


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Sioux Falls, SD
Issued by NWS Sioux Falls, SD
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423 FXUS63 KFSD 071138 CCA AFDFSD Area Forecast Discussion...CORRECTED National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 638 AM CDT Sat Jun 7 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Areas of showers and/or thunderstorms today into Sunday morning. Severe weather is not expected, but a few stronger storms north of I-90 this evening could produce isolated gusts in excess of 40 mph. - Gusty west-northwest winds will become prevalent Sunday into Monday, with afternoon gusts 30-40 mph (strongest Sunday west of I-29). The northwest flow may bring areas of wildfire smoke back into the region, with surface impacts possible by Sunday morning. - Near to below normal temperatures continue through Monday, then warmer air with highs in the 80s to lower 90s builds in by mid-late week. Sporadic rain/thunderstorm chances return late next week, but low confidence in timing/location. && .UPDATE... Issued at 555 AM CDT Sat Jun 7 2025 Patchy light fog (2-5SM visibility) has developed in our clear areas along/north of I-90 early this morning. Do not expect the fog to persist more than another hour or two, but did add patchy fog into the grids. Additionally, latest HRRR/RAP Smoke model output shows potential for at least low concentrations of surface-based wildfire smoke to return to the area behind the cold front tonight, so have added that to the grids late tonight into Sunday morning as well. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 425 AM CDT Sat Jun 7 2025 TODAY-SUNDAY: Multiple waves sliding across the forecast area will maintain varying areas of showers/thunderstorms today into tonight, and possibly lingering along the Missouri River Valley into Sunday morning. Main question will be how much rainfall we will see as lower levels of the atmosphere remain on the drier side. First things first, a compact wave moving east through Nebraska early this morning could produce some light showers or sprinkles in our southern counties, though the better chances for measurable rain look to be in areas south of Highway 20. An elongated trailing wave moves into the area this afternoon, and this could bring a better chance for showers and storms to eastern parts of the forecast area this afternoon. Minimal deep layer shear for storms to work with and instability is also on the weaker side, so severe storms are not expected. However, similar to Friday, steep low level lapse rates combined with weak instability and weak winds within the lowest 2-3km could lead to weak funnels as showers/storms develop this afternoon. These showers/storms/clouds will hold temperatures in the lower to mid 70s in our east this afternoon, but locations along and west of I-29 should see more sunshine help warm afternoon highs to around 80F. This wave moves east of the area by 00Z as attention turns to a stronger wave and associated cold front dropping into the area from the northwest. A line of storms along the cold front will slide across areas mainly along/north of I-90 tonight. Could see isolated stronger storms with this activity this evening, as they should have stronger shear but still meager instability with long/skinny CAPE profiles. Main concern with these storms will be a potential for isolated stronger wind gusts in excess of 40 mph given a dry sub-cloud layer. That said, DCAPE values are generally less than 500 J/kg, so not expecting wind gusts to reach severe levels in our forecast area. Latest SPC outlook reflects this as well, with the southern edge of the Marginal Risk lifted slightly northward from previous outlooks. By later tonight into Sunday morning, focus will shift back to the south as an extension of the mid level front lingers back to the west across far northern Nebraska. Could see some light showers along the Missouri River Valley/Highway 20 corridor in response to this feature, but again dry low levels will likely limit potential for measurable rainfall in our forecast area. Post-frontal mixing will bring stronger winds to the region on Sunday than we have seen in recent days. Forecast soundings show winds atop the deep mixed layer could support gusts to around 40 mph west of I-29 Sunday afternoon, with a low (20%) probability for isolated gusts reaching advisory criteria of 45 mph. This will combine with a return to below normal highs in the lower-mid 70s. Unfortunately, this deeper northwest flow may bring areas of smoke back into the region for the latter half of the weekend. Latest HRRR/RAP Smoke model output shows potential for at least low concentrations of surface-based wildfire smoke to return to the area behind the cold front tonight, so have added that to the grids late tonight into Sunday morning. SUNDAY NIGHT-MONDAY: Closed upper low lingers over northeast Minnesota/western Great Lakes into Monday with a secondary cold front dropping through Minnesota and the eastern Dakotas Sunday night. An associated wave rotating around the back side of the upper low will bring a chance of showers or a few thunderstorms to northeast South Dakota/southwest Minnesota late Sunday night and Monday. Another breezy and cooler day with west-northwest winds gusting to around 30 mph and highs in the upper 60s to lower 70s. TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY: Building upper ridge will allow warmer, more summer-like air to finally build into the northern Plains by midweek. Wednesday looks to be the warmest day of the week as the low level thermal ridge lays over across our forecast area. NBM/Ensembles currently showing moderate (50-70%) probabilities for highs topping 90F over much of the forecast area Wednesday, highest through the Missouri River Valley. An approaching wave could bring a few showers/storms to our northern counties in the afternoon, though timing of this trough varies, so confidence in precipitation/clouds limiting potential warming is low. THURSDAY-FRIDAY: Upper ridge is projected to break down late next week, though solutions showing little agreement on timing and strength of various waves which may move across the region. Ensembles still showing moderate (40-60%) probability for highs topping 90F on Thursday with these numbers decreasing further by Friday. As for precipitation, NBM shows low-moderate rain chances from Wednesday night onward, focused largely in the afternoon and nighttime hours. With little model agreement, it is difficult to pinpoint any favored period at this range. && .AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SUNDAY/... Issued at 610 AM CDT Sat Jun 7 2025 Areas of MVFR-locally IFR visibility in BR (light fog/mist) to start off this TAF period. This fog should quickly erode within the first hour or two of the TAF period. Thereafter focus will be on scattered rain/thunderstorm chances. Better chance during the afternoon will be east of I-29 in southwest MN/northwest IA, with no impact to TAF sites expected. After 00Z, an approaching cold front will shift the potential for scattered storms to the Highway 14 corridor and perhaps as far south as I-90. Will target a small window for potential TS at KHON in the early evening (01Z-03Z). With lower confidence in storms impacting KFSD, will maintain -SHRA in the later evening (03Z-06Z) with no mention of TS for now. Storms may produce brief erratic wind gusts of 35+kt, especially in areas closer to Highway 14. By the end of this TAF period, may begin to see surface-based FU return to the region with northwest flow behind the cold front. Opted to not include FU in this TAF issuance given uncertainty in exact timing/location of surface impacts. && .FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...None. MN...None. IA...None. NE...None. && $$ UPDATE... DISCUSSION...JH AVIATION...JH