ZCZC SPCSWOMCD ALL ACUS11 KWNS 222355 SPC MCD 222355 ILZ000-230200- Mesoscale Discussion 1379 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0655 PM CDT Sat Jun 22 2024 Areas affected...West-central into northeast Illinois Concerning...Severe potential...Watch likely Valid 222355Z - 230200Z Probability of Watch Issuance...80 percent SUMMARY...Some increase in severe threat is expected for western and northern portions of Illinois. Damaging winds are the expected main hazard, but a conditional tornado threat will also exist. A watch is likely this evening. DISCUSSION...Some increase in severe potential can be expected across portions of western into northern Illinois this evening. Activity currently in Wisconsin near the surface low/warm front may eventually congeal and push farther southward into Illinois. Additionally, storms along the cold front may move in from the west. The current expectation is that activity will generally be more linear in terms of storm mode with primarily a threat of damaging winds. While 850 mb winds are expected to modestly increase this evening, the low-level shear vector orientation will not be overly favorable for QLCS circulations. It is possible some discrete elements could develop ahead of the front/convective line which would pose a marginally greater tornado risk. Another uncertainty is the low-level moisture with eastward extent. Current surface observations show a dry pocket in the Chicagoland vicinity. Some higher dewpoints do exist to the southwest and should make some attempt to advect northeastward tonight, but the exact magnitude of moisture return is uncertain. ..Wendt/Gleason.. 06/22/2024 ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov for graphic product... ATTN...WFO...LOT...ILX...DVN... LAT...LON 41878951 42338894 42418810 41938776 41138817 40129011 40179072 40359096 40759096 41409014 41878951 NNNN