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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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Saturday, April 26, 2025

SPC Apr 26, 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
1143 AM CDT Sat Apr 26 2025

Valid 261630Z - 271200Z

...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR EASTERN NEW
MEXICO AND THE PERMIAN BASIN...

...SUMMARY...
Scattered severe thunderstorms are possible over eastern New Mexico
into parts of west Texas this afternoon through the evening. A
threat for very large hail and possibly a couple of tornadoes are
the primary risks. Scattered damaging gusts are possible this
afternoon for parts of the Red River Valley.

...NM into the Southern Plains and ArkLaTex...
Visible satellite-radar composite shows a front/outflow pushing
south across South Plains and Caprock over portions of west TX and
westward into parts of eastern NM. This boundary will likely stall
later this afternoon while moist upslope flow is maintained from the
Permian Basin northwestward into southeast/eastern NM. Surface
observations show a reservoir of lower to mid 60s dewpoints over
southeast NM and west TX south of the boundary. Moderately strong
west-southwesterly mid to high-level flow will extend east from the
base of a West Coast trough into the southern Great Plains today.

Strong heating over eastern NM will aid in moderate destabilization
(1000-2500 J/kg MLCAPE) from parts of northeast NM southward into
the Eastern Plains/Permian Basin where buoyancy will be greatest.
Models shows gradual erosion of convective inhibition later this
afternoon with isolated to scattered storms developing in the
vicinity of the dryline/composite front. Steep 700-500 mb lapse
rates sampled on the 12z Midland, TX raob atop a deep/moist boundary
layer will support supercell development in conjunction with a
veering and gradually strengthening wind profile. Large to very
large hail will be possible with a few of these stronger storms. A
tornado risk may develop during the late afternoon/early evening.
Some of this activity may grow upscale into a small cluster this
evening posing a hail/wind threat is moves east-southeast into parts
of west TX.

Farther east, an MCS will continue east across OK this afternoon.
Moist low levels in the vicinity of the Red River may enable a
re-invigoration of storms this afternoon. Damaging gusts appear to
be the primary risk with these storms.

...Northeast/Mid Atlantic/Carolinas...
A shortwave trough will continue moving through southern Ontario and
the adjacent Lower Great Lakes. A cold front will progress eastward,
moving through the northern Mid-Atlantic by this evening and the
remainder of the Mid-Atlantic States by tonight. A relatively moist
airmass is already in place ahead of this front, and thunderstorm
development appears likely along the front as it moves eastward
throughout the period. Highest coverage is anticipated from the
Hudson Valley/NYC vicinity southward across the Delmarva to the
Chesapeake Bay.

Gradually strengthening midlevel flow and deep-layer shear could
support a few stronger cells/clusters during the afternoon and
evening. Diurnal heating will be tempered by cloud cover, limiting
the overall buoyancy and updraft magnitude. Even so, some locally
damaging wind and small to near-severe hail could accompany
the strongest storms. Best overlap between the buoyancy and shear is
expected from NJ into the Delmarva vicinity from 18Z to 21Z.

..Smith/Wendt.. 04/26/2025


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