Blog Article

Chicago Severe Weather: Flights, Hail, and Storms April 14

An Enhanced Risk of severe weather threatens Chicago and the Midwest on Tuesday. Expect large hail, potential tornadoes, and major flight delays at O'Hare.

While the Cubs Play in Philly, Chicago Braces for a Rough Tuesday

A whole lot of you are looking up the Cubs and Phillies game tonight. The betting lines are buzzing about how both teams might struggle to score runs out in Philadelphia. But if you are a Cubs fan watching from back home in Illinois, you need to keep one eye on the sky. The weather back in the Midwest is about to get a lot more active than anything happening on the baseball diamond.

The Storm Prediction Center has placed an Enhanced Risk for severe thunderstorms across eastern Iowa, northern Illinois, and southern Wisconsin for Tuesday. That includes Chicago, Milwaukee, and Des Moines.

Here is the situation. We have a highly volatile airmass moving into the Great Lakes. Normally, Chicago sees high temperatures right around 59 degrees in mid-April. Tomorrow, the atmosphere is pulling in enough heat and moisture to fuel some incredibly strong storms. We are looking at a localized risk for very large hail. The data shows a 30 percent probability for hail, and some of those stones could exceed two inches in diameter. There is also a 10 percent probability area for tornadoes, and the environment supports the potential for a few strong ones.

Your Travel Plans Need a Buffer

If you are flying out of O'Hare or Midway on Tuesday, you need to pack your patience. The aviation data is crystal clear. We are expecting severe evening thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, and dense fog to create hazardous conditions across the Midwest.

When storms of this magnitude move through major hubs like Chicago, the delays do not just stay in Illinois. They cascade through the entire national airspace system. Ground stops are highly likely. If you have a connecting flight through the Great Lakes region tomorrow afternoon or evening, check your airline app before you leave for the airport.

Fire Danger in the High Plains

While the Midwest deals with water and wind, the High Plains are facing the exact opposite problem. The National Weather Service has issued a Critical Fire Weather area for southeast Colorado, specifically around Lamar.

The setup there features strong west-southwesterly winds gusting up to 40 mph. Combine that with relative humidity dropping to near 10 percent and extremely dry vegetation. If a fire starts in those conditions, it will spread faster than crews can contain it. Please hold off on any outdoor burning if you live in that corridor.

The Bottom Line

Tuesday is a day to pay attention to the forecast, especially if you live in the Midwest or have travel plans. Have a reliable way to get weather warnings that will actually wake you up if you are asleep. The atmosphere is carrying a lot of energy right now, and it is going to make its presence known.

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