Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Rapid City, SD

Current Version |  Previous Version |  Text Only |  Print | Product List |  Glossary Off
Versions: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46
-- Highlight Changed Discussion --
-- Discussion containing changed information from previous version are highlighted. --
443 FXUS63 KUNR 170436 AFDUNR Area Forecast Discussion For Western SD and Northeastern WY National Weather Service Rapid City SD 1036 PM MDT Mon Sep 16 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Very warm through Tuesday with elevated fire weather conditions - Strong storm system late Tuesday/Tuesday evening brings marginal/slight risk of severe weather, mainly strong gusty winds. - Pattern change end of the week with cooler weather likely && .DISCUSSION...(This Evening Through Monday) Issued at 154 PM MDT Mon Sep 16 2024 20Z upper analysis shows southwesterly flow aloft over the region due to an upper low centered over Nevada. Breezy to windy southeasterly surface winds are occurring over much of the area this afternoon due to a low pressure center located just to the the west of the forecast area. Weak disturbances in the flow aloft and diurnal heating producing weak-moderate instability, have produced some showers, and a couple of thunderstorms, over the higher terrain to the west of the CWA and also over the northern Black Hills. The showers are streaming northward into northeastern Wyoming. Shear remains weak, so don`t expect any long lasting thunderstorms this afternoon/evening. Windy conditions will continue over south central South Dakota tonight due to a low level jet over that area. Windy conditions are expected there again on Tuesday due to a tightening of the surface pressure gradient. A Wind Advisory may be needed there on Tuesday. On Tuesday, the upper low will eject northeastward into Wyoming with pronounced synoptic forcing ahead of it per the negative tilt. The surface low will rapidly deepen over eastern MT/WY on Tuesday. As the surface low moves northeastward a fast moving front will trail across the forecast area from late afternoon through the evening. Moderate buoyancy and strong synoptic forcing are expected to produce a band of thunderstorms racing across northeastern Wyoming and western/central SD. Many CAMS continue to show a potential for strong/severe outflow winds, resulting in marginal to slight risk of severe thunderstorms over the CWA. Temperatures will reach guidance east of the Black Hills, but greater uncertainty over northeastern WY/far western SD per cloud cover/precipitation timing. Wednesday through next weekend, upper trough/cyclonic flow not looking as well-defined as previous ensemble guidance has depicted. Cooler temperatures still foreseen per west/northwest flow aloft spinning a series of disturbances through the northern plains resulting in almost daily PoPs. Chance of >0.25" QPF during any 24-hour period is low. && .AVIATION...
-- Changed Discussion --
(For the 06Z TAFS Through 06Z Tuesday Night) Issued At 1035 PM MDT Mon Sep 16 2024 VFR conditions are generally expected to prevail through the period. Exceptions will be with SHRA/TSRA tomorrow afternoon through the overnight, wherein localized MVFR cigs/vsbys are possible. Breezy south to southwest winds are expected over the plains tonight and tomorrow, with strong and erratic wind gusts likely near thunderstorms, particularly after 20z tomorrow.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .FIRE WEATHER... Issued At 154 PM MDT Mon Sep 16 2024 Elevated fire weather conditions are expected through Tuesday afternoon, mainly due to breezy to windy conditions and Tuesday afternoon minimum RH of 17 to 27 percent. A sharp cold front will move through late Tuesday with gusty southerly winds ahead of it and gusty southwesterly winds behind it. A band of strong/severe thunderstorms (with good chance of wetting rains) will accompany the front. Cooler weather is then expected for the end of the week into next weekend, but the chances of significant precipitation have decreased. && .UNR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...None. WY...None. && $$ DISCUSSION/KEY MESSAGES...10 AVIATION...Dye FIRE WEATHER...10