577 FXUS63 KLOT 081717 AFDLOTArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville, IL 1217 PM CDT Mon Sep 8 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Gradual warming trend this week, with a return to normal temperatures midweek and above normal temperatures by the weekend.
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.DISCUSSION... Issued at 240 AM CDT Mon Sep 8 2025
Through Tuesday:
Dry and gradually warming weather is expected into Tuesday, to start the new week.
Early morning surface analysis depicts 1026 mb high pressure ridge axis across IL/IN/MI, resulting in mainly clear skies and calm or light/variable surface winds. Excellent conditions for strong radiational cooling will likely allow for a few of our typical cold spots (such as Rochelle) to dip into the upper 30s again early this morning, and there may be some patch shallow ground fog development in spots away from the Chicago metro prior to sunrise.
A gradual warm-up is expected to begin today, as modest warm advection develops downstream of a couple of mid-level short waves approaching from the Plains and upper Midwest. This will induce modest south-southwest winds in the 925-850 mb layer, bringing warmer air into the region through the period. Low- level thermal fields support highs in the low-mid 70s (warmest northwest of I-55 across northern IL) by this afternoon under mostly sunny skies, though light south-southeast surface winds will support a weak southeasterly lake breeze along the IL shore from Chicago northward. The only cloud cover of note is expected to be some thin cirrus increasing from the west later today, and perhaps a brief period of some patchy mid-level clouds glancing northwest/far northern IL in association with the stronger warm advection axis from IA into WI (currently seen in GOES IR imagery over northeast IA). Other than a continued increase in thin high clouds tonight, dry and quiet conditions will continue, with light south-southeast winds and overnight lows from the low-mid 50s in the Chicago area, to the low- mid 40s away from the metro.
The pair of mid-level short waves slowly move into the area Tuesday, though the primary return moisture axis continues to be focused well west and northwest of the forecast area, from the Plains into the upper Mississippi Valley and northern Great Lakes region. Other than some thicker mid/high level clouds especially in the afternoon across the northwest half of the forecast area, dry weather is expected to persist along with a continued moderation in temperatures. With persistent warm advection, low level thermal fields should support highs a little closer to average for this time of year ranging from the mid-upper 70s. Once again, a weak southeasterly lake breeze may limit immediate shoreline areas to the lower 70s along the Illinois Lake Michigan shore.
Ratzer
Tuesday Night through Sunday:
A low-amplitude wave shifting southeast from the western Canadian prairie provinces will loosely phase with a small wave over Wyoming today before becoming increasingly sheared over the northern Great Lakes Tuesday into Wednesday. The southern wave may experience some localized convective enhancement over the central Great Plains this evening, but ultimately drift ENE across the forecast area Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. How quick the wave exits to the east late Tuesday night or Wednesday will depend on the amount of phasing with the northern wave. Modest mid-level ascent will be sufficient for the generation of precip aloft, but with a rather dry airmass located below 10kft, precip potential should be fairly low during this time. Expectations are for isolated showers or sprinkles over primarily the north half of the CWA, though most locations should remain dry.
By late this week, the broader North American pattern will transition to hybrid Omega/Rex blocking anchored by a strong mid- level ridge centered southwest of Hudson Bay. Our area will remain somewhat removed from the Canadian ridge, with a greater focus on the trajectory of a high-latitude wave currently near Anchorage to round the building ridge over central Canada and track southward toward the Great Lakes region this weekend. This could bring a period or two of showers and possibly a few storms with a stalling cold front somewhere over the western Great Lakes, though as can be expected with blocking in place, timing and location of individual members from ensemble and deterministic guidance show widely varying solutions. With that said, the area will likely be on the periphery of the low-level thermal ridge and stronger southwest flow and keep some or all of the forecast area capped. This set-up would also yield a warm weekend with highs well into the 80s to perhaps touching 90 in some locations, though the regional dry spell over the past few weeks and seasonal decline in evapotranspiration should keep dew points out of more uncomfortable levels.
Kluber
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.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 1217 PM CDT Mon Sep 8 2025
There are no significant aviation forecast concerns for the current TAF period. Predominantly south-southwesterly winds to around 10 kts will continue through the afternoon today before diminishing slightly and turning east-of-south this evening. Winds should become south-southwesterly once again soon after daybreak tomorrow and will likely be a touch higher during the daytime compared to today. VFR conditions will prevail through the TAF period.
Ogorek
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.LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...None. IN...None. LM...None.
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