Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Twin Cities, MN

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800 FXUS63 KMPX 052025 AFDMPX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 325 PM CDT Fri Jul 5 2024 .KEY MESSAGES...
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- Isolated showers and thunderstorms will continue into the evening, nothing strong to severe expected. - Near normal temperatures, trending warmer, with diurnal showers and thunderstorms over the next week.
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&& .DISCUSSION...
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Issued at 325 PM CDT Fri Jul 5 2024 Rest of Today...The low that drove yesterday`s rain and storms is now spinning over Wisconsin. With us on the back side of this low we will continue to see some synoptic lift for the remainder of today. We have been able to build some instability and steeper lapse rates with diurnal heating today. This should be enough to see continued isolated showers and a few thunderstorms. As diurnal heating falls off later this evening into tonight this activity will dissipate. With weak shear none of these storms are likely to be strong to severe. Lapse rates look best across western Minnesota near and along the Buffalo Ridge. This is also where the CAMs have the strongest development. If there is a chance for an isolated stronger storm with some sub-severe hail it would be out here. Current radar also agrees with this showing the continued activity in the area versus the more spurious nature of the rain farther east. Saturday and Sunday... This weekend will see another round of forcing move into the Upper Midwest. In the later part of Saturday into Sunday we should see PVA from a shortwave and upper low tracking across the Upper Midwest. With moisture remaining near average over this period we are not expecting a heavy rain event like we often saw over the past few weeks. This will more likely we a diurnally driven event rather than our more strongly forced events that caused the more widespread rain. This will see instability build through the day and once there is enough instability we will be able to make use of the previously mentioned lift and average moisture to get shower and storm formation. Shear looks to be lacking such that organized convection looks unlikely. This weak shear also means what storms do form will likely be airmass thunderstorms that are more pulse convection rather than long lived storms. So end results isolated to scattered showers and storms with little chance for wind/hail/tornado and won`t be long lived enough or have the rain rates required for a flood risk. Temperature wise no strong advection signal so temperatures should trend near to slightly below normal with highs near 80. More likely on the below side due to cloud cover and rain chances. Next week... Multiple smaller waves track across the Upper Midwest over the next week. This will allow for continued chances for more diurnal convection. Temperatures within ensemble members do trend upwards as we go deeper into next week. Overall we do not have as wet of a signal with lower and more localized rain chances, as well as a warmer signal. This will be a change from the recent cooler and wetter weather.
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&& .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/... Issued at 1155 AM CDT Fri Jul 5 2024 Cigs have gradually lifted during this morning, but some MVFR is still expected at MSP, MKT, and EAU into this afternoon before VFR prevails everywhere into Saturday morning. Light rain showers are also possible in two areas: 1. Near EAU close to the surface low and 2. In western MN, where they will be aided by diurnal heating. However, impacts should be minimal from this activity. Some patchy fog is possible in western WI early Saturday morning which could reduce visibilities to 3 miles. Rain will begin to enter western MN late Saturday morning, with some potential for -TSRA at AXN. Northerly winds under 10 knots this afternoon will become calm/variable tonight and then light and southwesterly Saturday morning. KMSP...Some scattered clouds near 1500 feet are expected into this afternoon but conditions should remain VFR. Have also omitted any mention of -SHRA this afternoon as it should be isolated and mainly to the west of MSP. Added a PROB30 for Saturday afternoon for -TSRA arriving from the west. /OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/ SUN...VFR. Chc aftn SHRA/TSRA. Wind S 5-10 kts. MON...VFR. Chc aftn SHRA/TSRA. Wind W 5-10 kts. TUE...VFR. Chc aftn SHRA/TSRA. Wind NW 5-10 kts. && .MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MN...None. WI...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...NDC AVIATION...CTG