Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Sioux Falls, SD

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461 FXUS63 KFSD 202331 AFDFSD Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 631 PM CDT Fri Sep 20 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Rainfall amounts continue to trend down for the weekend, though moderate chances (20-30%) for a tenth of an inch of rain remain across portions of NW Iowa and NE Nebraska. - With the passage of a cold front on Saturday, temperatures trend downward to below normal levels for Sunday and Monday. - Temperatures trend back to near normal levels for next week, with a limited chance of precipitation through the period. && .DISCUSSION...
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Issued at 249 PM CDT Fri Sep 20 2024 With a weak high pressure system now well off to our southeast and a cold front beginning to move into far western North Dakota, our warm and semi-breezy conditions continue into the evening hours. Observations show current temperatures in the lower to mid 80s, possibly cresting the upper 80s in south-central South Dakota, with breezy winds west of I-29 gusting into the 20s. While it does make for rather pleasant conditions outside, given the low relative humidity values in the 20s and 30s there is an elevated fire danger risk. Heading into the overnight hours, a small quick moving surface low pressure begins to moves through from west to east. Global models and ensembles suggest scattered showers and tstorms may be possible, though hi-resolution guidance is not convinced...so have kept the overnight period dry, though a non-zero chance for an isolated shower does exist. As a closed off upper level low remains in the desert SW, an upper level trough off to our north with the aforementioned cold front will be moving through the area from northwest to southeast during the day. The front will abruptly be swinging winds around to become out of the north-northwest, with a few hours of stronger wind gusts into the 30s and lower 40s possible behind the front, especially along and west of I-29 into the mid-morning hours. While the timing and location still needs to be better agreed upon, high-resolution convection allowing models (CAMs) do show the potential for post- frontal convection developing along the slightly lagging elevated cold front. The HRRR is most aggressive with this possibility, but it does have support from both the NAMnest and ARW, all of which put down between a tenth and a quarter of an inch sporadically. With 500- 1000J/kg of CAPE, depending which model and layer one lifts from, along with 30-40 knots of wind shear, marginally severe thunderstorms can`t be ruled out. However, will need to monitor the convection that is expected to form well south of the region (Nebraska/Iowa/Missouri/Kansas border), as that could keep moisture from reaching up into the region...SPC carries a marginal risk (level 1 out of 5) for portions of the area along and east of a line from Sioux City to Spencer, IA. As the front continues to slide southeastwards, wind gusts into the 20s are expected throughout the afternoon hours. Given the cold frontal passage throughout the day, daytime highs range from lower 70s near Huron, SD to lower/mid 80s by Storm Lake, IA. Heading into the evening hours with the front well south/east of the area, models continue to hold onto low (20-30%) chances for precipitation generally along and south of the highway 20 corridor. Overall, for the 24 hour period starting Saturday morning into Sunday morning, the NBM and ensemble systems give a roughly 20-40% chance for a tenth of an inch, highest in our southernmost counties (Woodbury/Ida/Buena Vista) in Iowa. Sunday will see the arrival of a surface high pressure, which will continue to advect cooler and drier air across the region, keeping precipitation chances low. NBM continues to hold onto 20-30% chances for light rain south of I-90, but given the trends to push QPF further south I would imagine pops will continue to lower over the next model runs. However, Sunday will actually feel like fall across the region with afternoon highs in the mid to upper 60s, along with decreasing sky coverage throughout the day. Probabilities for afternoon highs greater than 70 deg F are rather low in the 10-20% range, outside of the warm-biased GFS, so these cooler temperatures do have good ensemble support leading to higher confidence in these cooler than normal temperatures. While Monday warms up slightly into the upper 60s to lower 70s, the below normal temperatures continue with mostly dry conditions. Model uncertainty rises into the middle of the week as they disagree on how the upper level pattern evolves, though they do all agree on keeping the forecast mostly dry into the end of the week.
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&& .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/...
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Issued at 621 PM CDT Fri Sep 20 2024 VFR conditions are expected into the night as breezy southerly winds persist. Guidance continue to hint at a narrow ribbon of moisture AOA 750mb workings it`s way into eastern SODAK after 09Z. There would likely be enough CAPE to result isolated thunderstorm development into the morning hours. A frontal boundary will push southeast through the morning, leading to gusty northwest to north winds at all TAF locations through the day. Dry air will begin to undercut the area in the afternoon, likely pushing the greatest convection risks towards Sioux City and northeast into north central Iowa.
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&& .FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...None. MN...None. IA...None. NE...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...APT AVIATION...Dux