Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Des Moines, IA
Issued by NWS Des Moines, IA
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946 FXUS63 KDMX 150857 AFDDMX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Des Moines IA 357 AM CDT Wed May 15 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Chances for showers and thunderstorms increase late today into tonight for much of central Iowa. Severe threat remains low. - Warmer on Friday into Saturday with very limited chances of precipitation. - Active pattern appears to be emerging into next week with several chances for showers and thunderstorms. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 357 AM CDT Wed May 15 2024 Iowa was between system overnight with scattered cloudiness around the state along with relatively light winds. Low level moisture trapped near the surface has led to an area of expanding stratus in southern into western Iowa this morning and is advection west to northwest in the southeast low level flow. Farther northeast, the airmass is a bit drier and skies have remained mostly clear along with cooler temperatures. Precipitation which was approaching the state overnight has mostly dissipated across eastern Nebraska. These were ahead of a boundary which was slowly passing east through the Plains. The associated shortwave progresses gradually east today with mid level forcing increasing into western Iowa by this afternoon into the evening. Instability also increases with daytime heating although the low level wind fields remain relatively light, therefore overall shear is rather paltry. Scattered showers and storms should fire by mid afternoon and progress into western and central Iowa by late afternoon into the evening. Support for severe storms is minimal given the weak shear profiles with localized heavy downpours the main concern. The activity gradually passes through the forecast area overnight with little fanfare. Redevelopment is possible by midday on Thursday in the eastern forecast area, however most of the activity should quickly pass out of the area as the boundary continues eastward. Some uncertainty remains on Friday across southeast Iowa with regards to some light precipitation. GFS has some precipitation with an ejecting shortwave through Oklahoma into southern Missouri and is generally at odds with other guidance. Low PoPs will still remain in the far southeast on Friday although it appears little rainfall will materialize. Elsewhere, warmer conditions are forecast along with quiet weather. Thermal ridging slides into the state early on Saturday ahead of an approaching boundary with warm temperatures expected during the day. The front is expected to pass through during the afternoon with a few isolated storms during peak heating, mainly along and east of the Interstate 35 corridor. However, the bulk of lift associated with this system remains much farther north into Minnesota and Canada. Next week appears to be rather active with a broad west southwest flow across the central United States. Moisture is generally available with mostly unimpeded flow off of the Gulf. Placement and timing of systems remains somewhat suspect at this time although both GFS and Euro output suggest some convection impacting central and southern Iowa by Sunday night. Thereafter, a series of system ejects from the west and pass into the region with on and off chances for storms which may include the threat of some severe weather along with heavy rainfall. && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z THURSDAY/... Issued at 1155 PM CDT Tue May 14 2024 Outside of a small patch of MVFR stratus that recently moved just west of KOTM, VFR conditions were in place across much of the forecast area. Guidance suggests this area of stratus, with some fog contributions as well, is expected to expand across southern IA and into western IA by daybreak, mainly avoiding any TAF sites. Confidence is not great in this progression however, with lingering smoke aloft potentially limiting low level radiational cooling. Mid clouds should increase Wednesday ahead of the next system, with scattered showers moving west to east during the evening hours, likely with VFR conditions through the end of the period. && .DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Cogil AVIATION...Small