LIVE MAP (ABOVE) ... SPC 1300Z Day 1 Outlook
Day 1 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0735 AM CDT Tue Aug 04 2026
Valid 041300Z - 051200Z
...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR SOUTHEAST
ARIZONA...
...SUMMARY...
Scattered severe wind gusts are possible across southeast Arizona
during the late afternoon and evening.
...Southeast Arizona...
A flattened mid to upper-level ridge over the Desert Southwest will
feature a moderate belt of easterlies across Sonora into far
southern portions of NM and AZ. A seasonably moist airmass will
undergo strong heating and result in moderate buoyancy by mid
afternoon (1000-2000 J/kg MLCAPE) per RAP/NAM forecast soundings.
Initially widely scattered storm development over the higher terrain
will gradually move west across southeast AZ during the late
afternoon and evening. Steep 700-500 mb lapse rates (around 8 deg
C/km) atop very steep low-level lapse rates ahead of this activity
will support ample evaporative cooling potential with the stronger
thunderstorm cores. The resultant microbursts and associated
outflow will yield a risk for 60-80 mph gusts as storms congeal into
a small cluster or two.
...Sangre de Cristos and adjacent plains...
A local maximum in buoyancy is depicted by model guidance near the
Raton Mesa by mid-late afternoon where widely scattered storms will
likely develop. Some of the CAMs show this activity moving
southeast into parts of the OK-TX Panhandles during the early
evening with an isolated risk for severe gusts. Marginally severe
hail is possible with the stronger cores.
...Western Carolinas...
A mid-level low will remain over northern Georgia today. To the
east of the low, an axis of moderate instability is forecast to
develop over the western Carolinas by afternoon. Warming surface
temperatures in the higher terrain will result in scattered
convective initiation across the southern Appalachians. As
instability peaks and low-level lapse rates become steep in the
afternoon, an isolated wind-damage threat is expected to develop in
the western Carolinas.
..Smith/Bentley.. 08/04/2026
Read more CHECK UPDATE ZOOM GRAPHIC
http://dlvr.it/TTs04j
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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)
Tuesday, August 4, 2026
SPC Aug 4, 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)




















