March 19, 2025 Wednesday Weather Update

Severe weather heading into Chicagoland

Good Evening!

A powerful storm system over the Midwest has brought blizzard conditions to several states with temperatures crashing from the 80s yesterday to 30s today.

Ahead of the low pressure system centered in Missouri (990 mb) there is a line of thunderstorms with severe winds and embedded tornadoes from Chicago southward about to cross into Indiana.

Radar: 6:08 PM ET

Temperatures are in the lower 40s in Chicago with chilly NE breeze off Lake Michigan.

SPC upgraded the area to Enhanced Severe Risk

HRRR future radar for the next 18-hours shows a band of snowfall blanketing Milwaukee and Chicago, then Michigan into Thursday.

Temperature Change over Last 24-hours

From 80s to 30s in Kansas. Large area of > 40°F temperature change to the downside.

Temperature Analysis 5:45 PM ET

Temperature Anomaly Analysis | 5:45 PM ET

Overall the Lower 48 is -0.9°F below normal with exceptional warmth in the central U.S. over 30°F above normal.

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Fronts this Evening at 8 PM

The area of low pressure will track into Michigan into Thursday. Not much in the way of rainfall or storms along the cold front trailing into the Gulf of America.

Storm Systems + Precipitation Type Next 8-Days

Another storm system in the Great Lakes would be on the horizon next week, Monday, otherwise a nice quiet period ahead due to a blocking ridge forming across the Western U.S. to slow down this progressive pattern we’ve been in for a few weeks.

HRRR 18z | into early Friday Afternoon

The storm fizzles out on Thursday as the low heads into Ontario and New England. Moisture from the low-levels is scant so the storm system is relying upon what came from the Pacific through the northern Rockies.