PLT OF PA60 FINDS HIMSELF UNABLE TO REMAIN IN VMC WHILE ATTEMPTING TO FLY AROUND WX.

Narrative

THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED DURING PLANNED VFR FLT FROM PVG TO CMI. I HAD CREATED AN IFR FLT PLAN WITH DUATS AND HAD A PRINTED COPY IN MY FLT BAG. BUT I HAD FAILED TO FILE THIS FLT PLAN. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND I BELIEVED I COULD COMPLETE THIS FLT UNDER VFR CONDITIONS. I DEPARTED THE ARPT AND PROCEEDED NBOUND. MY PLAN WAS TO FIRST FLY N; TO CIRCUMNAV THE REMNANTS OF A TROPICAL STORM THAT WAS MOVING N FROM THE S; THEN TURN W AFTER CLEARING THE NORTHERN; LEADING EDGE. ONCE I WAS IN THE AIR; I SAW THAT FLYING N WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE; BECAUSE MY PATH WAS BLOCKED BY A LINE OF SIGNIFICANT CELLS. SO I CHOSE TO FLY W FIRST; THEN N AFTER I CLRED THESE CELLS. BUT I FOUND NO CLR PATH AROUND THEM AFTER TURNING THE CORNER. AND IN NO TIME AT ALL; I FACED 4 CHALLENGES: 1) UNABLE TO REMAIN IN VFR CONDITIONS. I WAS NOT ON AN IFR CLRNC SO I COULDN'T CONTINUE IFR. 2) LOST THE DISPLAY ON MY RADAR. I COULDN'T FIND MY WAY ON MY OWN THROUGH THE SERIOUS WX. 3) CLOSING ON THE R-6602 MIL RESTR AIRSPACE. 4) UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALT DUE TO TURB. THROUGH THIS PROCESS I WAS IN RADIO AND RADAR CONTACT WITH ATC. RATHER THAN CONTEND WITH THESE 4 CHALLENGES; I CONFESSED MY PREDICAMENT TO ATC; DECLARED AN EMER AND REQUESTED VECTORS TO THE NEAREST ARPT WITH AN INST APCH ALONG A RTE THAT WOULD KEEP ME OUT OF THE HEAVIEST WX. IN A FEW MINS I WAS IN SMOOTHER AIR. THE CTLR ASKED IF I WAS STILL IN AN EMER SIT AND I TOLD HER I WAS NOT. THEN I PROCEEDED TO HNZ WHERE I MADE AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG.