Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Rapid City, SD

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121 FXUS63 KUNR 161554 AFDUNR Area Forecast Discussion For Western SD and Northeastern WY National Weather Service Rapid City SD 954 AM MDT Mon Sep 16 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Very warm through Tuesday with elevated fire weather conditions - Strong storm system late Tuesday/Tuesday evening brings marginal/slight risk of severe weather - Pattern change end of the week with cooler weather likely && .DISCUSSION...(Today Through Sunday) Issued at 218 AM MDT Mon Sep 16 2024 08z surface analysis had low over southeast MT with meso-low over K2WX per KUDX radar loop. Water vapour loop had shortwave over southwest half of CWA with convective cluster ahead of it moving northeast. Bigger picture has upper low over northern CA, which is the main concern for the short term. Today/tonight, shortwave ridge moves in behind shortwave with well-defined subsidence. Leftover buoyancy expected. While the chance of precipitation is not zero during peak heating today, not enough confidence to pinpoint any areas for introduction into forecast. Gusty southerly winds develop on the western SD plains this afternoon, persisting into tonight. Strongest winds over south-central SD where low level jet develops tonight. Wind gusts 40-45mph likely. Day shift can take a look at necessity of wind advisory if it looks like winds will persist into Tuesday. Temperatures will be near guidance. Tuesday, upper low ejects into eastern MT with pronounced synoptic forcing ahead of it per negative tilt. Deepening surface low over southeast MT expected with fast moving trailing cold front late afternoon/evening. Buoyancy not that impressive ahead of cold front, but synoptic forcing should support high-based thunderstorms racing across WY into western SD. Many CAMS showing strong/severe outflow wind potential resulting in marginal/slight risk of severe thunderstorms over the CWA. Should be quite the dynamic system to watch on satellite/radar with a 25-50% chance of >0.25" QPF. Temperatures will reach guidance east of the Black Hills, but greater uncertainty over northeastern WY/far western SD per cloud cover/precipitation timing. Wednesday through next weekend, upper trough/cyclonic flow not looking as well-defined as previous ensemble guidance has depicted. Cooler temperatures still foreseen per west/northwest flow aloft spinning a series of disturbances through the northern plains resulting in almost daily PoPs. Chance of >0.25" QPF during any 24-hour period is low. && .AVIATION...
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(For the 18Z TAFS Through 18Z Tuesday) Issued At 953 AM MDT Mon Sep 16 2024 VFR conditions will continue through the TAF period.
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&& .FIRE WEATHER... Issued At 218 AM MDT Mon Sep 16 2024 Elevated fire weather conditions expected through Tuesday afternoon, especially over northeastern WY and far southwest SD where minimum relative humidities will dip to 15-25%. Gusty southerly winds are expected on the SD plains today. A sharp cold front will move through late Tuesday with gusty southerly winds ahead of it and gusty southwesterly winds behind it. A band of strong/severe thunderstorms (with good chance of wetting rains) will accompany the front. Cooler weather then expected for the end of the week into next weekend, but the chances of significant precipitation have waned. && .UNR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...None. WY...None. && $$ DISCUSSION/KEY MESSAGES...Helgeson AVIATION...Pojorlie FIRE WEATHER...Helgeson