Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Twin Cities, MN

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227 FXUS63 KMPX 130001 AFDMPX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 701 PM CDT Sat Jul 12 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Hazardous air quality this weekend from Canadian wildfire smoke. - Isolated thunderstorms possible Sunday evening. A more widespread rain event likely Tuesday night - Wednesday night. && .DISCUSSION...
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Issued at 216 PM CDT Sat Jul 12 2025 A broad area of Canadian wildfire smoke has settled in across the Upper Midwest over the past half day. AQI values are at Unhealthy levels across the state, & may decrease further with the arrival of another wave of dense smoke this afternoon. While it`s an otherwise pleasant Summer day, it would be best to take precautions and avoid strenuous outdoor activities & remain indoors if possible. The smoke will clear out of the area briefly on Sunday, but another broad area of wildfire smoke pivots through Sunday evening into Monday per the HRRR near surface smoke field. An Air Quality Alert remains in effect for both MN & WI counties through Monday morning. Sunday afternoon will present a slight chance for an isolated thunderstorm to develop along a weak surface boundary that moves through. Storms shouldn`t present much impact outside of a brief shower & a few rumbles of thunder. Wildfire smoke should depart by Tuesday for those hoping for better air quality. A better chance of a more widespread precipitation event arrives late Tuesday through Wednesday night. Guidance highlights a potent shortwave along the international border on Tuesday & treks eastward through Thursday. Increasing signal for a broad area of 0.50"+ of rain across the Upper Mississippi valley region by the end of the work week. We will dry out with a surface high pressure overhead Thursday & Friday that should lead to a stretch of cooler than normal temperatures (think highs in the 70s). Temperatures return to normal next weekend with another chance for thunderstorms & showers on Saturday.
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&& .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z MONDAY/...
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Issued at 645 PM CDT Sat Jul 12 2025 Main issue through this duration will be the continued MVFR- range visibility due to near-surface smoke from Canadian wildfires. The smoke will remain in place overnight through late Sunday morning, then a break from it looks to come Sunday afternoon, allowing visibilities to climb over 5sm. Similar to this afternoon, Sunday afternoon will also have FEW-SCT mid- level cumulus coverage. There is a small chance of SHRA/TSRA Sunday afternoon-evening over southern-eastern MN into western WI but chances are too low to include at this point, and timing is mainly after 00z tomorrow evening. Winds will back from W/NW at initialization to SW tonight into tomorrow. Speeds drop below 10kts this evening through sunrise then will increase to around 10kts during the day Sunday. KMSP...Canadian wildfire smoke will maintain degraded visibility through late Sunday morning, mainly in the MVFR range. Improvement to VFR looks likely from Sunday afternoon onward. There is a non-zero chance of isolated showers/t-storms impacting MSP after 00z tomorrow afternoon but chances are too low to mention in the TAF at this point. /OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/ MON...VFR. Wind S 5-10 kts. TUE...VFR, chc MVFR/-TSRA. Wind S 10-15 kts. WED...VFR, chc MVFR/-TSRA. Wind NE 5-10 kts.
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&& .MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MN...None. WI...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...BPH AVIATION...JPC