LIVE MAP (ABOVE) ... SPC 1630Z Day 1 Outlook
Day 1 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
1128 AM CDT Wed Sep 03 2025
Valid 031630Z - 041200Z
...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PARTS OF
THE CENTRAL PLAINS AND LOWER MISSOURI VALLEY...
...SUMMARY...
Scattered thunderstorms capable of producing large to very large
hail and severe wind gusts should occur this afternoon and evening
across parts of the central Plains and lower Missouri Valley.
...Central Plains into the Lower Missouri Valley...
A mid-level shortwave trough over southern SD/eastern NE will
continue to advance quickly southeastward today as a large-scale
upper-level low moves from western ON to near Lake Superior through
the period. The shortwave trough is forecast to reach the lower MO
Valley by late afternoon, with an attendant belt of moderately
strong northwesterly mid/high-level flow overspreading the central
Plains into the mid MS Valley. At the surface, a cold front will
advance southward across parts of the central Plains and lower MO
Valley, with generally low to mid 60s surface dewpoints present
ahead of the boundary. Diurnal heating of this airmass will
contribute to moderate instability (MLCAPE around 1000-2000 J/kg) by
mid afternoon across central/eastern KS, with weaker instability
forecast with eastward extent into MO. As convective inhibition
gradually erodes near the front, scattered thunderstorms will likely
develop along its length from central KS into the lower MO Valley
during the 20-00Z period.
Around 35-55 kt of northwesterly flow in the 500-250 mb layer will
yield similar values of effective bulk shear, which will support
organized updrafts. A few supercells will probably evolve across
central/eastern KS and perhaps into western MO, where the main risk
will be large to very large hail given steep lapse rates aloft and
favorable shear. Severe wind gusts will also be possible with these
supercells, or any small clusters/bowing segments that can develop
where low-level lapse rates are steepest (mainly KS into northwest
OK and parts of the OK/TX Panhandles). Some severe threat should
persist into the evening as multiple small clusters move southward
into southern KS and adjacent portions of far northern OK and
southwest MO, before they eventually weaken as convective inhibition
increases with nocturnal cooling.
...Great Lakes/Midwest...
Additional thunderstorms should develop this afternoon along/near
the cold front across parts of Lower MI into central IL. Poor lapse
rates aloft and limited low-level moisture (reference 12Z soundings
from APX and ILX) will likely temper the degree of instability that
can develop, even with diurnal heating. While occasional
strong/gusty winds appear possible with thunderstorms that spread
east-southeastward this afternoon and evening, the overall severe
threat should remain fairly limited.
..Gleason/Lyons.. 09/03/2025
Read more CHECK UPDATE ZOOM GRAPHIC
http://dlvr.it/TMs0tF
Windy.com Temps | Gusts | WU KORD KPWK |
CLICK for this month's BIG night sky ... | RADAR FULL MAP SCREEN |
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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)
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
SPC Sep 3, 2025 1630 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook
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)
CHICAGO UTC-6 during CST (Central Standard Time, e.g., winter)
CHICAGO UTC-5 during CDT (Daylight Savings Time, e.g., summer)




















