Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Des Moines, IA
Issued by NWS Des Moines, IA
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914 FXUS63 KDMX 151743 AFDDMX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Des Moines IA 1243 PM CDT Sun Sep 15 2024 ...Updated for the 18z Aviation Discussion... .KEY MESSAGES... - Mainly dry today, with the chance (<20%) for isolated showers and thunder southeast this evening - Dry conditions expected through until at least midweek, followed by an uptick in precipitation chances - Above average temperatures remain over the next several days && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 351 AM CDT Sun Sep 15 2024 Fairly quiet conditions across Iowa this morning, though areas of patchy fog have developed due to calm winds and clearing skies, causing lowered visibilities over portions of northern into central Iowa. Not expecting widespread coverage to occur, though would expect to see these areas, especially northern Iowa to develop at least some additional patchy fog given these conditions before gradually dissipating around or just after sunrise. Temperatures generally range through the 60s into low 70s this morning, with a few areas expected to drop a couple degrees yet overnight into the 60s across the state. Upper level high pressure remains overhead across the central and eastern CONUS today, which will largely aid to keep conditions on the dry side for the day. However, remnants of Francine remain further south into Missouri and Arkansas, with another wave of light precipitation looking to expand further north near the IA/MO border and possibly into eastern Iowa by this evening. CAM guidance, outside of a few models, keep conditions dry, along with most deterministic members, so would largely expect conditions to remain as overall forcing is rather minimal overhead. If any showers were to develop however, these would likely occur into southeast Iowa, with minimal accumulations at most. Thunder at times cannot be ruled out given the presence of rather moderate instability, though little in the way of notable storm development is to be expected given little shear present, hence the general thunder outline over eastern Iowa per SPC guidance. Remaining southerly low level flow with less cloud cover over much of the state today will result in warmer temperatures as highs are expected to reach into the mid to upper 80s. Into Monday, an upper level trough is expected to reach the California coast, with various shortwaves within the larger-scale flow expected to produce multiple waves of precipitation over the western portion of the Central Plains through the work week as the trough slowly pivots northeast across the western CONUS. Upper level ridging further east per models looks to remain strong over the remainder of the country, with its influence winning out over Iowa as the aforementioned precipitation largely remains west through at least Tuesday. This is also thanks to a slowly weakening tropical system looking to make landfall over the Carolinas late Monday into Tuesday, gradually tracking west/northwestward across the eastern CONUS before eventually fading out. Deterministic models seem to be in more agreement on conditions remaining dry until at least Wednesday, before moving into at least portions of western Iowa. Intensity and coverage discrepancies however do exist, though generally depict overall better forcing and moisture remaining largely out of Iowa before late week and into the weekend when a more defined shortwave and weakening upper level trough further east allow for more widespread rain chances across the state. More details are expected in the coming days as confidence increases. Persistent low level south/southwesterly flow through the next several days will result in above average temperatures to remain as values generally reach through the 80s, along with diurnally driven periods of breezy conditions through the work week. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY/... Issued at 1239 PM CDT Sun Sep 15 2024 Cumulus will continue to develop this afternoon with bases around 4-5 kft expected. The cumulus will diminish overnight and is likely to redevelop by late Monday morning. There remains a non-zero chance for precipitation this afternoon and early evening but potential remains low enough to no mention in the forecast. South to southeast wind less than 12 kts is forecast. && .DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Bury AVIATION...Donavon