National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

• Home
• Site Map
• News
• Organization
• Search for: NWS All NOAA 

000
FXUS63 KUNR 170931
AFDUNR

Area Forecast Discussion For Western SD and Northeastern WY
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
331 AM MDT Tue Apr 17 2018

.DISCUSSION...(Today Through Monday)
Issued at 331 AM MDT Tue Apr 17 2018

Current surface analysis shows low pressure moving into northeast
WY, with cold front extending back to the southwest across WY
into UT. Warm front extends south-southeast of the low across
eastern WY and CO. Upper level analysis shows a large trough over
the western US, with a strong jet wrapping around the base of the
trough and northeastward across the Rockies and into the high
plains. Jet energy is producing showers ahead of the trough across
northwest WY into south central MT. Skies around here are clear
to partly cloudy at the moment, with a wide range of temps again
across the area. Temps are in the upper 20s and lower 30s to the
north and east of the Black Hills, with mid 30s to lower 50s
across northeast WY to the Black Hills and far southwest SD. Brisk
southeasterly winds are still noted in most areas on the plains.

The trough to the west will move relatively quickly east across the
region later today and tonight, with scattered to numerous showers
spreading east across much of the area late this morning and
afternoon. Low pressure and cold front will slide southeast into the
Central Plains today, with a modest cooling of temperatures aloft
behind it and breezy conditions. Highs will mostly be in the 40s.
Any pcpn this morning will mainly be in the form of rain, with
colder air aloft turning pcpn over to snow in the afternoon across
northeast WY, the Black Hills, and parts of northwest SD. Pcpn will
change over to snow east of the Black Hills this evening. The higher
elevations of the northern and central Black Hills, especially above
5000 ft, will see up to a few inches of snowfall this afternoon and
early evening.

Models continue to show the trough strengthening and developing a
mid level low over central SD as it moves east of the region
tonight, with the development a bit quicker than previously shown.
This would likely result in slower movement of the system out of the
region and the potential for a bit more snow on the back side
tonight for areas east of the Black Hills into central SD. The GFS
is the most aggressive with this possibility, but the heaviest
snowfall will still be east of the forecast area, from parts of
southeast SD into southern MN and northern IA. The forecast will
have 1 to 2 inches across eastern parts of northwest SD to south
central SD tonight, with local amounts of around 3 inches possible
across the higher ridges by early Wednesday. Temps will only drop
to around freezing in most areas on the plains by late tonight.

Upper level ridge behind exiting system will bring dry conditions
for much of Wednesday through at least Thursday evening, but
temperatures will stay below average. The next strong storm system
will dig southeast across the western states Thursday into Friday.
The trends continue to be further south with this system, especially
with the EC and Canadian. Shortwave energy lifting northeast ahead
of the system could bring some light rain, especially to southern
SD, Friday into Friday night. Some snow is possible across the Black
Hills, but looks to be light at this point.

As the low pressure system passes to the south of the region over
the weekend, dry weather and more seasonable temperatures should
return, especially by Sunday. Some unsettled weather looks likely
now for the first part of next week as a weak front crosses the
Northern Plains.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS Through 06Z Tuesday Night)
Issued At 956 PM MDT Mon Apr 16 2018

VFR conditions will continue most of tonight with gusty southeast
winds continuing, especially from NE WY into NW SD. Strong south
to southwest winds just off the surface will also lead to LLWS
for many areas overnight, including the KGCC and KRAP terminals.
Cold front moves into northeast Wyoming/western South Dakota
Tuesday morning with MVFR/IFR conditions in scattered rain/snow
spreading southeast through the day. Gusty northwest winds behind
the cold front along with rain/snow could lead to greatly reduced
vsbys at times.

&&

.UNR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SD...None.
WY...None.
&&

$$

DISCUSSION...26
AVIATION...Johnson