115 FXUS63 KILX 060523 AFDILXArea Forecast Discussion...Updated Aviation National Weather Service Lincoln IL 1223 AM CDT Mon Oct 6 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- An Elevated Fire Risk is in place along and north of a Jacksonville to Danville line today. Burning is highly discouraged due to dry fuels, low humidity, and southerly winds gusting 20 to 30 mph.
- A cold front will bring showers and a few thunderstorms to central Illinois Monday into Tuesday night. Significant drought improvement is not expected.
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.DISCUSSION... Issued at 246 PM CDT Sun Oct 5 2025
Pressure gradients between high pressure over the SE U.S. and low pressure ejecting from the northern Plains to Southern Canada look to maximize late this afternoon or evening, promoting southerly flow and breezy conditions at the surface. Winds of 15-20 mph and a few gusts of over 30 mph have been noted this afternoon, but should gradually diminish overnight as the pressure gradient relaxes and nocturnal stabilization reduces gustiness. A col pressure pattern between highs over the central Plains and off the mid-Atlantic coast and low pressure in SE Canada and northern Mexico into TX will develop for Monday, promoting much lighter winds for the most part as a cold front presses gradually southeastward into central IL. This front and a weak disturbance ejecting out of the deep south into southern IL with increased moisture and warm advection will promote chances for showers and thunderstorms developing Monday afternoon and continuing until after the front presses out of the area Tuesday night. Severe weather doesn`t appear likely as weak shear generally precedes the front and instability drops off behind the front.
Any additional precipitation chances look slim after Tuesday as a broad high pressure rebuilds across the middle of the country. A few models are holding onto a dampening shortwave riding over the ridge with associated precipitation taking place, but this feature looks to dissipate as it moves into central IL. Have kept under 20 percent chance for precipitation Thursday night west of I-55 for now.
Temperatures will cool off considerably behind the front, bringing highs from another very warm and slightly humid day Monday with highs in the mid 80s, down to lower to mid 70s Wednesday through Friday. Tuesday should see a large range from under 70 in Galesburg to nearly 80 in Lawrenceville as the aforementioned front takes until afternoon to reach Lawrenceville. A warming trend will resume next weekend, likely bringing highs back to around 80 by Sunday.
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.AVIATION... (For the 06z TAFs through 06z Monday Night) Issued at 1223 AM CDT Mon Oct 6 2025
Main aviation concerns will be in the latter part of the forecast period. Through about 00z, south/southwest winds average about 6-10 knots, but an approaching cold front will switch them around to northwest at KPIA early to mid evening. Scattered showers increase during the evening, with a few storms possible with the front. Meanwhile, a surge of MVFR ceilings will push northward late afternoon into the evening. Main impacts appear to be at KCMI and potentially KDEC, with 40-50% probabilities of ceilings below 3000 feet by 02-03z. Some concern this may become IFR late in the period, with NBM probabilities of ceilings below 1000 feet around 40% at these sites, and will need to watch this for potential inclusion in the next TAF set.
Geelhart
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.ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. &&
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NWS ILX Office Area Forecast Discussion