Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Grand Forks, ND
Issued by NWS Grand Forks, ND
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904 FXUS63 KFGF 110903 AFDFGF Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Forks ND 403 AM CDT Sat May 11 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Near critical fire weather is expected today across much of the region as RH values fall into the 20 to 30 percent range along with wind gusts up to 25 mph. - Showers and isolated thunderstorms are possible this afternoon for portions of northwest Minnesota. A few storms could produce strong wind gusts. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 403 AM CDT Sat May 11 2024 Weak shortwave ridging traverses the region today, with a strong response in temperatures this afternoon. Look for highs in the low 80s across much of the area; there is a 30% chance to reach 85 degrees in the northern Red River Valley. With low dew points already in place, this will create a scenario for very low RH values as low as 20 percent. Winds will not be as strong as yesterday; however, we could still see a few gusts to 25 mph. For the late afternoon and into the overnight period, shortwave troughing moves progressively from northwest to southeast in response to an H5 upper low moving across northern Manitoba. This should provide an axis of instability and forcing starting late this afternoon across portions of northwest Minnesota. Soundings indicate an environment somewhat supportive of strong wind gusts where high based thunderstorms are able to form. While SBCAPE looks to be minimal, MUCAPE supports elevated thunderstorm development and will be in the range of 800-1200 J/Kg. DCAPE is quite high as is expected with the very dry air mass at the surface, and soundings show a range of 900-1500 J/Kg. As such, any strong storm that develops would most likely produce strong wind gusts, with lower chances for hail. Heading into Sunday and Monday, impact potential looks minimal in as ridging builds into the Northern Plains. Highs will be in the 70s on Sunday, with 60s to low 70s Monday. For Tuesday and Wednesday, another H5 low pressure system brings rain chances back into the area. Guidance has hinted at a deeper low in the past several runs, which could slow the system and increase the potential for higher rainfall amounts. Currently, amounts look rather light, with a 70 percent chance for 0.10 inch and a 30 percent chance for 0.50 inch for the period covering late Tuesday through early Thursday. && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY/... Issued at 1120 PM CDT Fri May 10 2024 The 00z set of TAFs remain on target, so stuck with the main ideas from them. Light winds overnight will take on a SSW component by mid Saturday morning, then get pretty breezy again by afternoon (mainly KDVL/KGFK/KTVF). These winds will drop again by early Saturday evening. Clouds may be a little tricky. Have stuck with the idea of FEW-SCT250 for overnight into Saturday morning. By afternoon, there should be some lower or mid cloud development (SCT-BKN070-100), but still VFR. Then during the later afternoon into the evening, expect some SCT shower maybe isolated thunder development. Being this far out, it is still a low confidence forecast, so left as VCSH at some of the northern TAF sites for now. && .FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ND...None. MN...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Lynch AVIATION...Godon