Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Chicago, IL
Issued by NWS Chicago, IL
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886 FXUS63 KLOT 191904 AFDLOT Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville, IL 204 PM CDT Sat Oct 19 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Gorgeous (if you like warm and dry conditions in October) weather will prevail into early next week. - A cold front will send temperatures back toward normal toward the end of next week. A few sprinkles may occur in the Tuesday to Wednesday time frame, as well. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 204 PM CDT Sat Oct 19 2024 Through next Saturday... A fitting way to describe our local weather today is undeniably gorgeous. With the responsible surface high pressure system parked just to our southeast expected to remain in place through early next week, a persistence-based forecast of continued gorgeous weather is appropriate. Highs tomorrow and Monday will be unseasonably warm and in the upper 70s to lower 80s, and overnight lows will be in the low to mid 40s. Aside from a few mid-level clouds this evening, completely clear skies will be the norm. It doesn`t get much better for this time of year in the Great Lakes. Tuesday, the upper-level low meandering in the desert southwestern US will lift northeastward into the Great Lakes. While forcing with the upper-level wave will be strong (500mb heights dropping by about 1dam/12hr) and mid-level lapse rates will be steep (7-7.5 K/km in the 700-500mb layer) as the wave lifts overhead, low-level moisture will be decidedly scant. As a result, ensemble model guidance advertises any upstream showers and thunderstorms decaying as they move into Illinois during the afternoon on Tuesday. With that said, if low-level moisture profiles are even marginally better than currently forecasted, a few high-based showers and thunderstorms cannot be ruled out mainly south of I-80 and west of the Indiana state line. At this point, will tuck in a "silent" 10% chance for sprinkles Tuesday afternoon south of I-80. Precipitation or not, Tuesday should feature increased cloudiness, keeping temperatures in the low to mid 70s. Wednesday, a deep low pressure system in southern Hudson Bay will send a cold front through the Great Lakes. Similar to Tuesday, low-level moisture profiles on Wednesday still appear hostile to precipitation. However, steep mid-level lapse rates (partially forced by similarly strong upper-level forcing) may nevertheless afford a few showers behind the front. Perhaps more noticeably should be a push of breezy northwest winds anchored by robust CAA (850mb temperature dropping nearly 15C/24hrs). Indeed, Thursday will be markedly cooler than the days before with highs near 60 degrees. Forecast confidence lowers toward the end of next week as ensemble model guidance differs on the evolution of the upper- level pattern. With that said, there is an emerging signal for a return of above (if not much above) average temperatures to close out October. Borchardt && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z MONDAY/... Issued at 1209 PM CDT Sat Oct 19 2024 There are no aviation concerns through the TAF period. Southwest winds (occasionally gusting to 20kt during the afternoon hours) and clear skies (save for a brief period of VFR cigs this evening) will prevail. Borchardt && .LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...None. IN...None. LM...None. && $$ Visit us at weather.gov/chicago