SWOP Weekly Weather Discussion

HEADLINE

Summerlike warmth will persist for at least the next week...with no significant rainfall in sight.

DISCUSSION

An upper-level ridge of high pressure currently developing from the Southern Plains northeastward into the Great Lakes will strengthen significantly and become the dominating force for the weather across central Illinois over the next week. As upper heights climb, so will the temperatures...with highs in the middle 80s on Saturday, September 27th rising into the upper 80s to around 90 degrees by Monday, September 29th. Normal highs for this time of year range from 73 to 76 degrees across the area, so we will easily be around 15 degrees above normal. As next week proceeds, all eyes will be on the tropics as a potential system comes onshore across the Carolinas. While moisture from this storm will remain well east of central Illinois, most computer models agree that it will create a synoptic blocking pattern...essentially keeping the upper ridge locked in place over the Midwest through the end of next week. While temperatures may cool slightly due to an uptick in cloud cover later in the period, readings are still expected to stay well above normal in the 80s. No rainfall is expected.

The latest 6-10 day outlooks (Oct 2-6) from the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) suggest ABOVE normal temperatures and BELOW normal precipitation across central Illinois.

Issued: 9/26/25