouds from convective debris, though a few clouds near 5000 feet begin to develop before midday. South winds will increase a bit, windiest west of KBMI-KSPI, though remaining below 10 knots. Geelhart && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$