Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Bismarck, ND
Issued by NWS Bismarck, ND
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644 FXUS63 KBIS 040528 AFDBIS Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Bismarck ND 1228 AM CDT Thu Jul 4 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms will continue over much of western and central North Dakota through tonight. - Numerous showers and scattered thunderstorms are expected on Independence Day, especially during the afternoon. But the entire day will not be a washout at most locations, as much of the activity will be of the "hit or miss" variety. - Slightly below normal temperatures with daily chances for showers and thunderstorms will continue through the holiday weekend. Highs will mainly be in the mid to upper 70s. && .UPDATE... Issued at 1223 AM CDT Thu Jul 4 2024 Minimal changes were made to the forecast for this update. Showers and thunderstorms continue to develop across the south central, while some additional showers are expected to begin moving into the northwest over the next few hours. Some light radar returns are being observed near the west central border, though its unclear whether the rain here is actually reaching the ground. The lightning activity in the south central has died down a bit, but isn`t completely gone. Otherwise, just blended the current observations into the forecast. .UPDATE... Issued at 949 PM CDT Wed Jul 3 2024 The forecast for tonight remains on track. The greatest coverage of showers is beginning to shift over south central North Dakota as expected, ahead of the base of the mid level trough. This is also the only part of the state where lightning is still being observed. We will maintain an isolated thunderstorm mention for most areas through the night with the continued presence of at least a few hundred J/kg MUCAPE, but the probability of lightning at any given location is quite low. .UPDATE... Issued at 719 PM CDT Wed Jul 3 2024 At 7 PM CDT, the greatest concentration of shower and thunderstorm activity was located from Divide County to near Lake Metigoshe. Elsewhere, showers and especially storms have been lower in coverage than anticipated, although some more persistent rain is now making its way into southwest parts of the state. PoPs have been updated to better reflect observed trends this evening, and CAM/rapid refresh model trends later tonight through tomorrow. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 330 PM CDT Wed Jul 3 2024 Currently in the cyclonic flow , several areas of popcorn showers and thunderstorms have developed. A shortwave wave is in central Montana, providing lift for these showers in eastern Montana and the Dakotas. These areas are the northwest, north central, and around Bismarck. Another area of showers is in the southwest where a different system is bringing showers into the state off a low moving into Nebraska. The showers in the diurnal cumulus should die with the sunset, where as the showers off the low may continue all night, slowly spreading north and east as the upper level wave moves east. Independence Day: With the upper low and surface low moving across South Dakota Thursday, another day of widespread popcorn showers are likely in the afternoon. For the morning hours, it looks like showers and maybe thunderstorms will be rotating around this low in northern South Dakota and into the south central of North Dakota. Timing on this looks to be through the late morning before the daytime diurnal convection starts. As the wave passes through, the flow aloft will turn northerly with an incoming ridge. However this won`t prohibit the afternoon convection. This looks to start around 17z as the diurnal cumulus starts, moving straight south. Storms will not be severe as there will be hardly any shear, plenty of CAPE though. Highs will be slightly cooler in the low to mid 70s. **If you look at your city`s forecast on our website, you`ll probably see a high percentage chance for storms. However the storms will be the popcorn version and not an all day washout like it may seem. So there will be quick moving small thunderstorms everywhere in the state in the afternoon, ending in the evening. With your outdoor plans, make sure to keep an eye on the sky for lightning and on the radar to see if one is coming or when you are in the clear. Remember, lightning can strike several miles away from the storm out of the anvil or sideways out of the storm.** This weekend into next week: Friday through Sunday will be more of the same with shortwaves moving through with daily diurnally driven chances for showers and thunderstorms. No severe weather is expect because everyday one of the key ingredients will be missing, either CAPE or shear. Highs through the weekend will remain just below average in the low to upper 70s. After Sunday a big ridge sets up over the western Continental United States, with warmer temperatures at 850mb. So starting Monday, a warming temperature trend will start with highs ranging from the mid 70s to the lower 80s. By Wednesday it could range from the mid 70s to mid 80s. There could be a few kinks of energy moving through the ridge producing a few showers, but otherwise it should be mostly dry under the influence of the ridge. && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 1223 AM CDT Thu Jul 4 2024 Showers and thunderstorms will remain possible overnight, with the highest chances near KBIS. Through the day today, frequent showers and thunderstorms can be expected across the entire area and at every terminal. However, given the spotty nature of these showers, it will be hard to tell exactly when any given location will see rain. In any storm that develops, gusty winds and IFR visibilities may be possible. Otherwise, mostly VFR to occasionally MVFR ceilings are expected through the TAF period. Winds will be 5 to 10 kts, generally out of the northwest. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ UPDATE...Besson DISCUSSION...Smith AVIATION...Besson