Severe weather update: All hazards possible Tuesday evening-Tuesday night

After a remarkably warm and sun-filled stretch, all eyes are now on the deepening area of low pressure that resides over the central plains.

This will bring not one, but two opportunities for local severe weather. The second of course being the more significant of the two. 

To start, the Storm Prediction Center expanded the level 3 enhanced risk over the Mississippi to now include our far western regions. 

This leaves the remainder of the Stateline, areas east of Galena, Savanna, and Sterling, under a level 2 slight risk for severe weather. As this storm system glides into western Iowa, it will help lift a warm front northward and place it across northern Illinois by the afternoon. 

South of this warm front will be the more conclusive environment for severe weather, especially later on in the day. Ahead of the frontal boundary, we may see the opportunity for scattered elevated storms up until midday. The severe threat with this round is very low, though the potential for large hail will exist with the stronger and longer-lived updrafts. 

From there, one of the big uncertainties or question marks will be if we see sunshine or not during the afternoon. If so, this will allow the atmosphere to recover and allow the warm front to lift into the region, resulting in a higher chance locally for severe weather late this afternoon into the evening. Our main window for strong to severe storms continues to be from 4PM-11PM, with all hazards including tornadoes being on the table. 

Again, the position of the warm front as well as the amount of afternoon sunshine will be key to who gets in on today's severe potential.

Another concept of today's severe weather threat that we'll have to keep an eye on is storm mode. Will these storms become isolated enough to pose a threat for all severe hazards, or will they be pushing through in clusters. Storms that are in clusters significantly drop the chances for tornado development. 

The window for severe storms will close before the midnight hour, leaving us mostly cloudy and fairly dry into Wednesday. Again, be weather aware and have plans in place in the event a severe thunderstorm or tornado warning is issued. 

The same storm system will be spinning to our north by this time, allowing the chance for scattered showers to continue. It's not until Friday that this active stretch of weather comes to a close. Tagging along with the dry weather however will be cooler temperatures. Highs by Friday peak in the mid-50s, with low 50s expected over the weekend.