Alert archive / Illinois / Special Marine Warnings in 2018

Special Marine Warning 21, NWS Chicago, IL

August 28, 2018

NWS Chicago, IL issued this special marine warning at Aug 28, 2018, 5:23 PM CDT. It was in force for 82 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 28, 2018, 5:23 PM CDT (22:23 UTC)
Expired
Aug 28, 2018, 6:45 PM CDT
In force
82 min
Issued by
NWS Chicago, IL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
0.0 in
Wind
49.0 mph

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this special marine warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Chicago, IL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this special marine warning went out at Aug 28, 3:44 PM CDT, 1 hour 39 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 28, 3:44 PM CDT, 1 hour 39 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville, IL
344 PM CDT Tue Aug 28 2018

.MESOSCALE DISCUSSION...
154 PM CDT

The weak elevated convection that has been festering much of the
day continues in the vicinity of I-80, however in the past 45 to
60 minutes have seen significant intensification of the elevated
activity near the Mississippi River, likely an indication that
this activity is become rooted in or very near the boundary
layer. Wouldn't be surprised to see some of the storms over NW IL
take a similar evolution and begin to feed on the more unstable BL
air mass and begin to intensify.

Considerable mid and some high level cloudiness has retarded
heating in some areas, while there have been pockets of fairly
strong heating/destabilization. Assuming the storms near the MS
River are able to continue to find unstable BL air to feed on,
then they should be able to thrive given the fairly respectable
(by August standards) shear profiles. Visible satellite imagery
does show some large breaks in the cloudiness over our NW CWA, so
while the storms are currently moving more NNE, could see a
tendency in the next hour or two for these stronger cells to
propagate toward the juicier air over our western CWA or for new
development ahead of this activity to affect our western CWA.

Elsewhere, visible satellite imagery shows BL based Cu field
becoming increasing agitated from southern Grundy/northern
Livingston Counties east into Kankakee and Lake Counties Indiana.
Convective initiation (CI) is possible within the next hour or two
in this area as well. The KLOT WSR-88d VWP shows unidirectional
flow from sfc up to 30kft+ with not much speed shear either. This
confirms what is seen on the SPC mesoanalysis page which is a
pretty sharp gradient in the effective shear, with values
decreasing significantly over the southeastern half of the CWA. So
if CI takes place, moderate to strong instability could allow for
a brief/pulse type severe threat, but the weak shear profiles
over that portion of the CWA should preclude an organized or
significant severe weather threat.

See short term AFD to be issued by 3 pm for more details on
tonight's convective threat.

- Izzi

&&

.SHORT TERM...
252 PM CDT

Through Wednesday...

Extremely complicated forecast today with limited confidence going
forward over the next 12-15 hours. Outflow boundaries from
overnight/morning convection have disrupted the thermo/wind fields
across northern IL, and have thus introduced a very complex set-up.

Initially, it was anticipated that these outflow boundaries would
easily wash out by this afternoon, allowing instability to
regenerate across much of the CWA. Instead, convection and mid-level
clouds continued to focus from SE Iowa eastward generally along I-80.
Because of this, hi-res guidance has had a terrible handle on any
developing convection, thus throwing off any model analysis of the
thermo evolution across the CWA. Based off radar, surface obs and
satellite trends, the complexity of the environment remains evident.

Current thinking is that ongoing deep convection along the MS River
will expand NE with an air mass less affected by prior convection,
and in line with most appreciable deep-layer shear. This would
ultimately clip the NW CWA west of I-39 late this afternoon.
Isolated severe thunderstorms will be possible within this cluster,
with strong winds and large hail both possible.

Farther east along the residual outflow boundary just south of I-80,
additional convection has developed over the past hour. Similar to
the convective trends across west-central IL earlier today, this
convection will initially struggle to shift much north of I-80 over
the next hour or two as the airmass across NE IL continues to
recover from morning convection.

Focus then turns to cold pool development with the cluster over the
MS River. There remains the potential for any well organized cold
pool to begin to propagate eastward along the boundary near I-80.
This activity would likely remain south of the Chicago metro, and
produce an isolated to scattered severe thunderstorm risk for wind
if the sufficient 0-3km shear maintains the cold pool to the east.

Next, developing strong to severe convection extending from Green
Bay to SE of Omaha will shift SE through this evening. Confidence
has continued to decrease on how this convection will evolve across
the CWA given potential impacts of earlier convection and ongoing
activity west of the CWA. Am still expecting severe wind potential
along this line of activity, particularly across northern IL
wherever the environment has yet to be worked over by prior
convection. All of this activity will continue to shift SE late this
evening into the overnight hours while weakening/gusting out with
the loss of more substantial instability.

Lastly, heavy rain potential still exists given high PWATs of near
2" and the potential for training convection. However, because of
potential for multiple waves of convection focusing on different
areas vs one area, will continue to hold off on any flood watches.
With that said, localized flash flooding will still be possible for
any location mainly north of I-80 if training does occur.

Wednesday: A cold front will shift SE across the CWA mid-morning
through mid-afternoon. Gusty NW winds behind the front will produce
dangerous swimming conditions for the NW IN beaches of Lake Michigan
during the afternoon. Otherwise, showers should gradually diminish
with the passage of the cold front.

Kluber

&&

.LONG TERM...
203 PM CDT

Wednesday Night through Tuesday...

Wednesday night through Thursday night should be relatively quiet
as the cold front settles over the Ohio Valley and high pressure
builds into the Great Lakes. Temperatures should be relatively
mild through this period with lows in the 50s outside the urban
heat island and afternoon highs Thursday in the low to mid 70s.

Pattern sets the stage for more active weather later Friday
through the weekend. Surface ridge axis shifts to our east Friday
while low pressure deepens over the Canadian Prairies with
general troughiness across much of the plains. Return flow results
in dew points pushing back up into the mid to upper 60s locally
on Friday which contributes to moderate instability developing
across the local area. By Friday afternoon, guidance indicates a
corridor of moderate WAA focused to our west and northwest
superimposed over the greatest instability in the region. This
should be the focus for convection through the day Friday though
some of that activity may propagate eastward into the local CWA
later in the day. Temperatures should be fairly warm Friday with
80s returning area-wide. 850mb thermal ridge shifts overhead
Saturday. Forecast is for mid-80s on Saturday with uncertainty
from cloud cover and convective chances, but couldn't rule out
upper 80s to around 90F Saturday which is supported by climo with
given 925/850mb temps if skies remain less cloudy and precip holds
off until late.

Meanwhile, precip chances do ramp up across the area on Saturday
as instability axis shifts overhead and tail end of a cold front
from the Canadian low settles over portions of the Midwest. With
the best upper level support to our north, front looks to lose
steam and should become more west-east oriented Saturday night
into Sunday. The stalling front will support additional precip
chances in or near the area Sunday, though smaller scale processes
will drive forecast details by this point. Another cold front is
progged to move across the region around midweek, though there are
significant timing differences at this distance.

Deubelbeiss

&&

.AVIATION...
For the 18Z TAFs...

Extremely complex/complicated and low confidence forecast over
the next 12-15 hours with TS potential. Model guidance has
struggled considerably with ongoing convection in the region so
far today, resulting in less confidence in the near-term forecast.

An area of SHRA with embedded convection SW of the terminals at
18Z is expected to remain west of all but RFD through this
afternoon as better forcing and instability is focused there.
However, there is still the potential an isolated SHRA or TS could
reach DPA/ORD/MDW after 21Z. With low chance of occurring, did
not include a mention in the TAF.

A main line of convection, with possibly strong to severe winds,
is expected to shift eastward across all terminals this evening.
Very heavy rain will also be possible with the initial
thunderstorms and result in IFR to possibly LIFR visibility at
times. Behind the initial line of TS, additional rounds of SHRA
and TS will gradually give way to just SHRA late tonight.

Behind the main SHRA/TS, low-end MVFR to high-end IFR ceilings are
expected for several hours late tonight through mid-morning
Wednesday before gradually lifting as a cold front crosses the
terminals.

Kluber

&&

.MARINE...
343 PM CDT

A trough will remain over the northern half to third of Lake
Michigan this evening and slowly sag south tonight. East winds
will back to the north on the northern side of the trough while to
the south expect south to southwest winds to prevail through
tonight. The trough will slowly shift south as a cold front
overnight through midday Wednesday with northerly winds of 15 to
25 kt overspreading the entire lake in its wake. Winds should
gradually diminish Wednesday night into Thursday as high pressure
builds over the region. By Friday fresh south winds will develop
behind the ridge axis. Moderate south flow will continue into the
day Saturday, then another cold front is progged to move down the
lake Saturday night into Sunday.

BMD

&&

.LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IL...Heat Advisory...ILZ023-ILZ032-ILZ033-ILZ039 until 7 PM Tuesday.

IN...Heat Advisory...INZ010-INZ011-INZ019 until 7 PM Tuesday.

LM...Small Craft Advisory...nearshore waters
     until 4 PM Tuesday.

&&

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Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 28, 4:47 PM CDT, 36 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 28, 3:42 PM CDT, 1 hour 41 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville Il
342 PM CDT TUE AUG 28 2018

ILZ010-019-282100-
La Salle IL-Lee IL-
342 PM CDT TUE AUG 28 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN LA SALLE AND
SOUTHEASTERN LEE COUNTIES UNTIL 400 PM CDT...

At 341 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Amboy to near La Moille to near DePue.
Movement was east at 50 mph.

Wind gusts of up to 55 mph will be possible with these storms.

Strong thunderstorms will be near...
  Mendota around 355 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by these storms include Troy Grove,
Sublette, West Brooklyn and Compton.

Including the following interstate...
 I-39 between mile markers 62 and 82.

This includes...  Tri-County Fairgrounds.

LAT...LON 4173 8904 4157 8898 4142 8902 4137 8916
      4158 8917 4158 8937 4168 8940
TIME...MOT...LOC 2041Z 249DEG 42KT 4164 8929 4149 8924 4136 8928

IZZI
Special weather statement, Aug 28, 4:00 PM CDT, 1 hour 23 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville Il
400 PM CDT TUE AUG 28 2018

ILZ010-011-019-282115-
De Kalb IL-La Salle IL-Lee IL-
400 PM CDT TUE AUG 28 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN LA SALLE...
SOUTHEASTERN LEE AND SOUTHWESTERN DE KALB COUNTIES UNTIL 415 PM
CDT...

At 359 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Paw Paw to near Mendota to near North
Utica. Movement was east at 45 mph.

Wind gusts of up 55 mph will be possible with these storms.

Strong thunderstorms will be near...
  Paw Paw around 405 PM CDT.
  Earlville around 410 PM CDT.
  Shabbona and Leland around 415 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by these storms include Compton.

Including the following interstates...
 I-39 between mile markers 66 and 85.
 I-80 between mile markers 81 and 86.

LAT...LON 4177 8882 4161 8876 4143 8873 4133 8902
      4153 8907 4171 8914
TIME...MOT...LOC 2059Z 249DEG 41KT 4170 8909 4156 8902 4140 8900

IZZI
Special weather statement, Aug 28, 5:18 PM CDT, 5 minutes before
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The office that day

Everything else NWS Chicago, IL issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 28, 7:11 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLOTLake34 min
Aug 28, 1:00 PM CDTHeat AdvisoryLOTFord, Iroquois, Kankakee, Livingston6 hr
Aug 28, 3:42 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLOTLee18 min
Aug 28, 4:00 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLOTLaSalle15 min
Aug 28, 5:18 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLOTDuPage27 min
Aug 28, 6:01 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningLOT44 min
Aug 28, 4:45 PM CDTBeach Hazards StatementLOTLake, Porter34 hr

Nearby

Special Marine Warnings in Illinois, 2018Every special marine warning in 2018

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text.