000
FXUS63 KDLH 220015
AFDDLH

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Duluth MN
715 PM CDT Fri Jul 21 2017

.UPDATE...
Issued at 715 PM CDT Fri Jul 21 2017

Severe thunderstorms were occurring this evening from just north
of Duluth west through the Grand Rapids area into the Pine River
area. Instability has been steadily increasing across the
Northland and the storms have shown little signs of weakening as
they move toward a less unstable airmass to the east. The
afternoon KINL sounding showed dry air in the lower to mid levels
which will enhance the wind threat. Per coordination with SPC,
we`ve added Aitkin, Carlton, and Saint Louis Counties to the
watch. The latest HRRR shows the storms continuing for the next
few hours but gradually decreasing in intensity as they move
further east.

&&

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Saturday)
Issued at 336 PM CDT Fri Jul 21 2017

Storms have formed over northwest Minnesota this afternoon that we
have been watching very carefully. A severe thunderstorm watch has
been issued, and I will leave it to the reader to refer to the
specifics of that watch in the WCN. A plume of 2000J/KG plus most
unstable CAPE extends up the Red River valley, overlapping much
of western Minnesota and eastern North Dakota and South Dakota. In
addition, this area has decent shear, a weak shortwave aloft and
is underneath the right entrance region of the upper level jet. We
are looking at getting a round of severe storms for the next few
hours, mainly affecting the far western areas of the CWA along the
high cape gradient. After that have poor confidence in additional
storms, though several models bring a second round of convection
through the southwestern half of the forecast area after midnight
tonight.

Attention then turns to Saturday, when the tight upper low/vort
max currently over the Saskatchewan/Manitoba border drops
southeast cross the forecast area during the afternoon and early
evening. Expect that depending on the overnight convection we will
have an additional round of showers and thunderstorms move across
the area during the afternoon and early evening. Depending on the
amount of CAPE we can develop severe weather is a real threat,
but we will have to watch what happens overnight tonight to
determine the daytime threat for tomorrow.

.LONG TERM...(Saturday night through Friday)
Issued at 336 PM CDT Fri Jul 21 2017

The extended forecast period features a couple of chances of showers
and thunderstorms over the Northland, with temperatures forecast to
remain around seasonal averages.

Saturday night begins with continuing chances of showers and storms
from Saturday afternoon as a compact mid-level shortwave dives
across our north and eastern areas of the CWA Saturday night. There
should be some good forcing associated with this shortwave as there
is a large lobe of positive vorticity advection, along with higher
850-300 mb omega, per the Thaler QG analysis. The Storm Prediction
Center currently has the entire Northland in a Slight Risk of severe
weather for the Day 2 convective outlook. The magnitude of
instability from 00z Sunday between the synoptic models differs
somewhat, with values ranging between 300 up to 2000 J/kg between
the GFS/NAM/ECMWF/CMC models. The expectation is that any strong to
severe convection on-going at 00z Sunday will dissipate as the sun
sets, decreasing instability rapidly. There could be some damaging
winds and large hail possible, if some strong convection continues
into this period. As the shortwave departs, there may be some
lingering showers Sunday morning as the region remains under the
cyclonic flow of the mid-level wave. Non-zero MUCAPE could provide
enough instability for a rumble of thunder, but no severe weather
expected at this time.

By Sunday afternoon, drier conditions will return to the Northland,
as sfc high pressure builds. Skies look to clear out overnight
Sunday into Monday morning, so there could be some patchy fog,
especially over areas that receive rainfall Sunday. Winds look to be
light as well, especially over the Minnesota Arrowhead and along
Lake Superior. Dry conditions will continue through the day Monday
before another area of low pressure develops over northern Manitoba
and northwest Ontario Canada, bringing a cold front boundary through
the Northland. The GFS/ECMWF/CMC models are showing some decent
agreement with the areal coverage and timing of precipitation, so
confidence is fairly high this precipitation will move through
Tuesday morning and afternoon.

Temperatures will be around seasonal averages, with highs in the 70s
across the Northland.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Saturday evening)
Issued at 715 PM CDT Fri Jul 21 2017

Strong to severe storms were occurring across portions of the
Northland this evening and they will continue to move east. IFR or
LIFR conditions will occur in and near the storms along with
strong winds and hail. Outside of the storms, expect mainly VFR
conditions this evening but IFR or MVFR ceilings will expand later
tonight into Saturday morning before lifting to VFR. Additional
showers/storms will be possible through the night and again
Saturday as a frontal boundary and upper level trough impact the
area. Updates to the chance for storms will be needed as we
progress through the period.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
DLH  59  73  57  70 /  50  40  40  20
INL  60  77  56  74 /  40  60  40  20
BRD  65  83  60  75 /  50  10  10  10
HYR  63  80  58  71 /  20  40  30  20
ASX  58  74  56  67 /  10  30  30  30

&&

.DLH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WI...Beach Hazards Statement until 8 PM CDT this evening for WIZ001.

MN...Beach Hazards Statement until 8 PM CDT this evening for MNZ037.

LS...None.
&&

$$

UPDATE...Melde
SHORT TERM...LE
LONG TERM...JTS
AVIATION...Melde