The forecast for today has changed. Forecast winds are now gusty out of the either the northeast or northwest depending on the lake breeze. I’ll keep an eye on it but may have to cancel as the winds may be over my crosswind limit for my glider. I’ll still be going out to the field though.
Don
For the 12Z TAFs...
Currently, a narrow band of showers over Lake Michigan is
streaming southward toward GYY. The band of showers is being
maintained by the confluence of winds via overnight land breezes,
allowing for a westerly component to the winds at ORD/MDW
(330-350). Just north of the band, a secondary surge of gusty
north/northeasterly winds is thought to be occurring over the
lake. Taken altogether, a challenging wind forecast remains
primarily at ORD/MDW.
Going forward, the expectation is the band of showers will remain
offshore helping maintain the slight westerly component to the
winds at ORD/MDW (though a VCSH remains warranted). Should the
band manage to build inland, a flop to northeasterly winds is
possible for a few hours before northwesterly winds become
reestablished. Additionally, winds may become somewhat gusty for
a few hours this morning as mixing commences before the influence
of a building high pressure system slackens the low- level wind
field. Finally, later today, a modest lake breeze is expected to
push inland flopping winds northeasterly (again?) at ORD/MDW.
Winds will become light and variable tonight, and then westerly
(though still light) after daybreak Wednesday.
Elsewhere, a more straight-forward (literally) forecast is in the
cards with primarily north/northwesterly winds decreasing with
time, and becoming and variable overnight. A scattered VFR cloud
deck is possible this afternoon before easing to a few high clouds
overnight.