


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Des Moines, IA
Issued by NWS Des Moines, IA
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867 FXUS63 KDMX 021956 AFDDMX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Des Moines IA 256 PM CDT Wed Jul 2 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Low chances (less than 50%) for scattered showers and storms this afternoon through the overnight. A strong storm or two are possible, with hail being the main concern. - Hot and humid tomorrow with isolated showers/storms possible in northwest Iowa in the afternoon and evening. - Shower and thunderstorm chances move in from west to east Friday through Saturday. Severe weather threat looks low, but will be better determined in the coming days. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 250 PM CDT Wed Jul 2 2025 A remnant MCV over southern/southwestern Iowa continues to produce isolated thunder and showers early this afternoon. While this complex is moving into a less favorable environment in central Iowa, boundary layer mixing will lead to destabilization through the afternoon which may lead to additional showers/storms in proximity to the MCV. Of course, short range models provide little confidence to this afternoons forecast, as they`ve been trying to dissipate this precipitation for the last couple of hours. Therefore, will be keeping a close eye on radar trends as this MCV continues to churn this afternoon. With more mixing in the boundary layer, storms that develop in proximity to the MCV could become surface based, which would provide a slightly better shear profile thanks to the southwesterly low level winds. SPC mesoanalysis data reflects this, with effective shear values ahead of the MCV around 20 to 30 kts and modest but increasing SBCAPE values of 500 to 1000 J/kg. This would be conducive for a few stronger storms, especially further west toward the higher instability. Fortunately, the MCV should continue eastward away from the more favorable severe weather environment to the north and west. This area will have instability values in excess of 2000 J/kg and a much better shear environment boasting 35 to 40 kts of effective shear, as well as long hodographs aloft. This makes this region more favorable for severe thunderstorms capable of producing large hail. Despite this favorable environment, this area also looks capped off with -50 to - 100 J/kg of mixed layer convective inhibition (MLCIN) thanks to the warm layer aloft. With no boundaries/convergence nearby, parcels will struggle to find any source of lift to displace parcels and bypass this convective inhibition. Therefore, there is a conditional threat for an isolated severe storm or two in the north and west, but the likelihood of producing one in this environment is low. Models continue to struggle with resolving how convection will play out in the overnight hours, as solutions vary on the strength of the low level jet (LLJ). The HRRR and RAP have been in lockstep today, struggling to generate any precipitation overnight tonight. Conversely, more rambunctious models like the NAM Nest and FV3 show storms developing along the nose of the low level jet through much of the overnight hours. The GFS also indicates a slightly stronger LLJ and convection overnight, in contrast to it`s higher resolution siblings (HRRR/RAP), although it has backed off on the amount of precipitation with it`s 18z run. This all to say, tonights shower and thunderstorm chances are not a high confidence scenario. Most unstable CAPE will remain in the 1000 to 2000+ J/kg range overnight, but the deep layer shear environment will be waning as the surface decouples. This will help negate the threat for organized storms/severe weather, but the higher instability does still leave a concern for at least pulsey convection and hail overnight. Moderate to heavy rainfall would also be a concern if precipitation matches what is shown in the NAM Nest/FV3, but this looks to be on the higher end of our expectations at this time. The low end chances for scattered showers and storms continues into Thursday, but do drift farther northeast as the upper level northwest flow regime continues further east and upper ridging builds from the west. With a very similar environment to today, and the same lack of real great forcing, expecting a similar low end thunderstorm threat in the far northwest portions of the forecast area on Thursday afternoon and evening. Shear will be slightly weaker on Thursday, but there will also be less of a warm layer to inhibit storms, producing less of a severe weather threat but more opportunity for storms to develop. That said, have kept precipitation chances lower given the potential for storms to be displaced from our area entirely, depending on the model you choose. In addition to the scattered storm chances in the afternoon, temperatures will be much warmer tomorrow with highs in the upper 80s to low 90s. With dewpoints in the low 70s, heat indices will push into the upper 90s to near 100 in some locations, making for a muggy day in Iowa. Temperatures then stay warm into the Fourth of July holiday, but increasing cloud cover ahead of the approaching upper level trough will drop temperatures down slightly in the west. This cloud cover will precede the return of shower and thunderstorm chances through the holiday weekend, beginning in the west on Friday and persisting area-wide through Friday night into Saturday. The severe weather threat will continue to be assessed through the coming days, but the general lack of shear being depicted in longer range models will make it difficult for strong, organized storms to develop. Forecasted PWATs over 2" and strong low- to mid- level moisture transport suggests storms could be efficient rainers, which could lead to aggravation on area rivers. However, forecast QPF isn`t overly high at this range, so will continue to monitor this threat as we draw closer and models begin to resolve things better. Regardless, the most important takeaway is the potential for thunderstorms/lightning during a busy holiday weekend. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/... Issued at 1234 PM CDT Wed Jul 2 2025 Remnants of overnight storms in Nebraska are drifting through southern Iowa today, leading to broken to overcast skies near KDSM and potentially KOTM this afternoon. No rain or lightning is anticipated for either site at this time, but will be monitoring for any redevelopment through the afternoon and evening. Winds are light out of the southwest today, then become more southerly this evening and overnight. Have maintained PROB30 groups for isolated to scattered showers/storms overnight into Thursday morning at KFOD, KMCW and KALO, but confidence in these impacting any given site. Also removed thunder mention with confidence decreasing in lightning impacts at terminals. && .DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Dodson AVIATION...Dodson