874 
FXUS63 KILX 251601
AFDILX

Area Forecast Discussion
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LINCOLN IL
1101 AM CDT Wed Mar 25 2015

.UPDATE...
ISSUED AT 1057 AM CDT WED MAR 25 2015

In between two sfc lows this morning with plenty of llvl moisture
trapped at the sfc and the stratus not showing many signs of
diminishing just yet. With this trend in mind... have pulled down
todays highs a bit and will send out updates momentarily. Some
echos on radar mosaic out to the west working towards western
CWA...but eroding on approach and not all of the echoes are
reaching the ground. Keeping the pops at slight chance later this
afternoon.  

&&

.SHORT TERM...(Today)
ISSUED AT 325 AM CDT WED MAR 25 2015

08z/3am surface analysis shows a 1010mb low over Peoria, with a warm 
front extending southeast into Kentucky. Radar loops show the bulk 
of the rain has departed to the northeast, with no more thunder 
expected in our counties the rest of the night. The speed of the low 
to the northeast indicates that all rain should be out of our 
forecast area by 5 am, and possibly a little sooner. Very low clouds 
and fog under the low and behind it will overspread central IL for 
several hours this morning. Have included a mention of fog for a few 
hours early this morning. Forecast soundings show dry air above the 
cloud layer, and mixing this morning should provide at least partial 
sunshine for the S-SW portions of the area early this afternoon. A 
brief clear slot is already poised to move across our counties south 
of I-70, with additional clouds projected to arrive behind that 
clearing. Overall, it appears that any clearing today will be short 
lived as the next wave of moisture is expected to push into western 
IL by 00z/7pm. The Rapid Refresh model is not too optimistic about 
sunshine, so will trend toward more clouds than clearing across a 
majority of the area.

A few light rain showers may develop west of the IL river before the 
end of the afternoon, but most areas should remain dry until evening.

The predominance of clouds today will keep most areas a little 
cooler, especially in the north. Highs may be limited to the low to 
mid-50s toward Galesburg, but a few breaks of sunshine in the south 
could push areas S of I-70 into the mid to upper 60s.

&&

.LONG TERM...(Tonight through Tuesday)
ISSUED AT 325 AM CDT WED MAR 25 2015

A 1007 mb surface low pressure organizing in northeast NM and 
southeast CO will eject northeast into the mid MS river valley by 
06Z/1 am tonight, and then track up the Ohio river to near the KY/OH 
border by dawn Thu and into sw PA by noon Thu. 00Z forecast models 
have trended a bit further south with low pressure track and SPC has 
shifted slight risk south of IL into southern MO tonight and even 
marginal risk is south of highway 50. HPC still has a slight chance 
of excessive rains over southeast IL counties tonight and will 
continue the Special Weather Statement for areas along and southeast 
of I-70 tonight to address rises on rivers/streams. Have 1-1.5 
inches of rain tonight over southeast of I-70 with highest amounts 
overnight and near Lawrenceville. This is below flash flood guidance 
values around 2 inches per hour and 2.5-3 inches per 6 hours. Lows 
tonight range from mid 30s over IL River valley where lower rain 
chances will be, to 40-45F in southeast IL from I-70 southeast. 

Continued chances of rain showers over eastern IL Thu morning with up 
to another tenth inch near the Wabash river. Then rain shifts east 
of IL by midday Thu with surface low pressure moving into New 
England by sunset Thu. Clouds to break up Thu afternoon with skies 
becoming partly sunny especially sw counties. NW breezes will usher 
in colder air with highs Thu in the mid to upper 40s. Strong upper 
level trof digging into the Midwest Thu continues over Ohio river 
valley Fri with another chilly day across IL with even colder highs 
in the upper 30s and lower 40s with coolest readings ne counties. 
Could be a few light snow showers or flurries Thu night and Fri morning 
northeast of I-74 and near the IN border.

1030 mb Canadian high pressure settles into the Great Lakes region 
Saturday and continues chilly weather over central/se IL with highs 
in the lower 40s after lows Fri night in the lower 20s as clouds and 
winds decrease with high pressure settling near IL. 

A strong surface low and upper level trof moves east into Lake 
Superior by sunset Sunday and bring isolated light rain showers to 
central IL on Sunday and possibly lingering in southeast IL Sunday 
evening. Better chances of precipitation will be north over the 
Great Lakes region closer to low pressure system. Milder highs in 
the 50s Sunday, mid 50s to around 60F Monday and low to mid 60s 
Tue/Wed. This warmup due to upper level flow becoming more zonal 
during 1st half of next week as strong upper level trof pulls ne 
across eastern Canada. Next chance of rain showers appears to arrive 
Tue night and Wed of next week with surface low and upper level trof 
moving into the Midwest with ECMWF model much further north passing 
over the northern Great Lakes next Wed while GFS is over mid MS 
river valley.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Thursday morning)
ISSUED AT 700 AM CDT WED MAR 25 2015

IFR to LIFR low clouds will linger behind the departing low
pressure system for much of the morning hours. MVFR fog will
continue through around 15z. Pilot reports show the top of the low
clouds at around 2k ft, which matches up with forecast soundings.
Conditions should return to VFR by midday as mixing of dry air
from aloft dissipates the low clouds. CIGS will start trending
back downward this evening toward MVFR as the next system moves
across the area. Rain chances tonight will be lower from Peoria to
BMI, with likely rain and scattered thunderstorms for SPI/DEC/CMI.
A cold front pushing through the area tonight will cause winds to
quickly trend north-northwest behind the showers/storms.
Showers/storms will begin departing east of the TAF sites after
06-08z. Light MVFR fog is expected to develop after the rain
through Thursday morning.


&&

.ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.
&&

$$

UPDATE...HJS
SHORT TERM...Shimon
LONG TERM...07
AVIATION...Shimon