172 FXUS63 KDVN 181733 AFDDVNArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL 1233 PM CDT Thu Sep 18 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- The warmer than normal temperature regime will generally continue for the rest of the week and into early next week.
- Rain chances will continue to rather slowly increase from the west as the upstream upper trof out that way/northwestern plains migrates eastward through the weekend into the western GRT LKS. Sporadic rounds of showers and storms then look to be in store over the weekend for the local area.
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.UPDATE... Issued at 1001 AM CDT Thu Sep 18 2025
Showers and a few embedded storms are much more widespread this morning than initially thought. The initial surge of moisture with the trough has moved into the eastern half of our area and it`s looking like quite the showery day mainly west of the Mississippi River. We may see this activity decrease this afternoon before another round moves in tonight. Lowered forecast highs, increased cloud cover, and significantly increased precipitation chances today as a result.
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.SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Issued at 315 AM CDT Thu Sep 18 2025
Complex multi center upper trof complex seen on water vapor acrs much of the central into the northwest high plains will continue to be the focus and weather maker as it tries to edge eastward in a blocked and slow progression pattern acrs the CONUS. The challenge again today will be how far east the diurnal showers and storms will develop and make it toward and into the western CWA, as well as how warm it will get away from the precip and debris clouds. Will keep low CHC POPs in the far western CWA for much of the day, although think most of the area to stay dry through at least mid afternoon with temporary upper ridge nudge back west and round of EML acrs the local area. The lower sfc DPT gradient from east-to-west doesn`t help precip causes making it further to the east as well. With this drier scenario, vertical thermal profiles and mixing depths support another unseasonably warm day acrs most of the area with highs in the upper 80s to low 90s. Debris clouds may keep the west and northwest more in the mid 80s.
Then a vort wing/max currently seen on WV imagery acrs the southeast CO/southwest KS border region will pivot around the upper trof base and head this way by late afternoon and evening. This feature will combine with plentiful THTA-e rich air mass to produce large clusters of thunderstorms from the southeastern plains and up acrs much of the southwestern half of IA late afternoon and into the evening. Will go with moderate to high CHC POPs from mid evening into the overnight for some of this activity to make it acrs at least the west half of the DVN CWA, but likely in a weakening and decaying fashion as it gets away from better support and encounters the upper ridge and drier air in place. Again areas west of the MS RVR more favorable for this overnight activity, and would bank against much of a chance for a stronger or severe storm in our area but there may be some decent storms not all that far off to the west. PWAT feed is projected to boost values to at least 1.5 inches supporting locally heavy rainfall especially under slow moving storms. But again better potential for this just upstream acrs central IA. May have just some spotty areas getting 0.20-0.40 inches of rain through 12z Friday in the western and southwestern CWA. Low temps tonight held up in the low to mid 60s.
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.LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 315 AM CDT Thu Sep 18 2025
Friday...Latest ensembles show a negatively tilting upper low/trof acrs the Saskatchewan/Manitoba region down toward the mid MS RVR Valley. This placement would allow for more sctrd showers and storms to develop acrs the entire CWA by Friday afternoon, with a shift east to northeast of any eventually evolved larger storm cluster acrs the northeast half of IL into WI by Friday night. A few stronger storms may occur this period along with locally heavy rain in better effective shear profiles than what has been occurring all week locally, but there will be less CAPE. More clouds and moisture mean temps held down in the 70s to lower 80s for much of the local fcst area. Sctrd storm chances continue into Friday night, especially acrs the northeast half of the DVN CWA. The NBM has a Likely POP at Freeport IL, and right now can`t argue with that. But the NBM`s spotty QPF may be underdone in several areas.
Saturday and Sunday....The cooler core upper trof will look to continue acrs the upper Midwest into the GRT LKS over the weekend, keeping sporadic showers and thunderstorms going off and on through this period. Plenty of dry hours mixed in with a shower/storm cluster chasing you inside. Even under the influence of the upper trof, thermal profiles support above normal temps over the weekend with plenty of upper 70s to lower/mid 80s.
Next Week...The latest suite of ensembles continue to develop a large closed off upper low somewhere over the mid CONUS and thus the resurrection of another blocked pattern by mid next week. Low confidence at this point of favored precip chances and areas of occurrence next week, and temp trends all relative to the central core placement if the feature evolves, as hinted at by the latest medium range guidance.
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.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 1231 PM CDT Thu Sep 18 2025
Showers continue early this afternoon mainly west of the Mississippi River. These have rarely caused visibility restrictions thus far and are gradually lifting northward. Expect improving conditions this evening, though another round of showers and storms is expected overnight. Ceiling likely stays VFR through the entire TAF period, though lower visibility is possible in showers or thunderstorms.
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.DVN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IA...None. IL...None. MO...None.
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UPDATE...Kimble SHORT TERM...12 LONG TERM...12 AVIATION...Kimble
NWS DVN Office Area Forecast Discussion