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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)

Friday, October 30, 2026

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


Read more CHECK UPDATE ZOOM GRAPHIC


http://dlvr.it/TW6ZVw

Thursday, October 29, 2026

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.


Read more CHECK UPDATE ZOOM GRAPHIC


http://dlvr.it/TW6TKW

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


Read more CHECK UPDATE ZOOM GRAPHIC


http://dlvr.it/TW6J0X

SPC Oct 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
0735 AM CDT Thu Oct 29 2026

Valid 291300Z - 301200Z

...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST...

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

...Great Lakes...
A surface cold front currently extends from Lake Michigan
southwestward into KS. This front will sag southeastward through
the day into a marginally unstable air mass. 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.

..KS/OK...
An isolated strong storm or two is possible this afternoon near the
OK/KS border - along the same front. If a storm can sustain in this
moderately unstable environment, parameters suggest that hail would
be possible. Confidence in initiation is not very high so will
forego severe probabilities at this time.

...AZ/NM/TX...
Scattered thunderstorms are possible today/tonight over parts of
AZ/NM/TX in advance of an approaching large upper trough over the
eastern Pacific. Severe storms are not anticipated with this
activity.

...IA/MO Overnight...
Strengthening southwesterly low-level winds overnight across parts
of KS/MO will enhance warm-advection/lift and lead to the risk of a
few thunderstorms.

..Hart/Dean.. 10/29/2026


Read more CHECK UPDATE ZOOM GRAPHIC


http://dlvr.it/TW6HxS
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)