Meteorologist Amy Freeze provides a comprehensive update on the unfolding weather across the Midwest. From thunderstorms to temperature contrasts, discover what makes this April unique. Read more at https://amyfreeze.ai/

Welcome to your detailed guide on the Midwest’s April weather, authored by Amy Freeze. Dive into the world of rising temperatures, robust thunderstorms, and the potential for severe weather changes. From Chicago’s bustling atmosphere to the calm before the storm in places like Peoria and St. Louis, every detail counts. Keep this page bookmarked: https://amyfreeze.ai/ for daily updates and insights. Today across the Midwest, the regional radar is lighting up with an array of weather activities. A robust line of thunderstorms is stretching from the southern plains up towards the Great Lakes. Intense storms are moving eastward through Springfield, heading towards St. Louis, packing a punch with heavy rain and possible thunderstorm activity. Farther north, Chicago is under thick cloud cover with showers moving in from Peoria, promising a wet start to the day. Fort Wayne is already experiencing rain that extends up into Detroit and Saginaw, where snow is also making an appearance as the temperatures drop a bit. Cleveland and Columbus are also seeing rain showers, with precipitation expected to linger. Elsewhere, Louisville is gearing up for rain, while Charlotte and Bowling Green are relatively clear for now, but cloud cover is building, suggesting an upcoming change in weather. The axis of energy will continue to advance, so keep those umbrellas handy across much of the region today!
Chicago will experience temperatures climbing to 68 degrees by 5 PM today, with south-southwest winds gusting up to 20 miles per hour. Expect cloudy skies throughout the afternoon, with scattered thunderstorms developing closer to 7 PM. Stay weather-aware as these storms could bring sudden rain and potential wind shifts.
In Peoria, temperatures are forecast to be 72. St. Louis is feeling comfortable today with a high of 75 degrees. Over in Indianapolis, expect a warm rise to 78 degrees. Heading east, Columbus checks in with a high of 80, and Louisville is feeling quite warm with a notable high of 83 degrees. It’s important to mention the sharp temperature contrast as we move northward; Des Moines is only hitting 65 degrees today.
Looking at tonight’s low temperatures a Kansas City won’t escape the cold and anticipates a low of 47 degrees. Fort Wayne will see a cooler 42 degrees, and Indianapolis is forecasted to drop to 48. St. Louis will stay slightly warmer at 50 degrees. Notably, Saginaw could hit a low of just 33, so bundle up if you’re in that area!
Tomorrow, the Midwest region will see a range of high temperatures, continuing a trend of slightly above-average readings for early April. In Chicago, expect a high of 56 degrees, while Peoria will reach 58 degrees. St. Louis is slightly warmer, with a high of 57 degrees. Indianapolis anticipates a comfortable 64 degrees, and just south in Louisville, temperatures rise to 66 degrees. Heading east, Columbus could hit a high of 69 degrees, while Cleveland is forecasted to reach 66 degrees. The warmest spot will be Charleston, West Virginia, soaring to 75 degrees. An overarching pattern of high pressure is keeping skies mostly clear, allowing temperatures to rise.
A cold front is advancing through the Midwest tomorrow, bringing the possibility of severe weather. Expect a line of strong storms stretching from Chicago to Indianapolis and into Louisville by late afternoon. These storms could bring heavy rain, damaging winds, and isolated tornadoes, particularly impacting areas like Fort Wayne and Bowling Green. Rainfall amounts may exceed an inch, leading to potential localized flooding. High temperatures will drop by about 5 to 10 degrees post-storm, offering some relief as drier and cooler air settles in from St. Louis to Des Moines through Thursday.
The UV index in Chicago will be low today, as storm clouds offer natural protection against excessive sun exposure. Heading into Thursday, the UV index rises to a moderate 4.