Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Quad Cities, IA IL

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745
FXUS63 KDVN 110549
AFDDVN

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
1249 AM CDT Sat May 11 2024

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Clouds will continue to decrease from north to south through
  midnight, allowing for a viewing of the northern lights.

- Warmest day in the next week will be Sunday with highs in the
  80s.

- Active long term as a series of waves makes its way through
  the area.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
Issued at 224 PM CDT Fri May 10 2024

Mostly to party sunny skies were found across the area this
afternoon. Temperatures in the mid to upper 60s were found
area-wide. North of the area, another wave started moving into
MN and N WI. A cold front with this wave was being pulled south
into the area. This will serve as the main forecast problem in
the short term.

Two main things of interest are the chances for showers and
thunderstorms this evening and how fast do clouds clear out
after the cold front. Cold front timing and shower/storm timing
have been rather consistent. Expect most of the showers/storms
to enter the area between 01 and 02Z and exit our southeast by
05z to 07z. Clouds should clear quickly after the front moves
through as drier air moves into the area. We currently have a
clear forecast and I expect that to continue. That said, some
CAA CU over MN behind the front does make me a little nervous,
especially if it decides to turn to stratus, we could be out of
luck with sky cover tonight. I do not see this happening, but we
need to keep an eye on it as it would be the only way we aren`t
clear.

This evening, CAPE does build ahead of the front as dewpoints in
the 50s start to pool ahead of it. This will help to develop
thunderstorms, as the front moves south, cooling after the
sun sets, should lead to a decrease in overall CAPE. This means
the best chance for thunder will be across the far north as the
showers and storms enter. With dry low levels, inverted V
soundings are indicative of gusty winds with these showers. Wind
gusts to 45 mph cannot be ruled out. With a decrease in CAPE
overall risk for severe weather is so low that it doesn`t
warrant a mention in the HWO.

After this, a quiet Saturday is expected with similar
temperatures to today.

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Issued at 224 PM CDT Fri May 10 2024

Period will start out with short-lived ridging as a SW wave
pulls warmer air into the area for Sunday. Temperatures into the
low 80s are currently forecast. After this, guidance slowly
brings this nearly cut-off SW wave across the area leading to an
increase in rain and thunderstorm chances. Sunday afternoon we could
see scattered showers and storms. While CAPE up to 2000 J/kg
are possible, the shear is rather weak at 20-25 kts of deep
layer. This suggests a multicell type of thunderstorm
environment with strong storms. With the large T/Td spread could
possibly see some strong to near severe gusts, especially if we
can get that 2000 CAPE to develop.

Tuesday On: There is uncertainty on how fast the rain moves out
with most of the models lingering it across the south through
Tuesday morning. Generally, we`ll be looking at a more tranquil
pattern later Tuesday into Wednesday as a backdoor cold front
advects in a cooler and drier air mass from the NE. NBM highs
may be too warm for Wednesday, and latest trends in the
deterministic models is to delay the next round of showers and
storms until Wednesday night into Thursday.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 1241 AM CDT Sat May 11 2024

High pressure will lead to prevailing VFR through Saturday.
Light WNW to NW winds overnight will increase and gust 20-25
kts during the day on Saturday. No precipitation is expected
through the period.

&&

.DVN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IA...None.
IL...None.
MO...None.

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...Gibbs
LONG TERM...Gibbs
AVIATION...Uttech