LIVE MAP (ABOVE) ... SPC 0100Z Day 1 Outlook
Day 1 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0759 PM CDT Fri May 29 2026
Valid 300100Z - 301200Z
...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PORTIONS OF
WESTERN TEXAS INTO NORTHERN OKLAHOMA...
...SUMMARY...
Widely scattered strong to severe storms capable of sporadic large
hail and severe winds will linger across the central and southern
Plains through the late evening hours before diminishing by early
morning. More isolated severe thunderstorms will also remain
possible across portion of north-central Montana through late
evening.
...Synopsis...
Regional radar mosaics show widely scattered convection from
northwest KS into north-central OK and across portions of western
Texas. Based on latest GOES imagery and recent RAP upper-air
analyses, modest diffluence aloft associated with the left-exit
region of a subtropical jet resides across northern OK/KS and should
continue to promote thunderstorm development across this region over
the next several hours. Further northwest across Montana, isolated
to widely scattered thunderstorms continue to percolate within the
higher terrain with little forward motion owing to weak mid-level
winds. Across both regions, thunderstorms will likely persist into
the late evening hours with some threat for severe gusts and perhaps
sporadic large hail.
...Kansas/northern Oklahoma...
New convection continues to develop across northwest to
south-central KS within the left-exit region of the upper jet and
within a zone of modest isentropic ascent focused near 850 mb.
Through the evening, additional thunderstorm development appears
likely as the nocturnal low-level jet gradually strengthens.
However, regional VWPs depict diminishing mid-level flow with
northward extent across KS, and dewpoint depressions on the order of
20-30 F coupled with weak low-level winds are favoring outflow
dominant convection with transient organization. Consequently, the
potential for a prolonged or intense severe threat across any one
corridor of the region appears limited - especially heading into the
late evening hours as nocturnal cooling/stabilization becomes more
pronounced. Nonetheless, severe gusts, and perhaps very sporadic
large hail, will remain possible with this activity for the next
several hours as it spreads east/northeast. 5% hail/wind
probabilities were expanded to account for this potential through
04-06 UTC.
...Western Texas...
Thunderstorm coverage has failed to materialize as expected thus far
across much of western TX, though a few thunderstorm clusters are
noted near the Amarillo, TX area, as is percolating convection near
Fort Stockton, TX. Given the dearth of more widespread convection -
likely owing to very weak forcing for ascent and the stabilizing
influence of residual cloud cover - confidence in the severe threat
through late evening is low. However, 00 UTC RAOBs and latest RAP
mesoanalysis estimates continue to show an environment supportive of
organized convection, and recent high-res guidance hints at further
development between the I-10 and I-20 corridors through roughly 04
UTC. The Slight risk has been bifurcated to highlight these two
corridors downstream of ongoing and/or developing intense
convection.
...Montana...
Convection continues to percolated across north-central MT with MRMS
imagery showing occasional periods of intensification to severe
limits with the deeper, more robust convective cores. Weak flow
below 5 km AGL is likely contributing to the slow storm motions and
poor organization, but as hinted by recent trends, convection that
can become sufficiently deep may be influenced by stronger flow
above 5 km and pose a brief threat for large hail and severe winds.
In general, this threat should wane through the late evening hours.
..Moore.. 05/30/2026
Read more CHECK UPDATE ZOOM GRAPHIC
http://dlvr.it/TSnQQD
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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.
CONVECTIVE | TORNADO | WIND | HAIL
O'Hare International Airport KORD
(Arlington Heights South)
Chicago Executive Airport KPWK
(Arlington Heights North)
Friday, May 29, 2026
SPC May 30, 2026 0100 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook
SPC May 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
0256 PM CDT Fri May 29 2026
Valid 292000Z - 301200Z
...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER WEST TEXAS
INTO WESTERN OKLAHOMA...
...SUMMARY...
Scattered strong to severe storms capable of sporadic large hail and
scattered severe winds are still expected this afternoon and evening
across portions of western Texas into northern Oklahoma. More
isolated severe thunderstorms remain likely across parts of the
central High Plains, southern Utah, and the northern Rockies.
...20Z Update...
The previous forecast (see below) remains generally on track. The
biggest change made to the outlook was to extend 15 percent wind and
hail probabilities (hence the Slight risk) farther east into OK.
Though speed and directional shear are not expected to be overly
abundant, some hodograph curvature and elongation, amid 2500-3000
J/kg MLCAPE will support multicells and transient supercells capable
of producing severe wind and hail (with a few stones potentially
exceeding 2 inches in diameter). Otherwise, more minor adjustments
were made to thunder and severe probabilities to account for
observations and the latest guidance consensus.
..Squitieri.. 05/29/2026
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1110 AM CDT Fri May 29 2026/
...Southern Plains...
Southwesterly flow aloft is present today over AZ/NM, with large
scale height falls and weak ascent overspreading west TX/OK.
Low-level southeasterly flow in this region is maintaining a moist
and potentially moderately unstable air mass, with breaks in the
clouds leading to pockets of CAPE over 2000 J/kg. By late
afternoon, clusters of thunderstorms will develop from the Davis
mountains northward into the TX Panhandle. Forecast soundings in
this area show a deeply mixed boundary-layer suggestive of a
damaging wind and large hail potential. These storms will congeal
and move eastward into western OK during the evening, spreading into
greater low-level moisture and CAPE profiles. The risk of hail may
increase as this happens.
...Northeast CO/Northwest KS...
Scattered afternoon thunderstorms are expected to develop along the
Palmer Ridge to the east of Denver, and over the plains of southeast
CO. These storms will track northeastward through the early
evening, with some increase in low-level shear expected. This may
result in a supercell or two capable of large hail, damaging winds,
or perhaps a tornado.
...MT...
A consensus of 12z model guidance continues to show that scattered
afternoon thunderstorms will form over the terrain of western and
central MT. This activity will spread northward toward the Canadian
border, through a region of 1000 J/kg CAPE and a deeply mixed
boundary-layer. This would support a risk of isolated damaging wind
gusts and perhaps hail in the strongest storms.
Read more CHECK UPDATE ZOOM GRAPHIC
http://dlvr.it/TSnJYx
Day 1 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0256 PM CDT Fri May 29 2026
Valid 292000Z - 301200Z
...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER WEST TEXAS
INTO WESTERN OKLAHOMA...
...SUMMARY...
Scattered strong to severe storms capable of sporadic large hail and
scattered severe winds are still expected this afternoon and evening
across portions of western Texas into northern Oklahoma. More
isolated severe thunderstorms remain likely across parts of the
central High Plains, southern Utah, and the northern Rockies.
...20Z Update...
The previous forecast (see below) remains generally on track. The
biggest change made to the outlook was to extend 15 percent wind and
hail probabilities (hence the Slight risk) farther east into OK.
Though speed and directional shear are not expected to be overly
abundant, some hodograph curvature and elongation, amid 2500-3000
J/kg MLCAPE will support multicells and transient supercells capable
of producing severe wind and hail (with a few stones potentially
exceeding 2 inches in diameter). Otherwise, more minor adjustments
were made to thunder and severe probabilities to account for
observations and the latest guidance consensus.
..Squitieri.. 05/29/2026
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1110 AM CDT Fri May 29 2026/
...Southern Plains...
Southwesterly flow aloft is present today over AZ/NM, with large
scale height falls and weak ascent overspreading west TX/OK.
Low-level southeasterly flow in this region is maintaining a moist
and potentially moderately unstable air mass, with breaks in the
clouds leading to pockets of CAPE over 2000 J/kg. By late
afternoon, clusters of thunderstorms will develop from the Davis
mountains northward into the TX Panhandle. Forecast soundings in
this area show a deeply mixed boundary-layer suggestive of a
damaging wind and large hail potential. These storms will congeal
and move eastward into western OK during the evening, spreading into
greater low-level moisture and CAPE profiles. The risk of hail may
increase as this happens.
...Northeast CO/Northwest KS...
Scattered afternoon thunderstorms are expected to develop along the
Palmer Ridge to the east of Denver, and over the plains of southeast
CO. These storms will track northeastward through the early
evening, with some increase in low-level shear expected. This may
result in a supercell or two capable of large hail, damaging winds,
or perhaps a tornado.
...MT...
A consensus of 12z model guidance continues to show that scattered
afternoon thunderstorms will form over the terrain of western and
central MT. This activity will spread northward toward the Canadian
border, through a region of 1000 J/kg CAPE and a deeply mixed
boundary-layer. This would support a risk of isolated damaging wind
gusts and perhaps hail in the strongest storms.
Read more CHECK UPDATE ZOOM GRAPHIC
http://dlvr.it/TSnJYx
SPC May 29, 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
0741 AM CDT Fri May 29 2026
Valid 291300Z - 301200Z
...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR WEST TEXAS
INTO FAR SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA...
...SUMMARY...
Scattered strong to severe storms capable of sporadic large hail and
scattered severe winds are expected this afternoon and evening
across portions of western Texas. More isolated severe thunderstorms
are likely across parts of the central High Plains, southern Utah,
and the northern Rockies.
...Southern Plains and central High Plains...
Water-vapor imagery shows a mid-level low migrating eastward across
the Mojave Desert towards the southern Great Basin. A 90-kt 250-mb
sub-tropical jet over Baja and Sonora Mexico will progress eastward
into the southern High Plains by this afternoon. The nose of this
speed max will overspread a moist sector east of a dryline where
severe thunderstorm development is forecast later this
afternoon/evening. Farther north, a modestly deepening lee trough
will focus storm initiation over the central High Plains.
Despite some mid and high-level clouds, model guidance shows strong
heating this afternoon and erosion of appreciable convective
inhibition by mid afternoon. A mid-level disturbance implied in
satellite imagery this morning over central NM will move northeast
into western KS and the TX Panhandle by early evening. Scattered
thunderstorms are forecast to develop near the dryline/lee trough.
Forecast hodographs show some elongation across west TX due to the
nose the upper speed max. Have included 15-percent hail
probabilities where supercell development appears greatest [due in
part to more favorable hodographs and within the northern rim of
richer moisture sampled by the 12 UTC Del Rio, TX raob (17.3 g/kg
mean mixing ratio)]. Large hail (1.5 to 2.5 inches in diameter)
will be possible with the supercells. Severe gusts are forecast to
become more prevalent during the evening as mergers and outflow
consolidate into a few linear clusters. Severe gusts of 60-80 mph
are possible as this activity shifts eastward into the Low Rolling
Plains and southwest OK during the evening.
Through the late evening, isentropic ascent near the terminus of the
nocturnal jet may support elevated, loosely organized convection
across portions of northwest OK and western KS. Isolated hail/wind
may accompany the stronger storms over the central High Plains into
central OK where storm coverage will probably remain isolated.
...Northern Rockies/Montana...
Diurnally-driven orographic ascent within the terrain of northern ID
and southwest MT will likely support isolated thunderstorm
development by late afternoon given weak capping and northward
advection of steep mid-level lapse rates. Residual low-level
moisture across north-central MT (dewpoints in the upper 40s to low
50s) coupled with 30-35 knot southerly mid-level flow will likely
promote intensification and some degree of organization (possibly
into transient supercells and/or organized bands) through the early
evening hours. Sporadic large hail and severe gusts appear possible
with the most intense convection as it spreads north towards the
Canadian border.
...Southern Utah...
A few high-based storms developing within a deeply mixed boundary
layer (inverted-V profile) may yield an isolated risk for severe
gusts (60-70 mph).
..Smith/Kerr.. 05/29/2026
Read more CHECK UPDATE ZOOM GRAPHIC
http://dlvr.it/TSn3yV
Day 1 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0741 AM CDT Fri May 29 2026
Valid 291300Z - 301200Z
...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR WEST TEXAS
INTO FAR SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA...
...SUMMARY...
Scattered strong to severe storms capable of sporadic large hail and
scattered severe winds are expected this afternoon and evening
across portions of western Texas. More isolated severe thunderstorms
are likely across parts of the central High Plains, southern Utah,
and the northern Rockies.
...Southern Plains and central High Plains...
Water-vapor imagery shows a mid-level low migrating eastward across
the Mojave Desert towards the southern Great Basin. A 90-kt 250-mb
sub-tropical jet over Baja and Sonora Mexico will progress eastward
into the southern High Plains by this afternoon. The nose of this
speed max will overspread a moist sector east of a dryline where
severe thunderstorm development is forecast later this
afternoon/evening. Farther north, a modestly deepening lee trough
will focus storm initiation over the central High Plains.
Despite some mid and high-level clouds, model guidance shows strong
heating this afternoon and erosion of appreciable convective
inhibition by mid afternoon. A mid-level disturbance implied in
satellite imagery this morning over central NM will move northeast
into western KS and the TX Panhandle by early evening. Scattered
thunderstorms are forecast to develop near the dryline/lee trough.
Forecast hodographs show some elongation across west TX due to the
nose the upper speed max. Have included 15-percent hail
probabilities where supercell development appears greatest [due in
part to more favorable hodographs and within the northern rim of
richer moisture sampled by the 12 UTC Del Rio, TX raob (17.3 g/kg
mean mixing ratio)]. Large hail (1.5 to 2.5 inches in diameter)
will be possible with the supercells. Severe gusts are forecast to
become more prevalent during the evening as mergers and outflow
consolidate into a few linear clusters. Severe gusts of 60-80 mph
are possible as this activity shifts eastward into the Low Rolling
Plains and southwest OK during the evening.
Through the late evening, isentropic ascent near the terminus of the
nocturnal jet may support elevated, loosely organized convection
across portions of northwest OK and western KS. Isolated hail/wind
may accompany the stronger storms over the central High Plains into
central OK where storm coverage will probably remain isolated.
...Northern Rockies/Montana...
Diurnally-driven orographic ascent within the terrain of northern ID
and southwest MT will likely support isolated thunderstorm
development by late afternoon given weak capping and northward
advection of steep mid-level lapse rates. Residual low-level
moisture across north-central MT (dewpoints in the upper 40s to low
50s) coupled with 30-35 knot southerly mid-level flow will likely
promote intensification and some degree of organization (possibly
into transient supercells and/or organized bands) through the early
evening hours. Sporadic large hail and severe gusts appear possible
with the most intense convection as it spreads north towards the
Canadian border.
...Southern Utah...
A few high-based storms developing within a deeply mixed boundary
layer (inverted-V profile) may yield an isolated risk for severe
gusts (60-70 mph).
..Smith/Kerr.. 05/29/2026
Read more CHECK UPDATE ZOOM GRAPHIC
http://dlvr.it/TSn3yV
SPC May 29, 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
1253 AM CDT Fri May 29 2026
Valid 291200Z - 301200Z
...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PORTIONS OF
WESTERN TEXAS...
...SUMMARY...
Scattered strong to severe storms capable of sporadic large hail and
scattered severe winds are expected this afternoon and evening
across portions of western Texas. More isolated severe thunderstorms
are likely across parts of the central High Plains, southern Utah,
and the northern Rockies.
...Synopsis...
Late-evening water-vapor imagery reveals an upper low over central
CA with a subtropic jet emanating out of Baja CA into the southern
Rockies. Over the next 24 hours both of these features will migrate
east/northeast into the central and southern High Plains. Despite
some weakening of the upper wave, 25-35 knot mid-level flow will
overspread the central and southern High Plains where low-level
moisture is gradually increasing within a weak east/southeasterly
flow regime. The combination of modest broad-scale ascent and
strengthening deep-layer shear atop a moistening low-level air mass
should support the potential for a few strong to severe
thunderstorms during and after peak heating from southern TX
northward across the southern Plains and into parts of the central
High Plains.
Elsewhere, orographic ascent within the northern Rockies will
support another day of isolated to widely scattered thunderstorms,
including a few severe storms. A migratory upper trough over the
central CONUS will continue to support scattered, but weak,
thunderstorms across the OH Valley and Southeast states this
afternoon.
...Southern Plains and central High Plains...
Thunderstorm development is expected by mid-afternoon across western
TX into eastern CO along a modestly deepening lee surface trough
where ascent should be focused and mixed-layer inhibition minimized.
Slightly stronger synoptic ascent across the southern High Plains
should promote higher thunderstorm coverage across western TX/TX
Panhandle region with more isolated coverage with northward extent.
15% wind probabilities were introduced across portions of western TX
to reflect the potential for higher storm coverage.
Across both the southern and central High Plains warm low-level
conditions/deep boundary-layer mixing combined with weak flow within
the lowest 1-3 km will likely promote outflow dominant storms with
an attendant threat for severe gusts. Stronger mid-level flow across
western TX may support a more prolonged severe threat, and possibly
a few transient supercells capable of large hail and/or organized
bands capable of gusts upwards of 75 mph. Through the late evening,
isentropic ascent near the terminus of the nocturnal jet may support
elevated, loosely organized convection across portions of northwest
OK and western KS.
...Northern Rockies/Montana...
Diurnally-driven orographic ascent within the terrain of northern ID
and southwest MT will likely support isolated thunderstorm
development by late afternoon given weak capping and northward
advection of steep mid-level lapse rates. Residual low-level
moisture across north-central MT (dewpoints in the upper 40s to low
50s) coupled with 30-35 knot southerly mid-level flow will likely
promote intensification and some degree of organization (possibly
into transient supercells and/or organized bands) through the early
evening hours. Sporadic large hail and severe gusts appear possible
with the most intense convection as it spreads north towards the
Canadian border.
...Southern Utah...
5% wind probabilities were introduced across southern to southeast
UT where weak, high-based convection may support a few strong to
severe dry downbursts. Although latest CAM ensemble guidance depicts
scant buoyancy (MUCAPE between 100-250 J/kg) and very transient
convection, a very deep boundary layer (LCL values upwards of 3 km)
featuring 25-35 knot flow will likely promote sporadic strong to
severe wind gusts.
..Moore/Marsh.. 05/29/2026
Read more CHECK UPDATE ZOOM GRAPHIC
http://dlvr.it/TSmn5d
Day 1 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
1253 AM CDT Fri May 29 2026
Valid 291200Z - 301200Z
...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PORTIONS OF
WESTERN TEXAS...
...SUMMARY...
Scattered strong to severe storms capable of sporadic large hail and
scattered severe winds are expected this afternoon and evening
across portions of western Texas. More isolated severe thunderstorms
are likely across parts of the central High Plains, southern Utah,
and the northern Rockies.
...Synopsis...
Late-evening water-vapor imagery reveals an upper low over central
CA with a subtropic jet emanating out of Baja CA into the southern
Rockies. Over the next 24 hours both of these features will migrate
east/northeast into the central and southern High Plains. Despite
some weakening of the upper wave, 25-35 knot mid-level flow will
overspread the central and southern High Plains where low-level
moisture is gradually increasing within a weak east/southeasterly
flow regime. The combination of modest broad-scale ascent and
strengthening deep-layer shear atop a moistening low-level air mass
should support the potential for a few strong to severe
thunderstorms during and after peak heating from southern TX
northward across the southern Plains and into parts of the central
High Plains.
Elsewhere, orographic ascent within the northern Rockies will
support another day of isolated to widely scattered thunderstorms,
including a few severe storms. A migratory upper trough over the
central CONUS will continue to support scattered, but weak,
thunderstorms across the OH Valley and Southeast states this
afternoon.
...Southern Plains and central High Plains...
Thunderstorm development is expected by mid-afternoon across western
TX into eastern CO along a modestly deepening lee surface trough
where ascent should be focused and mixed-layer inhibition minimized.
Slightly stronger synoptic ascent across the southern High Plains
should promote higher thunderstorm coverage across western TX/TX
Panhandle region with more isolated coverage with northward extent.
15% wind probabilities were introduced across portions of western TX
to reflect the potential for higher storm coverage.
Across both the southern and central High Plains warm low-level
conditions/deep boundary-layer mixing combined with weak flow within
the lowest 1-3 km will likely promote outflow dominant storms with
an attendant threat for severe gusts. Stronger mid-level flow across
western TX may support a more prolonged severe threat, and possibly
a few transient supercells capable of large hail and/or organized
bands capable of gusts upwards of 75 mph. Through the late evening,
isentropic ascent near the terminus of the nocturnal jet may support
elevated, loosely organized convection across portions of northwest
OK and western KS.
...Northern Rockies/Montana...
Diurnally-driven orographic ascent within the terrain of northern ID
and southwest MT will likely support isolated thunderstorm
development by late afternoon given weak capping and northward
advection of steep mid-level lapse rates. Residual low-level
moisture across north-central MT (dewpoints in the upper 40s to low
50s) coupled with 30-35 knot southerly mid-level flow will likely
promote intensification and some degree of organization (possibly
into transient supercells and/or organized bands) through the early
evening hours. Sporadic large hail and severe gusts appear possible
with the most intense convection as it spreads north towards the
Canadian border.
...Southern Utah...
5% wind probabilities were introduced across southern to southeast
UT where weak, high-based convection may support a few strong to
severe dry downbursts. Although latest CAM ensemble guidance depicts
scant buoyancy (MUCAPE between 100-250 J/kg) and very transient
convection, a very deep boundary layer (LCL values upwards of 3 km)
featuring 25-35 knot flow will likely promote sporadic strong to
severe wind gusts.
..Moore/Marsh.. 05/29/2026
Read more CHECK UPDATE ZOOM GRAPHIC
http://dlvr.it/TSmn5d
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