Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Sioux Falls, SD
Issued by NWS Sioux Falls, SD
Versions:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
352 FXUS63 KFSD 162108 AFDFSD Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 308 PM CST Sun Nov 16 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - A early winter system will bring period of rain, drizzle, snow, and potentially sleet to portions of the area from Monday afternoon into Tuesday. Rainfall accumulation will range from 0.20" to 0.50" of an inch mainly northeast of a Huron to Madison to Spencer, IA line. - While mostly rain/drizzle is expected, an inch or so of accumulating snowfall will also be possible mainly across portions of the U.S Highway-14 corridor and southwestern MN. - Dry midweek, with unsettled conditions again by the end of the work week. Greater uncertainty in storm track/timing, though better precipitation chances are currently favored along the highway-14 corridor. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 305 PM CST Sun Nov 16 2025 CURRENTS & TONIGHT: Another seasonable day continues! Taking a look across the area, mild and dreary conditions persist this afternoon as altostratus continues to sit overhead mainly due to an increase in warm air advection aloft. While this along with the lighter surface winds has worked to slow our increasing temperatures this afternoon, still expecting expecting highs to peak somewhere around the 40s to low 50s across the area this afternoon. From here, surface ridging will continue to progress eastwards as mid-level riding moves overhead overnight keeping things quiet. Lastly, temperatures will likely hover around the mid to upper 30s for the night. MONDAY & TUESDAY: Looking into the earlier parts of the week, quieter conditions will continue for the first half of Monday as mid- level ridging continue to scoot eastwards. A more active pattern returns during the second half of the day as an upper-level low (ULL) progresses across the SD/NE border bringing increasing chances for drizzle, rain, and potentially snow. Looking at 16.12z guidance, the forecast remains on track with the lower levels saturating and a dry slot building into areas south of I-90 by Monday afternoon. This along with strengthening 850:700 mb frontal forcing along and north of I-90 will be the focus for the better rain accumulations during the afternoon/evening with periods of drizzle/light rain possible south of there. While guidance continues to struggle with the exact location of the narrowing band of precipitation, high-resolution guidance has trended things towards portions of the U.S. highway-14 corridor and southwestern MN as the target area for where this area of enhanced precipitation sets up. With decreasing surface temperatures and the potential for warmer air aloft (warm nose) by Monday night, can`t rule out a brief transition to sleet or a mix of rain/snow in areas underneath the band before dynamic cooling helps things fully transitions to wet snow. From here, could see an inch or so of snow accumulate mainly across southwestern MN as strong frontal forcing and increasing convective instability (100-200 J/kg) leads to higher snowfall rates of up to 0.25" in/hr at times according to the HREF. Nonetheless, should see snowfall begin to taper off by daybreak on Tuesday as frontal forcing gradually weakens. Shifting gears to overall QPF amounts, the highest accumulations will likely set up along and northeast of a Huron to Madison to Spencer, IA line with a 0.20" to 0.50" of an inch expected with the highest amounts expected with band that set up along the highway-14 corridor. South of that line, 0.10" of an inch or less is expected mainly due periods of drizzle and/or lighter rain. Looking into the rest of Tuesday, quieter conditions return by the second half of the day as mid-level ridging builds in behind the previously mentioned system. WEDNESDAY ONWARDS: Heading into the extended period, quieter conditions temporarily return through Wednesday as weak mid-level ridging moves overhead. As we return to southwesterly flow aloft by Thursday, all focus will shift towards the four corners region as a well agreed upon trough swings through the central and southern plains. While most of the better dynamics should pass just to the south and southeast of us, parts of our areas will likely get clipped by the northern part of this system leading to increasing precipitation chances (20%-30% so far) south of I-90 with a focus across the U.S. highway-14 corridor from Thursday into Friday. While most of this should fall as rain initially given the mild surface temperatures (40s to 50s), can`t completely rule out a few wet snowflakes mixing in by Friday morning as temperatures decrease into the mid 30s. Nonetheless, with the system continuing to wobble northwards and southwards with each run; some uncertainty remains with the track and thus exact amounts. With this in mind, continue to monitor your local forecast for updates especially if you have any travel plans. From here, quieter conditions should return by Saturday as a mostly dry cold front swings through the region. Lastly, temperatures should stay closer to our normals with highs mainly in the 40s to 50s. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY/... Issued at 1122 AM CST Sun Nov 16 2025 VFR conditions will persist this TAF period. Besides lingering altostratus through this evening, not expecting any significant aviation impacts. Otherwise, light and variable winds will become more southeasterly to end the TAF period. && .FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...None. MN...None. IA...None. NE...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...05 AVIATION...05