Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Quad Cities, IA IL

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969 FXUS63 KDVN 192320 AFDDVN Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL 620 PM CDT Wed Jun 19 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Isolated to Scattered storms this afternoon and evening with a Marginal Risk (Level 1 of 5) of severe weather. - After a brief reprieve, trending hotter again Friday and especially Saturday. Storms may feed on this heat energy Saturday or Saturday night. && .UPDATE...
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Issued at 612 PM CDT Wed Jun 19 2024 As of 6 PM, the front remains positioned from near Quincy IL, to just east of the QCA, to near Freeport. Isolated showers and very isolated thunderstorms have formed along it this afternoon, but have not become organized in any way. A weak MCV, or other PWAT heavy feature continues to slowly move towards our southwest, and could enhance coverage of showers/storms tonight along and north of this front. Models are highly varied on whether they convect this area, or bring light rains. We have just a small cap to overcome through lift, around 883mb per the 00z sounding just sent up, and there`s big questions on whether that prevents activity from becoming more widespread tonight.
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&& .SHORT TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/... Issued at 250 PM CDT Wed Jun 19 2024 Tonight...Slow moving northeast-to-southwest front seen on sfc observations and MSAS draped from southwest WI, the northwestern DVN CWA, down acrs northeast MO and trailing acrs eastern KS ATTM. To the lee of that, a lead boundary oriented the same way and probably enhanced by differential heating was seen on RADAR and satellite crossing the MS RVR. Aloft, there was low amplitude upper ridging edging acrs the southeastern CWA off eastern CONUS upper ridge complex, with water vapor imagery and upper air analysis showing mainly channeled vorticity on the northwestern flank of this feature acrs central IA into northwest MO. Trying to see an approaching MCV, unless it is subtle and maybe acrs northeastern KS, it may edge acrs the western CWA later this evening. So these lift features will continue to work on local 1000-2000 J/kg MUCAPEs to produce isolated to widely sctrd convection acrs the CWA this late afternoon into evening especially along the boundaries. Also will monitor the approaching showers and storms currently acrs north central MO and see if they can maintain as they advect northward. some post frontal more stratiform looking light precip Effective shear profiles and marginal at best mid level lapse rates limit the severe potential, and if we got any thing it would probably be in the form of an isolated downburst wind. A PWAT feed of at least 1.8 inches would also support locally heavy rainfall in swaths of storm movement paths. The southwesterlies with vorts or weak MCV/s will continue acrs the area overnight, and will have to continue to carry POPs over night for sctrd showers and storms continuing especially along lingering LLVL boundaries. Low temps in the mid 60s in the northwest, to the low 70s southeast. Thursday...Another day of high buoyancy(CAPEs of 1500-2500 J/kg) but weak shear, marginal lapse rates, and lack of deep forcing precluding much of any severe storm threat. Areas more favored for isolated to sctrd storm development will look to be along and north of I-80 and especially Hwy 30 and north Thu afternoon and evening. This area further away from mid level ridging acrs the southeast, and closer to ongoing weak S/W shuttle flow north of the ridge from acrs the Dakotas, MN and into WI. Also these northern areas may have more lingering boundaries laying out more west-to-east for some focus. Cloud cover somewhat uncertain as well and will look to be variable. High temps again a challenge but will range them from the low to mid 80s in the north, to the low 90s south. Heat index`s in the mid to upper 90s in the south. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 250 PM CDT Wed Jun 19 2024 Friday...Ongoing thermal ridge looks to amplify somewhat overhead and keep the area under a suppressing EML. Latest ensemble indicated mid level steering flow patterns suggest a partial ring of fire pattern setting up around this feature from the northern plains over to the Great Lakes, keeping the MCS storm track northwest and north of the local area possibly into Sat morning. Thermal profiles support highs in the upper 80s to low 90s, but sfc DPTs are still looking to mix out in the mid to upper 60s, thus the lower humidity may not warrant a heat advisory this day. But with the somewhat reduced humidity, there may be a better chance for ambient temps to reach the mid 90s in some locations with full sun. Saturday and Sunday...A hot and more humid airmass Saturday with highs in the low to mid 90s. Sfc DPTs may hang closer to 70 thus making heat indices push the upper 90s or near 100. A northern stream short wave digging against the upper ridge with an associated sfc cold front acrs the region may spark strong, heavy rain producing storms late Saturday or Sat night. It`s still early but currently indicated CAPE and shear profiles would support some severe storms. In the wake of the cool front and storms, incoming upper MO RVR Valley ridging and northwest flow could make for a dry, not quite as hot and less humid Sunday. Best day of the weekend. Low temps well down in the 60s for Sunday night. Monday and Tuesday...Currently progged upper jet pattern on the medium range ensembles suggest broad upper ridge amplification acrs the Rockies and western CONUS early next week. Resultant northwesterly steering flow acrs the upper MS RVR Valley into the GRT LKS may place the DVN CWA close to the ridge-riding short wave storm track thus occasional convective systems. AS the upstream upper ridge tries to squeeze eastward acrs the mid CONUS, the unsettled pattern acrs the upper Midwest may linger well into next week. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z THURSDAY/...
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Issued at 612 PM CDT Wed Jun 19 2024 A front is draped along a line from Freeport IL, to near Moline IL, to near Quincy IL this evening. Some MVFR cigs have built in on the west side of that front this evening, but should not lower further until overnight, when somewhat more widespread showers and storms are possible. These appear most likely over northeast Iowa, but will be watched in all locations for a tempo group tonight. CID and DBQ will be in a Prob30 for the late night and early morning hours Thursday for both MVFR Cigs and thunderstorms. A lull is expected through the sunrise to afternoon hours Thursday before more scattered activity forms again. Winds will become light this evening, and remain variable with the front nearby.
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&& .DVN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IA...None. IL...None. MO...None. && $$ UPDATE...Ervin SHORT TERM...12 LONG TERM...12 AVIATION...Ervin