Severe Weather Outlook

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Outlook for Saturday, July 25

Outlook Images

any severe predictability too low

Note on Medium Range Outlooks

You are looking at an outlook that is part of the medium range forecast (the outlook for days 4-8). The most important thing to note is that lack of a risk does not mean zero risk. Generally speaking, confidence has to be pretty high for the Storm Prediction Center to have an outlook area this far into the future.

When no specific risk areas are shown, you might see one of these phrases:

Predictability Too Low: This means that severe storms might be possible, but forecasters aren't confident enough about where or when they might occur. Think of it as the models showing different possibilities, like pieces of a puzzle that haven't come together yet.
Potential Too Low: This means forecasters are fairly confident that widespread severe weather is NOT expected on that day. While isolated storms might still occur, the chance of reaching severe criteria across any given area is very low.

If you bookmark this page, it will continue to update with each new outlook that is issued.

Days Covered in this Outlook

Day 4	Tuesday, July 21	15%
Day 5	Wednesday, July 22	15%
Day 6	Thursday, July 23	predictability too low
Day 7	Friday, July 24	predictability too low
Day 8	Saturday, July 25	predictability too low

Detailed Outlook

ZCZC SPCSWOD48 ALL ACUS48 KWNS 180757 SPC AC 180757

Day 4-8 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0257 AM CDT Sat Jul 18 2026

Valid 211200Z - 261200Z

DISCUSSION

Day 4-5/Tue-Wed – Ohio Valley to Mid-Atlantic Vicinity

An upper trough will pivot across the region on Tuesday and Wednesday, bringing enhanced southerly flow aloft as a surface cold front sweeps east/southeast through Wednesday night. Ahead of the surface front, rich boundary layer moisture will be in place, and at least moderate destabilization should occur. Convection could be ongoing Tuesday morning across parts of IL/IN/Lower MI/western OH. The extent of this activity is unclear and will depend on the evolution of any potential MCS in the Day 3 period. Nevertheless, the downstream airmass across parts of the Ohio Valley will become favorable for scattered severe thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon and evening, likely in the form of one or more line segments organizing ahead of the advancing cold front. An additional area of severe storms will be possible on Tuesday across the Mid-Atlantic within a warm advection regime ahead of the approaching system over the Ohio Valley. Some areas could see more than one round of severe thunderstorms on Tuesday/Tuesday night.

By Wednesday, the severe risk should spread east from the Mid-Atlantic into the Carolinas as the upper trough and surface cold front continue to shift east. It is uncertain how far north the severe risk may extend and probabilities may eventually need to be included across parts of the Northeast/New England. Where storms do form, damaging winds will be possible until the cold front moves offshore Wednesday evening/night.

Days 6-8/Thu-Sat

Upper troughing will persist across the eastern U.S. through the end of the forecast period, but deep-layer flow will weaken. High pressure in the wake of the cold frontal passage will preclude severe potential across the Ohio Valley into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Thursday through Saturday.

Across the Plains and western U.S., a strong upper anticyclone will park over the southern Plains, with an amplified upper ridge building into the northern Rockies. Some thunderstorm potential could develop across parts of the Plains as low-level moisture increases beneath the ridge. However, severe potential is uncertain as any potential would be driven by mesoscale features not well defined at this time frame, and as the upper ridge suppresses any large-scale support for organized severe thunderstorms.

..Leitman.. 07/18/2026

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National Risk Overview

Saturday, July 18: TORNADO: 5%; HAIL: 5%; WIND: 45%
Sunday, July 19: TORNADO: low; HAIL: 5%; WIND: 15%
Monday, July 20: ANY SEVERE: 15%
Tuesday, July 21: ANY SEVERE: 15%
Wednesday, July 22: ANY SEVERE: 15%
Thursday, July 23: ANY SEVERE: predictability too low
Friday, July 24: ANY SEVERE: predictability too low
Saturday, July 25: ANY SEVERE: predictability too low

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