000
FXUS63 KMPX 200916
AFDMPX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
416 AM CDT Fri Oct 20 2017

.SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight)
Issued at 356 AM CDT Fri Oct 20 2017

Early morning water vapor imagery together with 500 mb heights and
winds identified an upper level longwave trough across the
western Conus with a downstream ridge over the central United
States. The warm temperatures associated with the upper level
ridge will remain with us 1 more day as breezy southerly flow
brings mid to upper 70s across the region this afternoon.
Increased afternoon highs and winds above guidance.

Over the next 24 hours the aforementioned upper level trough will
move eastward and a very strong jet will round the base of the
trough leading to cyclogenesis across central Canada. This will
advect warm moist boundary layer air across the Upper Midwest
which will lead to clouds and precipitation developing late Friday
night into Saturday. This air mass together with the strong winds
will keep overnight lows near 60s for Saturday morning.

.LONG TERM...(Saturday through Thursday)
Issued at 356 AM CDT Fri Oct 20 2017

It is going to rain on Saturday. There is no doubt about that.
This is a strong synoptic system that has a seasonably high PWAT
values as well as instability. For that reason increased pops to
near 100 percent. Most locations can expect around 0.50 inches,
with some areas picking up around an inch if a thunderstorm or two
moves overhead.

The storm prediction center lifted the slight risk of severe
weather into southeastern Minnesota. There is certainly some shear
and some CAPE, but have a feeling that the strong forcing will
lead to widespread showers and thunderstorms so any CAPE will
quickly be used up and envision many weak sub-severe updrafts as
opposed to a few stronger storms. The highest severe weather
threat is wind, since H850 winds will be around 50 kts and could
cause wind damage if this manages to get transfered to the
surface. All-in-all, cant rule out the severe threat but at this
time feel it is fairly low.

Looking ahead, an active weather pattern with a strong upper level
jet will continue to bring several weather systems across the
Upper Midwest. Expect warmer temps ahead of these waves, with
gradually more significant cool downs behind them. This high
amplitude pattern can change from model run to model run, so did
not stray from the blended guidance beyond this weekend.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Friday night)
Issued at 1026 PM CDT Thu Oct 19 2017

VFR conditions will continue through this TAF set though upper
level clouds will fill in, developing high ceilings during the
day, then gradually lowering late day tomorrow through tomorrow
night. Winds will remain out of the south around 10 kts then
increase to around 15 knots tomorrow, gusting up to around 25 kts.

KMSP...Expect winds to gust 5-10 kts higher Friday afternoon
compared to Thursday afternoon. Gusts out of the SSW around 25 kts
expected to pick up by 17z Friday.

/OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/
Sat...Chc MVFR. Aftn SHRA/CHC TSRA. Winds S bcmg W 10-15 kts.
Sun...VFR. Winds WSW 5-10 kts.
Mon...VFR. Winds W 5-10 kts.

&&

.MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WI...None.
MN...None.
&&

$$

SHORT TERM...JRB
LONG TERM...JRB
AVIATION...JPC