Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Rapid City, SD

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639 FXUS63 KUNR 120811 AFDUNR Area Forecast Discussion For Western SD and Northeastern WY National Weather Service Rapid City SD 211 AM MDT Wed Jun 12 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Near to above average temperatures through Thursday with a few late day/nighttime showers and thunderstorms possible. - A more unsettled pattern returns Friday, with daily chances for storms into early next week. && .DISCUSSION...
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(Today Through Tuesday) Issued at 211 AM MDT Wed Jun 12 2024 RAP reanalysis depicts largely zonal flow at the upper levels with 700 mb shortwave over southwestern SD/NE/WY. Region of 500-1500 J/kg ML CAPE extends across most of western SD into portions of northeastern WY. Radar and satellite imagery show ongoing convection over southeastern MT tracking eastward towards northwestern SD. Some storms have also fired off in central and eastern SD. If the storms in southeastern MT maintain strength, should expect them to move into northwestern SD within the next hour or so. Thermal ridge extends up into the northern plains this afternoon, resulting in a very warm day across the CWA. Largely westerly flow at the mid and lower levels will facilitate compressional heating, resulting in even warmer temps towards south central SD and over the plains east of the Black Hills. Some areas may breach the 90 degree mark for the first time this year. Dry airmass will be in place with afternoon RHs dipping into the upper teens across portions of northeastern WY into southwestern SD and from 20 to 30 percent across the rest of western SD. Light winds and green fuels preclude any fire weather concerns at this time. By the afternoon ML CAPE across south central into southwestern SD and the Black Hills will reach 500-2500 J/kg with the higher instability further east. 0-6km shear will range from 30-50kt which is sufficient for rotating updrafts if an updraft were to form. However, the lack of any appreciable deep layer moisture and source of lift will preclude any storm and therefore any severe threat at this time. Upper low/deepening trough over the northern Pacific begins to make its way onshore by Thursday with a ridge building over the western US, resulting in another warm and dry day for the CWA. Weak lee shortwave and sfc trough will develop and affect the region Friday, resulting in chances for showers and storms Friday afternoon. Axis of strong instability extends into western SD and northeastern WY Friday afternoon with ML CAPE of 1000-2000 J/kg across most of western SD into the Black Hills and far northeastern WY. With 0-6km bulk shear of 25 to 45kt, could see isolated strong to severe storms Friday afternoon. Guidance is generally in consensus of troughing over the western US by the end of the weekend into early next week. This will bring unsettled and relatively cooler conditions (highs in the upper 60s to 70s) to the region the beginning of next week.
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&& .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS Through 00Z Wednesday Evening) Issued At 514 PM MDT Tue Jun 11 2024 Isolated showers are possible after 06z tonight mainly across northwestern and central SD. Otherwise, VFR conditions are expected through the TAF period. && .UNR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...None. WY...None. && $$ DISCUSSION/KEY MESSAGES...Wong AVIATION...13