Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Des Moines, IA

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966 FXUS63 KDMX 151132 AFDDMX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Des Moines IA 632 AM CDT Sat Jun 15 2024 ...Updated for the 12z Aviation Discussion... .KEY MESSAGES... - Decaying MCS this morning. - Severe storms possible later this afternoon and evening, mainly west of Interstate 35. A few tornadoes are possible. - Heavy rainfall could occur in some areas late this afternoon and overnight. - Very warm Sunday and Monday with heat index values of 95 to 100 possible. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 324 AM CDT Sat Jun 15 2024 An MCS is moving east across the eastern half of Nebraska this morning with the main line nearly the Missouri river followed by trailing stratiform. An MCV is evident on the northwest side of the system with as it swirls and lifts northeast. An area of very high based showers developed over northern Iowa and in a region of upper level theta-e advection occurring at 600 mb or higher. Very dry air below these showers has limited the amount of precipitation actually reaching the ground but there have been a few locations measuring 0.01"-0.02" of rain. The MCS will continue to decay as it moves east/northeast over the next several hours. There is some uncertainty on how far east this system will get before it fully decays but it should not get much past Interstate 35 as it outruns the instability axis. Additional non-severe storms may fire behind the decaying system this morning. Temperatures today are also problematic as the convective debris from this mornings MCS may linger for a while though some sunshine should eventually emerge over western and southern parts of Iowa sometime this afternoon. A strong short wave trough will arrive late this afternoon and early this evening over western Iowa and ahead of it deeper moisture return will be ongoing with dew points in the low 70s expected over far western Iowa. Assuming that destabilization will be ongoing ahead of the trough arrival, convective initiation should occur as the kinematic forcing arrives. The deep layer shear values are not that impressive due to the weak flow in the mid- levels by values in the 25 to 35 kt range could potentially lead to a few supercells to develop. Low level shear and turning will be more favorable with 0-1 km SRH profiles near 150 m/s2 with much of that occurring in the 0-500m layer and with expected lowering LCLs and increasing low level instability, ie 0-3 km CAPE, the parameters are favorable for a few tornadoes into the early evening hours. The potential for good streamwise vorticity ingestion is also expected. Large hail will also be possible with strong updrafts favorable for updraft acceleration and the 0-3 km theta-e differences of 25-30k would support cold pools and a damaging wind threat. In addition, a heavy rain threat may materialize, especially over northwest/north central Iowa where repeated rounds of storms may occur through the overnight numerous rounds of theta-e advection arrive as the low level jet continues to point into the region. PWAT values in excess of 1.50 inches and possibly near 2 inches will be in place providing plenty of moisture available. By Sunday, the warm front should be north into Minnesota, resulting in mostly dry and very warm conditions with highs in the low to mid 90s. Did back these down a few degrees as the NBM remains near the high end of guidance, which is not supported by the expected thermal profiles with a relatively moist airmass in place. Did not drop further as some deterministic solutions are trying to mix out the high dew points in parts of central and southern Iowa. Heat index values may touch 100 in some areas Sunday afternoon. The boundary is expected to remain north trough early Tuesday but convective chances are still problematic. The Corfidi vectors do suggest that an MCS over Minnesota, could propagate south into northern Iowa. This seems on the less probable end of the spectrum but will still monitor trends. Highs on Monday may again be suffering from the NBM`s warm bias with highs mainly in the 90s again but for now have left closer tot the NBM and the NBM 50th blend. The boundary will drop back south into the region by later Tuesday and into Wednesday. This will bring another round of storms to the region. Will continue to monitor the heavy rain threat throughout the period as a rich moisture supply will remain. Severe chances will certainly be possible once the boundary returns as well. A subtropical high over the east central CONUS mid-week will ridge westward into the southern CONUS. This will move the boundary back northward and bring more warm weather for the end of the week. Should the boundary stall over the region, it could also mean more severe weather and heavy rain potential. && .AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SUNDAY/...
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Issued at 629 AM CDT Sat Jun 15 2024 Decaying MCS over western Iowa may reach KDSM/KFOD yet this morning. A brief MVFR cig could occur at KFOD. Scattered storm chances are possible most locations this morning then again overnight with the possible exception of KOTM. Storms will be most widespread overnight. Again, MVFR cigs could accompany storms tonight. Breezy southeast winds today may be gusty at times. The wind may become variable for a bit this morning from outflow and outflow is possible with any storms during the period.
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&& .DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Donavon AVIATION...Donavon