Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Aberdeen, SD

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268 FXUS63 KABR 182329 AAA AFDABR Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Aberdeen SD 629 PM CDT Wed Sep 18 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - There`s a Slight Risk (level 2 of 5) for severe storms along and east of the Coteau this evening. The main threats that will accompany the strongest storms will be damaging winds and large hail with a smaller threat for an isolated tornado. - Very warm temperatures, gusty winds and a much drier air mass combine to produce critical fire weather conditions across central South Dakota this afternoon. A Red Flag Warning has been posted for areas along and west of the Missouri River. - Above normal temperatures will continue through Friday with more seasonal temperatures for the weekend and next week. - Showers and storms for the weekend (20-30% chance for precipitation). && .UPDATE...
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Issued at 627 PM CDT Wed Sep 18 2024 Aviation discussion updated below for the 00Z TAFs.
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&& .SHORT TERM /THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... Issued at 213 PM CDT Wed Sep 18 2024 As remnant showers from this morning`s activity pull off to the northeast, thunderstorms have begun to develop over southeast SD this afternoon. This activity is just ahead of the dry line in a clash of airmasses. Dewpoints in central SD have fallen into the mid 40s to lower 50s compared to mid to upper 60s dewpoints from the James Valley east. Most hi-res models don`t develop any severe weather with these conditions. Still think the slight risk could be a bit overdone with moderate shear (30 to 35 kts) and relatively unimpressive CAPE (1000 to 1500 J/kg), but can`t completely rule out one or two discrete supercells this afternoon or evening east of the James. Caa and drier mid level air will see temps fall into the upper 50s to low 60s across most of the forecast area tonight. More seasonable temperatures persist into Thursday with highs in the mid 70s to around 80 degrees. That still puts most locales about 5 to 10 degrees above normal for mid September thanks, in part, to the good mixing with persistent breezy southwest winds. The cooler temperatures will provide some relief in terms of fire weather, however, since min RH is expected to stay above 30 percent in central SD where gusts will still reach 30 to 40 mph in the afternoon. A Red Flag Warning remains in effect into this evening given the much drier conditions and warmer temperatures today along the Missouri River. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
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Issued at 213 PM CDT Wed Sep 18 2024 Models are fairly consistent with moving a trough positioned over MO and Saskatchewan to the east. As this is happening, part of the apex of the trough moves over SD Saturday afternoon, though there is some variability in the timing and strength in the models. The models keep the mid-levels moist on Saturday which aids in the development of precipitation at the surface. They also show agreement in mid- level temperature advection, moving WAA in over central and eastern SD until Saturday morning, when CAA moves in to take its place. The WAA helps to keep maximum temperatures on Friday around 10 degrees warmer than normal. As the upper-level low moves east on Saturday, the associated surface front interact with the mid- level moisture and the CAA. This helps the development of precipitation Saturday afternoon, with the Canadian model developing the heaviest precipitation east of the James River Valley Saturday evening. The GFS is different from the other models, as it does not develop any precipitation in central or eastern SD because of its lack of mid- level moisture. Some clusters suggest that there is a low possibility that the developing precipitation could be severe, with stronger shear values. However, instability values will be lower from the lack of energy available, limiting severe potential. The deterministic models do pick up on those higher shear values, as the 0.5km model winds picture stronger winds on the Canadian and NAM Saturday afternoon. Fairly strong lapse rates will allow these winds to mix to the surface. The NBM also shows this, with gusts up to 30kts in counties west of the Missouri River Saturday afternoon. The models and clusters start to disagree more after Sunday morning, as they struggle to handle an area of low pressure moving northeast over UT and CO. Some models have the low being absorbed into the isobars of the trough located over Saskatchewan and Manitoba, becoming a shortwave. This then creates more southwesterly flow over SD. However, other models leave the low as a cut-off and struggle to incorporate it, creating more zonal flow over SD as they try to push the low east. By Tuesday, the GFS and Canadian models start to move a ridge east from the Pacific Northwest, which starts to push into counties west of the Missouri River on Wednesday. Then with some variability, models keep the mid-levels dry with CAA until Monday afternoon, when they move some moisture into central and eastern SD, as well as moving occasional pockets of WAA and CAA through SD. With this variability in forcing and lack of lift at the surface, there looks to be little chance for precipitation to occur after Saturday. The CAA coming in behind the front on Saturday will help to cool temperatures at the surface. Because of this, Sunday will see maximum temperatures about 5 to 10 degrees below normal values. Temperatures will then start to slowly warm up, and they will be around average for the rest of the forecast period.
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&& .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z THURSDAY/...
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Issued at 627 PM CDT Wed Sep 18 2024 Terminals KABR,KATY,KPIR,KMBG VFR conditions are forecast through the TAF period. Southerly surface winds will gradually become southwest, then westerly through the next 24 hours.
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&& .ABR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...Red Flag Warning until 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/ this evening for SDZ003-015-033-035-045-048. MN...None. && $$ UPDATE...TMT SHORT TERM...Wise LONG TERM...Vernon AVIATION...TMT