782
FXUS63 KARX 210851
AFDARX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
351 AM CDT Tue May 21 2024

.KEY MESSAGES...

- A significant severe weather event with a MODERATE RISK
  (Threat level 4 of 5) for severe storms today south of I90 and
  a Threat level 3 of 5 north of I90. Multiple rounds of storms
  continue morning and later this afternoon into evening. The
  highest severe threat appears to begin late afternoon and into
  the evening with damaging wind gusts and tornadoes being the
  primary threats, large hail is a secondary threat.

- With the multiple rounds of storms expected, a flood watch
  has been issued for southeast MN and northeast IA

- Small rain chances Wednesday with more rain chances Friday

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 330 AM CDT Tue May 21 2024

Overview:

Water vapor satellite imagery, 500mb heights, and lightning showed a
shortwave trough to the east with a broad trough over MT/WY
and a closed low over Saskatchewan. Ahead of the broad trough,
several clusters of storms were noted across parts of
CO/NE/SD/IA/MN. At the surface, a 983 surface low was located
over southeast Colorado with a stationary from northeast through
KS/NE/IA into srn MN. A secondary surface low was near
northwest IA with a boundary through central Iowa into southeast
IA and northern IA. Storms were on the boundary and somewhat
loosely organized over parts of IA/MN during the late evening,
with both right movers and left movers. Some areas were lifting
north with the increasing low level jet, while others were
shifting east with the perturbations in the southwest flow
aloft. The SPC mesoanalysis shows the SBCAPE axis from Kansas
extending northeast toward western Iowa into southern MN. VAD
wind profilers show the strong 35 to 50kt winds at 850 at
DMX/EAX/TWX and 30kts locally. The effective wind shear was
greater to the west of the local area at 06Z. The MPX 21.00Z
sounding had 1.19" precipitable water (PWAT) and steep 7.5 C/km
lapse rates.

Storms overnight and Tuesday morning:

Seasonably strong upper level jets are forecast from the
Dakotas into Manitoba/Ontario and also from New Mexico into the
Southern Plains; shifting eastward through 18Z. Portions of the
Central/Northern Plains and Upper Mississippi Valley are
forecast to experience upper level divergence/a coupled jet.
Meanwhile, a 500mb trough in the lee of the Rockies moves into
the Plains with surface low pressure deepening over southwest
MN/western IA. Moisture transport increases across the Plains
and into the local area by 12Z, but really, ramps up through the
Missouri River Valley. This then shifts east across western
Iowa through 18Z. The low level jet across the Plains is
forecast to strengthen 50 to 55kts through 12Z and makes
progress eastward through 18z...but not as strong more in the 30
to 40kt range.

Due to the uptick in forcing overnight, progress of the
perturbations and the shortwave trough, deepening of the surface
low, and the favorable moisture and instability, continue to look
for showers and thunderstorms to increase in coverage overnight. The
CAMs are somewhat similar in showers and thunderstorms ongoing
across much of the forecast area south of I94 through 12Z.  While
the instability is there, the deep layer wind shear and effective
shear profiles remain more prohibitive for organized severe weather
early on. We will continue to see strong to potentially severe
storms this with damaging winds and some hail with the
instability and forcing with heavy rain still a concern,
especially along the boundaries and where storms repeat over the
same area. A cluster of storms progress during the morning
hours, these could tap into better shear with some severe
storms. Some of the CAMS hint at bowing structures, while others
do not.

Storms this afternoon and evening:

This afternoon, the 500mb trough over the Missouri River Valley will
rotate northeast into the Upper Mississippi Valley.  Surface low
pressure is forecast to lift northeast along the boundary with the
warm front lifting north and dragging a cold front across the
forecast area during the afternoon and early evening.  Surface based
instability is forecast to increase with area 3000+J/kg.  A ribbon
of strong mid-level winds are forecast to increase across
Nebraska into Iowa this afternoon and into Wisconsin this
evening, resulting in lengthening hodographs and
increasing/large 0-1/0-3 storm relative helicity values. The
most recent CAMS indicate a lull in activity possibly 17-21Z. If
this occurs, it would allow for additional destabilization/very
steep lapse rate 8 deg C/+ ahead of the approaching cold front.
A line of broken storms is forecast to grow upscale across Iowa
into western Wisconsin. It will be important to note any outflow
boundaries and the location of the warm front, where supercells
may develop. Short term mesoanalysis will be critical early on.
Damaging winds, large hail, tornadoes and heavy rain continue
to be the main hazards. Due to the large 0-1/0-3 SRH values a
few strong tornadoes could occur. Damaging winds of 75 to 90 mph
and QLCS tornadoes will be possible with the line of storms.
The highest threat appears to be 20/21Z until 01-02Z with the
storms exiting the forecast area by mid-afternoon south of I90.
Due to the above factors coming together this afternoon and
early evening, the severe weather risk has been increased to a
level 4 of 5.

Heavy Rain Potential:

Dodge and Mower County did see localized heavy rain, potentially 3
to 5 inches based on radar, but there could be some hail
contamination in those values.  PWAT values increase to 150-200% of
normal by 12Z and continue through Today.  Forecast soundings show
warm cloud depths increasing through the day becoming more efficient
rainfall producers. The 21.00 HREF mean values of for 24hr rainfall
show 1.5 to 2" through 22.00Z with max values of 3 to 7".  Multiple
rounds of storms are expected. Highest confidence is highest
over parts of southeast MN where heavy rain occurred Monday and
along the surface boundary. A broad look as the radar shows the
increased convection along the boundary from eastern Nebraska
across Iowa. The RAP has this boundary gradually lifting north
during the day. Morning storms may affect how north it makes it.
The main negative will be the progressive nature of the storms;
cloud level storm motions increase 20kts to 35kts to 45kts
through the day. That being said, the multiple rounds should
make up for it. For now will include southeast MN and northeast
Iowa in a flood watch for flash flooding until 00Z for the
rounds of morning and afternoon convection.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 1030 PM CDT Mon May 20 2024

CIGS: bkn VFR into the overnight. Short term trends then favor a
drop into MVFR with extensive shra/ts moving toward 10-12z Mon
morning. Confidence in how long the low cigs hang around isn`t high,
but some consensus to hold them into the afternoon. Some improvement
for a few hours into low VFR possible next convective complex
moves in late afternoon, but then back into MVFR for Tue night.

WX/vsby: scattered shra/ts could impact KRST for the first few hours
into the overnight before a more organized mass of shra/ts is
progged by the CAMS models to spread across the area toward 10-12z.
Tue morning looks wet before another break and then a larger complex
of shra/ts move in for the late afternoon. Some strong/severe storms
are expected Tue aft/early evening with enhanced wind gusts.

WINDS: generally lighter southeast tonight...increasing with
stronger wind gusts Tue, swinging west/northwest Tue night but
staying strong.  Strong/severe winds possible with storms Tue
afternoon/evening.

&&

.ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WI...None.
MN...Flood Watch through this evening for MNZ079-086>088-094>096.
IA...Flood Watch through this evening for IAZ008>011-018-019-029-
     030.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...Zapotocny
AVIATION...Rieck