SPC Oct 30, 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
0740 AM CDT Fri Oct 30 2026

Valid 301300Z - 311200Z

...THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PARTS OF
ARIZONA...

...SUMMARY...
Thunderstorms with isolated severe wind gusts and hail will be
possible in parts of Arizona today.

...Synopsis...
Early-morning satellite imagery shows a pair of shortwave troughs
within the extensive southwesterly flow aloft that covers much of
the western CONUS. The easternmost shortwave is moving from central
Mexico into TX and the westernmost shortwave is just off the
southern CA coast. The easternmost shortwave is forecast to progress
northeastward across TX today, contributing to showers and
thunderstorms from the TX Hill Country to the TX Gulf Coast. Moist
southerly flow is anticipated throughout the period across the
central and southern Plains, including the wake of the lead
shortwave when warm-air advection associated with an strengthening
low-level jet will support increasing thunderstorm coverage from the
central Plains into the Mid MO Valley this evening. Limited buoyancy
should keep the severe thunderstorm potential very low.

...Arizona...
Shortwave trough currently just off the southern CA coast is
forecast to continue northeastward today, likely moving through the
Lower CO Valley and into AZ this afternoon and evening. Modest
low-level moisture advection will precede this shortwave, bringing
the low to mid 60s dewpoints currently along the western AZ/Mexico
border northward into more of southern AZ. The highest afternoon
dewpoints will likely be in the mid 60s from southwest into central
AZ. This anomalously high low-level moisture will help support
moderate afternoon buoyancy, despite widespread cloud cover and poor
lapse rates.

The strongest vertical shear is anticipated from now through the
early afternoon, resulting in some temporal displacement between the
stronger shear and greater buoyancy. Even so, there appears to be
enough overlap to support some stronger storms this afternoon from
southwest into south-central AZ. Primary threat is damaging gusts,
although a few instances of hail are possible as well.

..Mosier/Moore.. 10/30/2026


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SPC Oct 30, 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
0728 PM CDT Thu Oct 29 2026

Valid 300100Z - 301200Z

...THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PARTS OF
CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST KANSAS...AND LOCALLY IN SOUTHWEST TEXAS...

...SUMMARY...
Thunderstorms with an isolated hail threat will be possible this
evening over parts of central and northeast Kansas. A brief tornado
will be possible in parts of southwest Texas early this evening.

...Central and Northeast Kansas...
An anticyclonic flow pattern is evident over much of the central U.S
on water vapor imagery. At the surface, a stalled front is located
in central Kansas extending eastward into southern Illinois. Widely
scattered thunderstorms are developing near the front in central
Kansas in a moderately unstable airmass according the RAP, with
MLCAPE estimated to be around 2000 J/kg. Near the pocket of stronger
instability, the RAP has 700-500 mb lapse rates in the 6.5 to 7 C/km
range along with enough deep-layer shear for cell rotation. This
could be sufficient for a hail threat with the strongest of cells
this evening, as storms move and develop northeastward from central
Kansas into northeast Kansas...see MCD 2419.

...Southwest Texas...
A subtle shortwave trough is evident on water vapor imagery over
northern Mexico. Ahead of this feature, pockets of large-scale
ascent are evident over parts of Texas, where widespread
precipitation is ongoing. Weak instability is analyzed by the RAP
over parts of southwest, west and northwest Texas. The strongest
low-level flow is located over the western Texas Hill Country, where
RAP forecast soundings early this evening have 0-3 km storm-relative
helicity around 225 m2/s2 and surface dewpoints near 70 F. This
could be enough for a brief tornado with low-topped cells that
rotate within the moist airmass over the next couple more
hours...see MCD 2418.

..Broyles.. 10/30/2026


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SPC Oct 29, 2026 2000 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

LIVE MAP (ABOVE) ... SPC 2000Z Day 1 Outlook


Day 1 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0259 PM CDT Thu Oct 29 2026

Valid 292000Z - 301200Z

...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST...

...SUMMARY...
Severe thunderstorms are not forecast across the U.S. through
tonight.

...20z Update...
Minor changes were made to trim thunder behind ongoing convection
and the cold front over the Lower Great Lakes/Ohio Valley. Isolated
stronger storms remain possible and across portions of the central
Plains later this evening. Intensifying warm air advection could
support a few stronger storms with sporadic sub-severe hail as the
primary risk across portions of KS and southern NE tonight. However,
the lack of stronger upper-level forcing should preclude broader
severe potential.

..Lyons.. 10/29/2026

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1127 AM CDT Thu Oct 29 2026/

...Synopsis...
Water-vapor imagery late this morning indicates a progressive,
low-amplitude flow pattern over the contiguous U.S. A cold front
will push eastward across the Great Lakes with the western portion
of the front stalling over the central Great Plains and slowly
advancing northward late tonight.

A few afternoon thunderstorms are expected along the front over
parts of the Great Lakes and Midwest regions, but weak CAPE and
limited moisture should preclude any severe threat. Farther
southwest, a storm or two may develop near the front in the vicinity
of southern KS. The weakly forced setup will likely limit storm
coverage. Although a strong storm cannot be ruled out, will forego
introducing hail probabilities this outlook update. Later tonight,
weak warm advection will favor elevated buoyancy and the development
of scattered thunderstorms over northeast KS into the adjacent parts
of southeast NE/western IA and northwest MO.


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SPC Oct 29, 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
1127 AM CDT Thu Oct 29 2026

Valid 291630Z - 301200Z

...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST...

...SUMMARY...
Severe thunderstorms are not forecast across the U.S. through
tonight.

...Synopsis...
Water-vapor imagery late this morning indicates a progressive,
low-amplitude flow pattern over the contiguous U.S. A cold front
will push eastward across the Great Lakes with the western portion
of the front stalling over the central Great Plains and slowly
advancing northward late tonight.

A few afternoon thunderstorms are expected along the front over
parts of the Great Lakes and Midwest regions, but weak CAPE and
limited moisture should preclude any severe threat. Farther
southwest, a storm or two may develop near the front in the vicinity
of southern KS. The weakly forced setup will likely limit storm
coverage. Although a strong storm cannot be ruled out, will forego
introducing hail probabilities this outlook update. Later tonight,
weak warm advection will favor elevated buoyancy and the development
of scattered thunderstorms over northeast KS into the adjacent parts
of southeast NE/western IA and northwest MO.

..Smith/Chalmers.. 10/29/2026


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