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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.

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Sunday, April 20, 2025

SPC Apr 20, 2025 0100 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

LIVE MAP (ABOVE) ... SPC 0100Z Day 1 Outlook


Day 1 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0804 PM CDT Sat Apr 19 2025

Valid 200100Z - 201200Z

...THERE IS AN ENHANCED RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CENTRAL TEXAS
INTO SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA...

...SUMMARY...
A couple of strong tornadoes will be possible this evening into
tonight across north-central Texas and southeast Oklahoma.
Elsewhere, very large hail will be possible late tonight across west
Texas as additional thunderstorms develop.

... 01Z Update ...
The major change to this update is to introduce an enhanced risk
(Level 3 of 5) for tornadoes across north-central Texas into
southeast Oklahoma. Here, surface dewpoints into the mid 60sF along,
southeast surface winds, and an increasing low-level jet will yield
an increasingly favorable environment for a couple of strong
tornadoes through the evening and into the overnight hours. The
observed 00Z RAOB from Dallas/Fort Worth is indicative of this kind
of environment with MLCAPE around 1500 J/kg and 0-3km SRH of 380
m2/s2.

Additional thunderstorms capable of producing very large hail and
damaging wind threat should redevelop/continue into tonight across
portions of west Texas as the main upper-level low begins to eject
into the Plains.

..Marsh.. 04/20/2025


Read more CHECK UPDATE ZOOM GRAPHIC


http://dlvr.it/TKGC54

Saturday, April 19, 2025

SPC Apr 19, 2025 2000 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

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


Day 1 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0234 PM CDT Sat Apr 19 2025

Valid 192000Z - 201200Z

...THERE IS AN ENHANCED RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PARTS OF
SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL TEXAS...

...SUMMARY...
Scattered severe thunderstorms are expected to continue across Texas
into southern Missouri this afternoon and evening. Large to very
large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes all appear possible.
Isolated to scattered damaging winds may also occur across portions
of the Ohio Valley into the Northeast.

...20z Update..
No changes are needed to the D1 Convective Outlook.

Thunderstorm activity has initiated within the Enhanced near the
dryline and front intersection across southwestern Texas. Initial
supercells across this area will be capable of large hail and
damaging wind. As the low-level jet increases through the
afternoon/evening, the threat for a few tornadoes may increase. See
MCD483 for more information.

Convection will continue intermittently along the cold front draped
from the Mid-Mississippi Valley, Ohio Valley, to the Northeast.
Strongly sheared profiles and continued heating through the
afternoon will support some intensification of activity at times,
with potential for damaging wind. See previous discussion and MCD484
for more information.

..Thornton/Moiser.. 04/19/2025

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1130 AM CDT Sat Apr 19 2025/

...Southern Plains to the Ozarks...
Morning surface analysis places a cold front from just south of MAF
(in west Texas) northeastward through ARG (in northeast AR).
Widespread showers and occasional thunderstorms are currently
ongoing north of this front across OK and AR, and associated outflow
is still aiding in more eastward/southeastward progression of this
boundary across northern/central AR. This eastward/southeastward
progression is expected to slow with time as additional surface
cyclogenesis occurs across west TX ahead of a deep shortwave trough
progressing across Southwest. Low-level southerly/southeasterly flow
will persist south of the stalling boundary, leading to a sharpening
of the gradient through this afternoon/evening. By this afternoon,
dewpoints are expected to be in mid 60s along this boundary from
southwest TX into the Mid-South. This low-level moisture combined
with modest heating will result in airmass destabilization. As
large-scale ascent spreads eastward over the southern High Plains,
robust thunderstorms will likely develop by mid afternoon along/near
the front, and a dryline extending southward across west TX into
northern Mexico.

Strong deep-layer shear around 50-70 kt will support updraft
organization with convection that develops along/near the front and
dryline this afternoon. An initial supercell mode is anticipated,
with large hail as the primary risk. Storms will likely remain
elevated from northwest TX into the Ozarks, but surface-based storms
are more likely across southwest TX. Here, some very large hail
around 2-3 inches in diameter is possible. Strong outflow is
possible as well.

By early evening, convective mode should become messier as a
gradually strengthening low-level jet and the front encourage
thunderstorm interactions/mergers. Still, a continued large hail and
damaging wind threat will likely persist for much of the evening.
The strengthening low-level jet and resultant increase in low-level
shear could also support some threat for a few tornadoes with any
supercells/clusters that can remain surface based this evening.
Additionally, another round of storms appears likely across Permian
Basin/southwest TX late this evening as the shortwave trough ejects
into the southern High Plains. These storms should have a more
linear orientation, with damaging gusts as the primary risk as they
progress eastward toward central TX late tonight/early tomorrow.

...Mid Mississippi/Ohio Valleys to the Northeast...
Current surface analysis places a cold front extending southwestward
from central Ontario through far southern IL and far southeast MO.
Showers and thunderstorms are ongoing in the vicinity of this front,
with much of this activity elevated behind the front across the Mid
MS and OH Valleys where the deep-layer flow is more parallel to the
boundary. A trend towards a more surface-based structure is
anticipated this afternoon as daytime heating promotes modest
airmass destabilization ahead of the front and the flow become more
orthogonal to the boundary, particularly across the Upper OH Valley
and Northeast.

Mid-level flow is expected to strengthen this afternoon and evening,
and despite modest buoyancy, deep-layer shear will be strong to
support linear structures capable of damaging gusts, especially as
convection that develops along the front becomes more linear with
time. Overall storm coverage is expected to be high enough to merit
15% wind probabilities along the front into southern NY.


Read more CHECK UPDATE ZOOM GRAPHIC


http://dlvr.it/TKG4JB

SPC Apr 19, 2025 1630 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

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


Day 1 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
1130 AM CDT Sat Apr 19 2025

Valid 191630Z - 201200Z

...THERE IS AN ENHANCED RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PART OF
SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL TEXAS...

...SUMMARY...
Scattered severe thunderstorms are likely from parts of Texas into
southern Missouri, mainly this afternoon and evening. Large to very
large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes all appear possible.
Isolated to scattered damaging winds may also occur across portions
of the Ohio Valley into the Northeast.

...Southern Plains to the Ozarks...
Morning surface analysis places a cold front from just south of MAF
(in west Texas) northeastward through ARG (in northeast AR).
Widespread showers and occasional thunderstorms are currently
ongoing north of this front across OK and AR, and associated outflow
is still aiding in more eastward/southeastward progression of this
boundary across northern/central AR. This eastward/southeastward
progression is expected to slow with time as additional surface
cyclogenesis occurs across west TX ahead of a deep shortwave trough
progressing across Southwest. Low-level southerly/southeasterly flow
will persist south of the stalling boundary, leading to a sharpening
of the gradient through this afternoon/evening. By this afternoon,
dewpoints are expected to be in mid 60s along this boundary from
southwest TX into the Mid-South. This low-level moisture combined
with modest heating will result in airmass destabilization. As
large-scale ascent spreads eastward over the southern High Plains,
robust thunderstorms will likely develop by mid afternoon along/near
the front, and a dryline extending southward across west TX into
northern Mexico.

Strong deep-layer shear around 50-70 kt will support updraft
organization with convection that develops along/near the front and
dryline this afternoon. An initial supercell mode is anticipated,
with large hail as the primary risk. Storms will likely remain
elevated from northwest TX into the Ozarks, but surface-based storms
are more likely across southwest TX. Here, some very large hail
around 2-3 inches in diameter is possible. Strong outflow is
possible as well.

By early evening, convective mode should become messier as a
gradually strengthening low-level jet and the front encourage
thunderstorm interactions/mergers. Still, a continued large hail and
damaging wind threat will likely persist for much of the evening.
The strengthening low-level jet and resultant increase in low-level
shear could also support some threat for a few tornadoes with any
supercells/clusters that can remain surface based this evening.
Additionally, another round of storms appears likely across Permian
Basin/southwest TX late this evening as the shortwave trough ejects
into the southern High Plains. These storms should have a more
linear orientation, with damaging gusts as the primary risk as they
progress eastward toward central TX late tonight/early tomorrow.

...Mid Mississippi/Ohio Valleys to the Northeast...
Current surface analysis places a cold front extending southwestward
from central Ontario through far southern IL and far southeast MO.
Showers and thunderstorms are ongoing in the vicinity of this front,
with much of this activity elevated behind the front across the Mid
MS and OH Valleys where the deep-layer flow is more parallel to the
boundary. A trend towards a more surface-based structure is
anticipated this afternoon as daytime heating promotes modest
airmass destabilization ahead of the front and the flow become more
orthogonal to the boundary, particularly across the Upper OH Valley
and Northeast.

Mid-level flow is expected to strengthen this afternoon and evening,
and despite modest buoyancy, deep-layer shear will be strong to
support linear structures capable of damaging gusts, especially as
convection that develops along the front becomes more linear with
time. Overall storm coverage is expected to be high enough to merit
15% wind probabilities along the front into southern NY.

..Mosier/Halbert.. 04/19/2025


Read more CHECK UPDATE ZOOM GRAPHIC


http://dlvr.it/TKFv1V

SPC Apr 19, 2025 1300 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

LIVE MAP (ABOVE) ... SPC 1300Z Day 1 Outlook


Day 1 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0742 AM CDT Sat Apr 19 2025

Valid 191300Z - 201200Z

...THERE IS AN ENHANCED RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PARTS OF
WEST-CENTRAL TEXAS...

...SUMMARY...
Scattered severe thunderstorms are likely from parts of Texas into
southern Missouri, mainly this afternoon and evening. Large to very
large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes all appear possible.
Isolated to scattered damaging winds may also occur across portions
of the Ohio Valley into the Northeast.

...Southern Plains to the Ozarks...
Multiple bands/clusters of convection are ongoing this morning from
parts of eastern OK northeastward to the Ozarks and mid MS Valley.
Much of this activity should remain elevated, with isolated
hail/wind potential in the short term. In the wake of these
thunderstorms, an upper trough/low will eject from the Southwest
across the southern High Plains through the period. A front should
generally remain stalled across the southern Plains and towards the
Ozarks today, as surface cyclogenesis occurs over far west TX. As
large-scale ascent spreads eastward over the southern High Plains,
additional robust thunderstorms will likely develop by mid afternoon
along/near the front, and a dryline extending southward across west
TX into northern Mexico.

Daytime heating of a moist low-level airmass, combined with the
presence of steep mid-level lapse rates, are expected to support
moderate instability across the warm sector, with peak MLCAPE values
potentially reaching up to 1500-2500 J/kg. Strong deep-layer shear
around 50-70 kt will support intense updraft organization with
convection that develops along/near the front and dryline this
afternoon. Initial supercells will likely pose a threat for very
large hail around 2-3 inches in diameter, along with damaging winds.
By early evening, convective mode should become messier as a
gradually strengthening low-level jet and the front encourage
thunderstorm interactions/mergers. Still, a continued large hail and
damaging wind threat will likely persist for much of the evening.
Strengthening low-level shear in tandem with the increasing
low-level jet should also support some threat for a few tornadoes
with any supercells/clusters that can remain surface based this
evening. Given increased confidence in multiple intense supercells
developing this afternoon, an Enhanced Risk has been introduced
across parts of west-central to western north TX with this update.

...Mid Mississippi/Ohio Valleys to the Northeast...
Instability is expected to remain fairly weak along/ahead of the
surface front extending from southern MO across the OH Valley and
into the Northeast. Even so, strong west-southwesterly winds through
low/mid-levels may support a threat for isolated to scattered
severe/damaging winds as the boundary layer gradually destabilizes
through the day. Multiple ongoing clusters of elevated convection
from the Ozarks to the mid MS and lower OH Valleys may become
surface based over the next several hours with filtered daytime
heating. Have therefore expanded the Slight Risk for damaging winds
northeastward across these areas in a narrow zone along/near the
front.

A rather strong mid-level jet will overspread the northern
Mid-Atlantic into the Northeast today, as an upper trough develops
eastward over the Great Lakes and eastern Canada. Although low-level
moisture is forecast to remain limited, cold temperatures aloft
should aid in modest destabilization by early afternoon in a narrow
corridor along/ahead of the eastward-moving cold front. Deep-layer
shear will be strong enough to conditionally support supercells,
although there should be a tendency for convection that develops
along the front to become more linear with time. Based on recent
guidance trends, have expanded the Marginal Risk for hail/damaging
wind potential eastward across these areas. Greater severe wind
probabilities may be needed if confidence increases in a organized
cluster developing.

..Gleason/Broyles.. 04/19/2025


Read more CHECK UPDATE ZOOM GRAPHIC


http://dlvr.it/TKFtyQ
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)