852 FXUS63 KDVN 241830 AFDDVNArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL 130 PM CDT Wed Sep 24 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Prolonged period of dry conditions and above normal temperatures expected through early next week, with comfortable humidity.
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.SHORT TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... Issued at 129 PM CDT Wed Sep 24 2025
Cumulus filled skies continue to flow southwestward over the CWA, with a trajectory that has included some moisture/saturation from Lake Michigan. Models are generally under-doing this moisture, but the general message of today being a beautiful day with comfortable temperatures in the 70s with a pleasant northeast breeze has not changed.
Tonight, the diurnal clouds are expected to dissipate through mid evening, though we`ll have to watch to see if any stratus can begin to move southwest from Wisconsin. Models are suggesting that stratus will thin and lift this afternoon, and not reform, but it`s persistence through 1 PM has me at least somewhat concerned that it would last into the overnight. An evening update may be required, but that would only impact temperatures, which remain forecast to reach the lower to mid 50s tonight, making for good windows open conditions.
High pressure will drift east the surface through tonight into Thursday, with light southwest winds returning the region. Thursday will be another very pleasant day, with less numerous cumulus expected compared to today, and highs in the mid to upper 70s.
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.LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... Issued at 129 PM CDT Wed Sep 24 2025
Friday-Saturday Night...northwest flow aloft to start the period transitioning to another blocking pattern this weekend. This will bring a prolonged period of dry conditions, comfortable humidity, and above normal temperatures. A cold front will move through Saturday night, but 1000-500mb RH progs continue to show quite a bit of dry air to overcome and I have continued a dry forecast. Highs in the upper 70s and lower 80s are expected and while this is still above normal for late September, the humidity levels will be lower making for great conditions for any outdoor plans.
Early Next Week...all 12z deterministic and ensemble model solutions continue to show a building upper ridge bringing warmer and continued dry conditions. Ensemble 850mb temps to rise into the 15- 16C range Sunday through Tuesday, which is near or above the 90th percentile per SPC climatology. Taking a look at the NBM members distribution for highs at MLI for the 28th through the 30th, now shows over 2/3rds of the members with a high over 80 degrees each day. Not surprisingly, the NBM loaded highs were 2-3 degrees higher for Sunday-Tuesday, with some upper 80s possible on Monday. There is also high confidence in dry conditions for the rest of September, with all but 3 of the 100 members of the NBM showing no precipitation. This will be good to dry out the fields, but not so much to alleviate any developing drought conditions.
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.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/... Issued at 1211 PM CDT Wed Sep 24 2025
Some moist air aloft is arriving from northeast or near Lake Michigan, resulting in a stratus area over Wisconsin, and a scattered MVFR cumulus area over the northern half of Iowa and Illinois. This cumulus and stratus will continue to lift this afternoon, with VFR weather anticipated by 20Z. From MLI to BRL, the mild daytime is already holding off these clouds and should continue to do so through this evening. Overnight, we could see more clouds arrive, but models are strongly suggesting that the area over Wisconsin will break up. Thus, with lower than normal confidence, I`ll continue the forecast of VFR into the night and Thursday morning.
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.DVN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IA...None. IL...None. MO...None.
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SHORT TERM...Ervin LONG TERM...Ervin/Gross AVIATION...Ervin
NWS DVN Office Area Forecast Discussion