Prognostic Meteorological Discussion
Issued by NWS
Issued by NWS
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685 FXUS20 KWBC 211755 PMDSA South America Forecast Discussion - International Desks NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 1255 PM EST Fri Nov 21 2025 GFS data at ftpprd.ncep.noaa.gov/data/nccf/com/gfs/prod/ South American Forecast Bulletin for 21 November 2025 at 1755 UTC In the subtropics, a mid-to-upper level shortwave trough will be propagating across the Chaco region on Friday. This trough will enable the development of a cold front across southern Bolivia and Paraguay starting Friday afternoon. The cold front will quickly lose its definition as it enters northern Bolivia on Saturday evening. At the low levels, a pre-existing northwesterly low level wind flow will transport moist tropical air into the region, increasing available precipitable water. Moisture convergence is expected to be magnified with the presence of the frontal boundary across central and northern Bolivia for Friday. Thus, a total precipitation maxima of 50 - 100mm is possible across the Yungas region of Bolivia through Saturday morning and precipitation chances will begin to increase starting late Friday evening. Across the Chaco region of Bolivia and the western region of Chiquitania, expect a total precipitation maxima of 30 - 60mm. Low level troughing will still be present in northern Bolivia on Saturday. Moisture convergence will be enhanced in this region and these conditions may support a total precipitation maxima of 30 - 60mm from Saturday morning through Sunday morning. In general, the subtropics are seeing an increase in precipitable water through the forecast cycle. The presence of low level troughs will favor precipitation initiation. Orography, local effects, and the diurnal cycle may also contribute to the initiation and sustenance of convection across the region. Another region of interest is the Interior Nordeste and Bahia regions of Brasil. A weakening stationary front will begin to move southward and low level troughing will persist in the region for Friday and Saturday. Low level onshore flow will be prominent through Saturday evening and this will enhance moisture convergence in the region. Precipitable water values will begin to decrease substantially for Sunday and precipitation chances will decrease. For Friday, a total precipitation maxima of 40 - 80mm is possible across Interior Nordeste and Bahia. By Saturday, a maxima of 25 - 50mm is expected across Bahia. Moisture convergence will still be favorable across Espirito Santo on Sunday and this may favor total precipitation maxima of 20 - 45mm. By Saturday, the aforementioned mid-to-upper level trough will be moving across central Brasil. This trough will begin to interact with a broad upper ridging pattern to the north and will favor an increase in upper diffluence and the development of a jet streak max across south-central Brasil through Monday morning. This will favor the development of low level troughs in the region and moisture pooling along these boundaries. The cooler mid-level temperatures will also increase instability and will help sustain convection in this region. Isolated to widespread convection is anticipated across central Brasil, where a total precipitation maxim of 15 - 25mm is possible. Meanwhile, a total precipitation maxima of 30 - 60mm is expected across Mato Grosso and the Cerrado for Saturday. On Sunday, a total preicpitaiotn maxima of 25 - 50mm is possible across the same region. Along the Pacific coasts of Colombia and Ecuador, onshore flow will be persistent through the next three days. The Panamanian low will gain definition on Saturday and will persist through Monday. This will favor a general low level cyclonic wind flow pattern in the region that may favor the initiation of precipitation across the region. Expect daily precipitation accumulations to exceed 40mm through the forecast cycle. Another feature of interest is a cold front that is currently located across northern Argentina and extending across Uruguay. By Friday evening, this cold front will be located across southeastern Brasil and losing its definition across northern Argentina. Expect a daily northward propagation of this frontal boundary. The greatest precipitation impacts associated with this cold front will be on Sunday. During this period, expect the arrival of the axis of a mid-to-upper level trough to begin to support upper divergence and destabilization of the atmosphere. There will also be an increase in onshore flow across Serra do Mar. These conditions will favor a total precipitation maxima of 30 - 60mm from Sunday morning through Monday morning. In the mid-latitudes, a mid-to-upper level trough will begin to move into austral Chile on Saturday. At the surface, a potent cold front that is accompanied by a long fetch moisture plume will begin to converge with the continent starting Saturday morning. This will increase low level moisture convergence. Low level wind speeds will exceed 50 knots and the direction of the winds will be from a north-northwest direction. The mid-to-upper level support and above normal moisture will lead to total accumulations of 20 - 40mm across the northern regions of austral Chile. By Sunday, still expect enhanced moisture convergence as the low level wind direction will be from a more westerly direction, which is favorable for moisture convergence and orographic effects. Expect a total precipitation maxima of 15 to 20mm from Sunday morning through Monday morning across the northern regions of austral Chile and southern Chile. For the latest available charts please visit: https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/international/sam_day1-3.shtml Tinoco-Morales...(WPC) $$