


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Sioux Falls, SD
Issued by NWS Sioux Falls, SD
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594 FXUS63 KFSD 021938 AFDFSD Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 238 PM CDT Tue Sep 2 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Showers and storms are expected this afternoon and evening. A couple strong to severe storms are possible between 5 and 10 PM with quarter size hail and 60 mph wind gusts being the primary threats. - Additional, more widespread showers are expected later tonight into early Wednesday. Isolated rumbles of thunder but no severe weather expected. - Canadian wildfire smoke moves into the region Wednesday. While the highest concentration should stay aloft, expect brief reductions to surface air quality and visibilities. Use caution and limit time outdoors if sensitive to smoke. - Fall-like temperatures prevail mid to late week as an unseasonably strong system brings much colder air to the northern Plains and Upper Midwest. Mostly dry and periodically breezy conditions anticipated. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 237 PM CDT Tue Sep 2 2025 NOW THROUGH TONIGHT: Wave moving through MN has kept some showers and very isolated thunder across portions of southwestern MN. Expect this to continue to move to the southeast through the early afternoon. Attention turns to the cold front dropping south, currently stretching from Sisseton to Redfield, SD where CU have begun to develop. Convection has already begun to fire across west central MN just ahead of the front, and expect more showers and storms to develop near and along the front later this afternoon and evening. Most CAMs still show the timing of the convection around 5 PM to 7 PM CDT for the US Hwy 14 corridor (22z-00z). This front should push south of the area through this evening. A few strong to severe storms are possible from roughly 5-10 PM with the aid of peak heating. Instability around 1500 J/kg and shear around 25 knots may be enough to help support a couple of stronger storms, although the better shear (west) and instability (east) remain offset in time and space. Main threats are hail to quarter sized with mid level lapse rates around 6-6.5 deg C/km and wind gusts to 60 mph. With a weak and subtle outflow boundary over the area and somewhat low LCL heights, can`t entirely rule out a tornado; however, risk remains very low. Could see some locally heavy rainfall with PWATs around 1.25-1.5" but expect storms to be progressive enough to limit any issues. Additional rain chances move in behind the main cold front with the mid/upper level wave and a secondary, weaker lower level front. Expect most of this precip to be focused across south central SD into the MO River Valley, but should see widespread showers over the area. Severe weather is not expected with this area of precip, but may see some locally heavy rain. Lows tonight in the 50s. Winds should remain elevated enough to preclude fog development. MID WEEK: Showers and isolated storms continue to move south through the morning hours Wednesday with the mid level wave and some focused WAA near the wave. Showers may linger into the afternoon hours along US Hwy 20, but should become more sparse in coverage. Otherwise, a breezy and much cooler day is expected with strong low pressure over southern Canada. Surface high pressure begins to move into the area, with north to northwesterly flow through most of the atmosphere. Given the northwesterly flow, cloud cover, and prevailing CAA have leaned on the cooler guidance for highs tomorrow - keeping temperatures in the 60s. You`ll definitely want a jacket as wind gusts of 25-30 mph will make it feel cooler than the 60s. One other concern for Wednesday is the Canadian wildfire smoke filtering in behind the cold front. This could lead to some reduced visibility and air quality, although the higher concentrations of smoke should largely remain aloft. If you`re sensitive to smoke, limit exposure and time outdoors. Smoke pushes south of the area Wednesday evening and night. Lows Wednesday night fall into the upper 30s to mid 40s. We may see some patchy frost in the For Thursday, may see some minor lingering smoke aloft west of I-29, but not expecting any surface impacts. Cooler temperatures aloft prevail, with 850 mb temperatures in the lowest 10% of climatology. However, with surface high pressure, southerly surface flow and increasing WAA, should see highs moderate in the upper 60s to near 80 (in south central SD. By Thursday afternoon and evening, next wave pivots southeast around the strong upper level low over Ontario with a surface low swinging through MN. A cold front moves through the area Thursday night; however, not expecting much if any precipitation as low level moisture is lacking. Lows Thursday night in the 40s. FRIDAY-THE WEEKEND: Trough axis digs into the Midwest on Friday, with ridging building to our west. With strong northwesterly flow, Friday should be cooler with strong northwesterly winds. Should be dry with surface high pressure. Highs in the 60s with lows in the 40s. Wind gusts 25-35 mph on Friday. For the weekend, surface high pressure prevails. Still on the cooler side Saturday as we remain under the influence of the mid/upper level trough to the east. Similar temperatures Saturday with less breezy conditions than Friday. By Sunday, this trough has moved into Quebec, and ridging slides out of the Rockies flattening as it moves east. We`ll be more in a westerly flow regime with some WAA overhead with some moderation in temperatures. EARLY NEXT WEEK: Rain chances return early next week with a short wave and weak surface low moving through the region Monday into Tuesday, although guidance is split on timing of this. Guidance then splits with the GFS/ECMWF bringing ridging back to the area by Tuesday, while the Canadian shows more troughing. Temperatures should be near normal during this time. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 1224 PM CDT Tue Sep 2 2025 A few concerns through the TAF period. Rain showers and isolated lightning continues across southwestern MN through the early afternoon hours, near/north of KMML and KTKC. Next focus is the cold front moving through the region this evening and into tonight. Scattered showers and storms are expected to fire near the front. Expect the front near KHON around 02.22-03.00z, KFSD between 03.01-03z, and KSUX around 09z. Have included a PROB30 mention at KHON and KFSD, but omitted from KSUX as activity looks to stay to the east of the airspace. Showers/storms could lead to MVFR conditions. Showers and isolated storms develop behind the front, with the heaviest focused for the James and MO River Valleys. Again, could see MVFR/IFR conditions with this activity but too low confidence on the timing to include. Showers should exit from north to south through the late morning hours, lingering into the afternoon along the MO River. Finally, wildfire smoke aloft and at the surface move in behind the front, leading to reduced visibility. Northwesterly winds toward the end of the period will gust to around 25 knots. && .FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...None. MN...None. IA...None. NE...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...SG AVIATION...SG