Bloomington, Illinois 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

749
FXUS63 KILX 201726
AFDILX

Area Forecast Discussion...Updated Aviation
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
1126 AM CST Sat Dec 20 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Temperatures fluctuate through the weekend, milder today, colder
  Sunday. Well above normal temperatures are forecast from
  Tuesday through at least Friday. There is a 50-80% chance of
  temperatures exceeding 65 degrees on Christmas Day along and
  south of a Macomb to Lincoln to Paris line (per LREF and NBM).

- Mainly a dry forecast through Monday over central and southeast
  IL. There are 20-40% chance of showers in southeast IL Monday
  night, with slight chances of showers over parts of central/se
  IL on Wed (Christmas Eve).

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 320 AM CST Sat Dec 20 2025

The 09Z/3 am surface map shows 1020-1024 mb high pressure across
the mid Atlantic and Southeast States while strong 992 mb low
pressure along the southern Manitoba/Ontario province line. Its
associated cold front slices through central MN to 994 mb low in
nw Iowa and thru eastern and southern Nebraska. Breezy southerly
winds across central IL with gusts 22-32 mph common with
Springfield gusting to 38 mph. Temperatures have been slowly
rising into the upper 20s/lower 30s over CWA at 3 am. Variably
cloudy over central/se IL during the night with some passing
mid/high clouds, the thicker mid level clouds are over northern/nw
IL (nw of Peoria). Aloft a semi-zonal mid/upper level flow over
the country with a 508 dm 500 mb low over southern Manitoba and a
585-589 dm subtropical ridge over Mexico and extending west of the
Baja peninsula.

The latest CAMs show cold front sweeping se through central IL
during this afternoon, and thru southeast IL by early evening.
This front to pass through dry with some mid/high clouds expected.
Breezy south to SW winds ahead of the cold front this morning with
gusts 25-35 mph at times. HREF has 50-80% chance of wind gusts
at or above 35 mph this morning especially east of the IL river.
Winds to switch nw during the afternoon (early evening se IL) and
diminish to around 10 mph by supper time. Milder highs today in
the low to mid 40s from I-74 north and lower 50s in southeast IL
from I-70 south. Mid/high clouds to decrease from nw to se during
tonight as 1030-1032 mb Canadian high pressure builds into Iowa by
sunrise Sunday and drifting over IL by midday Sunday. Lows tonight
in the low to mid 20s, with upper 20s in far southeast IL by
Lawrenceville. A fair amount of sunshine and lighter winds Sunday
but seasonably cool highs in the mid to upper 30s, with southeast
IL around 40F.

Surface high pressure to strengthen to 1034-1037 mb as it moves
over the mid Atlantic States Monday with breezy SSE winds gusting
to 17-25 mph developing over central IL. Clouds to increase
during Sunday night with low clouds spreading ne across CWA during
Monday morning and early Mon afternoon, with overcast skies
expected much of Monday and some drizzle. May also be some fog
with the drizzle, with warm air over a colder ground especially
if winds are weaker. We have slight chance of rain showers in far
southeast IL Monday afternoon and 20-40% chance of showers in
southeast IL Mon night as a weak disturbance lifts into the mid
MS and lower Ohio river valleys. Highs in the mid to upper 40s
Monday (lower 40s from I-74 northeast) and near 50F south of
I-70.

Forecast models continue to show strong mid/upper level high
building over the Eastern Plains and MS river valley during mid
week and bringing unseasonably warm air into the region. A short
wave ridging over top of the ridge on Wed and Wed evening could
bring chances of rain showers especially northern/ne CWA, with
rain chances east of IL on Thursday/Christmas Day. Highs Tue in
the 50s (ranging from around 50F from Peoria and Bloomington
north to near 60F in southeast IL. Highs Wed range from 55 to 65F
with coolest readings ne of I-74 as warm front lifts NNE across
central IL. We are well in the warm sector on Thursday, with
record highs in the mid to upper 60s likely on Thu (Christmas
Day) with sw CWA and southeast IL near 70F. LREF and NBM have a
40-80% chance of above 65 degrees on Christmas Day from Macomb to
Lincoln to Paris south. Record highs on Dec 25th are 63F in
Peoria and Champaign and 64F in Lincoln and Springfield all set
just 6 years ago in 2019.

A cold front to push southward across the Midwest and into central
IL around Friday morning with best forcing to our ne where better
chances of precipitation will be. Highs Fri 55-65F (warmest in
southeast IL) and timing of cold front to determine how warm we
get. Temps to continue to trend cooler during next weekend and may
get closer to normal by next Sunday/Dec 28th.

The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) 6-10 Day Outlook for Dec
25-29th has a 80-90% chance of above normal temperatures over IL
with near normal precipitation trends. CPC 8-14 Day Outlook for
Dec 27-Jan 2 has a 65-75% chance of above normal temperatures over
IL with near normal precipitation. CPC Week 3-4 Outlook for Jan
3-16 (updated Fri/Dec 19) has 40-45% chance of above normal
temperatures with 33-40% chance of above normal precipitation.

07

&&

.AVIATION...  (For the 18z TAFs through 18z Sunday Afternoon)
Issued at 1126 AM CST Sat Dec 20 2025

Gusty surface winds should diminish as a dry cold front moves
through the area this afternoon, shifting winds from
south/southwest to northwest. Then becoming light and variable by
12z tomorrow morning.

VFR conditions will prevail the next 24 hours, with occasional
high based ceilings.

Copple

&&

.ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&

$$