


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Des Moines, IA
Issued by NWS Des Moines, IA
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941 FXUS63 KDMX 011126 AFDDMX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Des Moines IA 626 AM CDT Mon Sep 1 2025 ...Updated for the 12z Aviation Discussion... .KEY MESSAGES... - Shower and weak storms possible again today, with the highest chances(50-70%) this morning southwest before gradually drying - Low potential for showers and weak storms north Tuesday afternoon to evening (20-30%), with a strong cold front bringing better chances (50-70%) late Tuesday through Wednesday. No severe storms are expected at this time - Cooler and generally drier conditions to follow with high temperatures expected to only reach the 60s, with overnight lows in the 40s (maybe even some upper 30s in areas across the far north!). && .UPDATE... Issued at 350 AM CDT Mon Sep 1 2025 Observations this morning indicate that fog is quite isolated over parts of northern Iowa, particularly at Estherville where visibilities of a mile are being reported. With skies expected to remain clear over the area with light winds and residual moisture northwest in particular, the expectation still remains that some additional locations may see fog development, as guidance continues to indicate. Any additional fog should remain more patchy in nature, so not anticipating much impact but will continue to monitor through the next few hours through sunrise. Outside of the fog, the overall pattern hasn`t changed very much over the past 24 hours, with the shortwave responsible for much of the rain showers in Iowa shifted a bit further south and east into southeast Nebraska and western Missouri today. This will generally keep the main stratiform rain shower activity over portions of southern and western Iowa for the rest of the morning, before the moisture axis slowly descends further south of the state and rain chances gradually diminish this afternoon and especially into the evening. Otherwise, the weak boundary that has been over northwest to north-central Iowa over the past few days in relation to the shortwave is expected to be displaced a bit further west today. Weak convergence mainly over north/northwest Iowa into the afternoon to evening and peak heating in the same area may bring at least one more chance for weak storms and even a few funnel clouds over that area, as weak instability builds and shear remains fairly weak. Additional rainfall totals by the end of today are expected to generally be less than an inch, though again cannot rule out locally higher amounts in locations where slow moving storms may occur. Highs are expected to warm into the mid to upper 70s for most, though slightly cooler southwest where thick clouds will limit the heating, with values expected in the upper 60s. With the shortwave largely south of the state by Tuesday, dry conditions are generally expected into the morning as low level flow shifts westerly. However, midlevel moisture from the upper midwest is signaled to descend into Iowa, with a weak boundaries moving across southern Minnesota and another extending into Iowa by late/morning to early afternoon as CAMS suggest, which looks to bring a potential for some isolated showers and storms mainly near and east of I-35 into the afternoon and evening. Looking further into the environment shows again fairly weaker shear and instability, so would expect a very low potential for any storms to hold together for very long. Highs Tuesday are expected to reach the mid to upper 70s. By Tuesday evening, a deepening Canadian low pressure system is expected to drop south into the Upper Midwest, with a more defined cold front sinking into Iowa by late Tuesday into Wednesday morning. Showers are generally expected with this frontal passage throughout the day, ending from northwest to southeast into Wednesday evening. Considering storm potential, the ideal parameter space will be into Minnesota and the Dakotas given the location of the front during peak heating, where instability values over 1000+ J/kg and better shear are looking to be co-located. The severe potential diminishes into the evening, when the front would be further south getting into northern Iowa, though with at least some lingering unstable conditions early on cannot rule out some storms initially, though not looking severe at this time. Will have to monitor trends as timing and location could shift slightly, which may result in a shift in the better storm potential and so on. Following the frontal passage, a cold advection regime then takes over that is characterized by increasing northwesterly flow. High pressure will descend into the Western Plains following this frontal passage, with cooler temperatures expected. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 251 PM CDT Sun Aug 31 2025 The blocking pattern and resultant stagnant progression remains locked in across the CONUS as a broad ribbon of nearly stationary shortwave energy extends NW-SE from the Dakotas thru the mid- Mississippi River Valley. It`s here that a broad area of moist ascent is contributing to intermittent rain showers and embedded thunderstorm chances that will persist thru midday Monday mainly central and west. Similar to yesterday, short-range CAM guidance points to a NW-SE oriented convective band forming north and east of DSM this afternoon along the differential heating boundary. Rainfall has been highly localized as slow motions and training showers/storms resulted in large gradients over short distances, which will likely persist with tonight and early Monday`s activity. Like last night, some areas may pick a quick several inches of rain. However, do not anticipate any widespread flooding concerns given recent run of dry weather. The shortwave finally begins to depart on Monday as the downstream Rex Block finally breaks, allowing the pattern to become progressive once again. Rainfall chances will remain during the morning hours, however will see a general decrease by Monday afternoon as the system departs. High temperatures Monday look very similar to today, reaching into the 70s for most locales. Tuesday will be a transitional day as we await the arrival of the mid- week cold front. Well upstream, the stationary low over the eastern Pacific retrogrades, amplifying the ridging across western NOAM and steepening the meridional flow into the center part of the country. By Wednesday morning, this will bring a strong cold front strengthening winds, turning them northwesterly, and advecting a cooler air mass into the state. There will be no shortage of forcing along the front, so rain chances will increase in proximity of the cold front moves through. Behind the front, 850mb temperatures are progd to fall to 0 to 2C across northern sections of the state. This means high temperatures will generally only warm into the 60s during the afternoon; with overnight lows falling into the 40s. There are some indications that upper 30s will be a possibilitiy across the far north as well. A second cold front appears to pass through Thursday night reinforcing the cool air mass while bringing the possibility of another quick shot of rain. Otherwise, expect dry conditions through the remainder of the period. && .AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z TUESDAY/... Issued at 625 AM CDT Mon Sep 1 2025 Clouds remain across the southwest half of Iowa this morning, with the lowest ceilings over KFOD while mid-level clouds pass over KDSM and KOTM, in relation to the system producing rain showers south and west of the terminals. While rain chances are not expected to impact most sites, there is a low potential (up to 20%) at/near KFOD into the afternoon to early evening. Otherwise clouds will gradually decrease with ceilings rising later in the afternoon and into the evening. Winds will remain light out of the southeast through the day, turning variable into Tuesday. && .DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ UPDATE...Bury DISCUSSION...Hahn AVIATION...Bury