Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI
Issued by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI
088 FXUS63 KMKX 120919 AFDMKX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan WI 419 AM CDT Fri Jul 12 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Patchy fog possible over the Wisconsin River Valley and in low-lying spots through sunrise. - Confidence in above-normal high temperatures continues to increase during the Sunday to Monday timeframe. Heat indices between 95 and 100+ degrees are possible both Sunday and Monday afternoon. - Active weather returns Saturday afternoon through Monday, with multiple rounds of showers and storms anticipated. Some storms could be strong to severe. - Drier, quieter conditions return by the middle of next week. && .SHORT TERM... Issued 417 AM CDT Fri Jul 12 2024 Today through Saturday: Synopsis/Mesoanalysis: Regional surface observations place an area of low pressure over the Lower Peninsula of Michigan early this morning. Resulting light winds, clear skies, and attendant radiational cooling have driven pockets of fog development through 3 AM, with satellite imagery showing the most widespread development over the river valleys of central Wisconsin and low-lying areas of south-central Wisconsin. Anticipate that said areas of fog will continue through sunrise, quickly burning off with the onset of daytime heating this morning. In the mid-levels of the atmosphere, a pronounced subtropical high pressure center will remain entrenched over the Four Corners through the duration of the short term period. Positioned downstream of said feature, west-northwest mid to upper flow will prevail across the Northern Plains and western Great Lakes through Saturday night. Southerly winds will gradually increase by Saturday afternoon as the aforementioned high pressure pushes east, allowing a moist & unstable air mass to advect into southern Wisconsin. Tied to a series of shortwaves embedded within the west- northwest upper flow pattern, periods of showers and thunderstorms are possible Saturday afternoon and night within said air mass. A few storms could be strong to severe. Rest Of Tonight: Can`t rule out pockets of fog through daybreak, particularly across the Wisconsin River Valley and in low-lying spots across south-central and southeastern Wisconsin. Fog will quickly burn off following sunrise and the onset of daytime heating. Slow down, use low beam headlights, and allow for extra following distance if briefly encountering areas of reduced visibility on the roads through sunrise. This Afternoon: Anticipate high temperatures in the low to mid 80s away from Lake Michigan under mostly sunny skies. Have kept the entirety of the area dry in the overnight update, though a few diurnally-driven showers/thundershowers are possible over north- central Wisconsin. Said isolated potential was depicted in a pair of the 00Z Friday CAMs, with the 06Z NAM Nest and HRRR continuing to hint at development to the north of the area. Sub-15% precip probabilities were maintained given the aforementioned placement, though trends will nevertheless be monitored over the coming forecast updates. Should precip signals shift south, mentionable, slight chance (15-24%) PoPs may need to be inserted over our northern tier of counties. Saturday & Saturday Night: Periods of showers and storms will be possible from as early as mid-afternoon Saturday through the overnight hours. Development will be closely affiliated with MCV`s/convectively-enhanced shortwaves connected to thunderstorms developing over the Northern Plains this afternoon. A broad consensus pointing toward strong/severe storm development over north- central MN and northwestern WI during the afternoon hours is apparent, with activity pivoting into southeastern Wisconsin during the evening and overnight hours in its decaying stages. Less certain is any additional development that may occur across the area on Saturday afternoon. A minority of 00Z CAM solutions -- namely the HRRR -- depict such development along/ahead of an encroaching MCV during the mid-late afternoon hours Saturday. Said development would be better-phased with peak heating, and would pose some strong/severe potential given an overlap of 2000+ J/kg of MLCAPE & ~20-25 knots of effective shear depicted in forecast soundings. Gusty winds would be the primary concern. Regardless of how thunderstorm development evolves, all activity will be capable of producing heavy downpours given 1.5-1.9" precipitable water values in place across the area. Progressive storm motions should preclude a more substantial flooding threat from materializing. Quigley && .LONG TERM... Issued 417 AM CDT Fri Jul 12 2024 Saturday night through Thursday: Synopsis: The beginning of the long term period will be marked by a stagnant synoptic pattern across the CONUS, with subtropical high pressure persisting over the Four Corners, and a warm/muggy air mass entrenched across the western Great Lakes & Upper Mississippi Valley. The hottest temperatures of the period are expected Sunday and Monday, when heat advisories may become necessary over portions of the area. Additional showers and storms are anticipated Sunday afternoon and evening, with strong to severe storms possible. Changes in the prevailing pattern will begin to occur Sunday night through Monday, when an upper trough initially centered over northern Canada will dig southeast into Ontario and the Hudson Bay. Attendant surface cyclogenesis will occur along the Ontario-Quebec border vicinity beneath the encroaching upper trough, with the feature dragging a cold front across the state Monday afternoon & evening. Additional showers and storms are thus forecast Monday afternoon and evening along/ahead of the front, with additional severe storms possible. The cold front is progged to push southeast of the area by Tuesday afternoon, encouraging a west-northwest wind shift across the area. Said wind shift will usher a noticeably drier, Canadian air mass into southern Wisconsin, with the end result being a much quieter conclusion to the long term period. Sunday & Sunday Night: A combination of high temperatures in the low- mid 90s & dew points in the 70s will drive widespread heat indices in the mid-upper 90s, with readings approaching/exceeding triple digits possible over south-central and southeastern Wisconsin. Heat Advisories thus may become necessary in some locations Sunday. The next round of showers and storms is anticipated Sunday afternoon and evening. Regional forecast soundings depict a stout EML in the 850- 700 mb layer, so afternoon initiation zones will depend heavily on any leftover surface boundaries from Saturday night`s storms, as well as the crossing points of any shortwaves embedded within northwest flow aloft. Mesoscale uncertainties aside, the aforementioned forecast soundings depict high to extreme amounts of surface-based instability beneath the EML, which combined with an overlapping 30-35 knots of effective shear would support organized severe weather potential in any thunderstorms during this portion of the period. Will continue to monitor trends in the guidance and adjust the forecast accordingly over the coming cycles. Monday & Monday Night: Hot high temperatures and muggy conditions will once again support elevated heat indices, with readings likely being a touch lower compared to Sunday. A final round of showers and storms is anticipated as a cold front crosses the area. Forcing mechanisms are a bit more certain compared to Sunday given the approach of the aforementioned front, as well as increasing DPVA ahead of the encroaching Hudson Bay trough. Nevertheless, precise placement of storm development will once more depend on any leftover boundaries from Sunday/Sunday night convection. Will thus continue to monitor trends on the finer scale forecast details and make forecast adjustments as necessary. Forecast soundings depict a similar environment to Sunday, with strong surface-based instability beneath the EML overlapping with sufficient effective shear to support organized severe potential in Monday`s activity. Quigley && .AVIATION... Issued 417 AM CDT Fri Jul 12 2024 Apart from some patchy FG this morning, VFR conditions prevail through the duration of the period at all southern Wisconsin terminals. Sky conditions will remain mostly clear, with a few upper cirrus decks based near FL250 occasionally passing overhead. Winds will remain light & variable during the overnight, with prevailing east-southeast winds expected during the daytime hours. Quigley && .MARINE... Issued 417 AM CDT Fri Jul 12 2024 Light winds prevail across the open waters this morning, which has allowed areas of fog to form over the northern third of the lake. Visibilities below one mile will be possible within areas of fog, with a dense fog advisory in effect through 9 AM CDT/10 AM EDT this morning. Fog is expected to dissipate following sunrise, giving way to continued light winds this afternoon. Isolated showers and storms are possible over the open waters Saturday afternoon and evening, with better chances for showers and storms arriving Sunday & Monday as 998 mb low pressure develops over Ontario. A few storms could become severe on Sunday and Monday. Winds will turn out of the west and northwest on Tuesday as a cold front moves across the open waters. Quigley && .MKX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WI...None. LM...Dense Fog Advisory...LMZ261-LMZ362-LMZ364-LMZ563 until 9 AM Friday. && $$ Visit us at weather.gov/milwaukee Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube at: www.facebook.com/NWSMilwaukee www.twitter.com/NWSMilwaukee www.youtube.com/NWSMilwaukee