![National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration](/build/images/header/noaa.d87e0251.png)
![National Weather Service](/build/images/header/nws.4e6585d8.png)
![United States Department of Commerce](/build/images/header/doc.b38ba91a.png)
Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Central Illinois
Issued by NWS Central Illinois
Versions:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
544 FXUS63 KILX 200018 AFDILX Area Forecast Discussion...Updated National Weather Service Lincoln IL 718 PM CDT Fri Jul 19 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Cool and dry weather continues through the weekend. - Precipitation chances return Monday with periodic chances continuing through at least midweek. && .UPDATE... Issued at 718 PM CDT Fri Jul 19 2024 Diurnal cumulus has faded quite a bit east of I-55 early this evening, but has been a bit slower to erode west of there. Satellite imagery also shows a think smoke layer overhead, as well as a larger area of mid and high clouds spreading toward eastern Iowa. Some of those clouds should be spilling across the border this evening and approaching the Illinois River after midnight, and may be as far as Decatur and Champaign by sunrise. Winds remain light overnight with the surface high still sprawled across the Midwest, but with dew points a bit higher than this time yesterday, lows tonight will be pleasant but a few degrees higher than this morning. Geelhart && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 250 PM CDT Fri Jul 19 2024 Regional visible satellite imagery this afternoon depicts a blanket of fair weather cumulus over a good portion of the Midwest states with a cluster of thunderstorms over the north-central Plains. Upper analysis shows upper ridging over the western CONUS with northwest flow/troughing over the eastern half. Surface ridging here locally will keep things and dry through the weekend with highs in the upper 70s to low 80s and lows in the middle 50s to low 60s. A shortwave trough presently located over the northern Plains will slide southeast toward the middle Mississippi Valley on Saturday, bringing an increase in high clouds for the weekend. Dry air in the low to mid-levels should prevent any precipitation from entering the forecast area, with better chances remaining just west of here. Upper flow will change little going into the new week as we remain gridlocked under somewhat of an omega blocking pattern. Upper troughing gradually deepens by early next week as the aforementioned shortwave slowly rounds the base of the trough. Moisture will increase in the low to mid-levels as a surface low and stationary front lay out near the Ohio River Valley. Bits of energy sliding along the front will bring the return of precipitation as early as Monday, with periodic chances possible through at least midweek. Another upper shortwave will dive into the Great Lakes Region by mid to late next week and work to gradually kick the stationary boundary further east. Outlooks created by the Climate Prediction Center keep temperatures near or slightly below normal through next weekend with near to slightly above normal precipitation chances. NMA && .AVIATION... (For the 00z TAFs through 00z Saturday Evening) Issued at 619 PM CDT Fri Jul 19 2024 VFR conditions the next 24 hours, with mainly scattered clouds around 5,000 feet. Winds remain around 5 knots or less, primarily out of the northeast. Geelhart && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$