Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Rapid City, SD

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248
FXUS63 KUNR 011519
AFDUNR

Area Forecast Discussion For Western SD and Northeastern WY
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
919 AM MDT Mon Sep 1 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Dense fog early this morning, especially on the western SD
  plains
- Cold front moves through Tuesday night with a chance of showers
  and thunderstorms
- Another cold front Thursday brings gusty northwest winds

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 916 AM MDT Mon Sep 1 2025

The dense fog has lifted and areas are seeing improvements to
visibility. Low clouds will continue to scour out throughout the
morning and giveaway to mostly sunny skies.

&&

.DISCUSSION...(Today Through Sunday)
Issued at 202 AM MDT Mon Sep 1 2025

07z surface analysis had west/east-oriented ridge across the CWA
with trough exiting south-central SD to the south, taking the last
vestiges of precipitation with it. Stratus/fog in place over
northeast half of the CWA with a few spots getting thick. Will
continue to monitor the need for Dense Fog headlines. Rest of CWA
clear. Water vapour loop had upper ridge from the southwest CONUS
poking into the northern plains as narrow trough exits the CWA.

Today through Tuesday afternoon, upper/thermal ridge builds into
the CWA. Morning fog will mix out. Drier air, subsidence, and
increasing cap per thermal ridge will preclude mentionable pops.
Temperatures will be near guidance.

Tuesday night/Wednesday, cold front zips through the northern
Plains courtesy of Hudson Bay upper low shifting into the Great
Lakes. Moisture pooling along the front will promote weak buoyancy
in regime characterized by increasing 0-6km bulk shear per
increasing mid-level flow. A couple of stronger TSRA may develop
Tuesday evening over northwestern SD. Cooler temperatures are
foreseen for Wednesday.

Looking ahead, another cold front slips through Thursday/Friday.
There are some signs of gusty winds per deterministic guidance with
NBM (lesser extent LREF) showing a 30-50% chance of wind gusts
>40mph. Nothing to write home about yet for the first week of
meteorological Fall. Rest of the period looks seasonal/mainly dry as
CWA snuggled in between upper trough over eastern north America and
ridge over the western CONUS.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS Through 12Z Tuesday Morning)
Issued At 517 AM MDT Mon Sep 1 2025

Areas LIFR/IFR conditions (including KRAP terminal) due to
fog/stratus will persist on the western SD plains through 15z, but
then rapidly improve. VFR conditions are expected elsewhere
through the period.

&&

.UNR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SD...None.
WY...None.
&&

$$

UPDATE...Woodward
DISCUSSION/KEY MESSAGES...Helgeson
AVIATION...Helgeson