


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Bismarck, ND
Issued by NWS Bismarck, ND
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433 FXUS63 KBIS 162113 AFDBIS Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Bismarck ND 413 PM CDT Mon Jun 16 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Small potential for strong to possibly severe storms in the southwest this evening. - 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. && .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 /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY/... Issued at 1240 PM CDT Mon Jun 16 2025 MVFR ceilings and some vicinity showers at KJMS to begin the 18Z TAF issuance. Also some MVFR clouds near KDIK which should thin out shortly after TAF issuance. Otherwise VFR. Expect mainly VFR conditions to continue through the period. Isolated late afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms are possible, but coverage is too uncertain at this time to include in any one TAF site. Patchy fog is possible again late tonight into Tuesday but again, too much uncertainty in coverage to include in TAFS. Generally west to north surface flow 5 to 15 mph. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ DISCUSSION...TWH AVIATION...TWH