LIVE MAP (ABOVE) ... SPC 1300Z Day 1 Outlook
Day 1 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0740 AM CDT Mon Aug 31 2026
Valid 311300Z - 011200Z
...THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON
AND EVENING OVER PARTS OF THE GREAT LAKES REGION...THE CENTRAL
PLAINS...AND THE GREAT BASIN....
...SUMMARY...
Isolated severe storms will be possible mainly later this afternoon
into tonight across the Upper Midwest/upper Great Lakes, the central
Plains, and across the lower Colorado River Valley and Great Basin.
...Great Lakes Region...
Water vapor imagery shows a subtle shortwave trough moving across
NE. This feature is forecast to track northeastward through the day
and affect the Great Lakes region by late afternoon. Relatively
strong heating is expected across much of WI, along with dewpoints
in the upper 60s to lower 70s. This along with moderately steep
mid-level lapse rates will yield afternoon MLCAPE values over 2500
J/kg. A cold front will sag into the region by early evening,
providing the focus for widely scattered thunderstorms from central
WI into upper MI. This activity will track east-southeastward
across WI and into lower MI. Forecast soundings suggest sufficient
vertical shear to support rotating storms capable of locally
gusty/damaging winds and perhaps some hail.
...Eastern CO into NE...
A persistent plume of mid-level moisture continues to affect areas
from AZ into CO, with another round of afternoon thunderstorms
expected over the mountains. As these storms spread eastward into
eastern CO, strong outflow winds may accompany the more intense
cores. Isolated strong storms may persist into parts of northwest
KS and much of NE after dark.
...UT/AZ...
A shortwave trough over CA will track eastward and provide
large-scale forcing for ascent today over parts of AZ/UT. This will
result in scattered thunderstorms once again this afternoon across
much of UT and northern AZ. If pockets of sufficient heating can
develop, locally damaging wind gusts could occur.
..Hart/Broyles.. 08/31/2026
Read more CHECK UPDATE ZOOM GRAPHIC
http://dlvr.it/TVFyl0
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)
Monday, August 31, 2026
SPC Aug 31, 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)




















