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000
FXUS64 KOUN 162349 AAA
AFDOUN

Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Norman OK
649 PM CDT Wed Aug 16 2017

.AVIATION...
17/00Z TAFs. Numerous TSRA expected across north-central and
possibly central Oklahoma terminals early in the forecast period.
00Z OUN sounding indicates more of a cap in place for TSRA to
overcome, but with increasing low level jet and convergence near
front, will keep TEMPO going from previous package. Light
winds and VFR post convection late tonight and tomorrow.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 236 PM CDT Wed Aug 16 2017/

DISCUSSION...
Latest satellite imagery and radar mosaic shows ongoing convection
across the far southeast portion of the area within a band of
relatively high moisture. A cold front is being driven eastward into
our area by a mid level shortwave trough over the central High
Plains. Forcing for ascent from this wave will primarily be north of
our area, but frontal convergence in a moist/unstable air mass will
result in thunderstorm development later this afternoon. This will
happen first in north-central Oklahoma and then build southward
along the front into southwest Oklahoma. Southward extent along
the front is still in question.

Forecast soundings show eroding convective inhibition by mid to
late afternoon across north-central Oklahoma. The steepest mid-
level lapse rates are near the bottom of the CAPE profile and
become weaker aloft, but this thermal structure aloft, with such a
moist and warm boundary layer, will yield moderate to strong
instability later today (MLCAPE ~2,500 to 3,000 J/kg). 0-6 km
shear values of around 30-35 knots should be marginally supportive
of organized storms including supercells, but stronger winds
above 6 km in the upper portion of the CAPE of around 40-45 knots
near the Kansas border. Further south, shear is comparatively
weaker, but as storms consolidate and grow up scale this evening,
a marginal wind threat may persist late into the evening further
south across central Oklahoma. The large hail threat should mostly
be limited to initial late afternoon/early evening storms before
storm mergers and upscale growth occur.

Drier mid-level air evident in GOES-R 7.34 micrometer water vapor
imagery is spreading across much of the area. This has changed the
thermodynamic profile from yesterday, which was comparatively
more moist and not quite as supportive of wind. The cells that
moved through Stillwater gained enough organization with mid-level
MARC signatures to support maybe some marginally severe wind, but
the activity further south was ineffective at producing severe-
criteria winds. Heavy rain was the primary threat. Min/max theta-e
difference in the vertical of ~40 Kelvin suggest a higher
potential for damaging downburst, even with initial development.
This should support fairly strong/rapid cold pool formation and as
mentioned above, a fairly quick evolution to linear structures by
early/mid evening.

Despite a little more dry mid level air and resultant entrainment,
heavy rainfall and localized flooding remains a threat, especially
in areas where Flash Flood Guidance is relatively low (i.e.,
saturated or nearly saturated ground from previous rainfall). Also,
a fairly progressive cold pool driven convective system should limit
duration and keep amounts from being too excessive. We decided to go
ahead and issue a flood watch to cover this potential threat from
north-central Oklahoma southward to the metro which received
significant rainfall amounts yesterday, and extending into portions
of southeast Oklahoma. We may need to adjust the counties included
slightly later this evening based on trends and how convection
evolves.

Thunderstorms should decrease in intensity tonight and may linger
across our southeast counties tomorrow morning, but generally dry
conditions are expected tomorrow. Locally enhanced low-level theta-e
near remnant increasingly diffuse cold front close to the Red River
could support isolated thunderstorm development tomorrow afternoon.
Coverage should be limited due to background mid-level height
rises/subsidence in the wake of departing shortwave trough.

Our attention then shifts westward to the New Mexico plains and
Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles. A weak perturbation in the westerly
flow aloft may support convective development across this region
tomorrow afternoon with some consolidation/upscale growth likely
late in the day into the evening. Western portions of our area may
be impacted by thunderstorms late in the day and these could
continue eastward into central Oklahoma overnight.

The general trend this weekend and into early next week is for
strengthening mean ridging and mid-level height rises should lead
to a little drier pattern, though still some periods of at least
isolated/scattered convection. We left the previous forecast
mostly intact with only minor adjustments to a couple of periods.

BRB

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Oklahoma City OK  71  91  71  89 /  70  10  50  50
Hobart OK         72  93  71  92 /  60   0  50  20
Wichita Falls TX  74  94  73  94 /  50  20  50  10
Gage OK           65  91  68  91 /  10  10  60  40
Ponca City OK     68  89  69  88 /  80   0  30  40
Durant OK         74  91  73  92 /  50  40  30  30

&&

.OUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OK...Flood Watch through Thursday morning for OKZ008-013-019-020-025-
     026-028>032-042.

TX...None.
&&

$$

11/10