251 FXUS63 KLOT 141130 AFDLOTArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville, IL 630 AM CDT Sun Sep 14 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Areas of fog this morning mainly outside of urban areas, some fog could be locally dense.
- Generally warm and dry conditions are expected through midweek.
- Temperatures turn more seasonable toward the end of the week with periodic shower and storm chances returning.
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.DISCUSSION... Issued at 321 AM CDT Sun Sep 14 2025
Today through Saturday...
An upper ridge continues to build into the Great Lakes this morning which has allowed cloud cover over northern IL and northwest IN to scatter out. As a result temperatures have fallen on par with our mid-60s dew points which is allowing fog to develop across the area. While the most dense fog is currently residing in southern WI (as of 250 AM), satellite trends are showing the fog oozing into far northern IL. Therefore, expect fog coverage to increase through daybreak, especially near the IL-WI line and area river valleys, with some localized pockets of sub-mile visibilities possible.
Fog will erode from sunrise through mid-morning leaving a sunny and seasonably warm afternoon on tap. While temperatures in the mid-80s are expected (upper 80s to near 90 possible near and west of I-39), persistent easterly winds today will keep readings notably cooler within a few miles of the lake where highs look to top out in the mid-70s to near 80. Another clear night is expected tonight with temperatures cooling into the low to mid-60s, but the lowering dew points should limit any fog development.
Heading into the work week, the previously advertised REX block upper pattern is expected to remain in place with ridging over the Great Lakes and troughing over the central and southeast CONUS. Therefore, tranquil weather conditions will prevail through at least the middle of the week with temperatures remaining above average as well. Given that winds on Monday through Wednesday should favor more of a southeasterly direction highs should be warmer than today with readings into the upper 80s to near 90 each afternoon. However, the light wind fields should allow daily lake breezes to develop and usher in cooler air near the lake where highs look to remain in the mid-70s to lower 80s.
As we get into the later half of the week, guidance continues to show the REX block breaking down as the central CONUS trough begins to deepen and gets shoved east by several shortwaves ejecting out of the Pacific northwest and trying to phase with it. Despite the rather good agreement on the pattern evolution, there remains notable difference in where exactly the deepening trough and its associated shortwaves will track in relation to northern IL and northwest IN which will obviously dictate the coverage of any precipitation. That said, it seems reasonable that chances for showers and thunderstorms should increase from late Thursday through next weekend where 20-40% POPs have been maintained. In addition to the rain chances, temperatures also look to return towards more typical mid to late September readings during this period.
Yack
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.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY/... Issued at 630 AM CDT Sun Sep 14 2025
- Fog and low stratus this morning at RFD and DPA
An area of fog and low stratus continues to expand across interior northern Illinois this morning with lowering CIGs and VSBYs in progress at RFD. Have maintained TEMPOs for LIFR VSBYs and CIGs at RFD and low-end IFR VSBYs and LIFR CIGs at DPA through 13Z to account for this. It is possible this has to be extended another hour or so at RFD if it ends up being slower to improve.
Once the fog and low stratus erodes later this morning VFR conditions are forecast through the end of the period. Winds will remain generally easterly around 5-10 kt, highest in the afternoon behind a reinforcing lake breeze.
Petr
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.LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...Dense Fog Advisory until 9 AM CDT this morning for ILZ003- ILZ004-ILZ005-ILZ011-ILZ012.
IN...None. LM...None.
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