Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Aberdeen, SD
Issued by NWS Aberdeen, SD
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375 FXUS63 KABR 021107 AFDABR Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Aberdeen SD 507 AM CST Tue Dec 2 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Freezing fog with visibilities down to 1/4 at times, and light icing, will remain possible early this morning, mainly near the Missouri River. - A quick moving disturbance will push through the region today into early Wednesday, kicking off a 30-50% chance of light snow over north central and northeast South Dakota and a wintry mix of mainly rain/snow across central South Dakota. - Very cold air across the region Wednesday and Wednesday night, with lows in the single digits below and teens below zero. Wind chills may reach 15 below to 25 below zero in the James River valley. - Snow chances (20-35%) return Friday/Saturday as more clipper systems potentially move through the region. && .SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON/... Issued at 504 AM CST Tue Dec 2 2025 Relatively quiet but cold conditions persist for most locations. Temperatures vary widely with subzero readings mainly across parts of northeast SD with single digits above zero elsewhere such as central SD. Skies remain clear for the time being in our east while high clouds are starting to thicken across the western Dakotas. Favorable wind direction across the Missouri Valley is producing another round of low stratus downwind of Lake Oahe and Lake Sharpe. Within some of these areas, dense fog has led to low visibility at times in the Pierre and Mobridge areas. Hi-res guidance had pointed to expansion of some of this fog eastward toward the James Valley through the early morning hours, but has sense backed off. This will be a trend we`ll have to keep an eye on through daybreak. For today, clouds will be thickening out ahead of a warm front that is progged to shift west to east across the forecast area. Low level WAA pattern will develop and try and scour out the arctic air that`s been in place. This will be most successful across our western zones where temperatures will reach the low to mid 30s. Sub-freezing temps are anticipated across our east. Southwest flow across the Prairie Coteau will lead to another round of gusty winds in the downslope areas by mid to late morning through at least mid afternoon. There could be localized blowing snow effects in that area. Clouds will continue to thicken in the low to mid levels by midday into the afternoon. Low pressure is progged to track southeastward across eastern ND into west central MN this afternoon. Light precipitation in the form or mostly light snow will be possible across northeast SD and west central MN where BUFKIT profiles suggest the temperature profile through the saturated column remains subfreezing. However, farther west across central SD, some of that warm air will win out allowing for the potential for a rain/snow mix or just plain rain for a period of time this afternoon. As the low levels begin to cool late in the day, a period of a wintry mix or freezing rain will be possible. Guidance continues to suggest QPF will be rather limited through the entirety of this event, so anticipate minimal impacts from a light coating of snow or light glaze in areas that see freezing precip. That area of low pressure will continue southeast and drag a strong cold front through the forecast area this evening. Winds increase of the north and northwest. Any leftover moisture will accompany the fropa with the potential to see a few more snow showers or flurries into the overnight hours. A CAA pattern sets in overnight with the leading edge of a much colder air mass sinking southward into our area early Wednesday. That pattern is expected to persist through most of the day on Wednesday. Temperatures are likely to be warmest early in the morning on Wednesday and then we should see falling temperatures through the morning and midday hours. Temps may stabilize for a brief time the first half of the afternoon, but anticipate readings will start to plummet by the late afternoon areas. Winds will be strongest during the morning and early afternoon hours leading to wind chill values between 5 and 15 below. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY EVENING THROUGH MONDAY/... Issued at 504 AM CST Tue Dec 2 2025 Surface high pressure centered over the region at 00Z Thursday will shift southeast into IA by 12Z Thursday. Southerly winds increase between 06Z and 12Z Thursday with warm air advection developing as well. Therefore, it appears lows Wednesday night may be closer to 06Z, with steady/rising temperatures up through 12Z. Apparent T grids still show wind chills from 25 below to 30 below zero in the James River valley Wednesday night. GEPS/GEFS/ENS 500mb heights are in good agreement in the mid/upper level pattern featuring a persistent northwest flow aloft during the rest of the extended period. There are a couple waves that moves southeast across the region during this time, but with low confidence on timing and precip chances/placement. Right now, the highlight is on Friday night into Saturday with the highest chances (20-30%) in the forecast. GEFS/GEPS/ENS all show some light QPF over the region as a wave of low pressure slides to our south and we potentially receive light snowfall accumulations across the CWA. Precip chances may eventually increase over the coming day or two. Temperatures are a bit uncertain as well as the Northern Plains see a battle of air masses, with swings of relative mild air (20s/30s) and colder arctic air with periods of lows in the single digits above and below zero. Inherited max/min temp forecasts reflect this, while low confidence remains on the actual numbers as shown in larger spreads of the 25th/75th values in the NBM. && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z TUESDAY/... Issued at 1133 PM CST Mon Dec 1 2025 Terminals KABR,KATY,KPIR,KMBG LIFR conditions in freezing fog have developed at MBG and PIR by 05Z with visibilities down to 1/4SM and VV001. Expect freezing fog to diminish in coverage and intensity by 10-12Z as high clouds move in from the west and surface winds increase slightly and shift out of a more southerly direction. Otherwise, at least MVFR conditions in fog were also introduced to ABR/ATY by 08-09Z through 12-16Z Tuesday. Confidence is low in the lower LIFR conditions developing at ABR and ATY overnight. && .ABR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...None. MN...None. && $$ SHORT TERM...Vipond LONG TERM...TMT AVIATION...06