


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Sioux Falls, SD
Issued by NWS Sioux Falls, SD
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104 FXUS63 KFSD 030346 AFDFSD Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 1046 PM CDT Tue Sep 2 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - 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 /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z THURSDAY/... Issued at 1040 PM CDT Tue Sep 2 2025 A couple areas of leftover showers/isolated thunderstorms east of Interstate 29 will continue to slide to the southeast out of the area. Otherwise, additional showers and isolated thunderstorms will push across the area later tonight, with more of the focus being through the James and MO River Valleys, and then into parts of northwest IA by Wednesday morning. Guidance is indicating MVFR stratus developing over these same areas with this activity on Wednesday morning. These showers will completely exit the area by late morning on Wednesday. Behind this, wildfire smoke will work into the region, and some of this may reach the surface with some reduction in visibility possible. Winds will transition to northerly behind a frontal boundary overnight, gusting around 20 kts on Wednesday. && .FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...None. MN...None. IA...None. NE...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...SG AVIATION...JM