textproduct: Central Illinois

KEY MESSAGES

- No significant weather is expected across central Illinois for the next week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 314 AM CST Sat Nov 7 2026

Mostly quiet weather is anticipated for the next several days. A zonal flow pattern across the CONUS will prevail until mid-week when synoptic models indicate a vigorous short-wave trough will dig a significant upper trough over the Great Lakes/Ohio River Valley. As the flow becomes increasingly northwesterly, a cold front will drop into central Illinois by late Wednesday. Despite the approaching boundary and the presence of strong upper dynamics, deep-layer moisture will be lacking. The 00z Nov 7 GFS shows precipitable water values increasing to just 0.50 to 0.75 ahead of the front...while the better moisture with values in excess of 1 inch remain well to the south from the Ozarks southward. The latest NBM brings 20 PoPs for showers into the picture Wednesday night into Thursday and this seems reasonable given the current GFS/ECMWF/GEM consensus. Once the front passes and upper heights fall, another shot of chilly fall air will be in store by the end of the week. After highs in the 60s for much of the week, readings will drop back below normal in the lower to middle 50s Thursday through next Saturday. In fact, the 00z LREF indicates a high probability (70-80% chance) of highs below 50 degrees on Friday.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 1145 AM CST Sat Nov 7 2026

A west-east band of clouds should move into central Illinois between 06 and 12z early Sunday morning as a dry mid-level wave moves by to the north. These clouds are largely anticipated to be above 20 kft, but there is about a 10-20% chance that low ceilings beneath 1 kft will develop at any given terminal. Chances for low ceilings are greatest north of a line from CMI to SPI. Additionally, winds are forecast to shift to the west- northwest and increase to 10-15 kt on Sunday afternoon.

ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.