Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Des Moines, IA
Issued by NWS Des Moines, IA
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696 FXUS63 KDMX 130738 AFDDMX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Des Moines IA 238 AM CDT Mon May 13 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... * Showers and weak thunderstorms will continue through Monday across portions of central and southern Iowa. Some lingers SE into Tuesday. No real opportunity for strong/severe. * Brief reprieve Tuesday into Wednesday before additional showers/thunder move through Wednesday PM into Thursday - Severe risk low. * Cooler throughout the week - Highs mid 60s to mid 70s, lows mid 40s to 50s. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 234 AM CDT Mon May 13 2024 Upper level trough continues to churn across western and central Kansas early this morning, as seen on various GOES 16 water vapor products, bringing with it increased lift and precipitation coverage locally. Much of the precipitation to this point has been driven by waves of low-mid level lift associated with theta-e advection. With little to latch onto in terms of MUCAPE or wind profiles, activity has been limited to periodic thunder and brief periods of moderate rainfall. Greatest precipitation amounts have been along/south of Interstate 80, with many a half inch or less. A hyper-local precipitation max of around 3 inches has been seen just west of Indianola, but came over the period of a few hours, limiting local issues. Showers and occasional thunder coverage is expected to increase through the morning and into the afternoon as deeper lift associated with the upper trough begins to move into the area. With its track generally eastward and dry air encroaching from the north, there will be a sharp gradient/cut-off to precipitation drifting southward out of northern Iowa through the day. Weak SB/MUCAPE and muted flow through the column (generally under 20 kts) will yield predominantly light to moderate slow moving areas of showers/thunder. Hi-res/CAM guidance suggests relatively widespread amounts of around 1 to 1.5 inches along/south of Interstate 80. Locally higher amounts for areas that experience "stronger" convection and/or multiple rounds of it may see totals in excess of 2 to 2.5 inches, with it occurring over a number of hours though, hydrologic issues are not expected. This activity may linger in southeast areas of the state into Tuesday before briefly drying out. Of casual note, there may be hints of smoke in the air at times today across the state as northerly winds help usher in smoke from Canadian wild fires. This is not expected to be highly impactful aside from occasional smells or light haze with modeled near-surface concentrations on the low end. By Wednesday afternoon/evening, the next opportunity for showers and storms will begin to move in as southern and northern stream shortwave energy encroaches. Synoptic runs have continued the recent trend of poor/no phasing of the waves, resulting in disjointed areas of precipitation. For the most part, this continues to put Iowa between the two shortwave paths and may only result in light precipitation amounts. Regardless, the strong/severe threat remains very low. Deterministic guidance has come into better agreement on the large scale pattern to end the week and into the weekend, but continue to depict timing differences of passing compact shortwaves within. Divergence then accelerates by Sunday. This continues to result in prolonged low-end precipitation chances within NBM and the going public forecast. At that time window, remarkably difficult to pin down meaningful (and skillful) changes to PoPs. Throughout the week, expect temperatures to be near-normal for the most part with forecast highs ranging from the mid 60s to mid 70s. The cool and generally wet conditions should continue to eat away at lingering drought areas. && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z TUESDAY/... Issued at 1137 PM CDT Sun May 12 2024 Scattered showers/iso storms still on track this period. Little overall change from previous forecast, with coverage of storm most likely at ALO, DSM, and OTM. Cigs lower to MVFR/near IFR in the south with periods of heavier showers aft 12z south. Over the far north, some hint of approaching haze/FU due to forest fires in Canada drifting into Iowa. May impact FOD and MCW. For now have not included smoke in TAF, mainly due to uncertainty of coverage. /rev && .DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Curtis AVIATION...REV