Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Rapid City, SD

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181 FXUS63 KUNR 182312 AFDUNR Area Forecast Discussion For Western SD and Northeastern WY National Weather Service Rapid City SD 512 PM MDT Wed Sep 18 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Very windy conditions will continue over northwestern South Dakota tonight into early Thursday afternoon. - Elevated fire weather conditions due to low RH Friday - Cooler this weekend && .DISCUSSION...(This Evening Through Wednesday) Issued at 221 PM MDT Wed Sep 18 2024 The vertically stacked low pressure system currently over eastern Montana will continue to drift to the northeast tonight and on Thursday. While the rest of the area will winds decreasing some this evening, very windy conditions will continue over northwestern South Dakota tonight into early Thursday afternoon due to the tight surface pressure gradient nearer the low pressure system to the north of the forecast area. Subsidence and momentum transfer associated with LL cold advection and 850mb winds up to 45kts indicated that surface winds may gust to 40-50 mph. Have expanded the Wind Advisory in time and area over northwestern South Dakota to account. Moisture rotating around the back side of the upper low will continue to bring some low chances for precipitation over parts of northeastern Wyoming and northwestern South Dakota through this evening. On Thursday, the surface pressure gradient will slowly slacken as the stacked low continues to move farther away. Slightly cooler temperatures are expected. On Friday, warm air advection will support summery MaxTs with a few spots approaching 90F. Over the weekend into early next week, progressive west/northwest flow supports a series of waves and fronts. First front moves through Friday night with noticeably cooler temperatures for the weekend. Moisture chances remain low with main moisture-laden upper low passing south of the CWA. Confidence is low with substantial ensemble guidance uncertainty. Chance of >0.25" QPF over the weekend <40% over southeast half of the CWA and <20% over the northwest half. Thus, lowish PoPs scattered about for the long term forecast. && .AVIATION...
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(For the 00Z TAFS Through 00Z Thursday Evening) Issued At 512 PM MDT Wed Sep 18 2024 VFR conditions expected through the forecast period. Gusty west- northwest winds will persist tonight into Thursday, especially from far northeast WY to northwest SD. A few light showers are still possible tonight into early Thursday from far northeast WY to far northwest SD.
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&& .FIRE WEATHER... Issued At 221 PM MDT Wed Sep 18 2024 Red Flag conditions over parts of western South Dakota due to gusty southwest winds and low relative humidity, will improve as temperatures cool and winds decrease this evening. Some relief expected Thursday, but elevated fire weather conditions will return Friday with MinRH 15-30%. && .UNR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...Wind Advisory until 3 PM MDT Thursday for SDZ001-002-012>014-025- 072-073-078. Red Flag Warning until 8 PM MDT /9 PM CDT/ this evening for SDZ322-324>326-329>335. WY...None. && $$ DISCUSSION/KEY MESSAGES...10 AVIATION...26 FIRE WEATHER...10