Severe Storm Outlook Narrative (AC)
Issued by NWS
Issued by NWS
102 ACUS02 KWNS 150525 SWODY2 SPC AC 150524 Day 2 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1224 AM CDT Tue Sep 15 2026 Valid 161200Z - 171200Z ...THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WEDNESDAY MORNING ACROSS THE GREAT SALT LAKE/SALT LAKE CITY VICINITY... ...SUMMARY... A couple of strong to severe thunderstorms appear possible across the Greater Salt Lake City vicinity Wednesday morning. ...Discussion... Latest model output continues to indicate that an initially digging short wave trough along the Pacific coast will contribute to the evolution of a notable mid/upper low near or inland of the northern California coast by 12Z Wednesday. Cut off from the westerlies, to the south of a belt of broadly anticyclonic flow shifting inland of the British Columbia coast through the Canadian Prairies, movement thereafter likely will be slow and mostly in response to smaller-scale perturbations pivoting around its periphery. Downstream of the broad ridging in the westerlies, at least a couple of notable short wave perturbations will remain progressive within a stronger, broadly confluent regime across the eastern Canadian Provinces through northern mid-latitude Atlantic. It appears that this will include one rapidly shifting east of northern Quebec into the Atlantic, as another digs through northern Manitoba and northwestern Ontario. In lower latitudes, prominent mid-level ridging may maintain considerable influence across much of the central and southern Great Plains into the Mid Atlantic, as its center continues a slow west-southwestward retrogression into and across the lower Mississippi Valley/Mid South vicinity. There remains more uncertainty concerning an easterly wave approaching the southern Atlantic Seaboard and a possible mid-level perturbation suppressing the ridging across parts of the lower Great Lakes/upper Ohio Valley vicinity. ...Great Basin... Beneath a difluent regime, downstream of the evolving mid-level low, latest model output is suggestive that a focused area of large-scale ascent may overspread the Great Salt Lake/Salt Lake City vicinity Wednesday morning. Based on NAM, Rapid Refresh, and RRFS forecast soundings and other guidance, it appears that this may be accompanied by low-level moistening supportive of modest boundary-layer destabilization, in the presence of strengthening deep-layer shear becoming conducive to the evolution of supercell structures. This activity will pose at least some risk for severe hail and wind. The potential for a brief tornado remains more uncertain. ...Ohio into lower Missouri Valleys... A moist environment along and south of a remnant surface frontal zone, or perhaps a preceding outflow boundary, may contribute to the development of moderate mixed-layer CAPE with daytime heating. This destabilization may become supportive of scattered strong thunderstorm development during the afternoon into evening. Although spread lingers in the model output concerning the location and extent of this activity, this seems likely to remain focused within a weakly sheared regime beneath this mid-level ridging. Some of the more vigorous cells may still pose a risk for localized strong surface gusts, but the anticipated rather sparse coverage continues to preclude introduction of 5 percent severe wind probabilities at this time. ..Kerr.. 09/15/2026 $$