Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Northern Indiana

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 47 48
-- Remove Highlighting --
-- Discussion containing changed information from previous version are highlighted. --
507 FXUS63 KIWX 261622 AFDIWX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Northern Indiana 1222 PM EDT Sun May 26 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Showers and thunderstorms expected this afternoon and tonight. Damaging wind, hail and localized flooding will all be possible. There is the possibility of a few tornadoes. - Lingering showers and thunderstorms may impact activities Memorial Day through Wednesday. - Hazardous swimming conditions for Lake Michigan beaches in La Porte County in Indiana and Berrien County in Michigan Memorial Day through Wednesday. && .DISCUSSION...
-- Changed Discussion --
Issued at 1220 PM EDT Sun May 26 2024 A deepening area of low pressure approaches the Western Great Lakes today and moves into the Northern Great Lakes by Monday morning. As it does so, a warm front pushes into Michigan by this evening. Models expect low lapse rates to be the highest in the I-69 on eastward where the greatest amount of sunlight and least amount of thunderstorm overturning resides into the afternoon ahead of the approaching storm-filled warm front. Much of the shear lags behind this warm front so the most likely hazards out of a line like this include strong to damaging wind gusts up to 60 mph with heavy rain that could lead to flooding. There is some progressive nature to this initial line so that will likely limit the residence time of the rather moist ingredients including surface (into the 60sF) and low level dew points (above 10C in many southern locations). There has been some question about what happens behind this line. Do we get clearing or does a potential cold pool keep cloud cover around enough to restrict recovery of instability for an evening batch of severe thunderstorms? Additionally, what time do storms initiate? As late as the the 00z models, there were still a few models that hang onto a possibility of pop storms after the line, but it appears 12z guidance has since backed off that possibility. The 6z RAP seemed keen on initiating around 5pm, but that seems less likely than some of the other models bringing a line through our southern zones or just to our south around 8pm. By this point, shear would be better established with the low level jet overhead and helicity would be present as well allowing the introduction of the hazard of a few tornadoes. The mid level lapse rates are shown to be replenished behind the initial warm front line that had 8C/km mid lapse rates to work with this morning. This will also make large hail a possibility with the potential afternoon resurgence. If storms do initiate behind the line, storm motion will also be in question as the continued moist environment could allow any slower moving storms to produce quite of rain in a short time frame. The NAM40 also seems keen on keeping some storms southeast of US-24 into the overnight with strong to damaging wind and large hail being the main threats along with heavy rain that could lead to flooding. Aside from the lower res NAM, the HREF suite brings a midnight or 1am end time to this second batch of strong to severe storms with potentially a few isolated cells thereafter as the EML and lingering instability could keep a few cells going after dark. Again, 12z guidance appears to back off this second batch possibility altogether. The cold front moves southeast vacating the area Monday morning allowing surface dew points to drop back into the 50s indicating the dry air mass behind the front. But it`s a quick reprieve as another wave approaches the area for Monday night. Even the NAM only has 100 to 500 J/kg of MUCAPE around for this episode which indicates weak thunderstorms would be the expected outcome at strongest outcome. Highs Monday will also be cooler, in the upper 60s and low 70s with the negative theta-e advecAndersention behind the previous departed cold front. Still not much cooler for highs on Tuesday with upper 60s to low 70s, but models want to generate some more instability to the tune of 500 to 1000 J/kg, which would indicate more thunderstorms are possible during the afternoon, especially as another broad area of vorticity approaches Tuesday afternoon/night. Behind this area of vorticity, surface high pressure comes in and is expected to provide dry weather from mid to late week as a large ridge stations itself over the Central CONUS. Some lingering moisture may be able to sprout a few showers Wednesday morning, but that should be east of I-69. Expect 60s for Wednesday that trend warmer, reaching the 80s on Sunday. Our next chance for rain likely holds off until late Saturday.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY/...
-- Changed Discussion --
Issued at 1220 PM EDT Sun May 26 2024 An arcing line of elevated convection on track to lift through both terminals in the 1830-2030z window. Brief period of LIFR/IFR vis restrictions, frequent lightning and perhaps some small hail the primary threats with this activity. A lull late afternoon may then give way to additional chances for scattered convection this evening into the early overnight as the upper system and sfc cold front follow through. Post-frontal IFR-MVFR cigs then settle in within a 10-15 kt westerly wind late tonight into Monday morning.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .IWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
-- Changed Discussion --
IN...None. OH...None. MI...Beach Hazards Statement from Monday morning through Monday evening for MIZ177-277. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from 8 AM to 8 PM EDT Monday for LMZ043.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& $$ DISCUSSION...Roller AVIATION...Steinwedel