219 FXUS63 KLOT 232041 AFDLOTArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville, IL Issued by National Weather Service Lincoln IL 341 PM CDT Tue Sep 23 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- There is a chance for showers and a few embedded storms mainly south of I-80 this evening and overnight, but the greatest potential for rain is anticipated to focus mainly south of the forecast area.
- Intermittent showers may linger across the region Wednesday with a chance of lake effect showers Thursday, but a trend towards drier conditions is expected through the end of the week and upcoming weekend.
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.DISCUSSION... Issued at 341 PM CDT Tue Sep 23 2025
Through Tonight:
Showers and storms continue to generate along a boundary from Iroquois County IL into Benton County IN. The western extent of this activity has not been well handled by CAMs, having begun along a gravity wave this morning. Storm motion is roughly parallel to the boundary, and with multiple strong cells having repeatedly moved over the same areas MRMS is estimating precipitation in the 1-2 inch range from eastern Iroquois County into Benton County IN.
Given the persistent convection and that some at least local stabilization has likely taken place, some uncertainty remains as to how intense and how long these storms continue. With a short wave trough moving in from the east this evening, it`s anticipated that the greatest coverage of showers and storms will be to the south of the forecast area. However, those to the south of I-80 stand the best chance of seeing additional rainfall with perhaps some embedded thunderstorms this evening and overnight.
Meanwhile, a cold front will push through the forecast area this evening and overnight, bringing north-northeasterly winds with perhaps some gustiness overnight. These enhanced north winds may increase wave heights along the lake shore.
NWS ILX
Wednesday through Tuesday:
The upper-low over the Great Lakes is expected to begin to phase with the shortwave trough ejecting out of the south- central Plains Wednesday morning. With the associated cold front forecast to be draped across north-central IL and IN, suspect any lingering precipitation with these features should be focused south of I-80 for Wednesday afternoon. Therefore, it appears that most of the area should start to see drier conditions but with some continued cloud cover. That said, breezy northeast winds are expected to persist through Wednesday with gusts peaking in the 20-25 mph range during the afternoon hours. These onshore winds will help to build waves at area beaches resulting in dangerous swimming conditions that look to persist into Thursday.
The phased trough is expected to begin to move east Wednesday night into Thursday which will allow drier conditions to fully return to the area. However, a shortwave disturbance will pivot around the backside of the trough Thursday morning and interact with some lingering low-level moisture and convergence near the lake. Couple this with a few hundred joules of lake induced CAPE and conditions appear favorable for a period of lake effect showers and perhaps thunderstorms Thursday morning into the early afternoon hours. As winds turn more northwesterly Thursday afternoon the lake effect showers are expected to push east into northern IN and thus bring an end to rain in our forecast area. Outside of these showers, temperatures on Wednesday and Thursday will be the coolest of the week due to aforementioned north winds. So expect highs these days to only top out in the lower to mid-70s with overnight lows in the lower 50s.
Heading into Friday, upper ridging will return to the Great Lakes Friday into early next week which will result in another period of dry and seasonably warm conditions. While guidance continues to show a cold front trying to move through late Saturday into Sunday, the cold air and moisture with this front look very lacking and thus should allow the dry and warm weather to prevail. Therefore, expect highs during this period to be in the upper 70s to lower 80s each afternoon with overnight lows in the mid-50s. Though, potential for daily lake breezes will likely keep temperatures cooler along the lakeshore each day.
Yack
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.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z THURSDAY/... Issued at 1221 PM CDT Tue Sep 23 2025
Key Aviation Messages for the current TAF period:
- Another round of showers possible this evening overnight though better coverage expected to the south in central Illinois
- MVFR, and potentially even IFR, cigs expected tonight
Winds turned northeast with a cold front moving south out of Wisconsin and is being reinforced by a lake breeze. There is a chance for occasional gusts this afternoon and evening between 15 to 25 knots, but being more isolated in nature it was left out of the TAF for now. Stratus will move southward behind the front, increasing the chance for MVFR cigs into Tuesday evening. Guidance is starting to lean toward IFR cigs being possible, but confidence is still too low to add it in the TAF. MVFR cigs and northeast winds are expected to remain into Wednesday morning. PROB30 for showers later this afternoon and evening for all sites but KRFD has been included, but best chances remain south of the forecast areas.
As the front moves southward overnight, models are suggesting that there will be renewed chances of showers, and maybe isolated storms, along a convergent axis that develops. The better chances remain in central Illinois. However, there was enough model agreement to keep a PROB30 in for KGYY.
NWS Lincoln
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.LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...None. IN...None. LM...None.
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NWS LOT Office Area Forecast Discussion