518 FXUS63 KILX 091925 AFDILXArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 225 PM CDT Thu Oct 9 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- There is a low probability (20-40% chance) of temperatures dropping below 38 degrees along/east of the I-57 corridor tonight. As a result, patchy frost is expected in this area.
- A weak cold front will trigger a few light showers on Friday...primarily along/west of I-55. Rainfall amounts will remain under 0.10.
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.SHORT TERM...(Tonight through Friday) Issued at 225 PM CDT Thu Oct 9 2025
A sprawling ridge of high pressure extending from Quebec southwestward to the lower Mississippi River Valley will continue to control the weather...resulting in another chilly night across central Illinois. Based on the position of the ridge axis, winds will be lightest across the Wabash River Valley tonight. 12z NBM/HREF both suggest a 20-40% chance of temperatures dropping below 38 degrees along/east of I-57. Given the nearly calm winds and resulting ideal radiational cooling conditions, have undercut numeric guidance by several degrees and continued the mention of patchy frost across the east-central counties. Further west, S/SE return flow will gradually strengthen overnight...with an increase in mid/high clouds noted ahead of an approaching cold front. Overnight lows will range from the middle 30s near the Indiana border to the middle 40s in the Illinois River Valley.
A cold front currently poised upstream across the Dakotas will approach the Mississippi River by Friday morning. A ribbon of moisture advecting northward ahead of the boundary will help boost precipitable water values from less than 0.50 currently to 1.25-1.50. As a result, several CAMs are now suggesting showers will form along the front late tonight across Iowa into northern Missouri, then spill eastward into west-central Illinois Friday morning. The general trend will be for any morning showers to gradually dissipate and decrease in areal coverage as they push further eastward across the parched soils of central Illinois. Have therefore focused low chance PoPs (20-40%) along/west of I-55 during the morning...with a 20% chance or less further east during the afternoon and evening. Any rain that occurs will be quite light...perhaps up to 0.10 in the Illinois River Valley. Given the increased cloud cover, highs will remain in the 60s across the northern third of the KILX CWA...with lower 70s noted further southeast.
Barnes
.LONG TERM...(Saturday through Next Thursday) Issued at 225 PM CDT Thu Oct 9 2025
Once the weak front passes, a return to mild and dry weather is anticipated this weekend. Highs will generally reach the lower to middle 70s each day.
After that, upper ridging will build over the Midwest and the boundary will get shunted back northward by early next week. Some models are suggesting a few showers may develop on Monday/Tuesday: however, the NBM remains dry at this point. The main weather story will be the warming temps...as temps get back into the lower 80s by Monday.
Barnes
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.AVIATION... (For the 18z TAFs through 18z Friday Afternoon) Issued at 1246 PM CDT Thu Oct 9 2025
VFR conditions will prevail at all TAF sites next 24hrs, with clear skies this afternoon through tomorrow morning. Then broken mid clouds arrive later tomorrow morning in connection with a very weak front. Could be some precip at PIA, but would only be prob30 in the late morning tomorrow, so will wait another 1 or 2 issuances before including it. Winds will be variable through tomorrow AM and then become southerly at 8kts or less tomorrow.
Auten
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.ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. &&
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NWS ILX Office Area Forecast Discussion