Thunderstorms still possible but severe threat may be decreasing

Skies have remained mostly cloudy this morning which has kept temperatures down as well as the atmospheric instability.  The current cloud cover will likely help in keeping the atmospheric energy from reaching levels like it did on Thursday.  There have been a few showers trying to develop this far north but have had a hard time making it.  There has been a little clearing to the west in Iowa where the instability has been slightly increasing.  The slight risk for severe weather continues for N. IL and S. WI through the afternoon and evening, however, there are a couple areas that hold a higher chance of storms this afternoon. 

Winds as strong as 115 mph in the jet stream are moving through Iowa up into Wisconsin and could become the focus for thunderstorm development in parts of northern Iowa, southern Minnesota and southwestern Wisconsin later this afternoon.  If storms were to develop out west strong southwest winds would quickly lift them into southwest and western Wisconsin this afternoon.  As the system progresses to the east later today some of those storms may clip far northwest Illinois.  The other area for concern is well south of the Stateline where storms from Missouri earlier this morning have been moving through central and southern Illinois.  At this point I would put our severe threat in the low category for the afternoon and evening.  Any further updates will  be provided here throughout the afternoon as needed.