482
FXUS63 KBIS 170050
AFDBIS

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
750 PM CDT Mon Jun 16 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Isolated to scattered thunderstorms this evening into the
  early overnight hours. An isolated strong to severe storm is
  possible, with winds to 60 mph and hail to the size of a
  quarter.

- Active pattern with periodic shower and thunderstorm chances
  during the workweek into the weekend. A few severe storms are
  possible, more notably later in the week.

- Overall temperatures remain around average for this time of
  year.

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 750 PM CDT Mon Jun 16 2025

Unstable air in a northwest flow pattern is providing for a few
showers and thunderstorms to develop across the northcentral.
MUCAPE in these areas is up to 2000 J/KG, with effective bulk
shear 30 to 40 knots. So far the storm mode has been discrete to
multicluster with limited rotation in them. They appear to be
more pulse like storms, with abundant CAPE and modest shear.
These storm can produce near severe criteria and will be worth
monitoring this evening. Remnant boundaries from past storms may
also play a role in enhancing these storms. All things
considered, the main hazards could be hail up to an inch in
diameter, or abundant small hail, and winds up to 60 mph. Worth
watching too are some thunderstorms in eastern MT that could
clip the far southwest. Timing for this would be later this
evening into the early overnight hours. Made some minor updates
to PoPs to account for thunderstorm potential through tonight.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 147 PM CDT Mon Jun 16 2025

Currently, the remnants of the MCV are pushing from eastern
North Dakota into Minnesota. Surface pressure rises behind the
MCV are situated over southwest into south central ND with
meager pressure falls starting to develop from north central
into west central ND. Latest WV loop shows quite a bit of drier
air in the lower atmosphere pushing in behind the MCV but we
remain modestly unstable with MLCAPE values of 500-1000 J/KG
across the forecast area. There is a shortwave noted over
southern Saskatchewan with showers and thunderstorms increasing
over the southern Prairie Provinces, and even a couple cells
developing over northern North Dakota. Most of ND is within the
SPC general thunderstorm risk area. Area forecast soundings
indicate a couple hours of slight to moderate instability and
modest (north) to strong (far southwest) bulk shear. The far
southwest is the only area within the SPC marginal risk for
severe weather. Convection is beginning to fire in the higher
terrain of central Montana and northern Wyoming. The 12Z HREF
indicates the strongest path of UH tracks remaining to the south
of far southwest ND. Will have to keep an eye on this, but
right now, think the better probabilities here will stay out of
the state. In the north, and really the rest of the forecast
area, overall the severe potential looks to remain low, but a
few stronger cells can not be ruled out. Convection is expected
to taper this evening with the loss of heating.

Tuesday looks to be another day similar to today (temperature
wise) but with less instability and less bulk shear over the
area. Diurnally driven, isolated showers and possibly a
thunderstorm will be possible, but by and large expect a mostly
dry day with little to no severe potential.

Wednesday will bring another day with highs in the upper 70s to
lower 80s. Currently SPC has a general thunderstorm risk across
the forecast area. We do see a cold front drop south into the
forecast area from Canada. Forecast soundings from central and
northern ND do show an environment with more CAPE than today and
Tuesday, but not a lot of bulk shear. Soundings also show a
inverted V signature, with some speed and directional shear.
We`ll see how things develop, but think there might be some
potential for an upgrade to a marginal severe thunderstorm risk.
Thursday may bring a mostly dry day with high pressure at the
surface and aloft behind the Canadian cold front, although an
isolated diurnally driven thunderstorm chance will likely remain
in the forecast.

Thursday night into Friday we transition into a southwest upper
flow with surface low pressure ejecting from the central and
northern Rockies into the Northern Plains. A strong eastern
Pacific upper low will also move onto the Pacific Northwest
coast and track into the Northern Rockies, keeping a chance of
thunderstorms over the Northern Plains. The CSU ML page shows a
decent signal for severe storms Friday and Saturday. As the
upper trough approaches, cooler temperatures move in for Sunday,
although thunderstorm chances will probably linger.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 750 PM CDT Mon Jun 16 2025

Mainly VFR conditions are expected through the forecast period.
Showers and thunderstorms could be found through this evening
and possibly into the early overnight hours. Some sites have TS
mention either with VCTS or PROB30 to account for this
potential. Any thunderstorms could bring strong winds and
perhaps some brief MVFR conditions. Thunderstorm coverage
becomes more isolated tonight. Some lower level clouds and
perhaps patchy fog may return tonight into Tuesday morning as
well. Confidence was only high enough to include some lower
ceilings at KJMS and KDIK at this time. Mainly VFR conditions
are then expected for Tuesday. Some isolated thunderstorms are
possible, although confidence was not high enough to include in
TAFs at this time. Light winds tonight will become a light
northerly wind on Tuesday.

&&

.BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

$$

UPDATE...Anglin
DISCUSSION...TWH
AVIATION...Anglin