Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS North Platte, NE
Issued by NWS North Platte, NE
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068 FXUS63 KLBF 230857 AFDLBF Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service North Platte NE 357 AM CDT Thu May 23 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... * An enhanced risk (risk level 3 of 5) of severe weather is possible this evening (Thursday evening) with large hail up to baseball size, severe winds up to 75 mph, and an isolated tornado as the primary threats. * Active weather returns on Saturday and Sunday evenings, however, the severe potential remains low at this time. * Drier weather with a gradual warming trend is expected for next week with highs returning to the upper 70s to low 80s by next Wednesday. && .SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY/... Issued at 356 AM CDT Thu May 23 2024 The main weather story in the short term will be the potential for severe thunderstorms this evening and into the overnight. Dewpoints will increase across the region through this afternoon providing increased low level moisture across the region. Moderate instability will also develop across north central and into central Nebraska by the late afternoon. Ample instability will exist across the region to support the development of supercells initially across portions of north central Nebraska. As these storms track eastward, storms will become more of a convective line, possibly even take on QLCS characteristics. Current model guidance suggests lapse rates above 7 C/km along with significant CAPE (over 2000 J/kg). This combined with large CAPE in the -10 to -30 degree C layer will support very large hail (potentially up to baseball sized). This environment will also create the potential for significant wind gusts up to 75 mph. In addition to hail and strong winds, this environment will be favorable for some brief tornadoes especially initially when low LCL heights and near surface storm relative helicity remains above 200. As this time, widespread flooding is not expected to be a concern, although, some localized brief flash flooding could still occur under some of the more intense thunderstorms falling on recently saturated soil from earlier this week. Any impacts, though, should be short lived as storms quickly push off to the east. Showers and thunderstorms will move into eastern Nebraska by early Friday morning (shortly after 06Z) bringing an end to the severe potential to north central Nebraska. A drier day is expected for Friday as surface high pressure builds into the Great Plains. A cooler airmass will also move in behind the cold front and departing system resulting in cooler than normal highs on Friday (normals in the mid 70s). Highs are anticipated to only rise into the mid to upper 60s, with a few locations south of I-80 potentially reaching 70 degrees. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 356 AM CDT Thu May 23 2024 Quiet conditions continue through Saturday morning as weak upper level ridging slowly pushes off to the east. A series of disturbances will then impact Nebraska through the remainder of the weekend. At this time, severe weather risk remains low with confidence remaining low on timing, track, and locations. Current SPC guidance suggests that the strongest activity will remain off to the east on Saturday night, however, this may change over the next day or so. Those with outside plans in the evening this weekend should stay weather aware and be prepared to make alternate plans. Strong upper level ridging will return for the beginning of next week bringing a return to dry weather to north central Nebraska. For temperatures, cooler temperatures will begin the extended period with highs only in the mid 60s to low 70s. These temperatures will gradually increase as upper level ridging returns and warm air advection pushes back into the region by early next week. Highs by next Wednesday will rise back into the upper 70s to low 80s. Low temperatures through mid-next week will remain well above freezing keeping any frost concerns at bay. && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 1255 AM CDT Thu May 23 2024 VFR conditions expected at TAF sites through at least the first part of the TAF period, but expect significant impacts to aircraft operations from low level wind shear, gusty surface winds, and potentially severe thunderstorms. Will be dealing with significant low level wind shear across central and western Nebraska early in this TAF period as a robust low level jet becomes established. There may be enough mixing to get some gusts to the surface before daybreak, but winds aloft will generally be 45 to 50kt form the south. Once diurnal heating mixes the boundary layer after daybreak the low level jet will diminish but surface winds will become gusty with 25 to 30kt expected into the afternoon. Currently there appears to be potential for 2 separate triggers for convection, first with a dryline and then with a cold front. Any storms with the dryline will have potential to be discrete, individual cells with very large hail and strong gusty winds. As the cold front overtakes the dryline and becomes the dominant driver of convection, storms are expected to develop into a linear complex that may produce very strong winds and large hail as it moves from central into eastern Nebraska. Storm initiation may occur along or just west of Highway 83, though confidence in exact timing and locations is not high. Will use VCTS at KVTN for the 3 hour period where thunderstorms are most likely, and will use 2 separate periods for VCTS at KLBF to indicate periods of best potential for thunderstorms with the dryline followed by thunderstorms along/ahead of the approaching cold front. All convection with a return to VFR looks like a good bet by the end of the valid period as convection pushes off to the east and southeast. && .LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ SHORT TERM...Kulik LONG TERM...Kulik AVIATION...MBS