LIVE MAP (ABOVE) ... SPC 1200Z Day 1 Outlook
Day 1 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
1118 PM CDT Sun Apr 19 2026
Valid 201200Z - 211200Z
...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST...
...SUMMARY...
Severe storms are not expected today.
...Synopsis...
An upper trough will exit the northeastern states today, with
northwest flow aloft extending from the northern Plains to the East
Coast. Upper ridging will occur over the Rockies, while a large
upper trough slowly approaches the West Coast.
At the surface, high pressure will result in relatively stable
conditions for much of the central and eastern CONUS, with centers
over the Mid Atlantic and near the northern Gulf Coast.
In the wake of the eastern trough, winds just off the surface will
maintain a zone of elevated moisture and instability over much of
TX, where scattered showers and storms will be most likely. Weak
instability will preclude any severe storm chances there.
To the west, cooling aloft with the approaching upper trough will
support weak instability into parts of OR and WA, with isolated late
day thunderstorms possible over portions of the Cascades.
Small/non-severe hail cannot be ruled out, along with locally gusty
winds mainly in the 00-03Z time frame.
..Jewell/Chalmers.. 04/20/2026
Read more CHECK UPDATE ZOOM GRAPHIC
http://dlvr.it/TS6wZG
Windy.com Temps | Gusts | WU KORD KPWK |
CLICK for this month's BIG night sky ... | RADAR FULL MAP SCREEN |
|---|
MOBILE DEVICE? Turn sideways. Weather conditions directly above are near Lakefront. Top tabs refer to O'Hare (official).
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)
Monday, April 20, 2026
SPC Apr 20, 2026 0600 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook
Sunday, April 19, 2026
SPC Apr 19, 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
0255 PM CDT Sun Apr 19 2026
Valid 192000Z - 201200Z
...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST...
...SUMMARY...
Severe thunderstorms are not forecast today.
...20Z Update...
The TSTM area was removed in eastern NC, where the cold front and
related thunderstorm potential has shifted offshore. The TSTM area
was also trimmed behind a band of eastward-moving thunderstorms
departing the New England coast, and no lightning is expected behind
this activity. Farther south in parts of central FL, isolated
thunderstorms are evolving along the sea breeze focused over the
Treasure Coast. While storm coverage and intensity are expected to
remain isolated/marginal, a warm/unstable PBL and around 35 kt of
midlevel flow could support a strong storm or two capable of locally
strong gusts, though this activity is expected to remain sub-severe.
..Weinman.. 04/19/2026
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1059 AM CDT Sun Apr 19 2026/
...Synopsis...
A shortwave trough currently approaching Baja California will
provide increasing large-scale forcing for ascent over Mexico and
south/west TX today. This will lead to scattered thunderstorms
through the period.
Other isolated afternoon thunderstorms are expected ahead of a
frontal band affecting New England and eastern NC, beneath cold air
aloft in the Lower Great Lakes region, and over south FL. In all of
these areas, weak instability and/or limited vertical shear will
preclude a risk of organized severe storms.
Read more CHECK UPDATE ZOOM GRAPHIC
http://dlvr.it/TS6pjr
Day 1 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0255 PM CDT Sun Apr 19 2026
Valid 192000Z - 201200Z
...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST...
...SUMMARY...
Severe thunderstorms are not forecast today.
...20Z Update...
The TSTM area was removed in eastern NC, where the cold front and
related thunderstorm potential has shifted offshore. The TSTM area
was also trimmed behind a band of eastward-moving thunderstorms
departing the New England coast, and no lightning is expected behind
this activity. Farther south in parts of central FL, isolated
thunderstorms are evolving along the sea breeze focused over the
Treasure Coast. While storm coverage and intensity are expected to
remain isolated/marginal, a warm/unstable PBL and around 35 kt of
midlevel flow could support a strong storm or two capable of locally
strong gusts, though this activity is expected to remain sub-severe.
..Weinman.. 04/19/2026
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1059 AM CDT Sun Apr 19 2026/
...Synopsis...
A shortwave trough currently approaching Baja California will
provide increasing large-scale forcing for ascent over Mexico and
south/west TX today. This will lead to scattered thunderstorms
through the period.
Other isolated afternoon thunderstorms are expected ahead of a
frontal band affecting New England and eastern NC, beneath cold air
aloft in the Lower Great Lakes region, and over south FL. In all of
these areas, weak instability and/or limited vertical shear will
preclude a risk of organized severe storms.
Read more CHECK UPDATE ZOOM GRAPHIC
http://dlvr.it/TS6pjr
SPC Apr 19, 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
1059 AM CDT Sun Apr 19 2026
Valid 191630Z - 201200Z
...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST...
...SUMMARY...
Severe thunderstorms are not forecast today.
...Synopsis...
A shortwave trough currently approaching Baja California will
provide increasing large-scale forcing for ascent over Mexico and
south/west TX today. This will lead to scattered thunderstorms
through the period.
Other isolated afternoon thunderstorms are expected ahead of a
frontal band affecting New England and eastern NC, beneath cold air
aloft in the Lower Great Lakes region, and over south FL. In all of
these areas, weak instability and/or limited vertical shear will
preclude a risk of organized severe storms.
..Hart/Bunting.. 04/19/2026
Read more CHECK UPDATE ZOOM GRAPHIC
http://dlvr.it/TS6flK
Day 1 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
1059 AM CDT Sun Apr 19 2026
Valid 191630Z - 201200Z
...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST...
...SUMMARY...
Severe thunderstorms are not forecast today.
...Synopsis...
A shortwave trough currently approaching Baja California will
provide increasing large-scale forcing for ascent over Mexico and
south/west TX today. This will lead to scattered thunderstorms
through the period.
Other isolated afternoon thunderstorms are expected ahead of a
frontal band affecting New England and eastern NC, beneath cold air
aloft in the Lower Great Lakes region, and over south FL. In all of
these areas, weak instability and/or limited vertical shear will
preclude a risk of organized severe storms.
..Hart/Bunting.. 04/19/2026
Read more CHECK UPDATE ZOOM GRAPHIC
http://dlvr.it/TS6flK
SPC Apr 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
0743 AM CDT Sun Apr 19 2026
Valid 191300Z - 201200Z
...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST...
...SUMMARY...
Severe thunderstorms are not forecast today.
...Synopsis...
Water-vapor imagery this morning shows a large-scale upper trough
from James Bay southward through the Great Lakes and TN Valley. The
upper trough will continue to move east and reach the Lower Great
Lakes and East Coast by daybreak Monday. In the low levels, a cold
front will push east of the Carolina coast by early afternoon.
Surface high pressure will influence conditions across the central
and eastern states in wake of the cold front. Weak instability will
yield isolated thunderstorms over parts of the south Florida,
eastern North Carolina, and weak elevated storms over south Texas.
..Smith/Thompson.. 04/19/2026
Read more CHECK UPDATE ZOOM GRAPHIC
http://dlvr.it/TS6fgq
Day 1 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0743 AM CDT Sun Apr 19 2026
Valid 191300Z - 201200Z
...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST...
...SUMMARY...
Severe thunderstorms are not forecast today.
...Synopsis...
Water-vapor imagery this morning shows a large-scale upper trough
from James Bay southward through the Great Lakes and TN Valley. The
upper trough will continue to move east and reach the Lower Great
Lakes and East Coast by daybreak Monday. In the low levels, a cold
front will push east of the Carolina coast by early afternoon.
Surface high pressure will influence conditions across the central
and eastern states in wake of the cold front. Weak instability will
yield isolated thunderstorms over parts of the south Florida,
eastern North Carolina, and weak elevated storms over south Texas.
..Smith/Thompson.. 04/19/2026
Read more CHECK UPDATE ZOOM GRAPHIC
http://dlvr.it/TS6fgq
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