Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Memphis, TN
Issued by NWS Memphis, TN
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311 FXUS64 KMEG 272020 AFDMEG Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Memphis TN 320 PM CDT Sat Apr 27 2024 ...New SYNOPSIS, DISCUSSION... .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 314 PM CDT Sat Apr 27 2024 A warming trend will continue through the rest of the weekend. A line of showers and thunderstorms is expected to form ahead of a cold front Sunday night into Monday, where strong to severe storms capable of damaging winds, large hail, and locally heavy rainfall could occur. Warm and wet conditions are expected to continue through the remainder of the week. && .DISCUSSION... (This evening through next Friday) Issued at 314 PM CDT Sat Apr 27 2024 A warming trend will continue today as mid-level ridging builds ahead of a mid/upper level trough over the western and central U.S. At the surface, a low pressure center was analyzed over the OK/TX/KS/CO borders. A stationary boundary/warm front extended northeastward across the central and southern Plains into the upper Mid-West, with a cold front extending southward into portions of western Texas. The surface low is expected to move northeast in tandem with the mid-level trough. As this occurs, a cold front will begin to move southeastward toward the Mid-South tomorrow. Ahead of this front, low level wind fields are forecast to increase as the pressure gradient tightens, resulting in strong winds across the Mid-South tomorrow. Moistening associated with this strong low-level southerly flow will also eventually contribute to an unstable atmosphere with mean MUCAPE values from the HREF grand ensemble coming in on the order of nearly 500-1000 J/kg. This instability will be coupled with 30-35 knots of effective shear, which should support storm organization and longevity. Several CAMs depict a line of prefrontal showers and thunderstorms that will enter the Mid-South on sometime tomorrow evening, lasting through the late evening/overnight hours. It appears that the the greatest threat for strong/severe storms should be along and west of the Mississippi River, though a stronger storm east of the Mississippi River could also occur. While the main threats are expected to be damaging winds and large hail, an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out at this time. Another concern pertains to precipitable water values, associated with this activity, increasing to around 1.6 inches. This value exceeds the 90th percentile value for the date, which may also promote a risk for heavy rainfall. The Mid- South remains in a slight risk for excessive rainfall for both tomorrow and Monday. The front looks to approach the Mid-South by Tuesday morning, but does not completely move through the Mid-South as upper-level forcing pivots away from the region. The remainder of the forecast will feature warm and wet conditions, as several mid-level disturbances parse mostly zonal flow aloft. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1246 PM CDT Sat Apr 27 2024 VFR conditions expected through the period with shower and thunderstorm potential remaining mainly west of TAF sites. A low- level jet over the Lower Mississippi Valley will result in LLWS conditions overnight and elevated winds throughout the forecast. && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...None. MO...None. MS...None. TN...None. && $$ PUBLIC FORECAST...JPR AVIATION...CJC