Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI

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195 FXUS63 KMKX 202104 AFDMKX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan WI 404 PM CDT Mon May 20 2024 .KEY MESSAGES...
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- This afternoon`s strong to severe thunderstorm threat has ended. - A complex severe weather event is expected for Tuesday, with multiple rounds of thunderstorms expected. The greatest severe weather threat continues to be Tuesday evening. - All severe weather hazards will be possible Tuesday evening, including strong winds, large to very large hail, and tornadoes.
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&& .UPDATE...
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Issued 359 PM CDT Mon May 20 2024 This afternoon`s strong to severe potential has ended across the region. The area of most favorable forcing tied to an MCV has shifted east across Lake Michigan, with subsidence beginning to prevail across southern Wisconsin. Severe Thunderstorm Watch 267 has thus been cancelled. Apart from a few light rain showers, quiet weather is anticipated through the first half of this evening. Quigley
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&& .SHORT TERM...
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Issued 248 PM CDT Mon May 20 2024 Rest of this Afternoon through Tuesday night: Convection is ongoing across the region this afternoon, associated with a convectively enhanced shortwave/MCV working through the area. Strong southerly flow associated with this feature has helped bring a warm front north into extreme southeastern Wisconsin, with reinforcing east to northeast flow along and north of the track of the MCV. Convection will continue to develop and push east through early evening, with occasional strong/severe storms producing large hail and gusty winds. The evening hours tonight should be fairly quiet, with the region within an area of subsidence behind the departing MCV. A weak pressure gradient combined with the moist airmass will pose a fog threat overnight, especially over the eastern half of the area. Some areas of dense fog will be possible. The nose of a low level jet then begins to push into the area from the west and southwest late tonight/early Tuesday. An initial area of elevated thunderstorms will likely push into the area during the predawn hours. Locations north and west of Madison will have the greatest chance of seeing convection, with considerable uncertainty as to how far east this activity makes it before pushing north. By late morning, a warm front will lift into the region as low pressure deepens across Minnesota. Despite the convection along/north of the warm front, very deep and strong southerly flow will favor a more progressive northward movement to the front. This should put nearly all of the CWA solidly within the warm sector by mid afternoon. From that point forward, things will really depend on where exactly convection fires east of the cold front in Iowa. There could be one round as early as mid afternoon, if storms develop along a prefrontal trough just west of the Mississippi River, but this is uncertain. The front will eventually surge eastward during the evening, clearing the area around midnight. Storms are very likely along the front as it moves east. While the outcome will ultimately depend on "game day" mesoscale details, this is a very dynamic system with a very favorable airmass ahead of it. Some combination of supercells and QLCS(s) are probable. Very steep mid level lapse rates and appreciable low and mid level shear will pose a threat for tornadoes and very large hail with any supercells. If/when cold pools begin to congeal, one or more strong QLCSs could develop, with an attendant wind and QLCS tornado threat. Boxell
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&& .LONG TERM... Issued 248 PM CDT Mon May 20 2024 Wednesday through Monday: The low pressure associated with Tuesday`s thunderstorms will continue propagating northward into Canada on Wednesday, with gusty west winds, cold air advection, and decreasing cloud coverage across southern Wisconsin in response. Upper level ridging and high pressure will build into the Midwest Wednesday afternoon into Thursday allowing for drier weather through Friday morning. A shortwave trough and associated surface low pressure system will approach Wisconsin on Friday, leading to the next chance for showers and thunderstorms Friday afternoon through Saturday morning. The GFS and Euro look to be in better agreement regarding timing of this system, but the GFS continues to be a little more rambunctious regarding shower/thunderstorm development and QPF Saturday morning, especially near the Wisconsin/Illinois border. Another shortwave looks to move across the state during the day on Saturday which will help support chances for showers and thunderstorms. Weak ridging moves into the region on Sunday and Monday leading to lower precipitation chances before another upper trough propagates towards the region Monday afternoon. Falkinham && .AVIATION... Issued 248 PM CDT Mon May 20 2024 Showers and thunderstorms will continue to push east of the area this afternoon. A combination of MVFR and VFR ceilings are expected this afternoon, with ceilings lifting to VFR by this evening. Later tonight, light winds and ample low level moisture will favor fog, and at times some low stratus. IFR is likely with any fog or stratus overnight. A warm front will lift northward through the region tomorrow, turning winds southerly as the front moves through. A few rounds of thunderstorms are possible, with the first occuring in the morning hours, with one or two more in the late afternoon and evening. Strong/severe storms are increasingly likely with the afternoon and evening hours. Boxell && .MARINE... Issued 248 PM CDT Mon May 20 2024 Southeast winds will turn southwesterly for a time late this afternoon over the southern third of the lake, as a compact area of low pressure moves through the area. Winds then turn westerly tonight. Winds will turn more south to southeasterly again Tuesday. Breezy southerly winds are expected as a deepening low pressure approaches the Upper Great Lakes Region and tracks northeast into Wednesday. There looks to be periods of thunderstorms over the lake, especially southern portions Monday through Wednesday morning. Small Craft conditions are likely Tuesday afternoon and night. Boxell && .MKX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WI...None. LM...None. && $$ Visit us at weather.gov/milwaukee Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube at: www.facebook.com/NWSMilwaukee www.twitter.com/NWSMilwaukee www.youtube.com/NWSMilwaukee