Critical fire weather is expected Friday across the Northern Plains, Upper Midwest, and southern High Plains due to gusty winds and low humidity. Severe thunderstorms capable of large to very large hail, wind damage and tornadoes will be possible Friday and Saturday across parts of the central Plains. Read More >
Showers and thunderstorms developed rapidly during the overnight hours late Thursday night into early Friday morning producing very heavy rainfall in excess of 3 inches across portions of the area as a low level warm front lifted northward across the area. The surface warm front began to lift northward during the day Friday. The following is a surface analysis from approximately 330 PM EDT Friday afternoon indicating the approximate position of the surface warm front:
An outflow boundary from dissipating storms in north central and northeast Illinois combined with this frontal boundary to focus afternoon thunderstorm development. The following is visible satellite imagery from approximately 230pm EDT highlighting this boundary. Note the lack of clouds north of this boundary indicating more stable conditions:
Storm intensified as moderately unstable conditions developed with the afternoon heating. The following are radar images of reflectivity from 500 pm EDT and 700 pm EDT indicating the expanding coverage of the storms as this boundary dropped southeastward. Isolated large hail and wind damage accompanied the strongest storms.
In addition to hail and high winds, very high moisture content also led to very heavy rainfall and flooding in a few instances. The map below shows radar estimated storm total precipitation from late Thursday night through Friday evening encompassing the two rounds of showers and thunderstorms. Note the two bands of higher rainfall, with the yellow colors indicative of radar estimated totals in excess of 3 inches.
The following is a summary of storm reports from Friday afternoon and evening:
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