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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

Wednesday, May 26, 2021

SPC May 26, 2021 1300 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

SPC 1300Z Day 1 Outlook Day 1 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0751 AM CDT Wed May 26 2021 Valid 261300Z - 271200Z ...THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS NORTHWEST/NORTH-CENTRAL KS AND SOUTHWEST/SOUTH-CENTRAL NE... ...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS NORTHEAST STATES... ...SUMMARY... A regional outbreak of severe thunderstorms is expected across the central Great Plains this afternoon through tonight. The greatest tornado threat, including the potential for strong tornadoes, is expected between 5 to 11 PM CDT. Intense damaging winds and very large hail are expected as well. ...Central Great Plains... A shortwave trough over the northern Rockies should reach the Dakotas by 12Z tomorrow. An attendant belt of enhanced mid-level southwesterlies should overspread WY to the Dakotas this afternoon. Meanwhile, a confluent belt of enhanced southwesterlies in the southern stream will become centered from AZ/NM to the central High Plains. A surface cyclone will initially deepen over southeast WY as a warm front advances north across KS and NE. Early afternoon thunderstorm development is expected in advance of the shortwave trough across north-central WY and far southeast MT, with additional development a couple hours later farther east-southeast in eastern WY near the surface low. An initially narrow surface-based buoyancy plume should broaden on continued low-level moist advection from the southeast, yielding development and intensification of supercells across the WY/SD/NE border area by late afternoon. Farther south, the most likely scenario is for discrete supercells developing across parts of northeast CO and at the apex of the thermal ridge along the dryline near the southeast CO/west-central KS border by late afternoon. This activity should impinge on a plume of large buoyancy with MLCAPE of 2500-3500 J/kg. In addition, a strengthening low-level jet between 00-03Z renders substantial concern for potential long-track supercells capable of significant tornadoes centered on the northwest KS vicinity this evening. With time, numerous supercell structures will likely grow upscale as they mature along/south of the warm frontal zone, aided by the strong low-level jet. An intense MCS may evolve by late evening with bowing structures, yielded an increasing threat for significant severe wind gusts across portions of KS and southern NE into the overnight. This wind threat may spread as far east-southeast as the Lower MO Valley by 12Z tomorrow. Variance in CAM guidance appears greater-than-normal regarding the aforementioned potential convective evolution. The 00Z HRW-NSSL and HRW-ARW both suggest that surface-based convection may develop by early to mid-afternoon across parts of western to central KS, overturning the air mass prior to substantial strengthening of the low-level jet. This would limit the likelihood of significant tornado/wind potential and coverage of all severe probabilities as far north as indicated by the current forecast. This scenario may be unlikely in the presence of mid-level ridging but appears plausible given persistent low-level theta-e advection and weak MLCIN. ...Southern High Plains... Isolated severe thunderstorms will develop south along the dryline through west TX where strong diabatic heating will once again allow surface parcels to reach their convective temperatures by late afternoon. Modest southwesterly flow aloft will support a few supercells, and large hail/severe wind are the greatest threats. ...Northeast... A low-amplitude shortwave trough over the Upper Great Lakes should quickly progress towards the Saint Lawrence Valley by tonight. While the bulk of strong 500-mb west-southwesterlies will remain prevalent across Ontario and Quebec, moderately enhanced 700-mb flow will persist across much of the Northeast States through this afternoon. Scattered thunderstorms will develop this afternoon ahead of the warm conveyor from OH across the central to northern Appalachians as robust boundary-layer heating occurs. Weak mid-level lapse rates and unidirectional wind profiles will largely support scattered damaging winds as the primary hazard, with multicell clusters spreading toward the coastal plain. ..Grams/Mosier.. 05/26/2021 Read more LIVE: spc.noaa.gov
http://dlvr.it/S0StPW
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