Weekend Storms Possible - Some Could be Strong to Severe

A strong storm system will move through the Plains and Great Lakes Saturday and Sunday, bringing with it the threat for thunderstorms Sunday afternoon and evening.  Temperatures on Saturday will most likely remain in the 40's, possibly reaching the low 50's.  A strong warm front will sit just to the south over central Illinois during the afternoon, but will be pulled northward during the first half of Sunday.

Depending on the placement of the warm front and exact track of low pressure, this could push temperatures Sunday into the low 60's for northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin.  The arrival of the warmth would also mean the potential for thunderstorms, some of which could be strong to severe.


As of Thursday evening it looks like the greatest threat for severe storms may reside just to our south and east, over east-central Illinois and northwest Indiana.  Our forecast computer models still don't have the greatest handle on yet the timing of this next low, with some placing the warm front more over central Illinois (with the severe threat remaining to the south) while others pull the warm front into southern Wisconsin.


Dew point temperatures will rise during the evening Saturday and into Sunday most likely into the 50's, and even low 60's.  The increase in moisture will cause instability to grow south of the warm front.  There will also be quite a bit of wind energy throughout the atmosphere which could produce damaging wind thunderstorms for parts of the southern Great Lakes.


Right now northern Illinois is on the northern edge of the severe outlook for Sunday, but this most likely will change as we get closer to the weekend.

It's not uncommon to get severe weather during the late autumn months.  While the Spring months of April and May are the peak of severe weather season, October and November have also been known to produce severe weather outbreaks, especially in the South.  This is due to moisture still being pulled in from the Gulf of Mexico, but interacting more with cold fronts from the north.  Severe thunderstorms, though, can (and do) occur in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin during this second peak season.  That's why it's very important to remain 'Weather Aware' and make sure you have a severe weather safety plan - no matter what the season.