Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI

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021 FXUS63 KMKX 020255 AFDMKX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan WI 955 PM CDT Wed May 1 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Rain chances increase late tonight, with a few rounds of showers and thunderstorms through Thursday night/early Friday morning. Isolated strong storms possible, but widespread severe weather is not expected. - Limited rain chances on Saturday, followed by additional precipitation chances for the early to middle portion of next workweek. && .UPDATE...
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Issued 953 PM CDT Wed May 1 2024 Cloud cover associated with the moisture north of the warm front accompanying the low pressure across the Great Plains has moved in across southern Wisconsin this evening. Some sprinkles have been noted across Sauk and Marquette Counties with additional showers currently moving towards southwestern Wisconsin from eastern Iowa. Recent CAMs suggest these showers should begin to enter southwestern Wisconsin around midnight, with showers (PoPs of 30-40%) moving across the southern portion of the state through about 6AM. However, given the dry air below 700hPa, still thinking it may initially be challenging for rain to reach the surface overnight. Falkinham
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&& .SHORT TERM... Issued 139 PM CDT Wed May 1 2024 Tonight through Thursday night: Moisture will begin to increase across the area this evening, north of a warm front and ahead of an amplifying trough across the north central Plains. There is currently an appreciable amount of low and mid level dry air across the area, and this will need to be overcome before rain starts making it down to the surface late tonight or early tomorrow morning. Other than a few sprinkles this evening, think that most places will stay dry until after midnight, with limited PoPs across the eastern half of the area until after 4 AM. Instability will initially be very limited over the region, suggesting little in the way of thunder potential overnight and into the morning hours tomorrow. Guidance suggests that we may see a break in the precipitation during the late morning and early afternoon hours tomorrow, in the wake of a lead shortwave that will be lifting into northern Wisconsin and the UP. Not sure we`ll see a total break, but at least a decrease in coverage for a few hours seems probable during this timeframe. PoPs increase again heading into the late afternoon and especially evening hours, as a disorganized area of low pressure and an associated warm front tries to lift into southern Wisconsin. This will pose our best window for severe weather, but the overall threat is limited. IF the warm front makes it into southern Wisconsin, there will be a small wind and tornado threat. If the front stays south (and for anyone north of the front in general), any severe threat will be limited to hail. Again, the lack of organization with this system and limited instability should mitigate any sort of widespread severe threat. Temperatures tomorrow will be tricky, with readings highly dependent on frontal placement and precipitation coverage. There will also be a non-diurnal component, with temperatures over the far southern portion of the state either holding steady or rising slightly during the early evening hours. Precipitation is expected to end from west to east late Thursday night and early Friday, as drier air builds into the area. Boxell && .LONG TERM... Issued 139 PM CDT Wed May 1 2024 Friday through Wednesday: Any lingering showers should end by mid morning on Friday, with clearing skies through the day as high pressure moves through the region. Highs will be around 70, with a lake breeze likely by afternoon as winds become light from the north. Another shortwave will push through Saturday, bringing at least low chances for showers. Precip potential trends have been going down over the last few days, given weak forcing and limited moisture return. High pressure then arrives for Sunday, which is looking to be a very nice day with highs in the 70s and light winds. Temperatures are favored to remain above average through the middle portion of next week. The overall pattern will remain active, with chances for showers and thunderstorms late Monday and Tuesday, and again mid week. Boxell && .AVIATION...
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Issued 953 PM CDT Wed May 1 2024 A BKN to OVC cloud deck around 12kft is currently moving into southern Wisconsin north of the warm front associated with the low across the Great Plains. A few showers are possible across southern Wisconsin overnight, mainly between midnight and 6AM with TAF sites farther west seeing the earlier timing and those farther east seeing the later timing. Given the dry air below 700hPa and the scattered nature of the showers, impacts to TAF sites should be minimal, but some visibility restriction is possible if a shower passes overhead. Additional showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop across southern Wisconsin late Thursday morning into the afternoon hours as the low moves towards the state. Ceilings will drop throughout the day, reaching MVFR conditions across western Wisconsin by Thursday afternoon and across eastern Wisconsin by Thursday night. Visibilities are expected to generally be VFR, but may reach MVFR in stronger showers/storms. Falkinham
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&& .MARINE... Issued 139 PM CDT Wed May 1 2024 Gusty southwest to west winds today will gradually diminish this evening, as high pressure moves into and across the lake. A Small Craft Advisory remains in effect for the nearshore waters through late afternoon. Winds will then turn easterly and increase on Thursday, as low pressure lifts from Kansas into southwestern Wisconsin. That low will weaken and lift north into Canada on Friday, with high pressure briefly building into the region. Another area of low pressure will lift into the region on Saturday. A brief period of gusty north winds is expected Sunday morning as the low moves east and high pressure builds in from the west. Boxell && .MKX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
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WI...None. LM...None.
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