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Archives for the SPC Convective Outlook are updated daily (approximately) with a live map at the beginning of each article. Follow the link at the end of the article to check for current updates on the NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center website. Also, see Archives for Chicago's hourly weather data on CARDINAL NEWS Magazine.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS WEATHER
O'Hare International Airport KORD (Arlington Heights South)
Chicago Executive Airport KPWK (Arlington Heights North)

Thursday, November 12, 2026

SPC Nov 13, 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
0637 PM CST Thu Nov 12 2026

Valid 130100Z - 131200Z

...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST...

...SUMMARY...
Severe thunderstorms are not expected the remainder of tonight into
early Friday.

...01z Update...

Severe probabilities have been removed from the Mid-Atlantic as
earlier strong/severe convection has weakened and moved offshore.
Severe thunderstorms are not expected the remainder of tonight.

Isolated thunderstorms may occur late tonight/early Friday morning
near the southern CA coast as an upper shortwave trough shifts east
across the area. Generally modest low to mid-level flow and weak
instability will preclude severe thunderstorm potential with this
activity.

..Leitman.. 11/13/2026


Read more CHECK UPDATE ZOOM GRAPHIC


http://dlvr.it/TWJnGp

SPC Nov 12, 2026 1630 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

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


Day 1 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
1019 AM CST Thu Nov 12 2026

Valid 121630Z - 131200Z

...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON
OVER A SMALL PART OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND CENTRAL NEW JERSEY....

...SUMMARY...
Strong to severe thunderstorms capable of producing isolated severe
hail, a tornado or two, and perhaps damaging winds may impact parts
of the coastal Mid-Atlantic this afternoon.

...Eastern PA/NJ/Northern DE...
Latest surface analysis shows a developing surface low over northern
VA. This low is expected to deepen somewhat through the day and
track eastward across NJ as a potent shortwave trough moves into the
region. The zone near the surface low and extending eastward along
the surface warm front will be a focused region of ascent and
destabilization this afternoon, with forecast soundings showing
MLCAPE of 500-900 J/kg, steep lapse rates, and considerable
low-level shear/helicity profiles. A consensus of morning
HRRR/RRFS/REFS solutions show the development of isolated supercell
storms in this focused area. The risk area is quite small, but
given the consistent guidance have opted for a small SLGT risk to
cover the potential threats. Hail is probably the main concern with
any persistent supercell structure, but a tornado or two is also
possible. Refer to MCD #2451 for further details.

..Hart/Dean.. 11/12/2026


Read more CHECK UPDATE ZOOM GRAPHIC


http://dlvr.it/TWJf3d

SPC Nov 12, 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
0648 AM CST Thu Nov 12 2026

Valid 121300Z - 131200Z

...THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PARTS OF
THE COASTAL MID-ATLANTIC...

...SUMMARY...
Strong to severe thunderstorms capable of producing isolated severe
hail, damaging winds, and perhaps a tornado may impact parts of the
coastal Mid-Atlantic this afternoon.

...Coastal Mid-Atlantic...
Within large-scale upper troughing encompassing much of the
central/eastern CONUS, an embedded mid-level shortwave trough over
the OH Valley will move eastward across the Mid-Atlantic today. A
related weak surface low is also expected to develop eastward across
MD/DE/southern NJ this afternoon. While low-level moisture ahead of
these features should remain modest over land (generally low to mid
50s surface dewpoints), an effective warm front is forecast to
extend from the surface low across eastern PA into NJ. Thunderstorms
may initiate along/near this boundary by 16-18Z, with weak
instability expected to develop as filtered daytime heating occurs.
Stronger flow associated with a mid-level jet will tend to remain
displaced to the south of the coastal Mid-Atlantic through the day,
but veering winds with height through mid-levels will still support
around 25-40 kt of deep-layer shear.

Given cold mid-level temperatures (around -20 to -22 C at 500 mb)
and modestly steepened lapse rates aloft, any of the stronger cells
that develop could produce severe hail. Isolated damaging winds also
appear possible as this convection spreads from eastern PA into NJ
and vicinity before moving offshore. Low-level winds and related
shear should remain fairly modest, but a somewhat more favorable
zone for a tornado may exist if a persistent supercell can interact
with/cross the surface warm front this afternoon across eastern PA
into NJ. The northern extent of the severe risk will likely remain
constrained by the warm front, and it still appears likely that
appreciable severe risk will tend to remain offshore/south of Long
Island and southern New England.

..Gleason/Wendt.. 11/12/2026


Read more CHECK UPDATE ZOOM GRAPHIC


http://dlvr.it/TWJNn1

SPC Nov 12, 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
1121 PM CST Wed Nov 11 2026

Valid 121200Z - 131200Z

...THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TODAY ACROSS
PARTS OF SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA...MUCH OF DELAWARE...ADJACENT
EASTERN MARYLAND AND SOUTHERN THROUGH CENTRAL NEW JERSEY...

...SUMMARY...
A couple of strong thunderstorms, accompanied by at least some risk
for severe weather, may impact parts of the northern Mid Atlantic
this afternoon.

...Discussion...
Downstream of amplified mid-level ridging, which may have reached
peak amplitude across the U.S. Intermountain West and Rockies
through much of the Canadian Prairies, a number of digging short
wave perturbations are forecast to contribute to the evolution of a
more prominent, positively tilted mid-level trough. This may
encompass most areas near and east of the Mississippi River through
the Atlantic Seaboard by 12Z Friday.

One leading short wave trough is generally forecast to turn east and
northeast of the Allegheny/Cumberland Plateau through the northern
Mid Atlantic by late this afternoon, before undergoing considerable
deformation as it progresses farther to the northeast. It appears
that this may be accompanied by an initially modest surface cyclone,
which may undergo notable deepening during the day while
redeveloping to the east-northeast of the Blue Ridge, before
occluding across the northern Mid Atlantic this evening.

...Northern Mid Atlantic...
Low-level moisture return inland of the coast appears likely to be
rather limited. However, boundary-layer dew points increasing
through the lower/mid 50s F, within a corridor along a warm frontal
zone to the east of the surface low, may be sufficient to yield
mixed-layer CAPE in excess of 500 J/kg when coupled with mid-level
cooling (including 500 mb temperatures of -20 to -22 C). Based on
forecast soundings, this may include buoyancy rooted near and just
off the surface, as low-level lapse rates steepen beneath the cold
air and boundary-layer humidity remains relatively high along the
frontal zone. Although low-level hodographs might not become more
than modestly large, in the presence of moderate deep-layer shear,
it appears at least possible that the environment could become
conducive to the evolution of one or two supercell structures posing
some risk for a tornado. Otherwise, stronger cells this afternoon
may be accompanied by small to perhaps marginally severe hail and
locally strong surface gusts, before weakening by evening.

..Kerr/Chalmers.. 11/12/2026


Read more CHECK UPDATE ZOOM GRAPHIC


http://dlvr.it/TWJ7rh
SUNRISE AND SUNSET TIMES IN UTC (if you're not logged in to Google)
CHICAGO UTC-6 during CST (Central Standard Time, e.g., winter)
CHICAGO UTC-5 during CDT (Daylight Savings Time, e.g., summer)