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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)

Monday, October 19, 2026

SPC Oct 19, 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
0700 AM CDT Mon Oct 19 2026

Valid 191300Z - 201200Z

...THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PARTS OF
SOUTHEAST ARIZONA AND SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO...

...SUMMARY...
Thunderstorms may produce isolated marginally severe hail and gusty
winds this afternoon and early evening across parts of southeast
Arizona and southwest New Mexico.

...Southeast Arizona/Southwest New Mexico...
Surface observations indicate that low-level moisture has slowly
increased early this morning across southeast AZ, with dewpoints
generally ranging in the mid to upper 50s at lower elevations. A
35-45 kt southwesterly mid-level jet associated with a weak
shortwave trough will persist across the Southwest today. Modest
large-scale ascent attendant to this feature coupled with
terrain-driven influences should aid thunderstorm initiation across
southeast AZ by 17-21Z as convective temperatures are reached with
filtered diurnal heating.

Recent RAP runs suggest that the boundary layer will not become
overly well mixed across this region through the afternoon, which
should allow for around 500-1000 J/kg of MLCAPE (locally stronger)
to develop. This instability coupled with cool mid-level
temperatures and 30-40 kt of deep-layer shear appear sufficient for
some updraft organization with the scattered to numerous
thunderstorms that form. Isolated, marginally severe hail and gusty
outflow winds may occur with the stronger cells that spread
east-northeastward across southeast AZ into southwest NM through the
afternoon and early evening. This activity is expected to quickly
weaken by mid evening with the loss of daytime heating.

..Gleason/Kerr.. 10/19/2026


Read more CHECK UPDATE ZOOM GRAPHIC


http://dlvr.it/TVzCkd

SPC Oct 19, 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
1228 AM CDT Mon Oct 19 2026

Valid 191200Z - 201200Z

...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST...

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

...DISCUSSION...
At mid-levels, a low will be nearly stationary off the Mid-Atlantic
coast as a ridge remains over the south-central U.S. Southwesterly
flow aloft will be in place over the western third of the nation. At
the surface, a large area of high pressure associated with cool and
dry air will be entrenched across much of the eastern half of the
U.S. On the southern periphery of the high pressure system, isolated
thunderstorms will be possible within a moist airmass across south
Florida. Additional storms will be possible in parts of the Desert
Southwest. No severe threat is forecast today or tonight across the
continental U.S.

..Broyles/Karstens.. 10/19/2026


Read more CHECK UPDATE ZOOM GRAPHIC


http://dlvr.it/TVyzhl

Sunday, October 18, 2026

SPC Oct 19, 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
0744 PM CDT Sun Oct 18 2026

Valid 190100Z - 191200Z

...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST...

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

...DISCUSSION...
An upper-level ridge will move eastward into the southern
Appalachians tonight, as southwesterly flow at mid-levels remains in
place across much of the western and central U.S. At the surface, a
large area of high pressure will remain entrenched from the Gulf
Coast states to the Northeast. As a result, dry and cool conditions
will remain over much of the continental U.S. Isolated thunderstorms
will be possible over south Florida and in parts of the Desert
Southwest, but no severe threat is forecast this evening through
tonight.

..Broyles.. 10/19/2026


Read more CHECK UPDATE ZOOM GRAPHIC


http://dlvr.it/TVysLT

SPC Oct 18, 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
1114 AM CDT Sun Oct 18 2026

Valid 181630Z - 191200Z

...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST...

...SUMMARY...
Severe thunderstorms are not forecast through tonight.

...Synopsis...
Tranquil conditions will exist across much of the contiguous United
States through tonight. Extensive surface high pressure influencing
much of the central and eastern U.S. will favor offshore flow into
the northern Gulf of America and feature a seasonably dry/stable
airmass. A few weak thunderstorms are possible over south FL and
the Keys to the north of a surface front undergoing frontolysis
across the southern Gulf and FL Straits. Farther west, an upper
trough migrating northeast across the Four Corners will be
associated with isolated showers/thunderstorms across parts of the
Southwest.

..Smith/Supinie.. 10/18/2026


Read more CHECK UPDATE ZOOM GRAPHIC


http://dlvr.it/TVymMB
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)