LIVE MAP (ABOVE) ... SPC 1300Z Day 1 Outlook
Day 1 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0655 AM CST Thu Feb 26 2026
Valid 261300Z - 271200Z
...THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM THE
ARKLAMISS TO NORTH-CENTRAL ALABAMA...
...SUMMARY...
Isolated severe storms capable of hail will be possible from the
ArkLaMiss into north-central Alabama, mostly from mid-afternoon
through early/mid-evening.
...Deep South including ArkLaMiss to north-central Alabama...
Increasingly cyclonic flow aloft is expected as trough amplification
occurs with a shortwave trough spreading southeastward across the
south-central Plains, toward the Ozarks/ArkLaTex this evening, and
the lower Mississippi Valley late tonight. A plume of relatively
steep mid-level lapse rates will similarly advect southeastward atop
a modestly moist air mass to the south of a southward-spreading
front regionally. While southwesterly winds in the lowest 2-3 km AGL
will be modest-strength and tend to weaken over time, strong
mid/high-level winds will yield 40+ kt effective shear, supporting
the potential for severe storms including some supercells as storms
develop and intensify through mid/late afternoon. Severe hail is
expected to be the primary hazard.
..Guyer/Grams.. 02/26/2026
Read more CHECK UPDATE ZOOM GRAPHIC
http://dlvr.it/TR9vDJ
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)
Thursday, February 26, 2026
SPC Feb 26, 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)




















