Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Duluth, MN
Issued by NWS Duluth, MN
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390 FXUS63 KDLH 281152 AFDDLH Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Duluth MN 652 AM CDT Fri Jun 28 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Widespread moderate to locally heavy rainfall will continue to affect the area this morning before moving out this afternoon. - Isolated severe thunderstorms are possible (5% chance) in central Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin this afternoon and evening. - Residual showers Saturday in northeast Minnesota give way to a dry Sunday before the next round of moderate to locally heavy rainfall is forecast to return Monday into Tuesday. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 512 AM CDT Fri Jun 28 2024 A warm front is pushing into the area early this morning, with a broad band of showers and embedded thunder expected to move from southwest to northeast across the area this morning. Cloud tops have been warming and lightning frequency has been dropping, in combination with the generally weakening radar echoes. The moist southerly advection accompanying this front has brought precipitable water values of 1.6 inches to MPX which is over the 90th percentile. The Precipitable Water value for INL was much lower at 00z, but model sounding imply values around 1.5 inches by 12z, which would also be above the 90th percentile for this date. The last few days we have been trying to nail down the location of the warm front, which should help us sort out where the highest rainfall totals will be. The warm front has become difficult to define, with the WPC analysis putting one from the low center over eastern S.D. extending southeast into IA and MO, so that is not much help. There is a pretty large dewpoint gradient from south to north across the CWA along with a subtle backing of wind, which may help focus precipitation later today. For now the heavier precipitation appears to be focused in the higher dewpoint air south of that boundary, focused on the nose of the low level jet and in the plume of 850mb moisture and in the best moisture and thermal advection. Once this initial surge of showers and storms moves across the area, we expect an area of instability to arrow into northwest Minnesota this afternoon, with somewhat favorable mid- level lapse rates aligning along the highest instability axis to support a small severe weather threat into north-central Minnesota by the late afternoon to evening hours. Model forecast soundings show that the window of potential severe storms is going to be rather narrow, with the area of greatest instability of around 1000 J/kg CAPE in that area of at least 6.5 C/km mid level lapse rates. The deep layer shear is strong, but the low level shear parameters are too messy for the best setup. Do not have concerns for much more than scattered strong to near-severe thunderstorms for the Brainerd Lakes east across Pine county into the westernmost portions of northwest WI. Lingering showers with only a little thunder to linger behind the main cold front overnight tonight. Diurnally driven showers and isolated thunderstorms are favored Saturday afternoon and early evening in the cyclonic flow behind the cold front, but severe thunderstorms are unlikely. We have been watching another round of showers and thunderstorms which are expected to move through the area Monday through Tuesday. There may be a period of storms with locally heavy rainfall Monday evening, but it appears any severe storm risk will stay west of the forecast area. Tuesday we may develop enough instability for stronger storms, but that is going to depend on the timing of this system as it moves through the area. This system is a fairly potent upper level shortwave that moves through, and it is part of a broader upper level trough that settles over the central CONUS for much of the upcoming week. This will keep smaller precipitation chances going through the week, but no single feature to focus on for higher precip chances. && .AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SATURDAY/... Issued at 652 AM CDT Fri Jun 28 2024 A wave of showers and embedded thunderstorms is sliding across the area this morning, with IFR ceilings and MVFR visibilities affecting most of the terminals as it moves across. Brief LIFR conditions are possible, but should not be widespread. As the rain moves out later this morning expect visibilities to improve to VFR, and ceilings may improve to MVFR, but no significant improvement in ceilings is expected until late this afternoon. There should also be a period of scattered shower and thunderstorm activity for this afternoon and evening with brief periods of lower conditions. Stratus will move back into some of the terminals this evening with MVFR conditions developing after 00z. Gusty south to southeast winds of 20 to 25 kts this morning to slowly veer to southwest and west by late this afternoon, before becoming northwest this evening. && .MARINE /FOR NEAR SHORE WATERS OF WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR/... Issued at 512 AM CDT Fri Jun 28 2024 An approaching low pressure system has causing northeast winds to increase on the lake early this morning, which should back into the southeast to even south this morning. Speeds of 10 to 15 knots will gust around 25 knots later this morning through the afternoon, then decrease again this evening. There will be several hours of hazardous conditions for small craft, and have issued a Small Craft Advisory for parts of the lake. Shower and storms have been moving in overnight, and will remain likely this morning before diminishing to scattered showers and isolated storms for the afternoon and evening. Small chances of showers and storms will linger tonight and Saturday. The cold front with these storms Friday night will cause winds to switch to westerly, then increase again for Saturday before diminishing into Saturday night and Sunday. For now it does not appear hazardous conditions will develop on Saturday, but this may change. For the open water discussion, refer to the NWS Marquette Area Forecast Discussion at weather.gov/mqt. && .DLH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MN...None. WI...None. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 4 PM CDT this afternoon for LSZ121-140-144>148-150. && $$ DISCUSSION...LE AVIATION...LE MARINE...LE