SPC Oct 16, 2026 0600 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

LIVE MAP (ABOVE) ... SPC 1200Z Day 1 Outlook


Day 1 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
1256 AM CDT Fri Oct 16 2026

Valid 161200Z - 171200Z

...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR PARTS OF THE
MID-ATLANTIC INTO SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND...

...SUMMARY...
Thunderstorms with wind-damage and localized brief-tornado potential
are expected across parts of the Mid-Atlantic into southern New
England, mainly this afternoon and early evening.

...Mid-Atlantic into southern New England...
A deep, positive-tilt mid/upper-level trough is forecast to further
amplify as it spreads over the eastern CONUS today. A surface low
initially near the lower Great Lakes will move quickly eastward
toward northern New England by evening. A trailing cold front will
sweep through the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast from this afternoon
into tonight.

In the wake of early-day clouds and precipitation, seasonably rich
low-level moisture and modest diurnal heating will result in
sufficient destabilization for storm development along the front.
Very weak lapse rates above 500 mb will constrain MLCAPE magnitudes
to the 500-1000 J/kg range, and result in rather low-topped
convection. However, in areas where temperatures can rise to
near/above 70 F, relatively robust buoyancy near/below 500 mb
(characterized by lifted indices in the -4 to -6 C range) will
develop prior to the frontal passage. This buoyancy will be
sufficient for development of occasionally organized storm
structures, in the presence of strengthening deep-layer flow/shear.
35-45 kt of flow in the 1-2 km AGL layer will support potential for
strong/damaging gusts with any sufficiently robust convection.

Generally front-parallel flow may result in a primarily linear mode
as convective coverage increases, though 40+ kt of effective shear
will support potential for embedded low-topped supercells. A
localized wind-damage threat may develop early this afternoon from
WV/western PA into southern NY, with initial frontal development.
The wind-damage threat is expected to increase through the afternoon
as storms spread eastward into a somewhat warmer and more unstable
environment across eastern PA, NJ, and vicinity. Rather strong
low-level shear will also support some brief-tornado potential with
QLCS circulations and/or embedded supercell structures.

Some wind-damage potential could spread into southern New England by
this evening, though marine-influenced low-level stability should
eventually constrain the eastward extent of the threat.

..Dean/Chalmers.. 10/16/2026


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SPC Oct 16, 2026 0100 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

LIVE MAP (ABOVE) ... SPC 0100Z Day 1 Outlook


Day 1 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0749 PM CDT Thu Oct 15 2026

Valid 160100Z - 161200Z

...THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR PARTS OF
SOUTHERN IN INTO OH...

...SUMMARY...
Thunderstorms capable of localized strong/damaging gusts and
possibly a brief tornado remain possible this evening across parts
of southern Indiana into Ohio.

...Parts of IN/OH...
A small storm cluster is ongoing this evening across southern IN,
near the intersection of a surface trough and warm front. As a
vigorous mid/upper-level shortwave trough and deepening surface low
move across the Great Lakes this evening, the warm front will
continue to move northward. Modest buoyancy within the persistent
low-level warm-advection regime will allow for maintenance of
convection through parts of OH into the Lower Great Lakes, though
surface-based buoyancy will become increasingly scant with time and
northeastward extent.

In the short term, locally damaging wind will be possible with the
strongest storms. Favorable low-level shear/SRH may also support a
brief-tornado threat, though this threat should eventually diminish
as convection tends to become increasingly elevated. Some threat for
localized strong/damaging gusts could spread across OH through late
evening, before increasing low-level stability results in a
diminishing threat.

..Dean.. 10/16/2026


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SPC Oct 15, 2026 1630 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

LIVE MAP (ABOVE) ... SPC 1630Z Day 1 Outlook


Day 1 Convective Outlook RESENT 2
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
1155 AM CDT Thu Oct 15 2026

Valid 151630Z - 161200Z

...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE
MIDWEST...

...SUMMARY...
Thunderstorms capable of severe wind gusts and a tornado or two are
possible today across parts of the middle Mississippi and Ohio
Valleys.

...Midwest/Ohio Valley...
Extreme/record-caliber seasonal moisture content exists over the
region with warm-sector prevalent 2+ inch Precipitable Water values
and surface dewpoints in excess of 70F. A surface wave over the
middle part of Missouri late this morning should gradually/modestly
deepen as it progresses east-northeastward near a northward-shifting
warm front, although the front/warm sector are a bit muddled by
ongoing convection across southern portions of Missouri and
Illinois.

Current split flow over the Great Plains will quickly resolve, with
a central Plains shortwave trough/speed max phasing with a
broader-scale upper trough over the Upper Midwest through tonight.
The net result will be a strengthening of deep-layer winds
along/north of the warm sector that will shift poleward, although to
what exact degree/spatial extent is uncertain given some of the
ongoing convection.

At least some scattering of warm-sector cloud cover, diurnal heating
and the increasing moisture content with northward extent will allow
for modest cool season destabilization, with SBCAPE potentially
exceeding 1000 J/kg across the lower Wabash Valley and
southern/downstate portions of Illinois and Indiana. This should
allow for re-development/intensification of storms this afternoon,
although the exact magnitude of today's severe risk is still a bit
uncertain and contingent on surface heating/destabilization. But
this scenario could include a few supercells, with the possibility
of a semi-focused severe/some tornado risk near the warm front,
which may be augmented by some of the prior convection, and ahead of
the surface low. Supercells aside, some semi-organized clusters
capable of wind damage should evolve within the high-moisture
content environment and 40+ kt effective shear. Overall storm
intensity is likely to wane within a couple hours of sunset,
generally by late evening.

...North/West Texas...
An outflow-augmented cold front will continue to spread
southeastward. The tendency for post-frontal convection should
remain the dominant scenario with boundary-parallel deep-layer flow
contributing to a more anafrontal character. Gradual diurnal heating
could support some intensification of storms along the leading edge
of the composite boundary this afternoon. As such, some stronger
wind gusts are plausible, but this scenario and related potential
for organized severe storms is currently expected to remain limited.

..Guyer/Marsh.. 10/15/2026


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SPC Oct 15, 2026 1300 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

LIVE MAP (ABOVE) ... SPC 1300Z Day 1 Outlook


Day 1 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0752 AM CDT Thu Oct 15 2026

Valid 151300Z - 161200Z

...THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PORTIONS
OF THE OHIO VALLEY...

...SUMMARY...
Thunderstorms with isolated severe wind gusts and perhaps a tornado
or two are possible today across parts of the mid Mississippi and
Ohio Valleys.

...Mid Mississippi and Ohio Valleys...
Shortwave trough currently centered over the central High Plains is
forecast to progress quickly northeastward, becoming absorbed within
a deep upper trough progressing out of the Canadian Prairies towards
the Upper Midwest. This evolution will yield a deep upper trough
from Ontario through the Upper Midwest and into the Mid MO Valley by
early tomorrow morning. Intense mid-level flow will accompany this
trough, with 90 to 100 kt at 500 mb possible within its eastern
periphery from central IL across Lower MI.

Surface low associated with the central High Plains shortwave trough
is currently centered over southeast KS. This low is forecast to
progress northeastward in tandem with its parent shortwave while
gradually deepening. Moist low-levels will accompany this low, with
upper 60s/low 70s dewpoints advecting northward across much of the
lower/upper OH Valley this afternoon and evening. This increasing
low-level moisture will support modest buoyancy, and the potential
for reintensification of ongoing storms and/or new development
across the warm sector. The best overlap of strong shear (supported
by strengthening mid-level flow) and buoyancy is expected near (or
just south of) the warm front, which will likely extend from
southern IL through far southern OH during the afternoon, and from
central IL southwestward through central OH by 00Z this evening.

A very moist airmass (and associated buoyancy) and moderate low to
mid-level flow will support the potential for bowing segments
capable of damaging gusts. Long, curved low-level hodographs support
the potential for a few brief tornadoes as well. A second area of
low-probability tornado potential may materialize near the surface
low as it moves across northern IL. However, widespread clouds and
limited diurnal heating should temper buoyancy, and the current
expectation is that the limited buoyancy should keep updraft depth
too shallow and updraft persistence too short to merit introducing
any severe probabilities.

...West/Central TX...
An outflow-augmented cold front currently extends from a surface low
just west of MAF north-northeastward through just east of LBB
into the eastern TX Panhandle. This boundary is forecast to make
slow southeastward progress today. A very moist and modestly buoyant
airmass ahead of this cold front will support continued showers and
thunderstorms. However, boundary-parallel deep-layer flow will
likely trend these storms towards a more anafrontal character.
Mid-level lapse rates also will remain poor. A water-loaded gust or
two is possible, but overall severe potential is expected to remain
limited.

..Mosier/Wendt.. 10/15/2026


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