LIVE MAP (ABOVE) ... SPC 1300Z Day 1 Outlook
Day 1 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0637 AM CST Sun Feb 22 2026
Valid 221300Z - 231200Z
...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST...
...SUMMARY...
Severe thunderstorms are not expected today or tonight.
...Discussion...
Large-scale trough amplification will continue to occur over the
eastern third of the CONUS, with a substantially deepening surface
low off the coast of the Mid-Atlantic, while a cold front continues
southeastward and clears the Florida Peninsula by early evening.
Near and ahead of this front, isolated thunderstorms may
develop/move inland across the central and southern Peninsula today,
but poor lapse rates and weak buoyancy suggest the risk for robust
convection will remain low.
For the coastal Mid-Atlantic/Northeast, intense low-level warm
advection will contribute to some potential for lightning discharge
in mid-level convection, associated with evolving heavier snow bands
along the northwest-north side of the deepening cyclone.
Across the Pacific Northwest, significant mid-level cooling and
steepening lapse rates are expected along the Washington coast by
early afternoon. Weak SBCAPE is expected to develop and some
potential for lightning is possible with convection occurring within
this warm-advection regime.
..Guyer/Grams.. 02/22/2026
Read more CHECK UPDATE ZOOM GRAPHIC
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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)
Sunday, February 22, 2026
SPC Feb 22, 2026 1300 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)




















