


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill, MO
Issued by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill, MO
Versions:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
453 FXUS63 KEAX 050500 AFDEAX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO 1200 AM CDT Sat Jul 5 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Fairly seasonal temperatures with gradually building humidity into the weekend. Heat indices will remain in the low to mid 90s for the 4th of July weekend. - A few rounds of thunderstorms are possible through Sunday morning. Isolated severe storms are possible (less than 15% chance) on Saturday evening. - Unsettled pattern to start early next week with multiple chances for thunderstorms. Uncertainty still remains high with timing. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 207 PM CDT Fri Jul 4 2025 Mid- to upper-level ridging remains dominant over the area this 4th of July. The accompanying broad surface high centered over the northeast U.S., will keep winds out of the south allowing for increased moisture transport from the Gulf. This will result in humid conditions continuing to slowly build as we head into the weekend. Isolated showers and storms may develop this afternoon and early evening anywhere in our forecast area (with one having developed recently in Ray County). With limited shear, storms will be pulse- like and brief. A strong wind gust or two cannot be ruled out, with DCAPE values exceeding 1000 J/kg and PWATs near 2 inches enabling the development of water-loaded downdrafts. These storms are diurnally driven and are expected to dissipate quickly with the loss of daytime heating. Convection developing over Nebraska and Kansas this afternoon/evening will move eastward overnight and may last long enough to work into our forecast area by tomorrow morning, aided by a weak (25-35 kt) low-level jet (LLJ) with associated boosts in moisture/lift. However, unfavorable timing (diurnal minimum in heating) and an overall unfavorable environment (limited shear and meager instability) should preclude severe weather with these storms (which will instead likely be weakening as they approach/move through the area). Late Saturday evening into early Sunday, an H5 shortwave trough pushes its attendant surface front through the area resulting in another round of showers and storms. Moderate to strong instability will be present (> 2000+ J/kg) and negligible inhibition leading to ready development of vigorous updrafts during/after peak heating. Once again, however, very limited shear (bulk shear values less than 20 kts) will keep storms pulse-like and disorganized. As a result of this, the severe risk is low (though not zero) at this time. Some of the strongest storms could produce an isolated strong wind gust (DCAPE values 800+ J/kg) or a brief/torrential downpour (PWATs 1.75- 2+ inches). The timing of the front (moving northwest to southeast) appears to be during the evening and early overnight hours Saturday and Saturday night. Remaining uncertainties include frontal position/timing as well as the duration of lingering effects of any morning convection across the area. Confidence is highest with thunderstorm potential in northern Missouri (outlined well in the Day-2 SPC convective outlook). The front should move mostly through the area by Sunday morning, keeping storm chances mostly south of the area (though cannot completely rule out Sunday afternoon convection south of I-70). For the first half of next week, mid to upper level ridging builds over the Four Corners region. An unsettled pattern is expected as multiple shortwave troughs move through the developing northwest upper flow, increasing chances for showers and thunderstorms (with a favorable pattern for ridge-riding mesoscale convective systems). An upper-level low ejects eastward from northern California mid-to-late next week that will keep storm chances elevated for our area during this period. The LREF suggests daily chances (up to at least 40%) for measurable precip next Monday through Friday. That being said, there is a good amount of uncertainty concerning the movement and strength of these features being this far out. Meanwhile, regarding temperatures, the NBM suggests near seasonal temperatures for the majority of next week. && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY/... Issued at 1155 PM CDT Fri Jul 4 2025 Remnant smoke linger below the inversion could result in temporary reductions in visibility overnight. Short wave moving across the Upper Midwest could lead to morning storms across northern Missouri after 10Z. These showers could result in brief reductions in visibility in heavy rain. Scattered storms are possible south of highway 36, though confidence is not high enough at this point to include in a tempo or prevailing group so just have a prob30 at this point. More robust convection is possible after 19Z, mainly east of the TAF sites but strong storms could lead to MVFR visibilities and gusty winds. && .EAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MO...None. KS...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Collier AVIATION...BT