024 FXUS63 KLOT 091926 AFDLOTArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville, IL 226 PM CDT Tue Sep 9 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Mostly dry weather expected the remainder of the work week with a continued gradual warming trend.
- Unseasonably warm with a (less than 30 percent) chance of scattered showers and some thunderstorms this weekend.
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.DISCUSSION... Issued at 226 PM CDT Tue Sep 9 2025
A broad trough is evident on water vapor imagery early this afternoon digging southeastward into the Midwest. Several, smaller vorts are embedded within this broader trough with the most prominent one over southwest MN/northwest IA. The larger, parent trough, with embedded vorts, will move across our area later tonight and Wednesday.
Air mass over our area is quite dry with precipitable water of only 0.44" on the KILX 12z sounding, which is right around the daily record min. There is an axis with higher moisture from the western Corn Belt northeast into the upper Great Lakes, but with low level flow largely remaining south or even southeasterly, this axis of greater moisture will struggle to move eastward. As the upper trough progresses eastward, it will encounter and increasingly parched air mass. An increase/thickening of mid- high level cloudiness is expected tonight with cloudiness lingering into Wednesday. Stronger ascent, likely focused near the stronger smaller embedded vorts, will likely be enough for plenty of virga and perhaps some sprinkles reaching the surface late tonight and possibly into Wednesday. For now confined the sprinkle chances in the grids to our northwestern CWA later tonight, but certainly wouldn`t be hard to envision those sprinkle chances needing to be extended farther east and into the daytime hours Wednesday.
Temp forecast is a bit tricky with low level thermal fields favoring temps warming toward if not into the lower 80s, though extent and thickness of cloudiness could result in temps being held a few degrees cooler, especially northern/northwestern CWA. Sunshine returns Thursday and Friday which should allow temps to climb into the 80s both days, though weak lakes breezes will keep temps a bit cooler (70s) near the lake both afternoons.
A highly amplified, blocky, and fairly wonky pattern is expected to develop over North American this weekend with highly amplified upper ridging over the central part of the U.S. Medium range guidance has the upper ridge center very near our area, which favor dry, warm conditions, however, shortwave trough digging south into the eastern Great Lakes could allow a weak cold front to move across our area later in the weekend. Can`t rule out a shower or storm at some point this weekend, but the vast majority (all?) of the upcoming weekend looks dry and very warm.
- Izzi
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.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z THURSDAY/... Issued at 1233 PM CDT Tue Sep 9 2025
No significant forecast concerns this period. South/southwest winds around 10kt will slowly turn more south/southeast late this afternoon into this evening, with speeds diminishing some after sunset. Winds will turn back to south/southwest by daybreak Wednesday morning for most of the area, including the Chicago terminals, but may remain southeast across northwest IL and at RFD through midday Wednesday. A lake breeze is expected to develop Wednesday afternoon and move inland, reaching ORD and MDW mid/late afternoon. Included this easterly wind shift with this forecast, but timing will likely need refinement with later forecasts.
A weak upper level wave will slowly move across the region overnight into Wednesday bringing a chance of sprinkles and possibly a few showers. The low levels appear to remain fairly dry through late Wednesday afternoon. Most areas may just see some virga. cms
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.LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...None. IN...None. LM...None.
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