Forecast Discussions mentioning any of "HRRR" "RAP" "RR" "RUC13" "RUC" received at GSD on 05/14/13


AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MIAMI FL
922 AM EDT SUN MAY 12 2013 .UPDATE... NO CHANGES ARE PLANNED FOR THE MORNING UPDATES. THE 12Z MFL SOUNDING SHOWS ONLY MODEST INSTABILITY WITH TWO SMALL INVERSIONS, ONE AT AROUND THE 850 MB LEVEL AND ANOTHER AT 500 MB. THUS, IT WOULD APPEAR THAT CONVECTION WILL STRUGGLE TO GET GOING MUCH LIKE YESTERDAY AND MAY EVEN BE MORE SO TODAY. MODIFIED CAPE IS AROUND 1500 J/KG OR SLIGHTLY LESS AND THAT IS ALSO SIMILAR TO SATURDAY. STEERING FLOW REMAINS WNW-ESE AT 5-7 KT AND BASED ON ALL OF THIS THE HRRR DOES SHOW CONVECTION FIRING UP AT 18-19Z AND THEN BUILDING AFTER 20Z AS IT DRIFTS TOWARDS THE EAST COAST METRO REGION. SO ALL IN ALL, THE FORECAST LOOKS GOOD WITH A LATE AFTERNOON/EARLY EVENING STRONG STORM POSSIBLY CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A WIND GUST AND/OR SMALL HAIL ALTHOUGH THE PRIMARY RISK APPEARS TO BE THE WIND GUSTS. KOB && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 720 AM EDT SUN MAY 12 2013/ AVIATION... CLEAR SKIES AND CALM WINDS THIS MORNING WILL GRADUALLY TRANSITION TO SCATTERED/BROKEN CUMULUS WITH ONSHORE WINDS OF 10-15 KTS BY MIDDAY. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED AWAY FROM THE GULF COAST. HAVE ELECTED TO PLACE VCSH AT ALL AIRPORTS EXCEPT KAPF...DUE TO LOW CONFIDENCE IN COVERAGE AND TIMING OF THUNDERSTORMS. GUSTY WINDS AND SIGNIFICANT BUT BRIEF FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS COULD OCCUR IN AND NEAR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON. ACTIVITY LIKELY DIMINISHES BY SUNSET...THEN CLEARING SKIES AND CALM WINDS TONIGHT. FOG OVER INTERIOR SOUTH FLORIDA COULD IMPACT APF LATE TONIGHT...BUT ATTM THIS RISK APPEARS LOW. PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 350 AM EDT SUN MAY 12 2013/ DISCUSSION... AN UPPER TROUGH WAS DIGGING INTO THE SOUTHEAST THIS MORNING...WITH MAINLY ZONAL FLOW ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA. A SURFACE LOW WAS LOCATED OVER CANADA TO THE NORTH OF THE GREAT LAKES AND A COLD FRONT WAS MOVING INTO NORTHERN FLORIDA. WINDS NEAR THE SURFACE ARE EXPECTED TO BE OUT OF THE SOUTH TO SOUTHEAST...WITH WESTERLY FLOW ALOFT. THE MORE SOUTHERLY LOW LEVEL FLOW WILL PUSH THE SEA BREEZE BOUNDARY NORTHWARD AWAY FROM THE SOUTHEAST COAST...AND THE WESTERLY FLOW ALOFT WILL PUSH STORMS BACK TOWARDS THE EAST COAST. LOW LEVEL MOISTURE WILL POOL SOUTH OF THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY THIS AFTERNOON...WITH PWATS AROUND 1.6-1.7 INCHES. SO THE BEST CHANCE OF RAIN WILL BE ACROSS PALM BEACH AND BROWARD COUNTIES. SHEAR VALUES ARE NOT AS HIGH AS YESTERDAY...AND TEMPERATURES ALOFT ARE SLIGHTLY WARMER AS WELL. HOWEVER...AS THE TROUGH DIGS INTO THE SOUTHEAST AND NORTHERN FLORIDA...DIVERGENCE ALOFT WILL INCREASE. SO STRONG STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE...AND A STRAY SEVERE STORM CANNOT BE RULED OUT ACROSS THE INTERIOR AND ACROSS PALM BEACH COUNTY. THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE STRONG WINDS. HIGHS WILL BE IN THE MID 80S COASTAL AREAS TO LOWER 90S INTERIOR. THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL MOVE INTO SOUTH FLORIDA MONDAY MORNING...AND PATCHY FOG IS POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY FOR THE NORTHWESTERN HALF OF THE REGION. ALTHOUGH NOT CURRENTLY IN THE FORECAST...DENSE FOG COULD ALSO OCCUR ACROSS THE NORTHWEST INTERIOR. THE UPPER TROUGH WILL DIG DOWN THE PENINSULA...AND THE REGION WILL MOVE INTO THE RIGHT ENTRANCE REGION OF A 100 KNOT 250MB JET STREAK. 0-6KM SHEAR WILL INCREASE TO AROUND 30 KNOTS AS WELL. THE SURFACE BOUNDARY IS EXPECTED TO PUSH INTO DEEP SOUTH FLORIDA AROUND 18Z WITH NORTHERLY LOW LEVEL FLOW. HOWEVER...DRY AIR WILL LAG BEHIND ACROSS CENTRAL FLORIDA. AS THE EAST COAST SEA BREEZE DEVELOPS...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ALONG IT...WITH STORM MOTION TO THE SOUTH OR SOUTHEAST. STRONG TO ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS ARE POSSIBLE..ESPECIALLY TOWARDS THE SOUTHEAST PORTIONS OF THE AREA. DRIER AIR WILL BEGIN TO MOVE INTO THE LAKE REGION IN THE LATE AFTERNOON TO EARLY EVENING...WITH MUCH DRIER AIR ENCOMPASSING SOUTH FLORIDA OVERNIGHT. PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES WILL DROP TO AROUND 0.75 INCHES...WHICH IS WELL BELOW NORMAL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR. SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO THE SOUTHEAST AND WESTERN ATLANTIC...AND BREEZY NORTHEASTERLY WINDS ARE EXPECTED ON TUESDAY. TEMPERATURES TUESDAY MORNING WILL BE COOLER...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE NORTHWEST INTERIOR...WHERE LOWS WILL BE IN THE 50S. MID 60S TO AROUND 70 IS STILL EXPECTED FOR THE EAST COAST...BUT IT WILL FEEL MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE AS DEWPOINTS DROP INTO THE 50S TO AROUND 60. VERY PLEASANT MID MAY TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED ON TUESDAY THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK. HIGHS WILL BE NEAR 80 TO THE MID 80S ON TUESDAY. AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE WILL BUILD TO THE EAST ACROSS THE GULF ON WEDNESDAY AND HEIGHTS WILL INCREASE. HOWEVER...TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN AT OR BELOW NORMAL THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK AS DRY AND COOL EAST TO NORTHEASTERLY FLOW CONTINUES. PWATS WILL REMAIN AT OR BELOW 1 INCH THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK. A WEAK SHORTWAVE WILL MOVE ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PLAINS AND INTO THE SOUTHEAST ON THURSDAY...WITH WEAK TROUGHING THEN REMAINING OVER THE SOUTHEAST AND FLORIDA INTO THE WEEKEND. AVIATION... VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL THROUGH EARLY THIS WEEK. MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES AND NEAR-CALM WINDS EARLY THIS MORNING WILL GIVE WAY TO INCREASING CUMULUS WITH SOUTHEAST BREEZES AT 10-15 KTS BY MIDDAY. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED DURING THE AFTERNOON ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA...MAINLY EAST OF NAPLES. THUS...PROB30S MAINTAINED FOR EASTERN TERMINALS. GUSTY WINDS AND SIGNIFICANT BUT BRIEF FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS ARE LIKELY IN/NEAR SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS. PRECIPITATION SHOULD DIURNALLY WANE THIS EVENING...WITH CLEARING SKIES AND CALMING WINDS EXPECTED TODAY. MARINE... TRANQUIL WIND AND SEAS WILL CONTINUE TODAY OUTSIDE OF ISOLATED STRONG CONVECTION. A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATERS LATE MONDAY WITH STRONG HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING BEHIND THE FRONT WITH INCREASING WIND AND SEAS MONDAY NIGHT INTO MID WEEK. FIRE WEATHER... SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TODAY AND MONDAY...MAINLY DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING HOURS. A FRONT WILL BRING IN MUCH DRIER AIR MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY. RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES ACROSS GLADES HENDRY AND COLLIER COUNTIES MAY FALL BELOW 35 PERCENT BOTH TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY AFTERNOONS...WITH WINDS OF 10-15 MPH POSSIBLE. THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE THAT PATCHY FOG WILL FORM LATE TONIGHT. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... WEST PALM BEACH 86 69 85 65 / 60 30 30 10 FORT LAUDERDALE 87 74 85 69 / 50 20 50 20 MIAMI 88 72 86 69 / 40 20 50 20 NAPLES 86 71 86 64 / 10 10 10 10 && .MFL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...NONE. AM...NONE. GM...NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
1235 PM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 .DISCUSSION... 327 AM CDT MAIN FORECAST CHALLENGES/CONCERNS ARE WITH THE COLD TEMPS AND FROST TONIGHT WITH A FROST ADVISORY NOW IN PLACE FOR ALL OF THE CWA TONIGHT...THE ANTICIPATED WARM UP THIS WEEK...AND SIGNS OF A MORE ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN BEGINNING TO APPEAR IN THE EXTENDED. IN THE NEAR TERM...QUIET WEATHER ONGOING ACROSS THE CWA WITH MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES IN PLACE OVER MUCH OF NORTHEAST ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA. THE EXCEPTION IS NEAR THE WISCONSIN BORDER WHERE MID LEVEL CLOUDS ARE TRYING TO SPILL INTO THE AREA THIS MORNING. THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO SEVERAL WAVES OF ENERGY DROPPING SOUTHEAST AROUND THE BASE OF THE STRONG UPPER LEVEL LOW TO THE NORTHEAST. STEEP LOW/MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES STILL IN PLACE EARLY THIS MORNING WITHIN THIS CYCLONIC WILL CONTINUE TO ALLOW FOR SOME SCATTERED CLOUD DEVELOPMENT BUT PRIMARILY FOR AREAS IN FAR NORTHEAST ILLINOIS...AS THIS LOCATION NORTHWARD IS WHERE THE BEST FORCING/STEEPER LAPSE CURRENTLY RESIDE. ALTHOUGH THERE MAY BE PERIODS OF THIS SCATTERED MID DECK OR EVEN AN ISOLATED AND BRIEF CEILING...THINK SKIES SHOULD REMAIN MORE ON THE CLEARER SIDE THROUGH MID MORNING. TEMPERATURES RIGHT NOW ARE STILL HOLDING AROUND 40 DEGREES DESPITE THE CLEAR SKIES AND MUCH COLDER AIRMASS IN PLACE. AS WAS EXPECTED...THE SURFACE LOW TO THE NORTHEAST WITH TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT OVER THE CWA HAS ALLOWED FOR SURFACE WINDS TO STAY UP NEAR THE 10KT RANGE. SO ONLY EXPECT TEMPS TO FALL A COUPLE OF MORE DEGREES HERE THIS MORNING BEFORE RISING TO WELL BELOW NORMAL MAX TEMPS IN THE LOW TO MID 50S TODAY. SHOULD BE A RATHER QUIET DAY TODAY...ALTHOUGH LOW LEVEL LAPSE RATES REALLY STEEPEN UP ONCE AGAIN TODAY ACROSS THE CWA. ONCE AGAIN...THESE LAPSE RATES WITHIN THIS CYCLONIC FLOW WILL PROVIDE FOR SOME STRATOCU DEVELOPMENT BY MID TO LATE MORNING WITH ANY CLEAR SKIES BECOMING BROKEN/PARTLY SUNNY. EXPECT THIS TO BE THE CASE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND INTO THE EARLY EVENING. ALTHOUGH CONDITIONS APPEAR DRY AT THE MOMENT FOR THIS AFTERNOON...LATEST SHORT TERM GUIDANCE IS TRYING TO INDICATE SOME ISOLATED SHOWER DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NORTHEAST ILLINOIS LATER THIS AFTERNOON. NOT COMPLETELY SOLD ON ANY WIDESPREAD DEVELOPMENT LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND SO HAVE REMAINED DRY...BUT IT WOULD NOT BE OUT OF THE QUESTION FOR SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS ACROSS NORTHEAST ILLINOIS...ESPECIALLY IF ANY LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE COULD DEVELOP WHICH THE RAP IS BEGINNING TO SHOW. ATTENTION SHIFTS TOWARDS ANOTHER COLD NIGHT TONIGHT AS FORECAST TEMPS IN THE LOW TO MID 30S ARE FORECAST AS WELL AS A FROST EXPECTED FOR THE ENTIRE CWA...MINUS THE WARMER METRO AREA. AS THE LARGE UPPER LEVEL LOW AND ATTENDANT SURFACE LOW/TROUGH EXIT TO THE EAST TONIGHT...SURFACE RIDGE SETTLES IN. WITH THIS IN PLACE EXPECT SURFACE WINDS TO RAPIDLY DROP OFF THIS EVENING WITH TEMPS COOLING. THERE IS SOME CONCERN THAT CLOUD COVER AND THE BEGINNING STAGES OF WAA COULD AFFECT NIGHT TIME LOWS...BUT STILL FEEL THAT THESE SHOULD NOT PLAY TOO MUCH OF A ROLE WITH TEMPS FALLING TONIGHT. CLOUD DEVELOPMENT COULD POSSIBLY HANG ON INTO THE EVENING AT LEAST TOWARDS 3Z TONIGHT BUT THEN BEGIN TO ERODE AND SHIFT TO THE EAST TOWARDS MIDNIGHT...WITH ANY HIGH LEVEL CLOUD COVER APPROACHING FROM THE WEST REMAINING TO THE WEST. ALSO...ALTHOUGH STRONG WAA WILL BE OCCURRING TO THE WEST OVER IOWA...THIS SHOULD NOT AFFECT AREAS IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA TONIGHT. IN THE END...SETTING THE STAGE FOR GOOD RADIATIONAL COOLING. SO HAVE ISSUED A FROST ADVISORY FOR THE ENTIRE CWA...FROM 6Z TONIGHT TO 12Z MONDAY. TEMPS WILL BEGIN TO RECOVER ON MONDAY AS THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED WAA SHIFTS EAST TOWARDS THE CWA ON MONDAY...WITH TEMPS RISING BACK INTO THE LOW TO MID 60S. HAVE MAINTAINED CHANCES FOR PRECIP MONDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY TUESDAY AS THE WAA WING SHOULD SWING SOME MOISTURE ACROSS PRIMARILY THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE CWA. SHOULD REMAIN JUST SHOWERS WITH THUNDER NOT EXPECTED AS INSTABILITY IS APPEARING TO REMAIN TO THE WEST. WITH STRONG WAA STILL OCCURRING ACROSS THE AREA MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY...A RATHER WARM DAY IS APPEARING TO BE LIKELY ON TUESDAY. HAVE RAISED MAX TEMPS FURTHER FOR TUESDAY AND HAVE HIGHS IN THE MID TO UPPER 80S...AS THERMAL AXIS WITH 850MB TEMPS NEAR 20C MOVING OVERHEAD. HAVE NOT PUT IN 90 DEGREE TEMPS FOR TUESDAY JUST QUITE YET AS THERE IS STILL SOME UNCERTAINTY WITH THE EXTENT OF THIS THERMAL AXIS...BUT COULD EASILY SEE THAT 90 DEGREE WEATHER INCLUDED IN THE FORECAST FOR TUESDAY AT A LATER TIME. WEDNESDAY LOOKS WARM AGAIN WITH TEMPS RISING TO THE 80S ONCE AGAIN...BUT WITH CONFIDENCE LOWERING EVEN FURTHER. GUIDANCE BEGINS TO DIVERGE WITH HANDLING AN APPROACHING SURFACE LOW AND FRONTAL BOUNDARY. THIS WILL IMPACT HIGHS FOR WEDNESDAY AS WELL AS PRECIP CHANCES. A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS HAS BEEN MAINTAINED DURING THE DAY WEDNESDAY...BUT IT APPEARS THAT THERE WILL BE BETTER CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS WEDNESDAY NIGHT. BEYOND THIS POINT FROM THURSDAY INTO SATURDAY...MODELS BEGIN TO DIVERGE FURTHER. DESPITE THIS MODEL VARIABILITY...MODELS ARE AGREEING ON A WARMER AND MORE MOIST AIRMASS REMAINING IN PLACE WITH 850MB DEWPOINTS REALLY INCREASING ACROSS THE REGION AS WELL AS THE POTENTIAL SETUP FOR LINGERING BOUNDARIES. THIS WILL HAVE TO BE RESOLVED ONCE GUIDANCE COMES INTO BETTER AGREEMENT...BUT WITH THE GENERAL PATTERN IS BEGINNING TO APPEAR MORE ACTIVE WITH PERIODS OF SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE INTO THE END OF THIS WEEK. RODRIGUEZ && .AVIATION... //ORD AND MDW CONCERNS...UPDATED 18Z... * NORTHWEST WINDS GUSTING TO 18-20KT THIS AFTERNOON. KREIN //DISCUSSION...UPDATED 18Z... A VERY QUIET WEATHER SETUP FOR AVIATION CONCERNS FOR THE PERIOD. MAIN CONCERN WILL CONTINUE TO BE WIND DIRECTION AS WINDS CONTINUE TO BE BRISK. HOWEVER...SUSTAINED WINDS AND GUSTS ARE DIMINISHING THIS AFTERNOON AS HIGH PRESSURE CONTINUES TO BUILD ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. ALSO...LATEST SATELITE IMAGERY SHOWER DIURNAL STRATOCU DEVELOPMENT...WITH A BKN DECK EXPECTED TO DEVELOP EARLY THIS AFTERNOON...WHICH WILL ALSO HELP LIMIT MIXING. SO...THE GENERAL TREND FOR WINDS WILL BE TO DECREASE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON...WHILE BACKING SLIGHTLY TO OUT OF 300 DEGREES. WINDS WILL THEN GO CALM AND SKIES WILL GO SKC OVERNIGHT. KREIN //ORD AND MDW CONFIDENCE...UPDATED 18Z... * HIGH CONFIDENCE IN ALL FORECAST ELEMENTS KREIN //OUTLOOK FOR ORD/MDW FOR 00Z TUESDAY-12Z SUNDAY...UPDATED 12Z... MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY...VFR. WEDNESDAY...SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHRA/TSRA. THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...A PERIOD OR TWO OF SHRA/TSRA POSSIBLE. IZZI && .MARINE... 255 AM CDT SOME SHIP OBS AND COASTAL OBS ON EASTERN SHORE SUPPORT MAINTAINING THE GALE WARNING AS IS THIS MORNING WITH CONTINUED UNSTABLE CONDITIONS LIKELY TO ALLOW GALES TO LINGER INTO THE MORNING HOURS. FAR NORTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN COULD SEE GALES LINGER INTO THE EARLY AFTERNOON DUE TO TIGHTER GRADIENT BUT WINDS ACROSS THE LAKE SHOULD BE TRENDING DOWNWARD THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT AS RIDGE AXIS APPROACHES FROM THE WEST. RIDGE WILL MOVE ACROSS THE LAKE TONIGHT INTO MONDAY WITH SOUTHERLY WINDS DEVELOPING AND STRENGTHENING AS SEASONABLY STRONG LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPS OVER THE SOUTHERN CANADIAN PLAINS TUESDAY. DESPITE FAIRLY TIGHT GRADIENT...SURGE OF VERY WARM AIR OVER VERY COLD LAKE SHOULD KEEP WINDS AND WAVES SOMEWHAT IN CHECK TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY. IZZI && .LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...FROST ADVISORY...ILZ003-ILZ004-ILZ005-ILZ006-ILZ008-ILZ010- ILZ011-ILZ012-ILZ013-ILZ014-ILZ019-ILZ020-ILZ021-ILZ022- ILZ023-ILZ032-ILZ033-ILZ039...1 AM MONDAY TO 7 AM MONDAY. IN...FROST ADVISORY...INZ001-INZ002-INZ010-INZ011-INZ019...1 AM MONDAY TO 7 AM MONDAY. LM...GALE WARNING...LMZ261-LMZ362-LMZ364-LMZ563 UNTIL 3 PM SUNDAY. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY...NEARSHORE GARY TO MICHIGAN CITY IN UNTIL 3 PM SUNDAY. && $$ VISIT US AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/CHICAGO (ALL LOWERCASE) FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK...TWITTER...AND YOUTUBE AT: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/US.NATIONALWEATHERSERVICE.CHICAGO.GOV WWW.TWITTER.COM/NWSCHICAGO WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/NWSCHICAGO
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
1106 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 .DISCUSSION... 327 AM CDT MAIN FORECAST CHALLENGES/CONCERNS ARE WITH THE COLD TEMPS AND FROST TONIGHT WITH A FROST ADVISORY NOW IN PLACE FOR ALL OF THE CWA TONIGHT...THE ANTICIPATED WARM UP THIS WEEK...AND SIGNS OF A MORE ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN BEGINNING TO APPEAR IN THE EXTENDED. IN THE NEAR TERM...QUIET WEATHER ONGOING ACROSS THE CWA WITH MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES IN PLACE OVER MUCH OF NORTHEAST ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA. THE EXCEPTION IS NEAR THE WISCONSIN BORDER WHERE MID LEVEL CLOUDS ARE TRYING TO SPILL INTO THE AREA THIS MORNING. THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO SEVERAL WAVES OF ENERGY DROPPING SOUTHEAST AROUND THE BASE OF THE STRONG UPPER LEVEL LOW TO THE NORTHEAST. STEEP LOW/MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES STILL IN PLACE EARLY THIS MORNING WITHIN THIS CYCLONIC WILL CONTINUE TO ALLOW FOR SOME SCATTERED CLOUD DEVELOPMENT BUT PRIMARILY FOR AREAS IN FAR NORTHEAST ILLINOIS...AS THIS LOCATION NORTHWARD IS WHERE THE BEST FORCING/STEEPER LAPSE CURRENTLY RESIDE. ALTHOUGH THERE MAY BE PERIODS OF THIS SCATTERED MID DECK OR EVEN AN ISOLATED AND BRIEF CEILING...THINK SKIES SHOULD REMAIN MORE ON THE CLEARER SIDE THROUGH MID MORNING. TEMPERATURES RIGHT NOW ARE STILL HOLDING AROUND 40 DEGREES DESPITE THE CLEAR SKIES AND MUCH COLDER AIRMASS IN PLACE. AS WAS EXPECTED...THE SURFACE LOW TO THE NORTHEAST WITH TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT OVER THE CWA HAS ALLOWED FOR SURFACE WINDS TO STAY UP NEAR THE 10KT RANGE. SO ONLY EXPECT TEMPS TO FALL A COUPLE OF MORE DEGREES HERE THIS MORNING BEFORE RISING TO WELL BELOW NORMAL MAX TEMPS IN THE LOW TO MID 50S TODAY. SHOULD BE A RATHER QUIET DAY TODAY...ALTHOUGH LOW LEVEL LAPSE RATES REALLY STEEPEN UP ONCE AGAIN TODAY ACROSS THE CWA. ONCE AGAIN...THESE LAPSE RATES WITHIN THIS CYCLONIC FLOW WILL PROVIDE FOR SOME STRATOCU DEVELOPMENT BY MID TO LATE MORNING WITH ANY CLEAR SKIES BECOMING BROKEN/PARTLY SUNNY. EXPECT THIS TO BE THE CASE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND INTO THE EARLY EVENING. ALTHOUGH CONDITIONS APPEAR DRY AT THE MOMENT FOR THIS AFTERNOON...LATEST SHORT TERM GUIDANCE IS TRYING TO INDICATE SOME ISOLATED SHOWER DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NORTHEAST ILLINOIS LATER THIS AFTERNOON. NOT COMPLETELY SOLD ON ANY WIDESPREAD DEVELOPMENT LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND SO HAVE REMAINED DRY...BUT IT WOULD NOT BE OUT OF THE QUESTION FOR SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS ACROSS NORTHEAST ILLINOIS...ESPECIALLY IF ANY LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE COULD DEVELOP WHICH THE RAP IS BEGINNING TO SHOW. ATTENTION SHIFTS TOWARDS ANOTHER COLD NIGHT TONIGHT AS FORECAST TEMPS IN THE LOW TO MID 30S ARE FORECAST AS WELL AS A FROST EXPECTED FOR THE ENTIRE CWA...MINUS THE WARMER METRO AREA. AS THE LARGE UPPER LEVEL LOW AND ATTENDANT SURFACE LOW/TROUGH EXIT TO THE EAST TONIGHT...SURFACE RIDGE SETTLES IN. WITH THIS IN PLACE EXPECT SURFACE WINDS TO RAPIDLY DROP OFF THIS EVENING WITH TEMPS COOLING. THERE IS SOME CONCERN THAT CLOUD COVER AND THE BEGINNING STAGES OF WAA COULD AFFECT NIGHT TIME LOWS...BUT STILL FEEL THAT THESE SHOULD NOT PLAY TOO MUCH OF A ROLE WITH TEMPS FALLING TONIGHT. CLOUD DEVELOPMENT COULD POSSIBLY HANG ON INTO THE EVENING AT LEAST TOWARDS 3Z TONIGHT BUT THEN BEGIN TO ERODE AND SHIFT TO THE EAST TOWARDS MIDNIGHT...WITH ANY HIGH LEVEL CLOUD COVER APPROACHING FROM THE WEST REMAINING TO THE WEST. ALSO...ALTHOUGH STRONG WAA WILL BE OCCURRING TO THE WEST OVER IOWA...THIS SHOULD NOT AFFECT AREAS IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA TONIGHT. IN THE END...SETTING THE STAGE FOR GOOD RADIATIONAL COOLING. SO HAVE ISSUED A FROST ADVISORY FOR THE ENTIRE CWA...FROM 6Z TONIGHT TO 12Z MONDAY. TEMPS WILL BEGIN TO RECOVER ON MONDAY AS THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED WAA SHIFTS EAST TOWARDS THE CWA ON MONDAY...WITH TEMPS RISING BACK INTO THE LOW TO MID 60S. HAVE MAINTAINED CHANCES FOR PRECIP MONDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY TUESDAY AS THE WAA WING SHOULD SWING SOME MOISTURE ACROSS PRIMARILY THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE CWA. SHOULD REMAIN JUST SHOWERS WITH THUNDER NOT EXPECTED AS INSTABILITY IS APPEARING TO REMAIN TO THE WEST. WITH STRONG WAA STILL OCCURRING ACROSS THE AREA MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY...A RATHER WARM DAY IS APPEARING TO BE LIKELY ON TUESDAY. HAVE RAISED MAX TEMPS FURTHER FOR TUESDAY AND HAVE HIGHS IN THE MID TO UPPER 80S...AS THERMAL AXIS WITH 850MB TEMPS NEAR 20C MOVING OVERHEAD. HAVE NOT PUT IN 90 DEGREE TEMPS FOR TUESDAY JUST QUITE YET AS THERE IS STILL SOME UNCERTAINTY WITH THE EXTENT OF THIS THERMAL AXIS...BUT COULD EASILY SEE THAT 90 DEGREE WEATHER INCLUDED IN THE FORECAST FOR TUESDAY AT A LATER TIME. WEDNESDAY LOOKS WARM AGAIN WITH TEMPS RISING TO THE 80S ONCE AGAIN...BUT WITH CONFIDENCE LOWERING EVEN FURTHER. GUIDANCE BEGINS TO DIVERGE WITH HANDLING AN APPROACHING SURFACE LOW AND FRONTAL BOUNDARY. THIS WILL IMPACT HIGHS FOR WEDNESDAY AS WELL AS PRECIP CHANCES. A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS HAS BEEN MAINTAINED DURING THE DAY WEDNESDAY...BUT IT APPEARS THAT THERE WILL BE BETTER CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS WEDNESDAY NIGHT. BEYOND THIS POINT FROM THURSDAY INTO SATURDAY...MODELS BEGIN TO DIVERGE FURTHER. DESPITE THIS MODEL VARIABILITY...MODELS ARE AGREEING ON A WARMER AND MORE MOIST AIRMASS REMAINING IN PLACE WITH 850MB DEWPOINTS REALLY INCREASING ACROSS THE REGION AS WELL AS THE POTENTIAL SETUP FOR LINGERING BOUNDARIES. THIS WILL HAVE TO BE RESOLVED ONCE GUIDANCE COMES INTO BETTER AGREEMENT...BUT WITH THE GENERAL PATTERN IS BEGINNING TO APPEAR MORE ACTIVE WITH PERIODS OF SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE INTO THE END OF THIS WEEK. RODRIGUEZ && .AVIATION... //ORD AND MDW CONCERNS...UPDATED 16Z... * NORTHWEST WINDS GUSTING TO 20-25KT TODAY KREIN //DISCUSSION...UPDATED 12Z... WEATHER NOT EXPECTED TO ADVERSELY AFFECT AVIATION OPERATIONS TODAY. NORTHWEST WINDS WILL ATTAIN SOME GUSTINESS BY MID MORNING WITH GUSTS FAIRLY STEADY GUSTS OF 20 TO 25KT EXPECTED THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL QUICKLY SUBSIDE THIS EVENING. SCT V BKN VFR DECK OF HIGH BASED STRATOCUMULUS LIKELY TO BLOSSOM THIS MORNING AND LINGER INTO THE EARLY EVENING BEFORE SKIES GO CLEAR TONIGHT. IZZI //ORD AND MDW CONFIDENCE...UPDATED 16Z... * HIGH CONFIDENCE IN ALL FORECAST ELEMENTS KREIN //OUTLOOK FOR ORD/MDW FOR 00Z TUESDAY-12Z SUNDAY...UPDATED 12Z... MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY...VFR. WEDNESDAY...SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHRA/TSRA. THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...A PERIOD OR TWO OF SHRA/TSRA POSSIBLE. IZZI && .MARINE... 255 AM CDT SOME SHIP OBS AND COASTAL OBS ON EASTERN SHORE SUPPORT MAINTAINING THE GALE WARNING AS IS THIS MORNING WITH CONTINUED UNSTABLE CONDITIONS LIKELY TO ALLOW GALES TO LINGER INTO THE MORNING HOURS. FAR NORTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN COULD SEE GALES LINGER INTO THE EARLY AFTERNOON DUE TO TIGHTER GRADIENT BUT WINDS ACROSS THE LAKE SHOULD BE TRENDING DOWNWARD THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT AS RIDGE AXIS APPROACHES FROM THE WEST. RIDGE WILL MOVE ACROSS THE LAKE TONIGHT INTO MONDAY WITH SOUTHERLY WINDS DEVELOPING AND STRENGTHENING AS SEASONABLY STRONG LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPS OVER THE SOUTHERN CANADIAN PLAINS TUESDAY. DESPITE FAIRLY TIGHT GRADIENT...SURGE OF VERY WARM AIR OVER VERY COLD LAKE SHOULD KEEP WINDS AND WAVES SOMEWHAT IN CHECK TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY. IZZI && .LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...FROST ADVISORY...ILZ003-ILZ004-ILZ005-ILZ006-ILZ008-ILZ010- ILZ011-ILZ012-ILZ013-ILZ014-ILZ019-ILZ020-ILZ021-ILZ022- ILZ023-ILZ032-ILZ033-ILZ039...1 AM MONDAY TO 7 AM MONDAY. IN...FROST ADVISORY...INZ001-INZ002-INZ010-INZ011-INZ019...1 AM MONDAY TO 7 AM MONDAY. LM...GALE WARNING...LMZ261-LMZ362-LMZ364-LMZ563 UNTIL 3 PM SUNDAY. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY...NEARSHORE GARY TO MICHIGAN CITY IN UNTIL 3 PM SUNDAY. && $$ VISIT US AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/CHICAGO (ALL LOWERCASE) FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK...TWITTER...AND YOUTUBE AT: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/US.NATIONALWEATHERSERVICE.CHICAGO.GOV WWW.TWITTER.COM/NWSCHICAGO WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/NWSCHICAGO
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
910 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 .DISCUSSION... 327 AM CDT MAIN FORECAST CHALLENGES/CONCERNS ARE WITH THE COLD TEMPS AND FROST TONIGHT WITH A FROST ADVISORY NOW IN PLACE FOR ALL OF THE CWA TONIGHT...THE ANTICIPATED WARM UP THIS WEEK...AND SIGNS OF A MORE ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN BEGINNING TO APPEAR IN THE EXTENDED. IN THE NEAR TERM...QUIET WEATHER ONGOING ACROSS THE CWA WITH MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES IN PLACE OVER MUCH OF NORTHEAST ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA. THE EXCEPTION IS NEAR THE WISCONSIN BORDER WHERE MID LEVEL CLOUDS ARE TRYING TO SPILL INTO THE AREA THIS MORNING. THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO SEVERAL WAVES OF ENERGY DROPPING SOUTHEAST AROUND THE BASE OF THE STRONG UPPER LEVEL LOW TO THE NORTHEAST. STEEP LOW/MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES STILL IN PLACE EARLY THIS MORNING WITHIN THIS CYCLONIC WILL CONTINUE TO ALLOW FOR SOME SCATTERED CLOUD DEVELOPMENT BUT PRIMARILY FOR AREAS IN FAR NORTHEAST ILLINOIS...AS THIS LOCATION NORTHWARD IS WHERE THE BEST FORCING/STEEPER LAPSE CURRENTLY RESIDE. ALTHOUGH THERE MAY BE PERIODS OF THIS SCATTERED MID DECK OR EVEN AN ISOLATED AND BRIEF CEILING...THINK SKIES SHOULD REMAIN MORE ON THE CLEARER SIDE THROUGH MID MORNING. TEMPERATURES RIGHT NOW ARE STILL HOLDING AROUND 40 DEGREES DESPITE THE CLEAR SKIES AND MUCH COLDER AIRMASS IN PLACE. AS WAS EXPECTED...THE SURFACE LOW TO THE NORTHEAST WITH TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT OVER THE CWA HAS ALLOWED FOR SURFACE WINDS TO STAY UP NEAR THE 10KT RANGE. SO ONLY EXPECT TEMPS TO FALL A COUPLE OF MORE DEGREES HERE THIS MORNING BEFORE RISING TO WELL BELOW NORMAL MAX TEMPS IN THE LOW TO MID 50S TODAY. SHOULD BE A RATHER QUIET DAY TODAY...ALTHOUGH LOW LEVEL LAPSE RATES REALLY STEEPEN UP ONCE AGAIN TODAY ACROSS THE CWA. ONCE AGAIN...THESE LAPSE RATES WITHIN THIS CYCLONIC FLOW WILL PROVIDE FOR SOME STRATOCU DEVELOPMENT BY MID TO LATE MORNING WITH ANY CLEAR SKIES BECOMING BROKEN/PARTLY SUNNY. EXPECT THIS TO BE THE CASE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND INTO THE EARLY EVENING. ALTHOUGH CONDITIONS APPEAR DRY AT THE MOMENT FOR THIS AFTERNOON...LATEST SHORT TERM GUIDANCE IS TRYING TO INDICATE SOME ISOLATED SHOWER DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NORTHEAST ILLINOIS LATER THIS AFTERNOON. NOT COMPLETELY SOLD ON ANY WIDESPREAD DEVELOPMENT LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND SO HAVE REMAINED DRY...BUT IT WOULD NOT BE OUT OF THE QUESTION FOR SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS ACROSS NORTHEAST ILLINOIS...ESPECIALLY IF ANY LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE COULD DEVELOP WHICH THE RAP IS BEGINNING TO SHOW. ATTENTION SHIFTS TOWARDS ANOTHER COLD NIGHT TONIGHT AS FORECAST TEMPS IN THE LOW TO MID 30S ARE FORECAST AS WELL AS A FROST EXPECTED FOR THE ENTIRE CWA...MINUS THE WARMER METRO AREA. AS THE LARGE UPPER LEVEL LOW AND ATTENDANT SURFACE LOW/TROUGH EXIT TO THE EAST TONIGHT...SURFACE RIDGE SETTLES IN. WITH THIS IN PLACE EXPECT SURFACE WINDS TO RAPIDLY DROP OFF THIS EVENING WITH TEMPS COOLING. THERE IS SOME CONCERN THAT CLOUD COVER AND THE BEGINNING STAGES OF WAA COULD AFFECT NIGHT TIME LOWS...BUT STILL FEEL THAT THESE SHOULD NOT PLAY TOO MUCH OF A ROLE WITH TEMPS FALLING TONIGHT. CLOUD DEVELOPMENT COULD POSSIBLY HANG ON INTO THE EVENING AT LEAST TOWARDS 3Z TONIGHT BUT THEN BEGIN TO ERODE AND SHIFT TO THE EAST TOWARDS MIDNIGHT...WITH ANY HIGH LEVEL CLOUD COVER APPROACHING FROM THE WEST REMAINING TO THE WEST. ALSO...ALTHOUGH STRONG WAA WILL BE OCCURRING TO THE WEST OVER IOWA...THIS SHOULD NOT AFFECT AREAS IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA TONIGHT. IN THE END...SETTING THE STAGE FOR GOOD RADIATIONAL COOLING. SO HAVE ISSUED A FROST ADVISORY FOR THE ENTIRE CWA...FROM 6Z TONIGHT TO 12Z MONDAY. TEMPS WILL BEGIN TO RECOVER ON MONDAY AS THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED WAA SHIFTS EAST TOWARDS THE CWA ON MONDAY...WITH TEMPS RISING BACK INTO THE LOW TO MID 60S. HAVE MAINTAINED CHANCES FOR PRECIP MONDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY TUESDAY AS THE WAA WING SHOULD SWING SOME MOISTURE ACROSS PRIMARILY THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE CWA. SHOULD REMAIN JUST SHOWERS WITH THUNDER NOT EXPECTED AS INSTABILITY IS APPEARING TO REMAIN TO THE WEST. WITH STRONG WAA STILL OCCURRING ACROSS THE AREA MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY...A RATHER WARM DAY IS APPEARING TO BE LIKELY ON TUESDAY. HAVE RAISED MAX TEMPS FURTHER FOR TUESDAY AND HAVE HIGHS IN THE MID TO UPPER 80S...AS THERMAL AXIS WITH 850MB TEMPS NEAR 20C MOVING OVERHEAD. HAVE NOT PUT IN 90 DEGREE TEMPS FOR TUESDAY JUST QUITE YET AS THERE IS STILL SOME UNCERTAINTY WITH THE EXTENT OF THIS THERMAL AXIS...BUT COULD EASILY SEE THAT 90 DEGREE WEATHER INCLUDED IN THE FORECAST FOR TUESDAY AT A LATER TIME. WEDNESDAY LOOKS WARM AGAIN WITH TEMPS RISING TO THE 80S ONCE AGAIN...BUT WITH CONFIDENCE LOWERING EVEN FURTHER. GUIDANCE BEGINS TO DIVERGE WITH HANDLING AN APPROACHING SURFACE LOW AND FRONTAL BOUNDARY. THIS WILL IMPACT HIGHS FOR WEDNESDAY AS WELL AS PRECIP CHANCES. A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS HAS BEEN MAINTAINED DURING THE DAY WEDNESDAY...BUT IT APPEARS THAT THERE WILL BE BETTER CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS WEDNESDAY NIGHT. BEYOND THIS POINT FROM THURSDAY INTO SATURDAY...MODELS BEGIN TO DIVERGE FURTHER. DESPITE THIS MODEL VARIABILITY...MODELS ARE AGREEING ON A WARMER AND MORE MOIST AIRMASS REMAINING IN PLACE WITH 850MB DEWPOINTS REALLY INCREASING ACROSS THE REGION AS WELL AS THE POTENTIAL SETUP FOR LINGERING BOUNDARIES. THIS WILL HAVE TO BE RESOLVED ONCE GUIDANCE COMES INTO BETTER AGREEMENT...BUT WITH THE GENERAL PATTERN IS BEGINNING TO APPEAR MORE ACTIVE WITH PERIODS OF SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE INTO THE END OF THIS WEEK. RODRIGUEZ && .AVIATION... //ORD AND MDW CONCERNS...UPDATED 14Z... * NORTHWEST WINDS GUSTING TO 20-25KT TODAY KREIN //DISCUSSION...UPDATED 12Z... WEATHER NOT EXPECTED TO ADVERSELY AFFECT AVIATION OPERATIONS TODAY. NORTHWEST WINDS WILL ATTAIN SOME GUSTINESS BY MID MORNING WITH GUSTS FAIRLY STEADY GUSTS OF 20 TO 25KT EXPECTED THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL QUICKLY SUBSIDE THIS EVENING. SCT V BKN VFR DECK OF HIGH BASED STRATOCUMULUS LIKELY TO BLOSSOM THIS MORNING AND LINGER INTO THE EARLY EVENING BEFORE SKIES GO CLEAR TONIGHT. IZZI //ORD AND MDW CONFIDENCE...UPDATED 14Z... * HIGH CONFIDENCE IN ALL FORECAST ELEMENTS KREIN //OUTLOOK FOR ORD/MDW FOR 00Z TUESDAY-12Z SUNDAY...UPDATED 12Z... MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY...VFR. WEDNESDAY...SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHRA/TSRA. THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...A PERIOD OR TWO OF SHRA/TSRA POSSIBLE. IZZI && .MARINE... 255 AM CDT SOME SHIP OBS AND COASTAL OBS ON EASTERN SHORE SUPPORT MAINTAINING THE GALE WARNING AS IS THIS MORNING WITH CONTINUED UNSTABLE CONDITIONS LIKELY TO ALLOW GALES TO LINGER INTO THE MORNING HOURS. FAR NORTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN COULD SEE GALES LINGER INTO THE EARLY AFTERNOON DUE TO TIGHTER GRADIENT BUT WINDS ACROSS THE LAKE SHOULD BE TRENDING DOWNWARD THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT AS RIDGE AXIS APPROACHES FROM THE WEST. RIDGE WILL MOVE ACROSS THE LAKE TONIGHT INTO MONDAY WITH SOUTHERLY WINDS DEVELOPING AND STRENGTHENING AS SEASONABLY STRONG LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPS OVER THE SOUTHERN CANADIAN PLAINS TUESDAY. DESPITE FAIRLY TIGHT GRADIENT...SURGE OF VERY WARM AIR OVER VERY COLD LAKE SHOULD KEEP WINDS AND WAVES SOMEWHAT IN CHECK TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY. IZZI && .LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...FROST ADVISORY...ILZ003-ILZ004-ILZ005-ILZ006-ILZ008-ILZ010- ILZ011-ILZ012-ILZ013-ILZ014-ILZ019-ILZ020-ILZ021-ILZ022- ILZ023-ILZ032-ILZ033-ILZ039...1 AM MONDAY TO 7 AM MONDAY. IN...FROST ADVISORY...INZ001-INZ002-INZ010-INZ011-INZ019...1 AM MONDAY TO 7 AM MONDAY. LM...GALE WARNING...LMZ261-LMZ362-LMZ364-LMZ563 UNTIL 3 PM SUNDAY. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY...NEARSHORE GARY TO MICHIGAN CITY IN UNTIL 3 PM SUNDAY. && $$ VISIT US AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/CHICAGO (ALL LOWERCASE) FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK...TWITTER...AND YOUTUBE AT: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/US.NATIONALWEATHERSERVICE.CHICAGO.GOV WWW.TWITTER.COM/NWSCHICAGO WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/NWSCHICAGO
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
600 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 .DISCUSSION... 327 AM CDT MAIN FORECAST CHALLENGES/CONCERNS ARE WITH THE COLD TEMPS AND FROST TONIGHT WITH A FROST ADVISORY NOW IN PLACE FOR ALL OF THE CWA TONIGHT...THE ANTICIPATED WARM UP THIS WEEK...AND SIGNS OF A MORE ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN BEGINNING TO APPEAR IN THE EXTENDED. IN THE NEAR TERM...QUIET WEATHER ONGOING ACROSS THE CWA WITH MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES IN PLACE OVER MUCH OF NORTHEAST ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA. THE EXCEPTION IS NEAR THE WISCONSIN BORDER WHERE MID LEVEL CLOUDS ARE TRYING TO SPILL INTO THE AREA THIS MORNING. THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO SEVERAL WAVES OF ENERGY DROPPING SOUTHEAST AROUND THE BASE OF THE STRONG UPPER LEVEL LOW TO THE NORTHEAST. STEEP LOW/MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES STILL IN PLACE EARLY THIS MORNING WITHIN THIS CYCLONIC WILL CONTINUE TO ALLOW FOR SOME SCATTERED CLOUD DEVELOPMENT BUT PRIMARILY FOR AREAS IN FAR NORTHEAST ILLINOIS...AS THIS LOCATION NORTHWARD IS WHERE THE BEST FORCING/STEEPER LAPSE CURRENTLY RESIDE. ALTHOUGH THERE MAY BE PERIODS OF THIS SCATTERED MID DECK OR EVEN AN ISOLATED AND BRIEF CEILING...THINK SKIES SHOULD REMAIN MORE ON THE CLEARER SIDE THROUGH MID MORNING. TEMPERATURES RIGHT NOW ARE STILL HOLDING AROUND 40 DEGREES DESPITE THE CLEAR SKIES AND MUCH COLDER AIRMASS IN PLACE. AS WAS EXPECTED...THE SURFACE LOW TO THE NORTHEAST WITH TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT OVER THE CWA HAS ALLOWED FOR SURFACE WINDS TO STAY UP NEAR THE 10KT RANGE. SO ONLY EXPECT TEMPS TO FALL A COUPLE OF MORE DEGREES HERE THIS MORNING BEFORE RISING TO WELL BELOW NORMAL MAX TEMPS IN THE LOW TO MID 50S TODAY. SHOULD BE A RATHER QUIET DAY TODAY...ALTHOUGH LOW LEVEL LAPSE RATES REALLY STEEPEN UP ONCE AGAIN TODAY ACROSS THE CWA. ONCE AGAIN...THESE LAPSE RATES WITHIN THIS CYCLONIC FLOW WILL PROVIDE FOR SOME STRATOCU DEVELOPMENT BY MID TO LATE MORNING WITH ANY CLEAR SKIES BECOMING BROKEN/PARTLY SUNNY. EXPECT THIS TO BE THE CASE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND INTO THE EARLY EVENING. ALTHOUGH CONDITIONS APPEAR DRY AT THE MOMENT FOR THIS AFTERNOON...LATEST SHORT TERM GUIDANCE IS TRYING TO INDICATE SOME ISOLATED SHOWER DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NORTHEAST ILLINOIS LATER THIS AFTERNOON. NOT COMPLETELY SOLD ON ANY WIDESPREAD DEVELOPMENT LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND SO HAVE REMAINED DRY...BUT IT WOULD NOT BE OUT OF THE QUESTION FOR SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS ACROSS NORTHEAST ILLINOIS...ESPECIALLY IF ANY LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE COULD DEVELOP WHICH THE RAP IS BEGINNING TO SHOW. ATTENTION SHIFTS TOWARDS ANOTHER COLD NIGHT TONIGHT AS FORECAST TEMPS IN THE LOW TO MID 30S ARE FORECAST AS WELL AS A FROST EXPECTED FOR THE ENTIRE CWA...MINUS THE WARMER METRO AREA. AS THE LARGE UPPER LEVEL LOW AND ATTENDANT SURFACE LOW/TROUGH EXIT TO THE EAST TONIGHT...SURFACE RIDGE SETTLES IN. WITH THIS IN PLACE EXPECT SURFACE WINDS TO RAPIDLY DROP OFF THIS EVENING WITH TEMPS COOLING. THERE IS SOME CONCERN THAT CLOUD COVER AND THE BEGINNING STAGES OF WAA COULD AFFECT NIGHT TIME LOWS...BUT STILL FEEL THAT THESE SHOULD NOT PLAY TOO MUCH OF A ROLE WITH TEMPS FALLING TONIGHT. CLOUD DEVELOPMENT COULD POSSIBLY HANG ON INTO THE EVENING AT LEAST TOWARDS 3Z TONIGHT BUT THEN BEGIN TO ERODE AND SHIFT TO THE EAST TOWARDS MIDNIGHT...WITH ANY HIGH LEVEL CLOUD COVER APPROACHING FROM THE WEST REMAINING TO THE WEST. ALSO...ALTHOUGH STRONG WAA WILL BE OCCURRING TO THE WEST OVER IOWA...THIS SHOULD NOT AFFECT AREAS IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA TONIGHT. IN THE END...SETTING THE STAGE FOR GOOD RADIATIONAL COOLING. SO HAVE ISSUED A FROST ADVISORY FOR THE ENTIRE CWA...FROM 6Z TONIGHT TO 12Z MONDAY. TEMPS WILL BEGIN TO RECOVER ON MONDAY AS THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED WAA SHIFTS EAST TOWARDS THE CWA ON MONDAY...WITH TEMPS RISING BACK INTO THE LOW TO MID 60S. HAVE MAINTAINED CHANCES FOR PRECIP MONDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY TUESDAY AS THE WAA WING SHOULD SWING SOME MOISTURE ACROSS PRIMARILY THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE CWA. SHOULD REMAIN JUST SHOWERS WITH THUNDER NOT EXPECTED AS INSTABILITY IS APPEARING TO REMAIN TO THE WEST. WITH STRONG WAA STILL OCCURRING ACROSS THE AREA MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY...A RATHER WARM DAY IS APPEARING TO BE LIKELY ON TUESDAY. HAVE RAISED MAX TEMPS FURTHER FOR TUESDAY AND HAVE HIGHS IN THE MID TO UPPER 80S...AS THERMAL AXIS WITH 850MB TEMPS NEAR 20C MOVING OVERHEAD. HAVE NOT PUT IN 90 DEGREE TEMPS FOR TUESDAY JUST QUITE YET AS THERE IS STILL SOME UNCERTAINTY WITH THE EXTENT OF THIS THERMAL AXIS...BUT COULD EASILY SEE THAT 90 DEGREE WEATHER INCLUDED IN THE FORECAST FOR TUESDAY AT A LATER TIME. WEDNESDAY LOOKS WARM AGAIN WITH TEMPS RISING TO THE 80S ONCE AGAIN...BUT WITH CONFIDENCE LOWERING EVEN FURTHER. GUIDANCE BEGINS TO DIVERGE WITH HANDLING AN APPROACHING SURFACE LOW AND FRONTAL BOUNDARY. THIS WILL IMPACT HIGHS FOR WEDNESDAY AS WELL AS PRECIP CHANCES. A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS HAS BEEN MAINTAINED DURING THE DAY WEDNESDAY...BUT IT APPEARS THAT THERE WILL BE BETTER CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS WEDNESDAY NIGHT. BEYOND THIS POINT FROM THURSDAY INTO SATURDAY...MODELS BEGIN TO DIVERGE FURTHER. DESPITE THIS MODEL VARIABILITY...MODELS ARE AGREEING ON A WARMER AND MORE MOIST AIRMASS REMAINING IN PLACE WITH 850MB DEWPOINTS REALLY INCREASING ACROSS THE REGION AS WELL AS THE POTENTIAL SETUP FOR LINGERING BOUNDARIES. THIS WILL HAVE TO BE RESOLVED ONCE GUIDANCE COMES INTO BETTER AGREEMENT...BUT WITH THE GENERAL PATTERN IS BEGINNING TO APPEAR MORE ACTIVE WITH PERIODS OF SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE INTO THE END OF THIS WEEK. RODRIGUEZ && .AVIATION... //ORD AND MDW CONCERNS...UPDATED 12Z... * NORTHWEST WINDS GUSTING TO 20-25KT TODAY IZZI //DISCUSSION...UPDATED 12Z... WEATHER NOT EXPECTED TO ADVERSELY AFFECT AVIATION OPERATIONS TODAY. NORTHWEST WINDS WILL ATTAIN SOME GUSTINESS BY MID MORNING WITH GUSTS FAIRLY STEADY GUSTS OF 20 TO 25KT EXPECTED THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL QUICKLY SUBSIDE THIS EVENING. SCT V BKN VFR DECK OF HIGH BASED STRATOCUMULUS LIKELY TO BLOSSOM THIS MORNING AND LINGER INTO THE EARLY EVENING BEFORE SKIES GO CLEAR TONIGHT. IZZI //ORD AND MDW CONFIDENCE...UPDATED 12Z... * HIGH CONFIDENCE IN ALL FORECAST ELEMENTS IZZI //OUTLOOK FOR ORD/MDW FOR 00Z TUESDAY-12Z SUNDAY...UPDATED 12Z... MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY...VFR. WEDNESDAY...SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHRA/TSRA. THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...A PERIOD OR TWO OF SHRA/TSRA POSSIBLE. IZZI && .MARINE... 255 AM CDT SOME SHIP OBS AND COASTAL OBS ON EASTERN SHORE SUPPORT MAINTAINING THE GALE WARNING AS IS THIS MORNING WITH CONTINUED UNSTABLE CONDITIONS LIKELY TO ALLOW GALES TO LINGER INTO THE MORNING HOURS. FAR NORTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN COULD SEE GALES LINGER INTO THE EARLY AFTERNOON DUE TO TIGHTER GRADIENT BUT WINDS ACROSS THE LAKE SHOULD BE TRENDING DOWNWARD THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT AS RIDGE AXIS APPROACHES FROM THE WEST. RIDGE WILL MOVE ACROSS THE LAKE TONIGHT INTO MONDAY WITH SOUTHERLY WINDS DEVELOPING AND STRENGTHENING AS SEASONABLY STRONG LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPS OVER THE SOUTHERN CANADIAN PLAINS TUESDAY. DESPITE FAIRLY TIGHT GRADIENT...SURGE OF VERY WARM AIR OVER VERY COLD LAKE SHOULD KEEP WINDS AND WAVES SOMEWHAT IN CHECK TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY. IZZI && .LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...FROST ADVISORY...ILZ003-ILZ004-ILZ005-ILZ006-ILZ008-ILZ010- ILZ011-ILZ012-ILZ013-ILZ014-ILZ019-ILZ020-ILZ021-ILZ022- ILZ023-ILZ032-ILZ033-ILZ039...1 AM MONDAY TO 7 AM MONDAY. IN...FROST ADVISORY...INZ001-INZ002-INZ010-INZ011-INZ019...1 AM MONDAY TO 7 AM MONDAY. LM...GALE WARNING...LMZ261-LMZ362-LMZ364-LMZ563 UNTIL 3 PM SUNDAY. GALE WARNING...LMZ366-LMZ565-LMZ567-LMZ669-LMZ671-LMZ673-LMZ868- LMZ870-LMZ872-LMZ874 UNTIL 9 AM SUNDAY. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY...NEARSHORE GARY TO MICHIGAN CITY IN UNTIL 3 PM SUNDAY. && $$ VISIT US AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/CHICAGO (ALL LOWERCASE) FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK...TWITTER...AND YOUTUBE AT: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/US.NATIONALWEATHERSERVICE.CHICAGO.GOV WWW.TWITTER.COM/NWSCHICAGO WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/NWSCHICAGO
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
405 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 .DISCUSSION... 327 AM CDT MAIN FORECAST CHALLENGES/CONCERNS ARE WITH THE COLD TEMPS AND FROST TONIGHT WITH A FROST ADVISORY NOW IN PLACE FOR ALL OF THE CWA TONIGHT...THE ANTICIPATED WARM UP THIS WEEK...AND SIGNS OF A MORE ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN BEGINNING TO APPEAR IN THE EXTENDED. IN THE NEAR TERM...QUIET WEATHER ONGOING ACROSS THE CWA WITH MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES IN PLACE OVER MUCH OF NORTHEAST ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA. THE EXCEPTION IS NEAR THE WISCONSIN BORDER WHERE MID LEVEL CLOUDS ARE TRYING TO SPILL INTO THE AREA THIS MORNING. THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO SEVERAL WAVES OF ENERGY DROPPING SOUTHEAST AROUND THE BASE OF THE STRONG UPPER LEVEL LOW TO THE NORTHEAST. STEEP LOW/MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES STILL IN PLACE EARLY THIS MORNING WITHIN THIS CYCLONIC WILL CONTINUE TO ALLOW FOR SOME SCATTERED CLOUD DEVELOPMENT BUT PRIMARILY FOR AREAS IN FAR NORTHEAST ILLINOIS...AS THIS LOCATION NORTHWARD IS WHERE THE BEST FORCING/STEEPER LAPSE CURRENTLY RESIDE. ALTHOUGH THERE MAY BE PERIODS OF THIS SCATTERED MID DECK OR EVEN AN ISOLATED AND BRIEF CEILING...THINK SKIES SHOULD REMAIN MORE ON THE CLEARER SIDE THROUGH MID MORNING. TEMPERATURES RIGHT NOW ARE STILL HOLDING AROUND 40 DEGREES DESPITE THE CLEAR SKIES AND MUCH COLDER AIRMASS IN PLACE. AS WAS EXPECTED...THE SURFACE LOW TO THE NORTHEAST WITH TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT OVER THE CWA HAS ALLOWED FOR SURFACE WINDS TO STAY UP NEAR THE 10KT RANGE. SO ONLY EXPECT TEMPS TO FALL A COUPLE OF MORE DEGREES HERE THIS MORNING BEFORE RISING TO WELL BELOW NORMAL MAX TEMPS IN THE LOW TO MID 50S TODAY. SHOULD BE A RATHER QUIET DAY TODAY...ALTHOUGH LOW LEVEL LAPSE RATES REALLY STEEPEN UP ONCE AGAIN TODAY ACROSS THE CWA. ONCE AGAIN...THESE LAPSE RATES WITHIN THIS CYCLONIC FLOW WILL PROVIDE FOR SOME STRATOCU DEVELOPMENT BY MID TO LATE MORNING WITH ANY CLEAR SKIES BECOMING BROKEN/PARTLY SUNNY. EXPECT THIS TO BE THE CASE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND INTO THE EARLY EVENING. ALTHOUGH CONDITIONS APPEAR DRY AT THE MOMENT FOR THIS AFTERNOON...LATEST SHORT TERM GUIDANCE IS TRYING TO INDICATE SOME ISOLATED SHOWER DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NORTHEAST ILLINOIS LATER THIS AFTERNOON. NOT COMPLETELY SOLD ON ANY WIDESPREAD DEVELOPMENT LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND SO HAVE REMAINED DRY...BUT IT WOULD NOT BE OUT OF THE QUESTION FOR SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS ACROSS NORTHEAST ILLINOIS...ESPECIALLY IF ANY LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE COULD DEVELOP WHICH THE RAP IS BEGINNING TO SHOW. ATTENTION SHIFTS TOWARDS ANOTHER COLD NIGHT TONIGHT AS FORECAST TEMPS IN THE LOW TO MID 30S ARE FORECAST AS WELL AS A FROST EXPECTED FOR THE ENTIRE CWA...MINUS THE WARMER METRO AREA. AS THE LARGE UPPER LEVEL LOW AND ATTENDANT SURFACE LOW/TROUGH EXIT TO THE EAST TONIGHT...SURFACE RIDGE SETTLES IN. WITH THIS IN PLACE EXPECT SURFACE WINDS TO RAPIDLY DROP OFF THIS EVENING WITH TEMPS COOLING. THERE IS SOME CONCERN THAT CLOUD COVER AND THE BEGINNING STAGES OF WAA COULD AFFECT NIGHT TIME LOWS...BUT STILL FEEL THAT THESE SHOULD NOT PLAY TOO MUCH OF A ROLE WITH TEMPS FALLING TONIGHT. CLOUD DEVELOPMENT COULD POSSIBLY HANG ON INTO THE EVENING AT LEAST TOWARDS 3Z TONIGHT BUT THEN BEGIN TO ERODE AND SHIFT TO THE EAST TOWARDS MIDNIGHT...WITH ANY HIGH LEVEL CLOUD COVER APPROACHING FROM THE WEST REMAINING TO THE WEST. ALSO...ALTHOUGH STRONG WAA WILL BE OCCURRING TO THE WEST OVER IOWA...THIS SHOULD NOT AFFECT AREAS IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA TONIGHT. IN THE END...SETTING THE STAGE FOR GOOD RADIATIONAL COOLING. SO HAVE ISSUED A FROST ADVISORY FOR THE ENTIRE CWA...FROM 6Z TONIGHT TO 12Z MONDAY. TEMPS WILL BEGIN TO RECOVER ON MONDAY AS THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED WAA SHIFTS EAST TOWARDS THE CWA ON MONDAY...WITH TEMPS RISING BACK INTO THE LOW TO MID 60S. HAVE MAINTAINED CHANCES FOR PRECIP MONDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY TUESDAY AS THE WAA WING SHOULD SWING SOME MOISTURE ACROSS PRIMARILY THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE CWA. SHOULD REMAIN JUST SHOWERS WITH THUNDER NOT EXPECTED AS INSTABILITY IS APPEARING TO REMAIN TO THE WEST. WITH STRONG WAA STILL OCCURRING ACROSS THE AREA MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY...A RATHER WARM DAY IS APPEARING TO BE LIKELY ON TUESDAY. HAVE RAISED MAX TEMPS FURTHER FOR TUESDAY AND HAVE HIGHS IN THE MID TO UPPER 80S...AS THERMAL AXIS WITH 850MB TEMPS NEAR 20C MOVING OVERHEAD. HAVE NOT PUT IN 90 DEGREE TEMPS FOR TUESDAY JUST QUITE YET AS THERE IS STILL SOME UNCERTAINTY WITH THE EXTENT OF THIS THERMAL AXIS...BUT COULD EASILY SEE THAT 90 DEGREE WEATHER INCLUDED IN THE FORECAST FOR TUESDAY AT A LATER TIME. WEDNESDAY LOOKS WARM AGAIN WITH TEMPS RISING TO THE 80S ONCE AGAIN...BUT WITH CONFIDENCE LOWERING EVEN FURTHER. GUIDANCE BEGINS TO DIVERGE WITH HANDLING AN APPROACHING SURFACE LOW AND FRONTAL BOUNDARY. THIS WILL IMPACT HIGHS FOR WEDNESDAY AS WELL AS PRECIP CHANCES. A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS HAS BEEN MAINTAINED DURING THE DAY WEDNESDAY...BUT IT APPEARS THAT THERE WILL BE BETTER CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS WEDNESDAY NIGHT. BEYOND THIS POINT FROM THURSDAY INTO SATURDAY...MODELS BEGIN TO DIVERGE FURTHER. DESPITE THIS MODEL VARIABILITY...MODELS ARE AGREEING ON A WARMER AND MORE MOIST AIRMASS REMAINING IN PLACE WITH 850MB DEWPOINTS REALLY INCREASING ACROSS THE REGION AS WELL AS THE POTENTIAL SETUP FOR LINGERING BOUNDARIES. THIS WILL HAVE TO BE RESOLVED ONCE GUIDANCE COMES INTO BETTER AGREEMENT...BUT WITH THE GENERAL PATTERN IS BEGINNING TO APPEAR MORE ACTIVE WITH PERIODS OF SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE INTO THE END OF THIS WEEK. RODRIGUEZ && .AVIATION... //ORD AND MDW CONCERNS...UPDATED 09Z... * NORTHWEST WINDS BECOME A BIT GUSTY SUNDAY IZZI //DISCUSSION...UPDATED 06Z... DEEP TROUGH WILL CONTINUE TO INFLUENCE THE REGION THIS TAF CYCLE WITH COLD AIR ALOFT RESULTING IN PERIODIC SCT V BKN VFR CIGS...PARTICULARLY DURING PEAK HEATING SUNDAY. NORTHWEST WINDS WILL BECOME GUSTY AGAIN SUNDAY MORNING INTO THE AFTERNOON...THOUGH LIGHTER THAN ON SATURDAY WITH PEAK GUSTS GENERALLY IN THE 20-25KT RANGE. SKIES WILL CLEAR OUT AND WINDS GO CALM SUNDAY EVENING. IZZI //ORD AND MDW CONFIDENCE...UPDATED 09Z... * HIGH CONFIDENCE IN ALL FORECAST ELEMENTS IZZI //OUTLOOK FOR ORD/MDW FOR 12Z MONDAY-12Z SATURDAY...UPDATED 00Z... MONDAY...SLT CHC OF SHRA DURING THE NIGHT. TUESDAY...VFR. GUSTY SSW WINDS. WEDNESDAY...SLT CHC OF TSRA. THURSDAY-FRIDAY...CHC OF TSRA. MTF && .MARINE... 255 AM CDT SOME SHIP OBS AND COASTAL OBS ON EASTERN SHORE SUPPORT MAINTAINING THE GALE WARNING AS IS THIS MORNING WITH CONTINUED UNSTABLE CONDITIONS LIKELY TO ALLOW GALES TO LINGER INTO THE MORNING HOURS. FAR NORTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN COULD SEE GALES LINGER INTO THE EARLY AFTERNOON DUE TO TIGHTER GRADIENT BUT WINDS ACROSS THE LAKE SHOULD BE TRENDING DOWNWARD THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT AS RIDGE AXIS APPROACHES FROM THE WEST. RIDGE WILL MOVE ACROSS THE LAKE TONIGHT INTO MONDAY WITH SOUTHERLY WINDS DEVELOPING AND STRENGTHENING AS SEASONABLY STRONG LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPS OVER THE SOUTHERN CANADIAN PLAINS TUESDAY. DESPITE FAIRLY TIGHT GRADIENT...SURGE OF VERY WARM AIR OVER VERY COLD LAKE SHOULD KEEP WINDS AND WAVES SOMEWHAT IN CHECK TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY. IZZI && .LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...FROST ADVISORY...ILZ003-ILZ004-ILZ005-ILZ006-ILZ008-ILZ010- ILZ011-ILZ012-ILZ013-ILZ014-ILZ019-ILZ020-ILZ021-ILZ022- ILZ023-ILZ032-ILZ033-ILZ039...1 AM MONDAY TO 7 AM MONDAY. IN...FROST ADVISORY...INZ001-INZ002-INZ010-INZ011-INZ019...1 AM MONDAY TO 7 AM MONDAY. LM...GALE WARNING...LMZ261-LMZ362-LMZ364-LMZ563 UNTIL 3 PM SUNDAY. GALE WARNING...LMZ366-LMZ565-LMZ567-LMZ669-LMZ671-LMZ673-LMZ868- LMZ870-LMZ872-LMZ874 UNTIL 9 AM SUNDAY. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY...NEARSHORE GARY TO MICHIGAN CITY IN UNTIL 3 PM SUNDAY. && $$ VISIT US AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/CHICAGO (ALL LOWERCASE) FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK...TWITTER...AND YOUTUBE AT: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/US.NATIONALWEATHERSERVICE.CHICAGO.GOV WWW.TWITTER.COM/NWSCHICAGO WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/NWSCHICAGO
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
333 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 .DISCUSSION... 327 AM CDT MAIN FORECAST CHALLENGES/CONCERNS ARE WITH THE COLD TEMPS AND FROST TONIGHT WITH A FROST ADVISORY NOW IN PLACE FOR ALL OF THE CWA TONIGHT...THE ANTICIPATED WARM UP THIS WEEK...AND SIGNS OF A MORE ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN BEGINNING TO APPEAR IN THE EXTENDED. IN THE NEAR TERM...QUIET WEATHER ONGOING ACROSS THE CWA WITH MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES IN PLACE OVER MUCH OF NORTHEAST ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA. THE EXCEPTION IS NEAR THE WISCONSIN BORDER WHERE MID LEVEL CLOUDS ARE TRYING TO SPILL INTO THE AREA THIS MORNING. THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO SEVERAL WAVES OF ENERGY DROPPING SOUTHEAST AROUND THE BASE OF THE STRONG UPPER LEVEL LOW TO THE NORTHEAST. STEEP LOW/MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES STILL IN PLACE EARLY THIS MORNING WITHIN THIS CYCLONIC WILL CONTINUE TO ALLOW FOR SOME SCATTERED CLOUD DEVELOPMENT BUT PRIMARILY FOR AREAS IN FAR NORTHEAST ILLINOIS...AS THIS LOCATION NORTHWARD IS WHERE THE BEST FORCING/STEEPER LAPSE CURRENTLY RESIDE. ALTHOUGH THERE MAY BE PERIODS OF THIS SCATTERED MID DECK OR EVEN AN ISOLATED AND BRIEF CEILING...THINK SKIES SHOULD REMAIN MORE ON THE CLEARER SIDE THROUGH MID MORNING. TEMPERATURES RIGHT NOW ARE STILL HOLDING AROUND 40 DEGREES DESPITE THE CLEAR SKIES AND MUCH COLDER AIRMASS IN PLACE. AS WAS EXPECTED...THE SURFACE LOW TO THE NORTHEAST WITH TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT OVER THE CWA HAS ALLOWED FOR SURFACE WINDS TO STAY UP NEAR THE 10KT RANGE. SO ONLY EXPECT TEMPS TO FALL A COUPLE OF MORE DEGREES HERE THIS MORNING BEFORE RISING TO WELL BELOW NORMAL MAX TEMPS IN THE LOW TO MID 50S TODAY. SHOULD BE A RATHER QUIET DAY TODAY...ALTHOUGH LOW LEVEL LAPSE RATES REALLY STEEPEN UP ONCE AGAIN TODAY ACROSS THE CWA. ONCE AGAIN...THESE LAPSE RATES WITHIN THIS CYCLONIC FLOW WILL PROVIDE FOR SOME STRATOCU DEVELOPMENT BY MID TO LATE MORNING WITH ANY CLEAR SKIES BECOMING BROKEN/PARTLY SUNNY. EXPECT THIS TO BE THE CASE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND INTO THE EARLY EVENING. ALTHOUGH CONDITIONS APPEAR DRY AT THE MOMENT FOR THIS AFTERNOON...LATEST SHORT TERM GUIDANCE IS TRYING TO INDICATE SOME ISOLATED SHOWER DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NORTHEAST ILLINOIS LATER THIS AFTERNOON. NOT COMPLETELY SOLD ON ANY WIDESPREAD DEVELOPMENT LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND SO HAVE REMAINED DRY...BUT IT WOULD NOT BE OUT OF THE QUESTION FOR SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS ACROSS NORTHEAST ILLINOIS...ESPECIALLY IF ANY LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE COULD DEVELOP WHICH THE RAP IS BEGINNING TO SHOW. ATTENTION SHIFTS TOWARDS ANOTHER COLD NIGHT TONIGHT AS FORECAST TEMPS IN THE LOW TO MID 30S ARE FORECAST AS WELL AS A FROST EXPECTED FOR THE ENTIRE CWA...MINUS THE WARMER METRO AREA. AS THE LARGE UPPER LEVEL LOW AND ATTENDANT SURFACE LOW/TROUGH EXIT TO THE EAST TONIGHT...SURFACE RIDGE SETTLES IN. WITH THIS IN PLACE EXPECT SURFACE WINDS TO RAPIDLY DROP OFF THIS EVENING WITH TEMPS COOLING. THERE IS SOME CONCERN THAT CLOUD COVER AND THE BEGINNING STAGES OF WAA COULD AFFECT NIGHT TIME LOWS...BUT STILL FEEL THAT THESE SHOULD NOT PLAY TOO MUCH OF A ROLE WITH TEMPS FALLING TONIGHT. CLOUD DEVELOPMENT COULD POSSIBLY HANG ON INTO THE EVENING AT LEAST TOWARDS 3Z TONIGHT BUT THEN BEGIN TO ERODE AND SHIFT TO THE EAST TOWARDS MIDNIGHT...WITH ANY HIGH LEVEL CLOUD COVER APPROACHING FROM THE WEST REMAINING TO THE WEST. ALSO...ALTHOUGH STRONG WAA WILL BE OCCURRING TO THE WEST OVER IOWA...THIS SHOULD NOT AFFECT AREAS IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA TONIGHT. IN THE END...SETTING THE STAGE FOR GOOD RADIATIONAL COOLING. SO HAVE ISSUED A FROST ADVISORY FOR THE ENTIRE CWA...FROM 6Z TONIGHT TO 12Z MONDAY. TEMPS WILL BEGIN TO RECOVER ON MONDAY AS THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED WAA SHIFTS EAST TOWARDS THE CWA ON MONDAY...WITH TEMPS RISING BACK INTO THE LOW TO MID 60S. HAVE MAINTAINED CHANCES FOR PRECIP MONDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY TUESDAY AS THE WAA WING SHOULD SWING SOME MOISTURE ACROSS PRIMARILY THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE CWA. SHOULD REMAIN JUST SHOWERS WITH THUNDER NOT EXPECTED AS INSTABILITY IS APPEARING TO REMAIN TO THE WEST. WITH STRONG WAA STILL OCCURRING ACROSS THE AREA MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY...A RATHER WARM DAY IS APPEARING TO BE LIKELY ON TUESDAY. HAVE RAISED MAX TEMPS FURTHER FOR TUESDAY AND HAVE HIGHS IN THE MID TO UPPER 80S...AS THERMAL AXIS WITH 850MB TEMPS NEAR 20C MOVING OVERHEAD. HAVE NOT PUT IN 90 DEGREE TEMPS FOR TUESDAY JUST QUITE YET AS THERE IS STILL SOME UNCERTAINTY WITH THE EXTENT OF THIS THERMAL AXIS...BUT COULD EASILY SEE THAT 90 DEGREE WEATHER INCLUDED IN THE FORECAST FOR TUESDAY AT A LATER TIME. WEDNESDAY LOOKS WARM AGAIN WITH TEMPS RISING TO THE 80S ONCE AGAIN...BUT WITH CONFIDENCE LOWERING EVEN FURTHER. GUIDANCE BEGINS TO DIVERGE WITH HANDLING AN APPROACHING SURFACE LOW AND FRONTAL BOUNDARY. THIS WILL IMPACT HIGHS FOR WEDNESDAY AS WELL AS PRECIP CHANCES. A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS HAS BEEN MAINTAINED DURING THE DAY WEDNESDAY...BUT IT APPEARS THAT THERE WILL BE BETTER CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS WEDNESDAY NIGHT. BEYOND THIS POINT FROM THURSDAY INTO SATURDAY...MODELS BEGIN TO DIVERGE FURTHER. DESPITE THIS MODEL VARIABILITY...MODELS ARE AGREEING ON A WARMER AND MORE MOIST AIRMASS REMAINING IN PLACE WITH 850MB DEWPOINTS REALLY INCREASING ACROSS THE REGION AS WELL AS THE POTENTIAL SETUP FOR LINGERING BOUNDARIES. THIS WILL HAVE TO BE RESOLVED ONCE GUIDANCE COMES INTO BETTER AGREEMENT...BUT WITH THE GENERAL PATTERN IS BEGINNING TO APPEAR MORE ACTIVE WITH PERIODS OF SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE INTO THE END OF THIS WEEK. RODRIGUEZ && .AVIATION... //ORD AND MDW CONCERNS...UPDATED 06Z... * NORTHWEST WINDS BECOME A BIT GUSTY SUNDAY IZZI //DISCUSSION...UPDATED 06Z... DEEP TROUGH WILL CONTINUE TO INFLUENCE THE REGION THIS TAF CYCLE WITH COLD AIR ALOFT RESULTING IN PERIODIC SCT V BKN VFR CIGS...PARTICULARLY DURING PEAK HEATING SUNDAY. NORTHWEST WINDS WILL BECOME GUSTY AGAIN SUNDAY MORNING INTO THE AFTERNOON...THOUGH LIGHTER THAN ON SATURDAY WITH PEAK GUSTS GENERALLY IN THE 20-25KT RANGE. SKIES WILL CLEAR OUT AND WINDS GO CALM SUNDAY EVENING. IZZI //ORD AND MDW CONFIDENCE...UPDATED 06Z... * HIGH CONFIDENCE IN ALL FORECAST ELEMENTS IZZI //OUTLOOK FOR ORD/MDW FOR 12Z MONDAY-12Z SATURDAY...UPDATED 00Z... MONDAY...SLT CHC OF SHRA DURING THE NIGHT. TUESDAY...VFR. GUSTY SSW WINDS. WEDNESDAY...SLT CHC OF TSRA. THURSDAY-FRIDAY...CHC OF TSRA. MTF && .MARINE... 255 AM CDT SOME SHIP OBS AND COASTAL OBS ON EASTERN SHORE SUPPORT MAINTAINING THE GALE WARNING AS IS THIS MORNING WITH CONTINUED UNSTABLE CONDITIONS LIKELY TO ALLOW GALES TO LINGER INTO THE MORNING HOURS. FAR NORTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN COULD SEE GALES LINGER INTO THE EARLY AFTERNOON DUE TO TIGHTER GRADIENT BUT WINDS ACROSS THE LAKE SHOULD BE TRENDING DOWNWARD THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT AS RIDGE AXIS APPROACHES FROM THE WEST. RIDGE WILL MOVE ACROSS THE LAKE TONIGHT INTO MONDAY WITH SOUTHERLY WINDS DEVELOPING AND STRENGTHENING AS SEASONABLY STRONG LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPS OVER THE SOUTHERN CANADIAN PLAINS TUESDAY. DESPITE FAIRLY TIGHT GRADIENT...SURGE OF VERY WARM AIR OVER VERY COLD LAKE SHOULD KEEP WINDS AND WAVES SOMEWHAT IN CHECK TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY. IZZI && .LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...NONE. IN...NONE. LM...GALE WARNING...LMZ261-LMZ362-LMZ364-LMZ563 UNTIL 3 PM SUNDAY. GALE WARNING...LMZ366-LMZ565-LMZ567-LMZ669-LMZ671-LMZ673-LMZ868- LMZ870-LMZ872-LMZ874 UNTIL 9 AM SUNDAY. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY...NEARSHORE GARY TO MICHIGAN CITY IN UNTIL 3 PM SUNDAY. && $$ VISIT US AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/CHICAGO (ALL LOWERCASE) FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK...TWITTER...AND YOUTUBE AT: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/US.NATIONALWEATHERSERVICE.CHICAGO.GOV WWW.TWITTER.COM/NWSCHICAGO WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/NWSCHICAGO
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NWS JACKSON KY
145 AM EDT SUN MAY 12 2013 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 145 AM EDT SUN MAY 12 2013 LINE OF SCATTERED SHOWERS CROSSING THE CWFA. NOT MUCH PCPN WITH THIS LINE. AT CURRENT SPEED THE SHRA SHOULD BE EAST OF THE STATE BY 9Z. THEN THE COLD AIR BEFINS TO MOVE IN. NOT EXPECTING DRAMATIC DROP IN TEMPS TONIGHT DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE LOW LEVEL CLOUD COVER AND ENUF WIND TO KEEP SOME OF THE BNDRY LAYER MIXED. SHOULD CLEAR ON SUN SO SUN NIGHT WILL SEE THE REAL DROP IN OVERNIGHT TEMPS TO RECORD LEVELS LIKELY. UPDATED GRIDS WITH CURRENT CONDITIONS. WILL UPDATE ZONES WHEN THE SHRA EXIT THE AREA. UPDATE ISSUED AT 1115 PM EDT SAT MAY 11 2013 A RECENT UPDATE WAS MADE TO THE GRIDS TO FINE TUNE TIMING OF SHOWER CHANCES OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS AND FRESHEN UP HOURLY TEMPS...DEWPOINTS AND WINDS. THE COLD FRONT IS NOW MOVING THROUGH CENTRAL KY WITH A BAND OF SHOWERS PRECEDING IT. COLDER AND DRIER AIR WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA LATER TONIGHT BEHIND THE FRONT. UPDATE ISSUED AT 810 PM EDT SAT MAY 11 2013 AT PRESENT...SOUTH CENTRAL AND EASTERN KY ARE IN A LULL BETWEEN THE DEPARTED INITIAL FIRST COLD FRONT AND THE STRONGER SECOND COLD FRONT. THIS COLD FRONT IS THE LEADING EDGE OF A MUCH COLDER AND DRIER AIRMASS. ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS ARE CURRENTLY ALONG THE BOUNDARY...BUT OPERATIONAL MODELS INCLUDING THE HRRR AND NAM SHOW SOME DECREASE IN ACTIVITY ALONG THE BOUNDARY WITH LOSS OF DAYTIME HEATING. EXTRAPOLATION AND OPERATIONAL MODELS GENERALLY BRING THESE INTO THE WESTERN COUNTIES AROUND OR A LITTLE BEFORE MIDNIGHT AND THEN DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS ACROSS THE EASTERN HALF OF THE CWA. FEW CHANGES WERE NEEDED TO THE PREVIOUS TIMING AND THE RECENT UPDATE WAS MAINLY TO REMOVE AFTERNOON REFERENCES FROM THE ZFP AND ADJUST HOURLY TEMPS...DEWPOINTS...SKY AND WINDS TO REFLECT RECENT TRENDS. THIS SCENARIO BRING SOME PARTIAL CLEARING ACROSS THE CWA FOR AN HOUR OR TWO BEFORE MORE CLOUDS MOVE IN ALONG THE BOUNDARY. ALTHOUGH THE CURRENT BAND OF CLOUDS IS RATHER NARROW POST FRONTAL FLOW THAT IS OUT OF THE NORTHWEST SHOULD TEND TO LINGER CLOUDS A LITTLE LONGER THAN BAND OF CLOUDS TO THE WEST WOULD INDICATE AND THIS WAS ALREADY HANDLED WELL IN THE PREVIOUS FORECAST. && .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 354 PM EDT SAT MAY 11 2013 ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS WILL WIND DOWN OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS AS THE SURFACE COLD FRONT HAS SHIFTED OFF TO THE SOUTHEAST OF THE AREA. THE NEXT COLD FRONT IS CURRENTLY ALIGNED FROM NORTHEAST INDIANA DOWN THROUGH SOUTHEAST MISSOURI. MOST OF THE SHOWER ACTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH THIS BOUNDARY IS LOCATED NORTH OF THE OHIO RIVER. THE MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH BRINGING THIS SECONDARY BOUNDARY THROUGH THE AREA LATER THIS EVENING...WITH ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS THREATENING ONCE AGAIN...ALTHOUGH MOST GUIDANCE INDICATES A DOWNTREND IN CONVECTION AS THE BOUNDARY MOVES ACROSS EASTERN KENTUCKY. LOWS TONIGHT WILL BOTTOM IN THE LOW TO MID 40S FOR MOST LOCATIONS. AFTER AN UNSEASONABLY COOL MOTHER/S DAY WITH HIGHS TOPPING OUT AT AROUND 60 DEGREES...A CHILLY SUNDAY NIGHT WILL BE IN STORE. THE MODEL GUIDANCE CONTINUES TO SHOW NEAR RECORD LOWS OF LOWER TO MIDDLE 30S. HAVE THEREFORE HIGHLIGHTED THE COOLER TEMPERATURES AND THE POSSIBILITY OF FROST IN AN SPS...ALTHOUGH WITH THE GREEN PRETTY MUCH IN FULL SWING AND SATURATED GROUND FROM RECENT RAINFALL...THE FOG MAY WIND UP BEING MORE PREVALENT THAN THE FROST. .LONG TERM...(MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY) ISSUED AT 310 PM EDT SAT MAY 11 2013 THE MODELS START OUT THE EXTENDED IN EXCELLENT AGREEMENT ALOFT AS THEY ALL HAVE A DEEP TROUGH EXTENDING FROM THE GREAT LAKES... THROUGH THE OHIO VALLEY...AND TO THE DEEP SOUTH. THIS TROUGH WILL QUICKLY PULL EAST DURING THE DAY MONDAY ALLOWING HEIGHTS TO RISE OVER EAST KENTUCKY INTO MONDAY NIGHT. MODERATE RIDGING WILL THEN BUILD INTO THE STATE FROM THE WEST AND LATER NORTH FROM THE CENTRAL GULF COAST. BY WEDNESDAY MORNING...THOUGH...SOME DISTINCT DIFFERENCES START TO CROP UP AMONGST THE MODELS IN BOTH THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN STREAMS. A WELL DEFINED MID LEVEL LOW RUNNING EAST ALONG THE CANADIAN BORDER...IN THE GFS...IS REPRESENTED AS A WEAKER...MORE PROGRESSIVE...OPEN WAVE IN THE 00Z ECMWF. THE LATEST GEM APPEARS TO BE SIDING WITH THE GFS WITH THIS FEATURE. THE NET RESULT FOR EAST KENTUCKY WILL BE SIMILAR REGARDLESS OF WHICH SOLUTION PANS OUT AS THERE REMAINS GOOD AGREEMENT THAT RIDGING WILL BE IN PLACE OVER OUR AREA THROUGH MIDWEEK. WHILE THE NORTHERN DETAILS WORK THEMSELVES OUT...TO THE SOUTH A WEAKENING IMPULSE WILL MOVE THROUGH THE SOUTHERN PLAINS LIKELY SERVING TO SUPPRESS THE LOCAL RIDGING AS IT MOVES CLOSER TO THE CWA ON THURSDAY. IN FACT...BY 00Z FRIDAY THE GFS IS SHOWING A FLAT TO SLIGHTLY TROUGHING PATTERN OVER EAST KENTUCKY WHILE THE ECMWF STILL HAS THE BACK EDGE OF RIDGING HOLDING ON THROUGH THE APPALACHIANS. DESPITE THE PATTERN DIFFERENCES...THE HEIGHTS ARE RATHER SIMILAR OVER THE AREA INTO FRIDAY...ALONG WITH A HEALTHY MIX OF ENERGY...KEEPING THINGS UNSETTLED. FOR SATURDAY... WEAK RIDGING WILL REMAIN IN PLACE THROUGH THE AREA AS ANY IMPRESSIVE WAVES STAY WELL NORTH OF THE AREA...MORE BEFITTING OF THIS TIME OF YEAR. GIVEN THE SIMILARITY AND GENERAL CONSENSUS EXHIBITED BY THE MODELS OVER EAST KENTUCKY THROUGH THE PERIOD...WILL FOLLOW A BLENDED SOLUTION WITH LITTLE APPREHENSION...AND SOME CONFIDENCE THAT A MORE NORMAL LATE SPRING WX PATTERN IS NEARLY UPON US. AS FOR SENSIBLE WEATHER...MONDAY WILL START OUT CHILLY AND FROSTY BUT MODERATE QUICKLY A HIGH PRESSURE MOVES INTO THE OHIO VALLEY. THE WARMING WILL CONTINUE INTO TUESDAY AS A WARM FRONT PASSES TO THE NORTH OF THE AREA. THIS WILL SET THE STAGE FOR A RARITY OF THIS SPRING...A DAY OF ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES...ON WEDNESDAY. ABOUT THIS TIME A DEVELOPING FRONT SETS UP NORTH OF THE OHIO RIVER AND INCREASING MOISTURE WILL BRING WITH IT BETTER CHANCES FOR CONVECTION ON THURSDAY. THIS NEARBY FRONT...A MOIST BOUNDARY LAYER...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL LIKELY KEEP...AT LEAST DIURNALLY DRIVEN...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AROUND THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK AND INTO SATURDAY. THE PRICE OF A MORE NORMAL SPRING PATTERN...AND A LACK OF STRONG HIGH PRESSURE...DURING THE LATTER PART OF THE FORECAST WILL BE A PATTERN MORE SIMILAR TO EARLY SUMMER MAKING AFTERNOON AND EVENING CONVECTION A GOOD BET. THE CR GRID LOAD CAME IN PRETTY GOOD...DID MAKE HOURLY ADJUSTMENTS TO THE POPS AND SKY COVER TO BETTER HONE IN ON THE TIMES OF PEAK CONVECTION FROM THURSDAY ON. ALSO...MADE SOME TERRAIN BASED ADJUSTMENTS TO LOW TEMPERATURES EACH NIGHT FROM MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY EVENING) ISSUED AT 815 PM EDT SAT MAY 11 2013 DURING THE FIRST 3 TO 7 HOURS OF THE PERIOD...THE REGION WILL BE A RELATIVE LULL IN CLOUDS BETWEEN THE DEPARTED COLD FRONT AND ANOTHER APPROACHING COLD FRONT AND ASSOCIATED BAND OF CLOUDS AND SCATTERED SHOWERS. DURING THE LULL AN IMPROVEMENT TO VFR SHOULD OCCUR IN ALL BUT THE HIGHEST TERRAIN THE SOUTHEAST WHERE SKIES SHOULD IMPROVE TO MVFR FROM IFR. A DROP DOWN TO MVFR OR PERHAPS LOWER IS ANTICIPATED ALONG AND FOR ABOUT 3 HOURS BEHIND THE BOUNDARY. DRY AIR ADVECTION IN LOWER LEVELS SHOULD LEAD TO IMPROVEMENTS BACK TO VFR AFTER THAT PERIOD. WINDS WILL BE A BIT GUSTY FROM NW OR NNW...ESPECIALLY 15Z TO 22Z. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ UPDATE...DUSTY SHORT TERM...GEOGERIAN LONG TERM...GREIF AVIATION...JP
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS CARIBOU ME
1010 PM EDT MON MAY 13 2013 .SYNOPSIS... HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD EAST OVERNIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY...THEN CROSS THE REGION THROUGH WEDNESDAY. A WARM FRONT WILL CROSS THE REGION WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY/... 1000 PM UPDATE: ADJUSTED THE SKY CONDITIONS TO ADD MORE CLOUDINESS ACROSS THE EASTERN 3RD OF THE CWA IN RESPONSE THE LOW PASSING WELL E OF THE REGION. MOST OF THIS CLOUDINESS IS OF MID/HIGH LEVEL. CANADIAN GEM AND HRRR DOING WELL IN CATCHING THESE CLOUDS AND LATEST FCST HAS THESE CLOUDS PULLING E OVERNIGHT W/CLEARING TAKING PLACE. FROST ADVISORY REMAINS IN PLACE FOR THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS AND DOWNEAST. WINDS WILL BECOME LIGHT AND THE COOL DRY AIR WILL ALLOW TEMPS TO FALL TO NEAR OR JUST BELOW FREEZING ACROSS THE NORTH OVERNIGHT. LOWS IN THE MID 30S OVER INTERIOR DOWNEAST LOCATIONS WILL ALLOW FROST TO FORM INLAND FROM THE COAST. A FROST ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED FOR INTERIOR DOWNEAST LOCATIONS WHERE THE OUTDOOR GROWING SEASON MAY HAVE STARTED FOR SOME GARDENERS. A FREEZE IS LIKELY ACROSS THE NORTH. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BRING LIGHT WINDS AND A MODERATELY COOL DAY ACROSS THE AREA ON TUESDAY. CUMULUS CLOUDS WILL BRING PARTIAL SUNSHINE DURING THE MIDDAY. SOME HIGH THIN CLOUDS MAY BRUSH EASTERN AREAS FROM THE WESTERN EDGE OF A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM PASSING SOUTHEAST OF NOVA SCOTIA. && .SHORT TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... LOW PRESSURE WILL LIFT NORTH ACROSS NOVA SCOTIA TUESDAY NIGHT WHILE HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS EAST ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA. EXPECT PRECIPITATION WITH THE MARITIMES LOW WILL REMAIN JUST EAST OF THE REGION...THOUGH THE EDGE OF THE CLOUD SHIELD WILL CLIP EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA EARLY TUESDAY NIGHT. CLOUD COVER WILL THEN DECREASE ACROSS THE REGION OVERNIGHT WITH BUILDING HIGH PRESSURE. FREEZING TEMPERATURES WILL BE A CONCERN ACROSS NORTHERN AREAS TUESDAY NIGHT...WITH THE COLDEST TEMPERATURES ACROSS NORTHWEST AREAS. FROST ADVISORIES COULD BE NEEDED DOWNEAST WHERE THE GROWING SEASON HAS ALREADY STARTED. HIGH PRESSURE WILL CROSS THE REGION WEDNESDAY. CLOUD COVER WILL BEGIN TO INCREASE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON IN ADVANCE OF AN APPROACHING WARM/OCCLUDED FRONT. THE FRONT WILL CROSS THE REGION WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY...THOUGH UNCERTAINTY WITH THE EXACT TIMING OF THE FRONT AND RAIN TOTALS STILL EXIST. EXPECT AN AREA OF RAIN WILL CROSS THE REGION WEDNESDAY NIGHT IN ADVANCE OF THE FRONT...WITH THE STEADIER RAIN TAPERING TO SHOWERS LATE. COULD STILL HAVE A CHANCE OF SHOWERS ACROSS THE REGION THURSDAY INTO THURSDAY NIGHT...WITH THE BETTER CHANCES OF SHOWERS AND MORE EXTENSIVE CLOUD COVER ACROSS NORTHERN AREAS. HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE AT NEAR NORMAL LEVELS WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... THE BASE OF A UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL BE MOVING ACROSS THE NORTHERN PART OF THE REGION TO BEGIN THE FORECAST PERIOD. THIS WILL BRING CLOUDS AND SHOWERS MAINLY ACROSS THE NORTH FOR FRIDAY. THE UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL KEEP CLOUDS AND SOME SHOWERS FRIDAY NIGHT AS SYSTEM SLIDES EAST. THE DIVERGENCE IN THE MODELS COMES WITH RESPECT TO TIMING OF THE NEXT SYSTEM. THE 06Z GFS BRINGS A BOUNDARY INTO THE REGION BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON WHILE THE 00Z ECMWF IS QUITE A BIT SLOWER BRING PRECIP IN MONDAY NIGHT. 00Z GFS ENSEMBLE MEAN ALSO BRINGS THIS SYSTEM INTO THE SUNDAY EVENING. THE LATEST 12Z GFS ALSO WANTS TO HINT AT THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME SHOWER ACTIVITY BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON BUT BRINGS LESS LIFT ACROSS THE REGION. RIGHT NOW WITH LOW CONFIDENCE WILL BRING SHOWERS MAINLY IN THE WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE AREA FOR SUNDAY AFTERNOON INTO MONDAY. WILL LOAD WITH GMOS AND ADJUST ACCORDINGLY LEANING TOWARD PREVIOUS FORECAST TO KEEP SOME CONSISTENCY AT THE END OF THE PERIOD. && .AVIATION /02Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... NEAR TERM: VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE AREA TONIGHT AND TUESDAY. SHORT TERM: VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE REGION TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY. CONDITIONS WILL LOWER TO MVFR/IFR LEVELS WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY THURSDAY. OCCASIONAL MVFR CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE REGION THURSDAY INTO THURSDAY NIGHT. THE POSSIBILITY OF MVFR CONDITIONS WITH SHOWERS MAINLY ACROSS THE NORTH FOR FRIDAY WITH SITES GOING VFR FOR SATURDAY. && .MARINE... NEAR TERM: WINDS WILL DIMINISH TONIGHT. SEAS WILL REMAIN ABOVE 5 FT OVERNIGHT REQUIRING AN SCA FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS. SEAS ARE EXPECTED TO DROP BELOW 5 FT TUESDAY AND WIND WILL BE LIGHT WITH HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING OVER. SHORT TERM: WINDS/SEAS ARE EXPECTED TO BE BELOW SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY LEVELS TUESDAY NIGHT. MARGINAL SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY LEVEL SEAS ARE POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY...WITH SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY LEVEL SEAS PERSISTING INTO THURSDAY NIGHT. VISIBILITIES WILL BE REDUCED IN RAIN/FOG WEDNESDAY NIGHT...WITH LINGERING SHOWERS THURSDAY. && .CAR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ME...FROST ADVISORY FROM 2 AM TO 6 AM EDT TUESDAY FOR MEZ011- 015>017-031-032. MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS UNTIL 8 AM EDT TUESDAY FOR ANZ050-051. && $$ NEAR TERM...HEWITT
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS CARIBOU ME
1255 AM EDT SUN MAY 12 2013 .SYNOPSIS... A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH LATER TONIGHT AND CROSS THE REGION ON SUNDAY WITH ADDITIONAL AFTERNOON SHOWERS. COLDER AND DRIER AIR WILL FOLLOW FOR EARLY NEXT WEEK. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TODAY/... 1255 AM UPDATE...MAIN CHANGES WITH THIS UPDATE WERE TO POPS TO MATCH THEM TO CURRENT RADAR TRENDS. THE FRONT IS BISECTING THE FORECAST AREA RIGHT NOW AND SHOWERS HAVE PRETTY MUCH HAVE COME TO AN END ACROSS NORTHWESTERN MAINE. THE BEST CHANCES FOR PRECIPITATION FOR THE REMAINDER OF TONIGHT/THIS MORNING WILL BE ACROSS FAR DOWNEAST AREAS, AS RADAR SHOWS AN OFFSHORE BAND OF WIDESPREAD SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE BRUSH COASTAL AREAS. ELSEWHERE, SHOWERS WILL BE SCATTERED IN NATURE. OTHER THAN POPS, THE GOING FORECAST WAS ON TRACK, SO NO OTHER CHANGES WERE NEEDED. PREVIOUS DISCUSSION: MAIN CHALLENGES WILL BE TIMING OF RAIN TONIGHT INTO SUNDAY AND TEMPERATURES. FIRST AREA OF RAIN MOVING TO THE E INTO NEW BRUNSWICK WHILE SEND AREA OF RAIN AND POSSIBLE TSTMS MOVING INTO SWRN AREAS ATTM PER THE LATEST RADAR. THIS SECOND AREA OF RAIN WILL OVERSPREAD THE CWA LATER THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY TONIGHT. 12Z UA INDICATED A STRONG 40KT JETLET AT 700MBS ACROSS ONTARIO AND WRN NYS. THIS AREA OF FORCING WAS PICKED UP BY THE GFS AND CANADIAN GEM. THEREFORE, A BLEND OF THESE 2 MODELS WERE USED INTO EARLY TONIGHT AS THEY SHOW A SIGNIFICANT AREA OF RAIN MOVING ACROSS THE REGION. ATMOSPHERE LOOKS LIKE IT STABILIZES AFTER 22Z AND THEREFORE CUT BACK ON THE MENTION OF TSTMS FOR OUR CWA. THE LATEST RAP FROM THE SPC MESO- ANALYSIS PAGE INDICATED SOME POSSIBLE TSTMS EDGING INTO GYX/S WRN ZONES THIS AFTERNOON AND THEN WEAKENING BY 22Z OR SO. A BLEND OF THE NERFC/GFS AND SREF WAS USED FOR THE QPF WHICH SHOWED AN ADDITIONAL 0.15-0.30 THROUGH 06Z AND THEN RAIN END AS THE BEST FORCING EXITS INTO NEW BRUNSWICK. ADDED FOG FOR ALL THE CWA OVERNIGHT W/THE MOST DENSE FOG FROM MLT REGION ON SOUTH. TEMPERATURES WILL BE HELD UP TONIGHT AND FOLLOWED A BLEND OF THE NAM12 AND REGIONAL GEM FOR TONIGHT`S LOWS SHOWING UPPER 40S OUT WEST TO LOW TO MID 50S EASTERN AND CENTRAL AREAS. FOR SUNDAY, DRY W/SOME FOG TO START AND THEN ANOTHER BATCH OF SHOWERS EXPECTED BY MIDDAY DUE TO THE COLD FRONT APCHG FROM THE W. STAYED W/A GEM/GFS BLEND FOR TIMING OF THE SHOWERS USING THE MID LEVEL FORCING FOR THE QPF WHICH SHOWED ANOTHER .10-.20, MAINLY NORTHERN AND CENTRAL AREAS. HELD BACK THE TEMPERATURES FROM PREVIOUS THINKING AND LEANED W/LOWER 60S NORTH AND MID 60S CENTRAL AND DOWNEAST AS CAA LOOKS TO TAKE HOLD IN THE AFTERNOON. TSTM POTENTIAL LOOKS TO BE LESS LIKELY ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE DOWNEAST AND COAST DUE TO THE ONSHORE FLOW. BEST CHANCES IF ANY WILL BE ACROSS THE NORTHERN AND WESTERN AREAS DUE TO SOME ELEVATED INSTABILITY. ATTM, KEPT ISOLATED THUNDER IN THERE FOR CONTINUITY. MIDNIGHT CREW CAN ASSESS THIS FURTHER TONIGHT. && .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... THE FIRST PART OF THE PERIOD WILL BEGIN WITH SHOWERS ACROSS THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL PARTS OF THE REGION SUNDAY NIGHT. THESE SHOWERS ARE DUE TO A BOUNDARY THAT WILL MOVE FROM WEST TO EAST. THE BEST LIFT LOOKS TO BE ACROSS THE NORTH. ONCE THIS FRONTAL BOUNDARY PUSHES THROUGH THE REGION TEMPERATURES WILL COOL OFF FOR MONDAY WITH HIGHS IN THE 50S NORTH AND THE UPPER 50S TO LOWER 60S SOUTH. AS THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH MOVES EAST THE 12Z GFS IS TRYING TO CLOSE THE TROUGH TO THE NORTH WHILE THE 12Z NAM/00Z ECMWF CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THE CLOSED LOW AROUND THE BASE OF THE TROUGH. RIGHT NOW WILL LEAN WITH THE SURFACE LOW DEVELOPS TRACKING MAINLY EAST OF THE AREA LATE TUESDAY INTO TUESDAY NIGHT. MAIN AFFECT TO THE FORECAST FOR THIS PERIOD WILL BE THE INCREASE IN CLOUDS COVERAGE WITH HIGHEST COVERAGE SEEN ACROSS THE EASTERN AND SOUTHEASTERN PARTS OF THE REGION. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... BOTH MEDIUM RANGE MODELS ARE IN GENERAL AGREEMENT IN THE TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THROUGH SUNDAY TIME FRAME. THE FORECAST FOR WEDNESDAY CONTINUES TO BE DRY. MOISTURE INCREASES WEDNESDAY NIGHT...AHEAD OF THE NEXT SYSTEM EXPECTED TO MOVE THROUGH THE AREA...BRINGING A CHANCE OF RAIN MAINLY ON THURSDAY. AT THIS POINT IT APPEARS WE MAY HAVE A BREAK BETWEEN SYSTEMS ON FRIDAY HOWEVER LATE FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY SHOULD SEE RAIN CHANCES INCREASE ACROSS THE REGION ONCE AGAIN. SEASONAL TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE PERIOD WITH SOME DAYS A LITTLE ABOVE NORMAL AND OTHERS WITH READINGS A LITTLE BELOW. && .AVIATION /06Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... NEAR TERM: IFR INTO SUNDAY MORNING AND THEN CONDITIONS GO TO MVFR ESPECIALLY NORTHERN TERMINALS. SHORT TERM: MOST TAF SITES WILL STAY VFR THROUGH THE PERIOD EXCEPT FOR SUNDAY NIGHT WITH HEAVIER SHOWERS THERE COULD BE PERIODS OF MVFR OR IFR. && .MARINE... NEAR TERM: DECIDED TO TRANSITION THE SCA TO HAZARDOUS SEAS INTO SUNDAY. WAVES ARE CLIMBING TO 6 ATTM W/A SWELL GENERATED. WILL CARRY THE MENTION OF THE SWELL INTO SUNDAY. WINDS ARE BELOW SCA AND EXPECTING THEM TO STAY BELOW INTO SUNDAY. FOLLOWED THE NAM12/GFS40 BLEND FOR THE WINDS AND FOLLOWED CLOSELY W/THE MIDNIGHT CREW`S WAVE HEIGHTS OF 4-7 FT. SHORT TERM: SCA CONDITIONS SUBSIDE BY THE SHORT TERM PERIOD. KEPT CONSISTENCY WITH LAST NIGHTS SHIFT FOR WAVE AND WIND GRIDS. && .CAR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ME...NONE. MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS UNTIL 4 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR ANZ050>052. && $$ NEAR TERM...HASTINGS/HEWITT SHORT TERM...JORDAN LONG TERM...RUNYAN AVIATION...HASTINGS/HEWITT/JORDAN MARINE...HASTINGS/HEWITT/JORDAN
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MARQUETTE MI
738 PM EDT MON MAY 13 2013 .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH TUESDAY) ISSUED AT 351 PM EDT MON MAY 13 2013 TWO WAVES/DISTURBANCES WILL BE THE FOCUS FOR THE FORECAST...WITH THE FIRST ONE AFFECTING THE AREA TONIGHT AND THE OTHER TOMORROW AFTERNOON/EVENING. LATEST WV IMAGERY AND RUC ANALYSIS SHOWS THE AREA UNDER RIDGING ALOFT AS THE UPPER TROUGH THAT HAD BEEN AFFECTING THE AREA THIS WEEKEND SHIFTING EAST ACROSS QUEBEC AND AN UPPER RIDGE OVER THE WESTERN CONUS. THERE IS A DECENT AMOUNT OF MOISTURE ROUNDING THE RIDGE WITH A 996MB LOW JUST TO THE WEST OF LAKE WINNIPEG. CLOSER TO HOME...SKIES WERE CLEAR OVER MUCH OF UPPER MICHIGAN THIS MORNING...BUT INCREASING MID-HIGH CLOUDS ARE SPREADING ACROSS THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON. BAND OF RAIN IS STARTING TO MOVE INTO WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR AT THIS TIME AND IS ASSOCIATED WITH A THIN AREA OF 800-500MB MOISTURE AND 700MB F-GEN. EXPECT THE BAND TO CONTINUE EAST-SOUTHEAST THIS EVENING AS THE 700MB F-GEN AND BROAD 850-700MB WARM AIR ADVECTION CONTINUE. BUT...WITH THE 500MB SHORTWAVE AND ASSOCIATED HEIGHT FALLS SHIFTING EAST THROUGH ONTARIO AND WELL NORTH OF THE AREA ALONG WITH BEING UNDER THE WRONG AREA OF THE UPPER JET /RIGHT EXIT/ THE BETTER FORCING ISN/T OVER THE AREA. PLUS...WITH THE DRY AIR IT WILL BE RUNNING INTO...WONDERING IF THAT WILL LIMIT THE INTENSITY SOME. WITH AS PERSISTENT AS IT HAS BEEN TODAY...DID BUMP UP POPS A TOUCH TO GET MORE CHANCE/SCATTERED WORDING IN FOR THIS EVENING...BUT BASED OFF THE LIMITED RAIN AMOUNTS SEEN UPSTREAM /TRACE TO A COUPLE HUNDREDTHS/ DIDN/T WANT TO GO MUCH ABOVE THAT. AS ADDITIONAL 850-700MB MOISTURE SLIDES SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE EASTERN CWA TONIGHT...WOULD THINK THE PRECIPITATION CHANCES SHOULD INCREASE SOME OVERNIGHT. THERE IS LITTLE OR NO INSTABILITY WITH THIS PASSING WAA...AS MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES ARE ONLY AROUND 3-5 C/KM...SO WILL KEEP THUNDER OUT OF THE FORECAST. WITH THE BETTER CONSISTENCY IN THIS MOISTURE ARRIVING OVER THE EAST...DID BUMP UP VALUES TO HIGH CHANCE POPS THERE. EXPECT TO SEE A BRIEF REPRIEVE ON TUESDAY MORNING BEHIND THE INITIAL AREA OF WAA TONIGHT. THIS WILL LIKELY PRODUCE SOME BREAKS OR CLEARING OVER AT LEAST THE WEST HALF OF THE CWA DURING THE MORNING HOURS BEFORE MID-HIGH CLOUDS STREAM BACK INTO THE AREA. THEN...THE SHORTWAVE THAT IS CURRENTLY ENTERING THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST WILL BE MOVING EAST-NORTHEAST ALONG THE US/CANADIAN BORDER AND BE NEAR LAKE WINNIPEG BY 18Z TUESDAY. WARM AIR ADVECTION WILL AGAIN BE ON THE INCREASE FROM WEST TO EAST DURING THE AFTERNOON. MOISTURE WILL ALSO BE LIMITED AS IT MOVES THROUGH THE AREA DURING THE AFTERNOON. BEST MOISTURE AND CLOSEST PROXIMITY TO THE SHORTWAVE WILL BE OVER THE NORTHWEST HALF OF THE CWA...SO WILL HAVE HIGHEST POPS THEIR DURING THE LATTER PART OF THE AFTERNOON. QPF/REFLECTIVITY FROM HIGH RESOLUTION MODEL RUNS SEEM TO MATCH THIS IDEA AND LEADS TO GREATER CONFIDENCE. ELEVATED INSTABILITY IS MARGINAL ALONG/NORTH THE WARM FRONT...WITH THE BEST INSTABILITY FARTHER SOUTHWEST AND AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT. THIS IS LARGELY DUE TO THE MID-LEVEL LAPSE RATES STRUGGLING TO GET ABOVE 6C/KM. THUS...THUNDER POTENTIAL WILL BE SLIM THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HOURS. IF ANY ELEVATED THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP...WOULDN/T EXPECT THEM TO BE TOO STRONG...AS EFFECTIVE SHEAR VALUES WILL LIKELY BE BELOW 30KTS THROUGH 00Z ACROSS ALL BUT THE FAR SOUTHWEST CWA. AFTER A COOL WEEKEND...TEMPERATURES HAVE STARTED TO REBOUND TODAY AND EXPECT IT TO CONTINUE ON TUESDAY. THE WARM AIR ADVECTING INTO THE AREA ON TUESDAY ALONG WITH INCREASING SOUTHERLY FLOW SHOULD LEAD TO HIGHS IN THE LOWER 70S OVER THE FAR WEST AND A GRADIENT TO THE 50S OVER THE EAST HALF. .LONG TERM...(TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY) ISSUED AT 351 PM EDT MON MAY 13 2013 MUCH OF THIS PERIOD WILL BE MARKED BY THE PRESENCE OF A 70KT OR GREATER 250MB JET OVER UPPER MICHIGAN AND/OR LAKE SUPERIOR...AT LEAST FROM TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING. THIS WILL KEEP THE AREA IN A RELATIVELY BUSY WEATHER PATTERN...IN BETWEEN THE DOME OF HOT AIR OVER MUCH OF THE WESTERN HALF OF THE NATION...AND COLDER AIR RESIDING OVER CANADA. WE WILL START OUT TUESDAY NIGHT WITH A STACKED 500MB TROUGH-SFC LOW SET UP JUST NORTH OF CYRL IN WESTERN MANITOBA. A COLD FRONT WILL EXTEND S FROM THE SFC LOW...THROUGH THE EASTERN THIRD OF MN TO A SECONDARY SFC LOW/TRIPLE POINT THAT MAY BE DEVELOPING NEAR KDLH. THE LOCATION OF THE WARM FRONT IS KEY...LIKELY SET UP FROM THE ARROWHEAD OF MN DOWN AND NEAR THE WI BORDER OF UPPER MI AT 00Z WEDNESDAY. AS IS TYPICAL...THESE SPLITTING SYSTEMS CAN DEVELOP AND ROB US OF MOISTURE...AS CONVECTION POPS UP OVER WI. EXPECT WAA...LIMITED FORCING WILL LIKELY PERSIST...WITH MUCH OF THE BEST FORCING CLOSER TO THE MAIN SFC/500MB TROUGH ACROSS ONTARIO /WHERE AN AVERAGE QUARTER OF AN INCH OR MORE OF RAIN IS EXPECTED/. WE LOOK TO BE IN A PRETTY CAPPED ENVIRONMENT...WITH THE BEST CHANCE FOR ANY STRONGER SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTH CENTRAL AND EASTERN UPPER MI DURING THE LATE EVENING HOURS...AND EVEN THEN LIKELY ELEVATED ABOVE THE DRY AIR. THE SOUTHERN LOW/COLD FRONT WILL BE OVER EASTERN UPPER MI/LAKE SUPERIOR BY 09Z WEDNESDAY...AND EAST OF UPPER MI BY 12Z. COOLER/DRIER AIR WILL SWEEP IN FOR WEDNESDAY...WITH 850MB TEMPS FALLING FROM A MAX 14-18C OVERNIGHT TO AN AVERAGE 7-8C DURING THE DAY WEDNESDAY. PW VALUES FALL TO 0.37 TO 0.44IN...OR 60-70 PERCENT OF NORMAL...WITH THE LOWEST VALUES AWAY FROM THE KEWEENAW PENINSULA AND EXTREME S CENTRAL UPPER MI. EXPECT A MORE MODERATED AIRMASS FROM MUNISING EASTWARD AS MORE MOIST AIR SLIDES IN NEAR THE SHORELINE. A WORST CASE SCENARIO...WITH THE NAM MIXING UP TO 650-700MB DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS...DEW POINTS MIXING DOWN INTO THE UPPER 20S /F/ WOULD RESULT IN AFTERNOON MIN RH VALUES OF 19-25 PERCENT FROM JUST E OF IWD TO NORTHERN DELTA COUNTY...WITH GUSTS 25-30KTS. ON A POSITIVE NOTE...THE LATEST MODEL RUNS ARE NOT QUITE AS STRONG WITH THE WINDS. WILL NEED TO WAIT AND SEE IF THIS TREND HOLDS. IF LIMITED...OR NO...PRECIPITATION FALLS TUESDAY NIGHT...FIRE CONCERNS WILL BE ELEVATED. BEHIND THE ELONGATED LOW SHIFTING EAST INTO QUEBEC WEDNESDAY NIGHT...DRY WEATHER WILL REMAIN THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING...WITH COOL WEST TO NORTHWEST FLOW LINGERING. EXPECT THE RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE TO BE DIRECTLY OVERHEAD ON THURSDAY...WITH LIGHT WINDS AND LAKE BREEZES EXPECTED. OUR NEXT WEATHER MAKER WILL BE ORGANIZING ACROSS THE CENTRAL PLAINS FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY...BEFORE SHIFTING TOWARD MN AND IA SATURDAY NIGHT. THE SFC LOW WILL SIT AND SPIN BEFORE FINALLY EXITING NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS W LAKE SUPERIOR AROUND 06Z MONDAY AND SOUTHERN ONTARIO DURING THE DAY MONDAY...AS THE 500MB TROUGH/LOW DIVES ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS SUNDAY INTO SUNDAY NIGHT. ADDED TS CHANCES SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY MORNING...BEFORE THE END TO THE BULK OF MOISTURE. AT THIS POINT IT LOOKS LIKE THERE WILL BE A GOOD CHANCE OF SOAKING RAIN OVER THE FAR W PORTIONS OF UPPER MI FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY...WITH ANOTHER ROUND POSSIBLE LATER SUNDAY INTO MONDAY AS THE COLD FRONT SWINGS THROUGH. OTHER THAN SUNDAY TIMING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE 12Z RUNS OF THE GFS AND ECMWF...THE FCST MODELS ARE IN NORMAL TO SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL AGREEMENT. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z TUESDAY EVENING) ISSUED AT 737 PM EDT MON MAY 13 2013 VFR CONDITIONS TO PERSIST AT ALL THREE TAF SITES THROUGH THE FORECAST. UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE PUSHING CLOUD COVER AND RAIN SHOWERS INTO THE AREA THIS EVENING...BUT PRECIPITATION HAS BEEN VERY SPOTTY DUE TO DRY AIR IN PLACE ASSOCIATED WITH RETREATING HIGH PRESSURE. KIWD IS ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE BETTER FORCING AND THUS HAVE REMOVED MENTION OF VCSH THERE...BUT KEPT IT IN FOR KCMX AND KSAW. DISTURBANCE WILL SHIFT EAST OVERNIGHT WITH CLOUD COVER DECREASING. WILL LEAVE IN MENTION OF LLWS AT KSAW AND KIWD AS BUFKIT SOUNDINGS SHOW STRONG WINDS ALOFT THIS EVENING AS THE DISTURBANCE MOVES THROUGH. NEXT DISTURBANCE APPROACHES THE REGION IN THE MORNING WITH INCREASING HIGH AND MID LEVEL CLOUDS...WITH A POSSIBILITY OF LIGHT SHOWERS OVER KCMX BY 0Z. HAVE LEFT OUT OF FORECAST FOR NOW AS TIMING OF ARRIVAL MAY BE DELAYED SLIGHTLY BEYOND THE CURRENT FORECAST PERIOD. && .MARINE...(FOR THE 4 PM LAKE SUPERIOR FORECAST ISSUANCE) ISSUED AT 351 PM EDT MON MAY 13 2013 HIGH PRESSURE WILL DEPART THE AREA THIS EVENING. THIS WILL LEAD TO INCREASING SOUTHERLY FLOW TONIGHT INTO TUESDAY AHEAD OF A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVING EAST THROUGH SOUTHERN CANADA. AT THIS POINT...THE INCREASING WARM AIR ABOVE THE SURFACE SHOULD LIMIT GUST TO 20KTS IN MOST LOCATIONS FOR OVERNIGHT TONIGHT AND TUESDAY. DISPITE A COUPLE OF SIGNIFICANT SYSTEMS PUSHING THROUGH THE AREA TUESDAY-TUESDAY NIGHT...AND AGAIN THIS WEEKEND...WINDS ARE CURRENTLY ANTICIPATED TO REMAIN BELOW 30KTS. IT IS THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN...THERE WILL BE A ROUND OF THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE TUESDAY AFTERNOON OVER WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR...PUSHING EASTWARD OVERNIGHT AND ENDING EARLY WEDNESDAY. ANOTHER ROUND OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE WEST ON SATURDAY/SATURDAY NIGHT...AND ACROSS ALL OF LAKE SUPERIOR SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY MORNING. && .MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... UPPER MICHIGAN... NONE. LAKE SUPERIOR... NONE. LAKE MICHIGAN... NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...SRF LONG TERM...KF AVIATION...RJT MARINE...SRF/KF
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MARQUETTE MI
406 PM EDT SUN MAY 12 2013 .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH MONDAY) ISSUED AT 404 PM EDT SUN MAY 12 2013 WV IMAGERY AND RUC ANALYSIS INDICATED AN AMPLIFIED PATTERN WITH A RIDGE OVER WRN NOAM AND A TROUGH OVER THE EAST. THE MID LEVEL LOW CENTER WAS SLOWLY MOVING OFF TO THE EAST OF CYSB INTO QUEBEC. AT THE SFC...THE PRES GRADIENT ACROSS LAKE SUPERIOR WAS GRADUALLY WEAKENING AS THE 998 MB LOW ALSO MOVES INTO QUEBEC AND A RIDGE RIDGE FROM NW ONTARIO THROUGH WRN MN BUILDS INTO THE UPPER MS VALLEY. RADAR INDICATED THAT THE LINGERING FLURRIES BTWN MQT-ESC-ISQ WERE DIMINISHING AS DRIER AIR MOVES IN . TONIGHT...EXPECT THAT THE REST OF THE LOWER CLOUDS WILL DISSIPATE DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING...PER SATELLITE TRENDS...BUT MAY LINGER A BIT LONGER THAN WHAT SHORT TERM MODEL LOW LEVEL RH GUIDANCE SUGGESTS. WITH GOOD RADIATIONAL COOLING CONDITIONS BY LATE THIS EVENING WEST AND OVER NIGHT EAST AND PWAT VALUES BELOW 0.25 INCH...MIN TEMPS SHOULD FALL TOWARD THE LOWER END OF GUIDANCE AND NEAR RECORD VALUES. THE RECORD FOR THE NWS OFFICE ON 5/12 IS 24 AND ON 5/13 IS 25. READINGS INTO THE UPPER TEENS INTERIOR WEST TO THE MID 20S EAST ARE EXPECTED WHILE TEMPS AROUND 30 PREVAIL NEAR THE GREAT LAKES. MONDAY...AS THE MID/UPPER LEVEL RIDGE OVER THE PLAINS BUILDS TO THE EAST...A BROAD WAA PATTERN WILL DEVELOP OVER THE UPPER MS VALLEY AND WRN GREAT LAKES. 295-305K ISENTRPOPIC ASCENT AHEAD OF A TROUGH MOVING TOWARD MN WILL BRING INCREASING HIGH CLOUDS ACROSS UPPER MI DURING THE AFTERNOON. THE INITIAL DRY LOW LEVELS AHEAD OF THE BAND OF MOISTURE/ASCENT WILL LIMIT EASTWARD PROGRESSION OF THE LIGHT PCPN BAND TO THE FAR WEST DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON WHERE ONLY SLIGHT CHANCE POPS WERE INCLUDED. .LONG TERM...(MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY) ISSUED AT 157 PM EDT SUN MAY 12 2013 SLY FLOW WILL DOMINATE BETWEEN A SFC RIDGE OVER THE ERN CWA AND A TROUGH OVER THE MN/ND/SD BORDERS AT 00Z TUE. WAA AND ASSOCIATED THIN BAND OF LIGHT SHOWERS WILL BE OVER THE WRN CWA. COVERAGE OF THESE RAIN SHOWERS WILL BE LIMITED BY LIMITED MOISTURE...SO WILL KEEP POPS ON THE LOWER SIDE SIMILAR TO LAST FORECAST. THE PRECIP MOVES TO THE FAR ERN CWA BY 12Z TUE. BY 00Z WED...A SHORTWAVE TROUGH AND SFC LOW WILL MOVE TO SRN MANITOBA...BRINGING A WARM FRONT INTO THE CWA AND A COLD FRONT TO CENTRAL MN. BY THIS TIME...850MB TEMPS WILL HAVE INCREASED TO AROUND 16C OVER THE WRN CWA AND 9C OVER THE ERN CWA /14C AND 11C WARMER THAN 24 HOURS BEFORE...RESPECTIVELY/. THE WARM FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE CWA FOLLOWED SHORTLY AFTER BY THE COLD FRONT WED NIGHT INTO EARLY WED. WHILE THUNDERSTORMS APPEAR LIKELY GIVEN INSTABILITY AND STEEP LAPSE RATES...THERE IS SOME UNCERTAINTY WITH CONVECTIVE STRENGTH. MODEL FORECAST SOUNDINGS INDICATE POTENTIAL FOR OVER 1000J/KG OF ELEVATED CAPE...BUT MODELS SHORT THE DRY SLOT ROTATING THROUGH AROUND THE SAME TIME AS THE SHORTWAVE...BRINGING AN ELEVATED MIXED LAYER THAT LEADS TO 100-200J/KG OF CIN. WHETHER THE COLD FRONT CAN LIFT PARCELS THROUGH THE DRY LAYER AND THE EXACT TIMING OF THE DRYER AIR REALLY LOWERS CONFIDENCE IN STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS. ALSO...MODELS NOW AGREE FAIRLY WELL ON TIMING OF THE SYSTEM...BUT VARY MORE SIGNIFICANTLY ON HOW FAR N OR S TO BRING THE SYSTEM...WHICH IMPACTS POTENTIAL FORCING FOR ASCENT AND THE STRENGTH OF THE LOW LEVEL JET. PRECIP DOES APPEAR LIKELY ENOUGH WED NIGHT TO GO WITH LIKELY POPS /AT LEAST OVER THE NRN AND ERN CWA/...AND THUNDER ALSO SEEMS LIKE A GOOD BET IN MOST LOCATIONS THAT RECEIVE RAIN. DEFINITELY NOT SURE ON SEVERE POTENTIAL YET...BUT THERE IS SOME INDICATION THAT ISOLATED SEVERE WX MAY BE POSSIBLE. EVEN THOUGH 850MB TEMPS ARE COOLER DURING THE DAY WED THAN TUE...GOOD MIXING AND SUNSHINE BEHIND THE COLD FRONT WILL LEAD TO WARMER HIGH TEMPS AND LOWER RH VALUES...COMBINED WITH BREEZY WLY WINDS. EXPECT HIGHS IN THE 70S INLAND...WITH AROUND 60 EXPECTED CLOSER TO LAKE SUPERIOR. WILL CONTINUE TREND FROM PREVIOUS SHIFT OF LOWERING DEW PTS LOWER GIVEN GOOD MIXING AND DRY AIRMASS BEHIND THE FRONT...LEADING TO MIN RH VALUES IN THE 25-30 PERCENT /OR LOWER/ RANGE OVER INTERIOR CENTRAL AND WEST UPPER MI. INCREASED WINDS ON WED TO GUSTS TO 30KTS OVER THE WRN CWA /COULD BE HIGHER IF NAM VERIFIES...BUT IT IS ON THE STRONGER SIDE/. IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT THE WARMEST TEMPS...LOWEST RH AND HIGHEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED OVER THE INTERIOR WRN CWA...WHERE THE CHANCES FOR SIGNIFICANT PRECIP TUE NIGHT ARE THE LOWEST. WILL NEED TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR CONDITIONS FOR WED...BUT MAY SEE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS OVER AT LEAST PORTIONS OF UPPER MI. HIGH TEMPS WILL BE A A DEGREE OR TWO COOLER THU...BUT STILL EXPECT 70S INLAND AND AROUND 60 NEAR LAKE SUPERIOR. MIN RH VALUES LOOK TO BE SIMILAR TO WED ON THE LOW END OF THE COMFORT SCALE FOR FIRE WX...BUT WINDS WILL BE MUCH LIGHTER AS BROAD HIGH PRESSURE SETTLES OVER THE REGION. FOR FRI THROUGH SUN...JUST LOADED A CONSENSUS OF MODEL GUIDANCE DUE TO INCREASED UNCERTAINTY AND GREATER FOCUS ON FORECAST TUE-THU. OVERALL...EXPECT TEMPS AROUND SEASONAL NORMALS /A REGULAR SEASONAL NORMAL...NOT THIS SEASONS NORMAL/ WITH HIGHS IN THE 60S TO LOW 70S. PRECIP WILL BE POSSIBLE AS FRONTAL ZONES WILL BE NEARBY...BUT GETTING TOO SPECIFIC AT THIS POINT WOULD BE FUTILE. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 134 PM EDT SUN MAY 12 2013 AS A RIDGE AND DRIER AIR MOVES INTO THE REGION FROM THE WEST THIS AFTERNOON...ANY LINGERING CIGS AT CMX/SAW WILL GIVE WAY TO SCT CLOUDS BY MID TO LATE AFTERNOON. SO...MVFR CIGS AT KSAW WILL BE LAST TO SCATTER OUT. CLEAR SKIES WILL THEN PREVAIL THIS EVENING THROUGH MON MORNING. IT WILL REMAIN BLUSTERY AT CMX/SAW THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON WITH NW GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH. && .MARINE...(FOR THE 4 PM LAKE SUPERIOR FORECAST ISSUANCE) ISSUED AT 404 PM EDT SUN MAY 12 2013 GALES WILL SUBSIDE BY EARLY EVENING AND WINDS OVER THE EAST WILL DROP BELOW 20 KNOTS OVERNIGHT AS A RIDGE BUILDS INTO THE REGION WINDS WILL INCREASE OUT OF THE S/SE TO 25 KTS MON NIGHT THROUGH TUE NIGHT AHEAD OF A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVING NORTH OF LAKE SUPERIOR ON WED. A WARM FRONT SLIDING ACROSS LAKE SUPERIOR TUESDAY NIGHT AHEAD OF THE LOW MAY RESULT IN A FEW STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS. LIGHTNING AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS WOULD BE THE PRIMARY HAZARDS. EXPECT WINDS TO SHIFT WESTERLY ON WEDNESDAY BEHIND THE COLD FRONT. POSSIBLE THAT GUSTS COULD REACH 30 KTS. LIGHTER WINDS ARE EXPECTED AGAIN LATE IN THE WEEK. && .MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... UPPER MICHIGAN... NONE. LAKE SUPERIOR... GALE WARNING UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR LSZ249>251-266-267. LAKE MICHIGAN... NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...JLB LONG TERM...TITUS AVIATION...JLB MARINE...JLB
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MARQUETTE MI
158 PM EDT SUN MAY 12 2013 .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 549 AM EDT SUN MAY 12 2013 WV IMAGERY AND RUC ANALYSIS SHOW STRONG SHORTWAVE/CLOSED LOW SYSTEM NE OF LAKE SUPERIOR EARLY THIS MORNING. ENHANCEMENT ON THE BACK EDGE OF THIS SYSTEM COMBINED WITH COLD ADVECTION IN ITS WAKE...HELPED PRODUCE SOME MODERATE SNOW ACCUMULATION FROM NEGAUNEE/ISHPEMING EAST THROUGH ALGER AND NRN SCHOOLCRAFT COUNTIES EARLIER THIS MORNING. HOWEVER...IN THE PAST HR OR TWO RADAR RETURNS HAVE DIMINISHED DRAMATICALLY IN AREAL EXTENT AND INTENSITY. HERE AT NWS MQT...SNOW HAS DIMINISHED TO FLURRIES AND EXPECT THIS IS THE CASE AT MANY LOCATIONS BASED ON RADAR RETURNS. LATEST VAD WIND PROFILE FROM MQT RADAR ALSO SHOWS INDICATION OF SHARP LOWERING OF SUBSIDENCE INVERSION FROM 9-10 KFT TO 6 KFT IN PAST HR WHICH IS ALSO CONSISTENT WITH DIMINISHED RADAR RETURNS. TODAY...GIVEN RECENT DIMINISHING RADAR TRENDS AND FACT THAT MODELS SHOW BEST Q-VECT CONV FOR LAKE ENHANCEMENT TO BE MOVING EAST WITH TIME THIS MORNING...HAVE DECIDED TO CANCEL THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES FOR NORTH CENTRAL COUNTIES. MOST PLACES FROM MQT COUNTY EASTWARD WILL BE HARD PRESSED TO SEE MORE THAN HALF AN INCH OF ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATION WITH ONLY A FEW LINGERING FLURRIES NOTED TO THE WEST. UPDATED POPS TO REFLECT SHARP DIMINISHING TREND TO PCPN THIS MORNING. LINGERING CYCLONIC FLOW AND -10C 8H TEMPS MOVING ACROSS LAKE SUPERIOR COULD STILL SUPPORT PLENTY OF LAKE STRATOCU CLOUDS THROUGH THE MORNING HRS...ESPECIALLY FOR EASTERN COUNTIES DOWNWIND OF LONGER NNW FETCH ACROSS ERN LAKE SUPERIOR. SHARP SUBSIDENCE/DRYING WITH A TRANSITION TO MORE NEUTRAL OR ANTICYCLONIC FLOW FROM THE WEST BY AFTERNOON SHOULD ALLOW FOR CLEARING SKIES FROM THE WEST THIS AFTERNOON. FAIRLY TIGHT NW PRES GRAD ON THE BACKSIDE OF EXITING LOW WILL KEEP WINDS GUSTING TO NEAR 35 MPH OVER THE ERN HALF COUNTIES ESPECIALLY NEAR LAKE SUPERIOR. OTHERWISE...UNSEASONABLY COLD CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE WITH HIGHS RANGING FROM AROUND 40 NORTH AND EAST TO MID 40S SOUTH CENTRAL. TONIGHT...GIVEN RELATIVELY COLD HIGH TEMPS EXPECTED TODAY...SFC RIDGING AND ASSOCIATED CLEARING BUILDING IN FROM THE W SHOULD ALLOW SFC TEMPS TO PLUMMET TONIGHT TO RECORD OR NEAR RECORD LOW READINGS ESPECIALLY OVER THE WRN CWA. LEANED ON THE LOWER END OF MODEL GUIDANCE FOR MIN TEMPS WITH EXPECTED READINGS IN THE MID TO UPPER TEENS OVER THE TYPICALLY COLD WRN INTERIOR LOCATIONS AND LOWER TO MID 20S ACROSS THE REST OF THE INTERIOR CWA. TEMPS WILL STAY A BIT WARMER NEAR THE GREAT LAKES...GENERALLY IN THE UPPER 20S. .LONG TERM...(MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY) ISSUED AT 157 PM EDT SUN MAY 12 2013 SLY FLOW WILL DOMINATE BETWEEN A SFC RIDGE OVER THE ERN CWA AND A TROUGH OVER THE MN/ND/SD BORDERS AT 00Z TUE. WAA AND ASSOCIATED THIN BAND OF LIGHT SHOWERS WILL BE OVER THE WRN CWA. COVERAGE OF THESE RAIN SHOWERS WILL BE LIMITED BY LIMITED MOISTURE...SO WILL KEEP POPS ON THE LOWER SIDE SIMILAR TO LAST FORECAST. THE PRECIP MOVES TO THE FAR ERN CWA BY 12Z TUE. BY 00Z WED...A SHORTWAVE TROUGH AND SFC LOW WILL MOVE TO SRN MANITOBA...BRINGING A WARM FRONT INTO THE CWA AND A COLD FRONT TO CENTRAL MN. BY THIS TIME...850MB TEMPS WILL HAVE INCREASED TO AROUND 16C OVER THE WRN CWA AND 9C OVER THE ERN CWA /14C AND 11C WARMER THAN 24 HOURS BEFORE...RESPECTIVELY/. THE WARM FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE CWA FOLLOWED SHORTLY AFTER BY THE COLD FRONT WED NIGHT INTO EARLY WED. WHILE THUNDERSTORMS APPEAR LIKELY GIVEN INSTABILITY AND STEEP LAPSE RATES...THERE IS SOME UNCERTAINTY WITH CONVECTIVE STRENGTH. MODEL FORECAST SOUNDINGS INDICATE POTENTIAL FOR OVER 1000J/KG OF ELEVATED CAPE...BUT MODELS SHORT THE DRY SLOT ROTATING THROUGH AROUND THE SAME TIME AS THE SHORTWAVE...BRINGING AN ELEVATED MIXED LAYER THAT LEADS TO 100-200J/KG OF CIN. WHETHER THE COLD FRONT CAN LIFT PARCELS THROUGH THE DRY LAYER AND THE EXACT TIMING OF THE DRYER AIR REALLY LOWERS CONFIDENCE IN STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS. ALSO...MODELS NOW AGREE FAIRLY WELL ON TIMING OF THE SYSTEM...BUT VARY MORE SIGNIFICANTLY ON HOW FAR N OR S TO BRING THE SYSTEM...WHICH IMPACTS POTENTIAL FORCING FOR ASCENT AND THE STRENGTH OF THE LOW LEVEL JET. PRECIP DOES APPEAR LIKELY ENOUGH WED NIGHT TO GO WITH LIKELY POPS /AT LEAST OVER THE NRN AND ERN CWA/...AND THUNDER ALSO SEEMS LIKE A GOOD BET IN MOST LOCATIONS THAT RECEIVE RAIN. DEFINITELY NOT SURE ON SEVERE POTENTIAL YET...BUT THERE IS SOME INDICATION THAT ISOLATED SEVERE WX MAY BE POSSIBLE. EVEN THOUGH 850MB TEMPS ARE COOLER DURING THE DAY WED THAN TUE...GOOD MIXING AND SUNSHINE BEHIND THE COLD FRONT WILL LEAD TO WARMER HIGH TEMPS AND LOWER RH VALUES...COMBINED WITH BREEZY WLY WINDS. EXPECT HIGHS IN THE 70S INLAND...WITH AROUND 60 EXPECTED CLOSER TO LAKE SUPERIOR. WILL CONTINUE TREND FROM PREVIOUS SHIFT OF LOWERING DEW PTS LOWER GIVEN GOOD MIXING AND DRY AIRMASS BEHIND THE FRONT...LEADING TO MIN RH VALUES IN THE 25-30 PERCENT /OR LOWER/ RANGE OVER INTERIOR CENTRAL AND WEST UPPER MI. INCREASED WINDS ON WED TO GUSTS TO 30KTS OVER THE WRN CWA /COULD BE HIGHER IF NAM VERIFIES...BUT IT IS ON THE STRONGER SIDE/. IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT THE WARMEST TEMPS...LOWEST RH AND HIGHEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED OVER THE INTERIOR WRN CWA...WHERE THE CHANCES FOR SIGNIFICANT PRECIP TUE NIGHT ARE THE LOWEST. WILL NEED TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR CONDITIONS FOR WED...BUT MAY SEE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS OVER AT LEAST PORTIONS OF UPPER MI. HIGH TEMPS WILL BE A A DEGREE OR TWO COOLER THU...BUT STILL EXPECT 70S INLAND AND AROUND 60 NEAR LAKE SUPERIOR. MIN RH VALUES LOOK TO BE SIMILAR TO WED ON THE LOW END OF THE COMFORT SCALE FOR FIRE WX...BUT WINDS WILL BE MUCH LIGHTER AS BROAD HIGH PRESSURE SETTLES OVER THE REGION. FOR FRI THROUGH SUN...JUST LOADED A CONSENSUS OF MODEL GUIDANCE DUE TO INCREASED UNCERTAINTY AND GREATER FOCUS ON FORECAST TUE-THU. OVERALL...EXPECT TEMPS AROUND SEASONAL NORMALS /A REGULAR SEASONAL NORMAL...NOT THIS SEASONS NORMAL/ WITH HIGHS IN THE 60S TO LOW 70S. PRECIP WILL BE POSSIBLE AS FRONTAL ZONES WILL BE NEARBY...BUT GETTING TOO SPECIFIC AT THIS POINT WOULD BE FUTILE. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 134 PM EDT SUN MAY 12 2013 AS A RIDGE AND DRIER AIR MOVES INTO THE REGION FROM THE WEST THIS AFTERNOON...ANY LINGERING CIGS AT CMX/SAW WILL GIVE WAY TO SCT CLOUDS BY MID TO LATE AFTERNOON. SO...MVFR CIGS AT KSAW WILL BE LAST TO SCATTER OUT. CLEAR SKIES WILL THEN PREVAIL THIS EVENING THROUGH MON MORNING. IT WILL REMAIN BLUSTERY AT CMX/SAW THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON WITH NW GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH. && .MARINE...(FOR THE 4 AM LAKE SUPERIOR FORECAST ISSUANCE) ISSUED AT 549 AM EDT SUN MAY 12 2013 GALES CONTINUE OVER EASTERN SECTIONS INTO THIS AFTN THEN WINDS DIMINISH BY TONIGHT AS HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE MOVES ACROSS. WINDS INCREASE OUT OF THE S/SE TO 25 KTS MON NIGHT THROUGH TUE NIGHT AHEAD OF A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVING NORTH OF LAKE SUPERIOR ON WED. WARM FRONT SLIDING ACROSS LK SUPERIOR TUESDAY NIGHT AHEAD OF THE LOW MAY RESULT IN A FEW STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS. LIGHTNING AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS WOULD BE THE PRIMARY HAZARDS. EXPECT WINDS TO SHIFT WESTERLY ON WEDNESDAY BEHIND THE COLD FRONT. POSSIBLE THAT GUSTS COULD REACH 30 KTS. LIGHTER WINDS AGAIN LATE IN THE WEEK. && .MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... UPPER MICHIGAN... NONE. LAKE SUPERIOR... GALE WARNING UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR LSZ249>251-266-267. GALE WARNING UNTIL 2 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR LSZ243>245-264- 265. LAKE MICHIGAN... NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...VOSS LONG TERM...TITUS AVIATION...JLB MARINE...JLA
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MARQUETTE MI
136 PM EDT SUN MAY 12 2013 .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 549 AM EDT SUN MAY 12 2013 WV IMAGERY AND RUC ANALYSIS SHOW STRONG SHORTWAVE/CLOSED LOW SYSTEM NE OF LAKE SUPERIOR EARLY THIS MORNING. ENHANCEMENT ON THE BACK EDGE OF THIS SYSTEM COMBINED WITH COLD ADVECTION IN ITS WAKE...HELPED PRODUCE SOME MODERATE SNOW ACCUMULATION FROM NEGAUNEE/ISHPEMING EAST THROUGH ALGER AND NRN SCHOOLCRAFT COUNTIES EARLIER THIS MORNING. HOWEVER...IN THE PAST HR OR TWO RADAR RETURNS HAVE DIMINISHED DRAMATICALLY IN AREAL EXTENT AND INTENSITY. HERE AT NWS MQT...SNOW HAS DIMINISHED TO FLURRIES AND EXPECT THIS IS THE CASE AT MANY LOCATIONS BASED ON RADAR RETURNS. LATEST VAD WIND PROFILE FROM MQT RADAR ALSO SHOWS INDICATION OF SHARP LOWERING OF SUBSIDENCE INVERSION FROM 9-10 KFT TO 6 KFT IN PAST HR WHICH IS ALSO CONSISTENT WITH DIMINISHED RADAR RETURNS. TODAY...GIVEN RECENT DIMINISHING RADAR TRENDS AND FACT THAT MODELS SHOW BEST Q-VECT CONV FOR LAKE ENHANCEMENT TO BE MOVING EAST WITH TIME THIS MORNING...HAVE DECIDED TO CANCEL THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES FOR NORTH CENTRAL COUNTIES. MOST PLACES FROM MQT COUNTY EASTWARD WILL BE HARD PRESSED TO SEE MORE THAN HALF AN INCH OF ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATION WITH ONLY A FEW LINGERING FLURRIES NOTED TO THE WEST. UPDATED POPS TO REFLECT SHARP DIMINISHING TREND TO PCPN THIS MORNING. LINGERING CYCLONIC FLOW AND -10C 8H TEMPS MOVING ACROSS LAKE SUPERIOR COULD STILL SUPPORT PLENTY OF LAKE STRATOCU CLOUDS THROUGH THE MORNING HRS...ESPECIALLY FOR EASTERN COUNTIES DOWNWIND OF LONGER NNW FETCH ACROSS ERN LAKE SUPERIOR. SHARP SUBSIDENCE/DRYING WITH A TRANSITION TO MORE NEUTRAL OR ANTICYCLONIC FLOW FROM THE WEST BY AFTERNOON SHOULD ALLOW FOR CLEARING SKIES FROM THE WEST THIS AFTERNOON. FAIRLY TIGHT NW PRES GRAD ON THE BACKSIDE OF EXITING LOW WILL KEEP WINDS GUSTING TO NEAR 35 MPH OVER THE ERN HALF COUNTIES ESPECIALLY NEAR LAKE SUPERIOR. OTHERWISE...UNSEASONABLY COLD CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE WITH HIGHS RANGING FROM AROUND 40 NORTH AND EAST TO MID 40S SOUTH CENTRAL. TONIGHT...GIVEN RELATIVELY COLD HIGH TEMPS EXPECTED TODAY...SFC RIDGING AND ASSOCIATED CLEARING BUILDING IN FROM THE W SHOULD ALLOW SFC TEMPS TO PLUMMET TONIGHT TO RECORD OR NEAR RECORD LOW READINGS ESPECIALLY OVER THE WRN CWA. LEANED ON THE LOWER END OF MODEL GUIDANCE FOR MIN TEMPS WITH EXPECTED READINGS IN THE MID TO UPPER TEENS OVER THE TYPICALLY COLD WRN INTERIOR LOCATIONS AND LOWER TO MID 20S ACROSS THE REST OF THE INTERIOR CWA. TEMPS WILL STAY A BIT WARMER NEAR THE GREAT LAKES...GENERALLY IN THE UPPER 20S. .LONG TERM...(MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY) ISSUED AT 549 AM EDT SUN MAY 12 2013 UPPER PATTERN FEATURING WESTERN CONUS RIDGING AND EASTERN CONUS TROUGHING BECOMES MORE ZONAL THROUGH THE WEEK...RESULTING IN WARMING TREND FOR UPPER GREAT LAKES. AS THE UPPER PATTERN BECOMES MORE ZONAL EXPECT SFC LOW AND FRONTAL BOUNDARIES TO MOVE FROM CENTRAL CANADA ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. BEST CHANCE OF RAIN IN THIS PATTERN SHOULD BE LATER TUESDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT AS WARM FRONT SLIDES ACROSS UPPER GREAT LAKES. EXTENT OF COOLING BEHIND COLD FRONT WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY UNCERTAIN. EVEN THE MODELS THAT ARE SHOWING THE MOST EMPHATIC COOLING /GFS AND NAM/ SHOW NOTHING TO THE EXTENT OF CURRENT COOLDOWN THAT IS CURRENTLY OCCURRING. SO...BEYOND THIS TASTE OF WINTER AFFECTING THE REGION THIS MORNING...EXPECT EXTENDED TO HOLD ONLY LIQUID PRECIPITATION. HIGH PRESSURE BEGINS THE EXTENDED PERIOD OVER WESTERN GREAT LAKES. RIDGE AXIS HEADS ACROSS REST OF GREAT LAKES BY MONDAY NIGHT ALLOWING WARM AIR ADVECTION/RETURN FLOW TO DEVELOP. THROUGH DAY 2 LEANED ON THE NAM/GFS SOUNDINGS TO TRY TO GAGE PRECIP CHANCES. MOISTURE ADVECTION FOCUSED MAINLY ALOFT H85-H7 MONDAY NIGHT. SOME LGT SHOWERS SEEM LIKELY IN MAX ADVECTION AREA MOVING WEST TO EAST ACROSS CWA. ONCE MID-LEVEL MOISTURE/LIFT IS STRIPPED AWAY...SHALLOW MOISTURE MAINLY BLO H9 IS ALL THAT IS LEFT ON TUESDAY. HINTS FROM MODELS THAT MOISTURE MAY MIX OUT BY AFTN. LOWERED POPS BASED ON LIMITED MOISTURE INTO TUESDAY AFTN. NEXT SURGE OF MOISTURE/TEMPERATURE ADVECTION AND ELEVATED INSTABILITY COULD BRING SHOWERS/TSRA OVER GENERALLY WESTERN CWA LATE TUESDAY AFTN. SE WINDS AHEAD OF WARM FRONT WITH MORE INFLUENCE OFF LK MICHIGAN FOR MUCH OF CWA SHOULD KEEP TEMPS FROM GETTING TOO WARM EVEN WITH ONLY SCT CLOUDS BY AFTN. WARMEST READINGS INTO THE 70S INLAND WEST AND SOUTHWEST CWA WITH LESS LAKE MODIFIED COOLER AIR. UPR 50S TO UPR 60S ELSEWHERE. WARM FRONT PASSAGE/MAXIMUM LOW-LEVEL MOISTURE AND TEMP ADVECTION STILL ON TRACK FOR TUESDAY NIGHT. HAS LOOKED THIS WAY FOR A WHILE NOW. STILL THINKING THIS IS THE BEST CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND TSRA ACROSS CWA...BUT STILL MAY NOT BE WIDESPREAD EVENT FOR ALL CWA. SOME DIFFERENCE HOW FAR SOUTH SHORTWAVE TROUGH/MID-LEVEL HEIGHT FALLS DIP INTO UPR LAKES AND THIS IMPACTS SOUTHERN EXTENT OF PRIMARY UPPER LEVEL JET AND ASSOCIATED DIVERGENCE TO ENHANCE PRECIP. PLACED LIKELY POPS OVER NORTH AND EAST AND KEPT POPS SCATTERED FARTHER SOUTH. GIVEN H85 DWPNTS OVER +12C AND 1-6KM MUCAPES OVER 1000J/KG AND SINCE AXIS OF 925-850MB WIND MAX IS OVERHEAD...SHRA AND TSRA CANNOT BE COUNTED OUT ANYWHERE THOUGH. STRONGST WINDS ALOFT ARE MORE OVER LAKE SUPERIOR AND NORTH INTO ONTARIO SO THINK THIS IS WHERE BETTER CHANCE OF STRONGER STORMS WOULD BE LOCATED. SEEMS THAT LIGHTNING AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL BE THE PRIMARY HAZARDS. THOUGH WBZERO HEIGHTS 11-12KFT IS ON THE HIGHER SIDE TO SEE LARGE HAIL...IT IS POSSIBLE GIVEN STRONGER SHEAR AND H7-H5 LAPSE RATES OVER 7C/KM. GOOD AGREEMENT THAT AREA OF ENHANCED PRECIP SWIFTLY CROSSES THE AREA LATER TUESDAY NIGHT WITH COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE NOT TOO FAR BEHIND ON WEDNESDAY MORNING. SUBSTANTIAL CLEARING IN THE OFFING ON WEDNESDAY IN WAKE OF THE FRONT. 00Z ECMWF TRENDED SLIGHTLY TOWARD COLDER GFS IDEA FOR H85 TEMPS IN WAKE OF COLD FRONT...BUT EVEN SO...EXPECT SUNSHINE AND DEEP MIXING TO OFFSET THIS AND LEAD TO MAX TEMPS INTO THE 70S SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL. READINGS IN THE 60S CLOSER TO LK SUPERIOR. WINDS MAY END UP STRONGER THAN WHAT CONSENSUS SHOWED BUT LEFT THEM ALONE FOR NOW. DID GO WITH LOWER BIAS CORRECTED MOS DWPNTS IN THE AFTN GIVEN THE DEEP MIXING. THURSDAY AND FRIDAY....A BIT UNSETTLED POTENTIALLY. PRIMARY SFC FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL REMAIN SOUTH OF UPR MICHIGAN. YET SINCE THE AREA IS ON SOUTHERN EDGE OF TROUGH OVR CANADA...THE JET STREAM IS TOO CLOSE BY TO NOT HAVE AT LEAST SLIGHT CHANCE POPS. MODELS HAVE SHOWN SOME QPF FROM TIME TO TIME...ESPECIALLY LATER FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT AS SECONDARY SFC TROUGH DIPS SOUTH ACROSS THE UPPER GREAT LAKES. BY NEXT WEEKEND THE MAIN ISSUE WILL BE INFLUENCE OF DEVELOPING LOW PRESSURE OVER PLAINS. 12Z ECMWF FARTHER TO THE EAST...WHILE GFS AND WPC HAND DRAWN PROGS KEEP LOW SHUNTED MORE OVER THE PLAINS AND SFC RIDGE OVER THE UPR LAKES. CONSENSUS OF MODELS WHICH HAS DOUBLE WEIGHTING OF THE TYPICALLY BETTER PERFORMING ECMWF SHOWS INCREASING CHANCES OF SHOWERS BY LATER IN THE WEEKEND. TEMPS TO END THE EXTENDED WILL BE AROUND NORMAL...THOUGH MAY REMAIN SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL ALONG LK SUPERIOR DUE TO PREVAILING NORTHERLY SFC WINDS. EVEN IF IT DOES END UP BELOW NORMAL...NO SNOW IS IN THE FORECAST...WHICH IS CERTAINLY WELCOME NEWS FOR THOSE WEARY OF THE WINTER THAT HAS BEEN RELUCTANT TO END. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 134 PM EDT SUN MAY 12 2013 AS A RIDGE AND DRIER AIR MOVES INTO THE REGION FROM THE WEST THIS AFTERNOON...ANY LINGERING CIGS AT CMX/SAW WILL GIVE WAY TO SCT CLOUDS BY MID TO LATE AFTERNOON. SO...MVFR CIGS AT KSAW WILL BE LAST TO SCATTER OUT. CLEAR SKIES WILL THEN PREVAIL THIS EVENING THROUGH MON MORNING. IT WILL REMAIN BLUSTERY AT CMX/SAW THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON WITH NW GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH. && .MARINE...(FOR THE 4 AM LAKE SUPERIOR FORECAST ISSUANCE) ISSUED AT 549 AM EDT SUN MAY 12 2013 GALES CONTINUE OVER EASTERN SECTIONS INTO THIS AFTN THEN WINDS DIMINISH BY TONIGHT AS HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE MOVES ACROSS. WINDS INCREASE OUT OF THE S/SE TO 25 KTS MON NIGHT THROUGH TUE NIGHT AHEAD OF A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVING NORTH OF LAKE SUPERIOR ON WED. WARM FRONT SLIDING ACROSS LK SUPERIOR TUESDAY NIGHT AHEAD OF THE LOW MAY RESULT IN A FEW STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS. LIGHTNING AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS WOULD BE THE PRIMARY HAZARDS. EXPECT WINDS TO SHIFT WESTERLY ON WEDNESDAY BEHIND THE COLD FRONT. POSSIBLE THAT GUSTS COULD REACH 30 KTS. LIGHTER WINDS AGAIN LATE IN THE WEEK. && .MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... UPPER MICHIGAN... NONE. LAKE SUPERIOR... GALE WARNING UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR LSZ249>251-266-267. GALE WARNING UNTIL 2 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR LSZ243>245-264- 265. LAKE MICHIGAN... NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...VOSS LONG TERM...JLA AVIATION...JLB MARINE...JLA
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MARQUETTE MI
727 AM EDT SUN MAY 12 2013 .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 549 AM EDT SUN MAY 12 2013 WV IMAGERY AND RUC ANALYSIS SHOW STRONG SHORTWAVE/CLOSED LOW SYSTEM NE OF LAKE SUPERIOR EARLY THIS MORNING. ENHANCEMENT ON THE BACK EDGE OF THIS SYSTEM COMBINED WITH COLD ADVECTION IN ITS WAKE...HELPED PRODUCE SOME MODERATE SNOW ACCUMULATION FROM NEGAUNEE/ISHPEMING EAST THROUGH ALGER AND NRN SCHOOLCRAFT COUNTIES EARLIER THIS MORNING. HOWEVER...IN THE PAST HR OR TWO RADAR RETURNS HAVE DIMINISHED DRAMATICALLY IN AREAL EXTENT AND INTENSITY. HERE AT NWS MQT...SNOW HAS DIMINISHED TO FLURRIES AND EXPECT THIS IS THE CASE AT MANY LOCATIONS BASED ON RADAR RETURNS. LATEST VAD WIND PROFILE FROM MQT RADAR ALSO SHOWS INDICATION OF SHARP LOWERING OF SUBSIDENCE INVERSION FROM 9-10 KFT TO 6 KFT IN PAST HR WHICH IS ALSO CONSISTENT WITH DIMINISHED RADAR RETURNS. TODAY...GIVEN RECENT DIMINISHING RADAR TRENDS AND FACT THAT MODELS SHOW BEST Q-VECT CONV FOR LAKE ENHANCEMENT TO BE MOVING EAST WITH TIME THIS MORNING...HAVE DECIDED TO CANCEL THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES FOR NORTH CENTRAL COUNTIES. MOST PLACES FROM MQT COUNTY EASTWARD WILL BE HARD PRESSED TO SEE MORE THAN HALF AN INCH OF ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATION WITH ONLY A FEW LINGERING FLURRIES NOTED TO THE WEST. UPDATED POPS TO REFLECT SHARP DIMINISHING TREND TO PCPN THIS MORNING. LINGERING CYCLONIC FLOW AND -10C 8H TEMPS MOVING ACROSS LAKE SUPERIOR COULD STILL SUPPORT PLENTY OF LAKE STRATOCU CLOUDS THROUGH THE MORNING HRS...ESPECIALLY FOR EASTERN COUNTIES DOWNWIND OF LONGER NNW FETCH ACROSS ERN LAKE SUPERIOR. SHARP SUBSIDENCE/DRYING WITH A TRANSITION TO MORE NEUTRAL OR ANTICYCLONIC FLOW FROM THE WEST BY AFTERNOON SHOULD ALLOW FOR CLEARING SKIES FROM THE WEST THIS AFTERNOON. FAIRLY TIGHT NW PRES GRAD ON THE BACKSIDE OF EXITING LOW WILL KEEP WINDS GUSTING TO NEAR 35 MPH OVER THE ERN HALF COUNTIES ESPECIALLY NEAR LAKE SUPERIOR. OTHERWISE...UNSEASONABLY COLD CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE WITH HIGHS RANGING FROM AROUND 40 NORTH AND EAST TO MID 40S SOUTH CENTRAL. TONIGHT...GIVEN RELATIVELY COLD HIGH TEMPS EXPECTED TODAY...SFC RIDGING AND ASSOCIATED CLEARING BUILDING IN FROM THE W SHOULD ALLOW SFC TEMPS TO PLUMMET TONIGHT TO RECORD OR NEAR RECORD LOW READINGS ESPECIALLY OVER THE WRN CWA. LEANED ON THE LOWER END OF MODEL GUIDANCE FOR MIN TEMPS WITH EXPECTED READINGS IN THE MID TO UPPER TEENS OVER THE TYPICALLY COLD WRN INTERIOR LOCATIONS AND LOWER TO MID 20S ACROSS THE REST OF THE INTERIOR CWA. TEMPS WILL STAY A BIT WARMER NEAR THE GREAT LAKES...GENERALLY IN THE UPPER 20S. .LONG TERM...(MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY) ISSUED AT 549 AM EDT SUN MAY 12 2013 UPPER PATTERN FEATURING WESTERN CONUS RIDGING AND EASTERN CONUS TROUGHING BECOMES MORE ZONAL THROUGH THE WEEK...RESULTING IN WARMING TREND FOR UPPER GREAT LAKES. AS THE UPPER PATTERN BECOMES MORE ZONAL EXPECT SFC LOW AND FRONTAL BOUNDARIES TO MOVE FROM CENTRAL CANADA ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. BEST CHANCE OF RAIN IN THIS PATTERN SHOULD BE LATER TUESDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT AS WARM FRONT SLIDES ACROSS UPPER GREAT LAKES. EXTENT OF COOLING BEHIND COLD FRONT WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY UNCERTAIN. EVEN THE MODELS THAT ARE SHOWING THE MOST EMPHATIC COOLING /GFS AND NAM/ SHOW NOTHING TO THE EXTENT OF CURRENT COOLDOWN THAT IS CURRENTLY OCCURRING. SO...BEYOND THIS TASTE OF WINTER AFFECTING THE REGION THIS MORNING...EXPECT EXTENDED TO HOLD ONLY LIQUID PRECIPITATION. HIGH PRESSURE BEGINS THE EXTENDED PERIOD OVER WESTERN GREAT LAKES. RIDGE AXIS HEADS ACROSS REST OF GREAT LAKES BY MONDAY NIGHT ALLOWING WARM AIR ADVECTION/RETURN FLOW TO DEVELOP. THROUGH DAY 2 LEANED ON THE NAM/GFS SOUNDINGS TO TRY TO GAGE PRECIP CHANCES. MOISTURE ADVECTION FOCUSED MAINLY ALOFT H85-H7 MONDAY NIGHT. SOME LGT SHOWERS SEEM LIKELY IN MAX ADVECTION AREA MOVING WEST TO EAST ACROSS CWA. ONCE MID-LEVEL MOISTURE/LIFT IS STRIPPED AWAY...SHALLOW MOISTURE MAINLY BLO H9 IS ALL THAT IS LEFT ON TUESDAY. HINTS FROM MODELS THAT MOISTURE MAY MIX OUT BY AFTN. LOWERED POPS BASED ON LIMITED MOISTURE INTO TUESDAY AFTN. NEXT SURGE OF MOISTURE/TEMPERATURE ADVECTION AND ELEVATED INSTABILITY COULD BRING SHOWERS/TSRA OVER GENERALLY WESTERN CWA LATE TUESDAY AFTN. SE WINDS AHEAD OF WARM FRONT WITH MORE INFLUENCE OFF LK MICHIGAN FOR MUCH OF CWA SHOULD KEEP TEMPS FROM GETTING TOO WARM EVEN WITH ONLY SCT CLOUDS BY AFTN. WARMEST READINGS INTO THE 70S INLAND WEST AND SOUTHWEST CWA WITH LESS LAKE MODIFIED COOLER AIR. UPR 50S TO UPR 60S ELSEWHERE. WARM FRONT PASSAGE/MAXIMUM LOW-LEVEL MOISTURE AND TEMP ADVECTION STILL ON TRACK FOR TUESDAY NIGHT. HAS LOOKED THIS WAY FOR A WHILE NOW. STILL THINKING THIS IS THE BEST CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND TSRA ACROSS CWA...BUT STILL MAY NOT BE WIDESPREAD EVENT FOR ALL CWA. SOME DIFFERENCE HOW FAR SOUTH SHORTWAVE TROUGH/MID-LEVEL HEIGHT FALLS DIP INTO UPR LAKES AND THIS IMPACTS SOUTHERN EXTENT OF PRIMARY UPPER LEVEL JET AND ASSOCIATED DIVERGENCE TO ENHANCE PRECIP. PLACED LIKELY POPS OVER NORTH AND EAST AND KEPT POPS SCATTERED FARTHER SOUTH. GIVEN H85 DWPNTS OVER +12C AND 1-6KM MUCAPES OVER 1000J/KG AND SINCE AXIS OF 925-850MB WIND MAX IS OVERHEAD...SHRA AND TSRA CANNOT BE COUNTED OUT ANYWHERE THOUGH. STRONGST WINDS ALOFT ARE MORE OVER LAKE SUPERIOR AND NORTH INTO ONTARIO SO THINK THIS IS WHERE BETTER CHANCE OF STRONGER STORMS WOULD BE LOCATED. SEEMS THAT LIGHTNING AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL BE THE PRIMARY HAZARDS. THOUGH WBZERO HEIGHTS 11-12KFT IS ON THE HIGHER SIDE TO SEE LARGE HAIL...IT IS POSSIBLE GIVEN STRONGER SHEAR AND H7-H5 LAPSE RATES OVER 7C/KM. GOOD AGREEMENT THAT AREA OF ENHANCED PRECIP SWIFTLY CROSSES THE AREA LATER TUESDAY NIGHT WITH COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE NOT TOO FAR BEHIND ON WEDNESDAY MORNING. SUBSTANTIAL CLEARING IN THE OFFING ON WEDNESDAY IN WAKE OF THE FRONT. 00Z ECMWF TRENDED SLIGHTLY TOWARD COLDER GFS IDEA FOR H85 TEMPS IN WAKE OF COLD FRONT...BUT EVEN SO...EXPECT SUNSHINE AND DEEP MIXING TO OFFSET THIS AND LEAD TO MAX TEMPS INTO THE 70S SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL. READINGS IN THE 60S CLOSER TO LK SUPERIOR. WINDS MAY END UP STRONGER THAN WHAT CONSENSUS SHOWED BUT LEFT THEM ALONE FOR NOW. DID GO WITH LOWER BIAS CORRECTED MOS DWPNTS IN THE AFTN GIVEN THE DEEP MIXING. THURSDAY AND FRIDAY....A BIT UNSETTLED POTENTIALLY. PRIMARY SFC FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL REMAIN SOUTH OF UPR MICHIGAN. YET SINCE THE AREA IS ON SOUTHERN EDGE OF TROUGH OVR CANADA...THE JET STREAM IS TOO CLOSE BY TO NOT HAVE AT LEAST SLIGHT CHANCE POPS. MODELS HAVE SHOWN SOME QPF FROM TIME TO TIME...ESPECIALLY LATER FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT AS SECONDARY SFC TROUGH DIPS SOUTH ACROSS THE UPPER GREAT LAKES. BY NEXT WEEKEND THE MAIN ISSUE WILL BE INFLUENCE OF DEVELOPING LOW PRESSURE OVER PLAINS. 12Z ECMWF FARTHER TO THE EAST...WHILE GFS AND WPC HAND DRAWN PROGS KEEP LOW SHUNTED MORE OVER THE PLAINS AND SFC RIDGE OVER THE UPR LAKES. CONSENSUS OF MODELS WHICH HAS DOUBLE WEIGHTING OF THE TYPICALLY BETTER PERFORMING ECMWF SHOWS INCREASING CHANCES OF SHOWERS BY LATER IN THE WEEKEND. TEMPS TO END THE EXTENDED WILL BE AROUND NORMAL...THOUGH MAY REMAIN SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL ALONG LK SUPERIOR DUE TO PREVAILING NORTHERLY SFC WINDS. EVEN IF IT DOES END UP BELOW NORMAL...NO SNOW IS IN THE FORECAST...WHICH IS CERTAINLY WELCOME NEWS FOR THOSE WEARY OF THE WINTER THAT HAS BEEN RELUCTANT TO END. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z MONDAY MORNING) ISSUED AT 721 AM EDT SUN MAY 12 2013 MVFR CONDITIONS WILL GRADUALLY IMPROVE TO VFR AT KCMX AND KSAW WITH ADVECTION OF DRIER AIR FROM THE WEST AND WEAK DIURNAL HEATING. KIWD SHOULD SEE VFR STRATOCU DECK SCT OUT BY LATE MORNING AS DRIER DRY AIR WORKS IN FM WEST. NW WINDS WILL BE GUSTY TO AROUND 25 KT AT KCMX AND KSAW THROUGH AT LEAST MID AFTERNOON. LOOK FOR WINDS TO DIE OFF THIS EVENING. && .MARINE...(FOR THE 4 AM LAKE SUPERIOR FORECAST ISSUANCE) ISSUED AT 549 AM EDT SUN MAY 12 2013 GALES CONTINUE OVER EASTERN SECTIONS INTO THIS AFTN THEN WINDS DIMINISH BY TONIGHT AS HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE MOVES ACROSS. WINDS INCREASE OUT OF THE S/SE TO 25 KTS MON NIGHT THROUGH TUE NIGHT AHEAD OF A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVING NORTH OF LAKE SUPERIOR ON WED. WARM FRONT SLIDING ACROSS LK SUPERIOR TUESDAY NIGHT AHEAD OF THE LOW MAY RESULT IN A FEW STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS. LIGHTNING AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS WOULD BE THE PRIMARY HAZARDS. EXPECT WINDS TO SHIFT WESTERLY ON WEDNESDAY BEHIND THE COLD FRONT. POSSIBLE THAT GUSTS COULD REACH 30 KTS. LIGHTER WINDS AGAIN LATE IN THE WEEK. && .MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... UPPER MICHIGAN... NONE. LAKE SUPERIOR... GALE WARNING UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR LSZ249>251-266-267. GALE WARNING UNTIL 2 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR LSZ243>245-264- 265. GALE WARNING UNTIL 8 AM EDT THIS MORNING FOR LSZ248. LAKE MICHIGAN... GALE WARNING UNTIL 8 AM EDT THIS MORNING FOR LMZ250. && $$ SHORT TERM...VOSS LONG TERM...JLA AVIATION...VOSS MARINE...JLA
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MARQUETTE MI
554 AM EDT SUN MAY 12 2013 .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 549 AM EDT SUN MAY 12 2013 WV IMAGERY AND RUC ANALYSIS SHOW STRONG SHORTWAVE/CLOSED LOW SYSTEM NE OF LAKE SUPERIOR EARLY THIS MORNING. ENHANCEMENT ON THE BACK EDGE OF THIS SYSTEM COMBINED WITH COLD ADVECTION IN ITS WAKE...HELPED PRODUCE SOME MODERATE SNOW ACCUMULATION FROM NEGAUNEE/ISHPEMING EAST THROUGH ALGER AND NRN SCHOOLCRAFT COUNTIES EARLIER THIS MORNING. HOWEVER...IN THE PAST HR OR TWO RADAR RETURNS HAVE DIMINISHED DRAMATICALLY IN AREAL EXTENT AND INTENSITY. HERE AT NWS MQT...SNOW HAS DIMINISHED TO FLURRIES AND EXPECT THIS IS THE CASE AT MANY LOCATIONS BASED ON RADAR RETURNS. LATEST VAD WIND PROFILE FROM MQT RADAR ALSO SHOWS INDICATION OF SHARP LOWERING OF SUBSIDENCE INVERSION FROM 9-10 KFT TO 6 KFT IN PAST HR WHICH IS ALSO CONSISTENT WITH DIMINISHED RADAR RETURNS. TODAY...GIVEN RECENT DIMINISHING RADAR TRENDS AND FACT THAT MODELS SHOW BEST Q-VECT CONV FOR LAKE ENHANCEMENT TO BE MOVING EAST WITH TIME THIS MORNING...HAVE DECIDED TO CANCEL THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES FOR NORTH CENTRAL COUNTIES. MOST PLACES FROM MQT COUNTY EASTWARD WILL BE HARD PRESSED TO SEE MORE THAN HALF AN INCH OF ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATION WITH ONLY A FEW LINGERING FLURRIES NOTED TO THE WEST. UPDATED POPS TO REFLECT SHARP DIMINISHING TREND TO PCPN THIS MORNING. LINGERING CYCLONIC FLOW AND -10C 8H TEMPS MOVING ACROSS LAKE SUPERIOR COULD STILL SUPPORT PLENTY OF LAKE STRATOCU CLOUDS THROUGH THE MORNING HRS...ESPECIALLY FOR EASTERN COUNTIES DOWNWIND OF LONGER NNW FETCH ACROSS ERN LAKE SUPERIOR. SHARP SUBSIDENCE/DRYING WITH A TRANSITION TO MORE NEUTRAL OR ANTICYCLONIC FLOW FROM THE WEST BY AFTERNOON SHOULD ALLOW FOR CLEARING SKIES FROM THE WEST THIS AFTERNOON. FAIRLY TIGHT NW PRES GRAD ON THE BACKSIDE OF EXITING LOW WILL KEEP WINDS GUSTING TO NEAR 35 MPH OVER THE ERN HALF COUNTIES ESPECIALLY NEAR LAKE SUPERIOR. OTHERWISE...UNSEASONABLY COLD CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE WITH HIGHS RANGING FROM AROUND 40 NORTH AND EAST TO MID 40S SOUTH CENTRAL. TONIGHT...GIVEN RELATIVELY COLD HIGH TEMPS EXPECTED TODAY...SFC RIDGING AND ASSOCIATED CLEARING BUILDING IN FROM THE W SHOULD ALLOW SFC TEMPS TO PLUMMET TONIGHT TO RECORD OR NEAR RECORD LOW READINGS ESPECIALLY OVER THE WRN CWA. LEANED ON THE LOWER END OF MODEL GUIDANCE FOR MIN TEMPS WITH EXPECTED READINGS IN THE MID TO UPPER TEENS OVER THE TYPICALLY COLD WRN INTERIOR LOCATIONS AND LOWER TO MID 20S ACROSS THE REST OF THE INTERIOR CWA. TEMPS WILL STAY A BIT WARMER NEAR THE GREAT LAKES...GENERALLY IN THE UPPER 20S. .LONG TERM...(MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY) ISSUED AT 549 AM EDT SUN MAY 12 2013 UPPER PATTERN FEATURING WESTERN CONUS RIDGING AND EASTERN CONUS TROUGHING BECOMES MORE ZONAL THROUGH THE WEEK...RESULTING IN WARMING TREND FOR UPPER GREAT LAKES. AS THE UPPER PATTERN BECOMES MORE ZONAL EXPECT SFC LOW AND FRONTAL BOUNDARIES TO MOVE FROM CENTRAL CANADA ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. BEST CHANCE OF RAIN IN THIS PATTERN SHOULD BE LATER TUESDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT AS WARM FRONT SLIDES ACROSS UPPER GREAT LAKES. EXTENT OF COOLING BEHIND COLD FRONT WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY UNCERTAIN. EVEN THE MODELS THAT ARE SHOWING THE MOST EMPHATIC COOLING /GFS AND NAM/ SHOW NOTHING TO THE EXTENT OF CURRENT COOLDOWN THAT IS CURRENTLY OCCURRING. SO...BEYOND THIS TASTE OF WINTER AFFECTING THE REGION THIS MORNING...EXPECT EXTENDED TO HOLD ONLY LIQUID PRECIPITATION. HIGH PRESSURE BEGINS THE EXTENDED PERIOD OVER WESTERN GREAT LAKES. RIDGE AXIS HEADS ACROSS REST OF GREAT LAKES BY MONDAY NIGHT ALLOWING WARM AIR ADVECTION/RETURN FLOW TO DEVELOP. THROUGH DAY 2 LEANED ON THE NAM/GFS SOUNDINGS TO TRY TO GAGE PRECIP CHANCES. MOISTURE ADVECTION FOCUSED MAINLY ALOFT H85-H7 MONDAY NIGHT. SOME LGT SHOWERS SEEM LIKELY IN MAX ADVECTION AREA MOVING WEST TO EAST ACROSS CWA. ONCE MID-LEVEL MOISTURE/LIFT IS STRIPPED AWAY...SHALLOW MOISTURE MAINLY BLO H9 IS ALL THAT IS LEFT ON TUESDAY. HINTS FROM MODELS THAT MOISTURE MAY MIX OUT BY AFTN. LOWERED POPS BASED ON LIMITED MOISTURE INTO TUESDAY AFTN. NEXT SURGE OF MOISTURE/TEMPERATURE ADVECTION AND ELEVATED INSTABILITY COULD BRING SHOWERS/TSRA OVER GENERALLY WESTERN CWA LATE TUESDAY AFTN. SE WINDS AHEAD OF WARM FRONT WITH MORE INFLUENCE OFF LK MICHIGAN FOR MUCH OF CWA SHOULD KEEP TEMPS FROM GETTING TOO WARM EVEN WITH ONLY SCT CLOUDS BY AFTN. WARMEST READINGS INTO THE 70S INLAND WEST AND SOUTHWEST CWA WITH LESS LAKE MODIFIED COOLER AIR. UPR 50S TO UPR 60S ELSEWHERE. WARM FRONT PASSAGE/MAXIMUM LOW-LEVEL MOISTURE AND TEMP ADVECTION STILL ON TRACK FOR TUESDAY NIGHT. HAS LOOKED THIS WAY FOR A WHILE NOW. STILL THINKING THIS IS THE BEST CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND TSRA ACROSS CWA...BUT STILL MAY NOT BE WIDESPREAD EVENT FOR ALL CWA. SOME DIFFERENCE HOW FAR SOUTH SHORTWAVE TROUGH/MID-LEVEL HEIGHT FALLS DIP INTO UPR LAKES AND THIS IMPACTS SOUTHERN EXTENT OF PRIMARY UPPER LEVEL JET AND ASSOCIATED DIVERGENCE TO ENHANCE PRECIP. PLACED LIKELY POPS OVER NORTH AND EAST AND KEPT POPS SCATTERED FARTHER SOUTH. GIVEN H85 DWPNTS OVER +12C AND 1-6KM MUCAPES OVER 1000J/KG AND SINCE AXIS OF 925-850MB WIND MAX IS OVERHEAD...SHRA AND TSRA CANNOT BE COUNTED OUT ANYWHERE THOUGH. STRONGST WINDS ALOFT ARE MORE OVER LAKE SUPERIOR AND NORTH INTO ONTARIO SO THINK THIS IS WHERE BETTER CHANCE OF STRONGER STORMS WOULD BE LOCATED. SEEMS THAT LIGHTNING AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL BE THE PRIMARY HAZARDS. THOUGH WBZERO HEIGHTS 11-12KFT IS ON THE HIGHER SIDE TO SEE LARGE HAIL...IT IS POSSIBLE GIVEN STRONGER SHEAR AND H7-H5 LAPSE RATES OVER 7C/KM. GOOD AGREEMENT THAT AREA OF ENHANCED PRECIP SWIFTLY CROSSES THE AREA LATER TUESDAY NIGHT WITH COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE NOT TOO FAR BEHIND ON WEDNESDAY MORNING. SUBSTANTIAL CLEARING IN THE OFFING ON WEDNESDAY IN WAKE OF THE FRONT. 00Z ECMWF TRENDED SLIGHTLY TOWARD COLDER GFS IDEA FOR H85 TEMPS IN WAKE OF COLD FRONT...BUT EVEN SO...EXPECT SUNSHINE AND DEEP MIXING TO OFFSET THIS AND LEAD TO MAX TEMPS INTO THE 70S SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL. READINGS IN THE 60S CLOSER TO LK SUPERIOR. WINDS MAY END UP STRONGER THAN WHAT CONSENSUS SHOWED BUT LEFT THEM ALONE FOR NOW. DID GO WITH LOWER BIAS CORRECTED MOS DWPNTS IN THE AFTN GIVEN THE DEEP MIXING. THURSDAY AND FRIDAY....A BIT UNSETTLED POTENTIALLY. PRIMARY SFC FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL REMAIN SOUTH OF UPR MICHIGAN. YET SINCE THE AREA IS ON SOUTHERN EDGE OF TROUGH OVR CANADA...THE JET STREAM IS TOO CLOSE BY TO NOT HAVE AT LEAST SLIGHT CHANCE POPS. MODELS HAVE SHOWN SOME QPF FROM TIME TO TIME...ESPECIALLY LATER FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT AS SECONDARY SFC TROUGH DIPS SOUTH ACROSS THE UPPER GREAT LAKES. BY NEXT WEEKEND THE MAIN ISSUE WILL BE INFLUENCE OF DEVELOPING LOW PRESSURE OVER PLAINS. 12Z ECMWF FARTHER TO THE EAST...WHILE GFS AND WPC HAND DRAWN PROGS KEEP LOW SHUNTED MORE OVER THE PLAINS AND SFC RIDGE OVER THE UPR LAKES. CONSENSUS OF MODELS WHICH HAS DOUBLE WEIGHTING OF THE TYPICALLY BETTER PERFORMING ECMWF SHOWS INCREASING CHANCES OF SHOWERS BY LATER IN THE WEEKEND. TEMPS TO END THE EXTENDED WILL BE AROUND NORMAL...THOUGH MAY REMAIN SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL ALONG LK SUPERIOR DUE TO PREVAILING NORTHERLY SFC WINDS. EVEN IF IT DOES END UP BELOW NORMAL...NO SNOW IS IN THE FORECAST...WHICH IS CERTAINLY WELCOME NEWS FOR THOSE WEARY OF THE WINTER THAT HAS BEEN RELUCTANT TO END. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z MONDAY MORNING) ISSUED AT 549 AM EDT SUN MAY 12 2013 SOME LAKE ENHANCEMENT SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE AT CMX AND SAW OVERNIGHT WITH MVFR CONDITIONS AT CMX AND IFR CONDITIONS AT SAW IN THE HEAVIER SNOW SHOWERS. DRY AIR COMES IN LATE SUN MORNING AND IWD AND CMX WILL GO BACK TO VFR CONDITIONS. IT WILL TAKE A BIT LONGER TO GET THE DRY AIR INTO SAW AND THE MVFR CIGS WILL SCATTER OUT BY SUN AFTERNOON. WILL BE GUSTY THROUGH SUN AFTERNOON AT CMX AND SAW. && .MARINE...(FOR THE 4 AM LAKE SUPERIOR FORECAST ISSUANCE) ISSUED AT 549 AM EDT SUN MAY 12 2013 GALES CONTINUE OVER EASTERN SECTIONS INTO THIS AFTN THEN WINDS DIMINISH BY TONIGHT AS HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE MOVES ACROSS. WINDS INCREASE OUT OF THE S/SE TO 25 KTS MON NIGHT THROUGH TUE NIGHT AHEAD OF A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVING NORTH OF LAKE SUPERIOR ON WED. WARM FRONT SLIDING ACROSS LK SUPERIOR TUESDAY NIGHT AHEAD OF THE LOW MAY RESULT IN A FEW STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS. LIGHTNING AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS WOULD BE THE PRIMARY HAZARDS. EXPECT WINDS TO SHIFT WESTERLY ON WEDNESDAY BEHIND THE COLD FRONT. POSSIBLE THAT GUSTS COULD REACH 30 KTS. LIGHTER WINDS AGAIN LATE IN THE WEEK. && .MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... UPPER MICHIGAN... NONE. LAKE SUPERIOR... GALE WARNING UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR LSZ249>251-266-267. GALE WARNING UNTIL 2 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR LSZ243>245-264- 265. GALE WARNING UNTIL 8 AM EDT THIS MORNING FOR LSZ248. LAKE MICHIGAN... GALE WARNING UNTIL 8 AM EDT THIS MORNING FOR LMZ250. && $$ SHORT TERM...VOSS LONG TERM...JLA AVIATION...07 MARINE...JLA
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS HASTINGS NE
1219 PM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 820 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 LIGHT SHOWERS CONTINUE TO SLIDE THROUGH PORTIONS OF THE REGION THIS MORNING. A FEW LIGHTNING STRIKES HAVE BEEN REPORTED WITH THESE SHOWERS. THEREFORE WENT AHEAD AND ADDED ISOLATED THUNDER TO THE FORECAST THIS MORNING. UPDATE ISSUED AT 543 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 HAVE BEEN WATCHING TEMPERATURES WARM PRIOR TO DAWN AS THE CLOUDS HAVE MOVED IN. THIS WAS PRETTY MUCH EXPECTED THAT WE WOULD WARM ONCE THE CLOUDS MOVED IN THIS MORNING. THUS WE HAVE EXPIRED THE FROST ADVISORY ACROSS NORTHWEST ZONES WHERE TEMPERATURES HAVE NOW RISEN FROM THE LOWER AND MID 30S INTO THE MID AND UPPER 30S. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 305 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 THE PRIMARY FORECAST CONCERNS CENTER AROUND AREAS OF FROST ACROSS NORTHEAST ZONES THIS MORNING...AS WELL AS ISOLATED MORNING SPRINKLES FROM THE TRI CITES WEST AND SOUTH. AS OF 3 AM...AN AREA OF SFC HIGH PRESSURE WAS SITUATED OVER EASTERN NEBRASKA RESULTING IN CALM WINDS ALONG AND EAST OF HIGHWAY 281...WHICH IS RESULTING IN GOOD RADIATIONAL COOLING SINCE THIS AREA HAS ALSO BEEN LARGELY CLOUD FREE THUS FAR. THE 3 AM TEMPERATURE AT YORK WAS DOWN TO 34F AND IT IS LIKELY THAT LOW LYING AREAS ALONG HIGHWAY 81...ESPECIALLY NORTH OF HIGHWAY 6 ARE ALREADY STARTING TO SEE SOME FROST. HOWEVER...CLOUDS ARE ON THE INCREASE WEST OF HIGHWAY 81 AND SHOULD QUICKLY MOVE OVER THE REST OF OUR FORECAST AREA PRIOR TO DAWN. THIS WILL LIKELY RESULT IN RISING TEMPERATURES ONCE THE CLOUDS MOVE IN NEAR DAWN. THEREFORE...FROST WILL BE CONFINED TO LOW LYING AREAS OF OUR FAR NORTHEAST AND SHOULD NOT LAST LONG. WILL LIKELY BE ABLE TO END THE FROST ADVISORY A BIT EARLY. PRECIPITATION CHANCES THIS MORNING ARE LOW AND THE RADAR HAS BEEN RATHER QUIET THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS...WITH JUST A MINOR RETURN OR TWO. MOST FORECAST MODELS CONTINUE TO INDICATE NO QPF...BUT THE HRRR DOES SHOW A FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS. THEREFORE...LOWERED POPS AND WILL JUST CALL FOR A SLIGHT CHANCE OF ISOLATED SPRINKLES EARLY THIS MORNING. THERE COULD BE A FEW SHOWERS AROUND...BUT JUST DO NOT THINK MOST OF THEM WILL MEASURE MORE THAN A TRACE. THE CLOUDS WILL BE MORE OF A MORNING FEATURE WITH CLEARING SKIES BY AFTERNOON AND WARMER TEMPERATURES THANKS TO RETURN SOUTHEASTERLY FLOW ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE SFC HIGH AS WELL AS UPPER LEVEL RIDGING. AFTERNOON HIGHS WILL RANGE FROM THE UPPER 60S EAST TO THE MID 70S WEST. TONIGHT...THE UPPER RIDGE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD INTO THE HIGH PLAINS...SFC WINDS WILL REMAIN SOUTHERLY AND LOW TEMPERATURES WILL BE MORE MILD. LOW TEMPERATURES WILL PRIMARILY BE IN THE MID TO UPPER 40S. .LONG TERM...(MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY) ISSUED AT 305 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 MAIN STORY: WE ARE ENTERING A DECIDELY MORE SUMMERLIKE PATTERN THAT OFFERS POTENT HEAT AND MULTIPLE TSTM CHANCES. TEMPS WILL AVERAGE ABOVE NORMAL THRU NEXT SAT WITH MUCH ABOVE NORMAL MON-TUE AS THE ENTIRE FCST AREA WILL REACH 90F FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS SEASON. AREAS W OF HWY 281 PROBABLY REACH OR EXCEED 90 BOTH DAYS. THEN THE FOCUS SHIFTS TO TSTM CHANCES WITH A WRN TROF NEXT WEEKEND THAT COULD THREATEN SEVERE WX. PATTERN: THE PNA IS CURRENTLY PEAKING POSITIVE WITH A HIGH-AMPLITUDE WRN N AMERICA RIDGE AND ERN TROF...WITH A CUT-OFF LOW OVER NRN MEX. THE +PNA WILL HEAD BACK TO NEUTRAL BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK... INDICATING DEAMPLIFICATION OF THE LONG-WAVE /LGWV/ FLOW. TEMPS WILL BE WARMER THAN NORMAL THRU NEXT SUN THEN SHOULD RETURN TO NEAR TO POSSIBLY A LITTLE COOLER THAN NORMAL BY MON 5/20. ALOFT: THE HIGH-AMPLITUDE WRN USA RIDGE WILL GET MOWED DOWN BY A POTENT NEGATIVE TILT PV ANOMALY THAT MOVES ONSHORE IN THE PAC NW LATE MON. THIS PV ANOMALY WILL TRACK E ACROSS SRN CANADA TUE INITIATING ZONAL FLOW FOR WED-THU. IN THE MEANTIME...THE NRN MEX CUT-OFF LOW WILL BECOME MOBILE AND HEAD ACROSS THE SRN PLAINS...TOO LATE TO INFUSE ANY MSTR THIS FAR N. A BROAD TROF THEN DEVELOPS OVER THE WRN USA FRI AND LASTS INTO EARLY THE FOLLOWING WEEK. MULTIPLE LOW AMPLITUDE PV ANOMALIES WILL SHOULD INSTIGATE PERIODIC TSTM THREATS. SFC: THE WARM FRONT DEPARTS TO THE E MON AS LOW PRES MIGRATES ACROSS SRN CANADA. ITS ASSOCIATED COOL FRONT WILL MOVE THRU TUE NGT AND BECOME STATIONARY NEAR THE NEB-KS BORDER WED-THU. IT MAY HEAD BACK N TO NEAR THE NEB-SD BORDER FRI-SAT. THE DRYLINE WILL INTERSECT THIS FRONT JUST W OF THE FCST AREA. MODELS: 00Z GEM / 12Z AND 00Z EC / 18Z AND 00Z GFS / 12Z AND 00Z UKMET ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT ON THE OVERALL THEME THRU 00Z/SAT... DEAMPLIFICATION TO ZONAL FLOW THEN A MODEST AMPLITUDE TROF MOVING INTO THE WRN USA NEXT WEEKEND. TYPICAL TIMING DIFFERENCES BEGIN TO SHOW UP NEXT SAT WITH THE 00Z GFS FASTER THAN ALL THE OTHER GUIDANCE /AND EVEN ITS 18Z RUN/ ADVANCING THE TROF INTO THE ROCKIES. HAZARDS: NOTHING DEFINABLE AT THIS POINT BUT MULTIPLE CHANCES FOR TSTMS EXIST TUE NGT-SAT. IT/S TOO EARLY TO PIN DOWN LOCATION/TIMING/ COVERAGE AND INTENSITY...BUT ODDS ARE INCREASING THAT WE COULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH AT LEAST ONE EPISODE OF SEVERE. THE DAILY DETAILS... MON: THE WARM FRONT WILL BISECT THE FCST AREA AT DAYBREAK. ANY FRONTAL CLOUDS WILL CLEAR THE AREA AS THE FRONT DEPARTS TO THE E. THIS WILL RESULT IN A SUNNY VERY WARM DAY...BUT W OF HWY 281 IT WILL BE HOT /90-95F/. +24C AT H8 AND 582 HGTS AT H5. TUE: SUNNY AND HOT. 93-98F. +26C AT H8 AND 582 HGTS AT H5. H8 TEMPS 2 STANDARD DEVIATIONS ABOVE NORMAL. HIGHS WILL BE 25F ABOVE NORMAL. GRI AND HSI WILL BE WITHIN ABOUT 4F OF RECORD HIGHS BUT THEY SHOULD BE SAFELY OUT OF REACH. GRI 99-1941. HSI 97-1941. TUE NGT: COOL FRONTAL PASSAGE. IT/S PROBABLY DRY MOST LOCATIONS. AN ISOLATE TSTM IS POSSIBLE. WHILE THIS COOL FRONT WILL END THE HEAT...TEMPS WILL STILL REMAIN 8-15F ABOVE NORMAL WED-SAT. WED: POSSIBLY A LEFT OVER SHWR OR TSTM ALONG THE FRONT? THU-SAT: OVERALL SHOULD AVERAGE P/CLOUDY AND DRY MOST OF THE TIME. HOWEVER...MULTIPLE EPISODES OF TSTMS APPEAR POSSIBLE ALONG THE FRONT/DRYLINE. OF PARTICULAR INTEREST IS THE RISING HGTS OVER THE ERN USA. THIS WILL PREVENT TUE NGT/S COOL FRONT FROM PENETRATING FAR TO THE S. HIGH PRES WILL PARK ITSELF OFF THE CAROLINA/S...SETTING UP SEVERAL DAYS OF UNINTERRUPTED RICH GULF MSTR FLUX N INTO THE PLAINS. BY WED AFTN H8 DWPTS OF 8+C WILL BE IN PLACE WITH SFC DWPTS INTO THE 50S THU AND AROUND 60 FRI-SAT. DIURNAL OSCILLATIONS IN THE LLJ WILL PROBABLY TRIGGER MCS ACTIVITY OVER THE NRN/CNTRL PLAINS. INSTABILITY WILL BUILD A LITTLE MORE EACH DAY. SEVERE: AM GROWING INCREASINGLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR A COUPLE EPISODES OF SVR TSTMS IN THE THU-MON TIME FRAME. THU-SAT WOULD PROBABLY TAKE THE FORM OF A FORWARD PROPAGATING MCS. SUN COULD BE SUBSTANTIALLY MORE INTERESTING AS THE LFQ OF A 120 KT ULJ EJECTS INTO THE CNTRL PLAINS. IF WE DO GET AN MCS THRU HERE IT COULD SERIOUSLY IMPACT OUR TEMPS THE FOLLOWING DAY. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 1220 PM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 VFR CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE TAF PERIOD. AS A SURFACE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM SKIRTS TO OUR SOUTHWEST...SUSTAINED SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL CONTINUE AROUND 12 KTS THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL THEN DECREASE TO NEAR 10 KTS FOR THE EVENING HOURS. AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE WILL CONTINUE TO SHIFT EASTWARD TOWARDS THE PLAINS TODAY WHICH WILL RESULT IN AT LEAST SOME PARTIAL HIGH LEVEL CIRRUS CLOUDS ACROSS THE AREA OVERNIGHT. && .GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...NONE. KS...NONE. && $$ UPDATE...SALTZMAN SHORT TERM...WESELY LONG TERM...HALBLAUB AVIATION...SALTZMAN
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS HASTINGS NE
820 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 820 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 LIGHT SHOWERS CONTINUE TO SLIDE THROUGH PORTIONS OF THE REGION THIS MORNING. A FEW LIGHTNING STRIKES HAVE BEEN REPORTED WITH THESE SHOWERS. THEREFORE WENT AHEAD AND ADDED ISOLATED THUNDER TO THE FORECAST THIS MORNING. UPDATE ISSUED AT 543 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 HAVE BEEN WATCHING TEMPERATURES WARM PRIOR TO DAWN AS THE CLOUDS HAVE MOVED IN. THIS WAS PRETTY MUCH EXPECTED THAT WE WOULD WARM ONCE THE CLOUDS MOVED IN THIS MORNING. THUS WE HAVE EXPIRED THE FROST ADVISORY ACROSS NORTHWEST ZONES WHERE TEMPERATURES HAVE NOW RISEN FROM THE LOWER AND MID 30S INTO THE MID AND UPPER 30S. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 305 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 THE PRIMARY FORECAST CONCERNS CENTER AROUND AREAS OF FROST ACROSS NORTHEAST ZONES THIS MORNING...AS WELL AS ISOLATED MORNING SPRINKLES FROM THE TRI CITES WEST AND SOUTH. AS OF 3 AM...AN AREA OF SFC HIGH PRESSURE WAS SITUATED OVER EASTERN NEBRASKA RESULTING IN CALM WINDS ALONG AND EAST OF HIGHWAY 281...WHICH IS RESULTING IN GOOD RADIATIONAL COOLING SINCE THIS AREA HAS ALSO BEEN LARGELY CLOUD FREE THUS FAR. THE 3 AM TEMPERATURE AT YORK WAS DOWN TO 34F AND IT IS LIKELY THAT LOW LYING AREAS ALONG HIGHWAY 81...ESPECIALLY NORTH OF HIGHWAY 6 ARE ALREADY STARTING TO SEE SOME FROST. HOWEVER...CLOUDS ARE ON THE INCREASE WEST OF HIGHWAY 81 AND SHOULD QUICKLY MOVE OVER THE REST OF OUR FORECAST AREA PRIOR TO DAWN. THIS WILL LIKELY RESULT IN RISING TEMPERATURES ONCE THE CLOUDS MOVE IN NEAR DAWN. THEREFORE...FROST WILL BE CONFINED TO LOW LYING AREAS OF OUR FAR NORTHEAST AND SHOULD NOT LAST LONG. WILL LIKELY BE ABLE TO END THE FROST ADVISORY A BIT EARLY. PRECIPITATION CHANCES THIS MORNING ARE LOW AND THE RADAR HAS BEEN RATHER QUIET THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS...WITH JUST A MINOR RETURN OR TWO. MOST FORECAST MODELS CONTINUE TO INDICATE NO QPF...BUT THE HRRR DOES SHOW A FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS. THEREFORE...LOWERED POPS AND WILL JUST CALL FOR A SLIGHT CHANCE OF ISOLATED SPRINKLES EARLY THIS MORNING. THERE COULD BE A FEW SHOWERS AROUND...BUT JUST DO NOT THINK MOST OF THEM WILL MEASURE MORE THAN A TRACE. THE CLOUDS WILL BE MORE OF A MORNING FEATURE WITH CLEARING SKIES BY AFTERNOON AND WARMER TEMPERATURES THANKS TO RETURN SOUTHEASTERLY FLOW ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE SFC HIGH AS WELL AS UPPER LEVEL RIDGING. AFTERNOON HIGHS WILL RANGE FROM THE UPPER 60S EAST TO THE MID 70S WEST. TONIGHT...THE UPPER RIDGE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD INTO THE HIGH PLAINS...SFC WINDS WILL REMAIN SOUTHERLY AND LOW TEMPERATURES WILL BE MORE MILD. LOW TEMPERATURES WILL PRIMARILY BE IN THE MID TO UPPER 40S. .LONG TERM...(MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY) ISSUED AT 305 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 MAIN STORY: WE ARE ENTERING A DECIDELY MORE SUMMERLIKE PATTERN THAT OFFERS POTENT HEAT AND MULTIPLE TSTM CHANCES. TEMPS WILL AVERAGE ABOVE NORMAL THRU NEXT SAT WITH MUCH ABOVE NORMAL MON-TUE AS THE ENTIRE FCST AREA WILL REACH 90F FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS SEASON. AREAS W OF HWY 281 PROBABLY REACH OR EXCEED 90 BOTH DAYS. THEN THE FOCUS SHIFTS TO TSTM CHANCES WITH A WRN TROF NEXT WEEKEND THAT COULD THREATEN SEVERE WX. PATTERN: THE PNA IS CURRENTLY PEAKING POSITIVE WITH A HIGH-AMPLITUDE WRN N AMERICA RIDGE AND ERN TROF...WITH A CUT-OFF LOW OVER NRN MEX. THE +PNA WILL HEAD BACK TO NEUTRAL BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK... INDICATING DEAMPLIFICATION OF THE LONG-WAVE /LGWV/ FLOW. TEMPS WILL BE WARMER THAN NORMAL THRU NEXT SUN THEN SHOULD RETURN TO NEAR TO POSSIBLY A LITTLE COOLER THAN NORMAL BY MON 5/20. ALOFT: THE HIGH-AMPLITUDE WRN USA RIDGE WILL GET MOWED DOWN BY A POTENT NEGATIVE TILT PV ANOMALY THAT MOVES ONSHORE IN THE PAC NW LATE MON. THIS PV ANOMALY WILL TRACK E ACROSS SRN CANADA TUE INITIATING ZONAL FLOW FOR WED-THU. IN THE MEANTIME...THE NRN MEX CUT-OFF LOW WILL BECOME MOBILE AND HEAD ACROSS THE SRN PLAINS...TOO LATE TO INFUSE ANY MSTR THIS FAR N. A BROAD TROF THEN DEVELOPS OVER THE WRN USA FRI AND LASTS INTO EARLY THE FOLLOWING WEEK. MULTIPLE LOW AMPLITUDE PV ANOMALIES WILL SHOULD INSTIGATE PERIODIC TSTM THREATS. SFC: THE WARM FRONT DEPARTS TO THE E MON AS LOW PRES MIGRATES ACROSS SRN CANADA. ITS ASSOCIATED COOL FRONT WILL MOVE THRU TUE NGT AND BECOME STATIONARY NEAR THE NEB-KS BORDER WED-THU. IT MAY HEAD BACK N TO NEAR THE NEB-SD BORDER FRI-SAT. THE DRYLINE WILL INTERSECT THIS FRONT JUST W OF THE FCST AREA. MODELS: 00Z GEM / 12Z AND 00Z EC / 18Z AND 00Z GFS / 12Z AND 00Z UKMET ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT ON THE OVERALL THEME THRU 00Z/SAT... DEAMPLIFICATION TO ZONAL FLOW THEN A MODEST AMPLITUDE TROF MOVING INTO THE WRN USA NEXT WEEKEND. TYPICAL TIMING DIFFERENCES BEGIN TO SHOW UP NEXT SAT WITH THE 00Z GFS FASTER THAN ALL THE OTHER GUIDANCE /AND EVEN ITS 18Z RUN/ ADVANCING THE TROF INTO THE ROCKIES. HAZARDS: NOTHING DEFINABLE AT THIS POINT BUT MULTIPLE CHANCES FOR TSTMS EXIST TUE NGT-SAT. IT/S TOO EARLY TO PIN DOWN LOCATION/TIMING/ COVERAGE AND INTENSITY...BUT ODDS ARE INCREASING THAT WE COULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH AT LEAST ONE EPISODE OF SEVERE. THE DAILY DETAILS... MON: THE WARM FRONT WILL BISECT THE FCST AREA AT DAYBREAK. ANY FRONTAL CLOUDS WILL CLEAR THE AREA AS THE FRONT DEPARTS TO THE E. THIS WILL RESULT IN A SUNNY VERY WARM DAY...BUT W OF HWY 281 IT WILL BE HOT /90-95F/. +24C AT H8 AND 582 HGTS AT H5. TUE: SUNNY AND HOT. 93-98F. +26C AT H8 AND 582 HGTS AT H5. H8 TEMPS 2 STANDARD DEVIATIONS ABOVE NORMAL. HIGHS WILL BE 25F ABOVE NORMAL. GRI AND HSI WILL BE WITHIN ABOUT 4F OF RECORD HIGHS BUT THEY SHOULD BE SAFELY OUT OF REACH. GRI 99-1941. HSI 97-1941. TUE NGT: COOL FRONTAL PASSAGE. IT/S PROBABLY DRY MOST LOCATIONS. AN ISOLATE TSTM IS POSSIBLE. WHILE THIS COOL FRONT WILL END THE HEAT...TEMPS WILL STILL REMAIN 8-15F ABOVE NORMAL WED-SAT. WED: POSSIBLY A LEFT OVER SHWR OR TSTM ALONG THE FRONT? THU-SAT: OVERALL SHOULD AVERAGE P/CLOUDY AND DRY MOST OF THE TIME. HOWEVER...MULTIPLE EPISODES OF TSTMS APPEAR POSSIBLE ALONG THE FRONT/DRYLINE. OF PARTICULAR INTEREST IS THE RISING HGTS OVER THE ERN USA. THIS WILL PREVENT TUE NGT/S COOL FRONT FROM PENETRATING FAR TO THE S. HIGH PRES WILL PARK ITSELF OFF THE CAROLINA/S...SETTING UP SEVERAL DAYS OF UNINTERRUPTED RICH GULF MSTR FLUX N INTO THE PLAINS. BY WED AFTN H8 DWPTS OF 8+C WILL BE IN PLACE WITH SFC DWPTS INTO THE 50S THU AND AROUND 60 FRI-SAT. DIURNAL OSCILLATIONS IN THE LLJ WILL PROBABLY TRIGGER MCS ACTIVITY OVER THE NRN/CNTRL PLAINS. INSTABILITY WILL BUILD A LITTLE MORE EACH DAY. SEVERE: AM GROWING INCREASINGLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR A COUPLE EPISODES OF SVR TSTMS IN THE THU-MON TIME FRAME. THU-SAT WOULD PROBABLY TAKE THE FORM OF A FORWARD PROPAGATING MCS. SUN COULD BE SUBSTANTIALLY MORE INTERESTING AS THE LFQ OF A 120 KT ULJ EJECTS INTO THE CNTRL PLAINS. IF WE DO GET AN MCS THRU HERE IT COULD SERIOUSLY IMPACT OUR TEMPS THE FOLLOWING DAY. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z MONDAY MORNING) ISSUED AT 543 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE TAF VALID PERIOD. THE WIND WILL REMAIN OUT OF THE SOUTHEAST. THERE ARE A FEW ISOLATED SPRINKLES AROUND THE AREA THIS MORNING BUT THESE WILL BE HIT AND MISS AND QUICKLY OUT OF THE AREA BY MID MORNING. && .GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...NONE. KS...NONE. && $$ UPDATE...SALTZMAN SHORT TERM...WESELY LONG TERM...HALBLAUB AVIATION...WESELY
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS HASTINGS NE
556 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 543 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 HAVE BEEN WATCHING TEMPERATURES WARM PRIOR TO DAWN AS THE CLOUDS HAVE MOVED IN. THIS WAS PRETTY MUCH EXPECTED THAT WE WOULD WARM ONCE THE CLOUDS MOVED IN THIS MORNING. THUS WE HAVE EXPIRED THE FROST ADVISORY ACROSS NORTHWEST ZONES WHERE TEMPERATURES HAVE NOW RISEN FROM THE LOWER AND MID 30S INTO THE MID AND UPPER 30S. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 305 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 THE PRIMARY FORECAST CONCERNS CENTER AROUND AREAS OF FROST ACROSS NORTHEAST ZONES THIS MORNING...AS WELL AS ISOLATED MORNING SPRINKLES FROM THE TRI CITES WEST AND SOUTH. AS OF 3 AM...AN AREA OF SFC HIGH PRESSURE WAS SITUATED OVER EASTERN NEBRASKA RESULTING IN CALM WINDS ALONG AND EAST OF HIGHWAY 281...WHICH IS RESULTING IN GOOD RADIATIONAL COOLING SINCE THIS AREA HAS ALSO BEEN LARGELY CLOUD FREE THUS FAR. THE 3 AM TEMPERATURE AT YORK WAS DOWN TO 34F AND IT IS LIKELY THAT LOW LYING AREAS ALONG HIGHWAY 81...ESPECIALLY NORTH OF HIGHWAY 6 ARE ALREADY STARTING TO SEE SOME FROST. HOWEVER...CLOUDS ARE ON THE INCREASE WEST OF HIGHWAY 81 AND SHOULD QUICKLY MOVE OVER THE REST OF OUR FORECAST AREA PRIOR TO DAWN. THIS WILL LIKELY RESULT IN RISING TEMPERATURES ONCE THE CLOUDS MOVE IN NEAR DAWN. THEREFORE...FROST WILL BE CONFINED TO LOW LYING AREAS OF OUR FAR NORTHEAST AND SHOULD NOT LAST LONG. WILL LIKELY BE ABLE TO END THE FROST ADVISORY A BIT EARLY. PRECIPITATION CHANCES THIS MORNING ARE LOW AND THE RADAR HAS BEEN RATHER QUIET THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS...WITH JUST A MINOR RETURN OR TWO. MOST FORECAST MODELS CONTINUE TO INDICATE NO QPF...BUT THE HRRR DOES SHOW A FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS. THEREFORE...LOWERED POPS AND WILL JUST CALL FOR A SLIGHT CHANCE OF ISOLATED SPRINKLES EARLY THIS MORNING. THERE COULD BE A FEW SHOWERS AROUND...BUT JUST DO NOT THINK MOST OF THEM WILL MEASURE MORE THAN A TRACE. THE CLOUDS WILL BE MORE OF A MORNING FEATURE WITH CLEARING SKIES BY AFTERNOON AND WARMER TEMPERATURES THANKS TO RETURN SOUTHEASTERLY FLOW ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE SFC HIGH AS WELL AS UPPER LEVEL RIDGING. AFTERNOON HIGHS WILL RANGE FROM THE UPPER 60S EAST TO THE MID 70S WEST. TONIGHT...THE UPPER RIDGE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD INTO THE HIGH PLAINS...SFC WINDS WILL REMAIN SOUTHERLY AND LOW TEMPERATURES WILL BE MORE MILD. LOW TEMPERATURES WILL PRIMARILY BE IN THE MID TO UPPER 40S. .LONG TERM...(MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY) ISSUED AT 305 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 MAIN STORY: WE ARE ENTERING A DECIDELY MORE SUMMERLIKE PATTERN THAT OFFERS POTENT HEAT AND MULTIPLE TSTM CHANCES. TEMPS WILL AVERAGE ABOVE NORMAL THRU NEXT SAT WITH MUCH ABOVE NORMAL MON-TUE AS THE ENTIRE FCST AREA WILL REACH 90F FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS SEASON. AREAS W OF HWY 281 PROBABLY REACH OR EXCEED 90 BOTH DAYS. THEN THE FOCUS SHIFTS TO TSTM CHANCES WITH A WRN TROF NEXT WEEKEND THAT COULD THREATEN SEVERE WX. PATTERN: THE PNA IS CURRENTLY PEAKING POSITIVE WITH A HIGH-AMPLITUDE WRN N AMERICA RIDGE AND ERN TROF...WITH A CUT-OFF LOW OVER NRN MEX. THE +PNA WILL HEAD BACK TO NEUTRAL BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK... INDICATING DEAMPLIFICATION OF THE LONG-WAVE /LGWV/ FLOW. TEMPS WILL BE WARMER THAN NORMAL THRU NEXT SUN THEN SHOULD RETURN TO NEAR TO POSSIBLY A LITTLE COOLER THAN NORMAL BY MON 5/20. ALOFT: THE HIGH-AMPLITUDE WRN USA RIDGE WILL GET MOWED DOWN BY A POTENT NEGATIVE TILT PV ANOMALY THAT MOVES ONSHORE IN THE PAC NW LATE MON. THIS PV ANOMALY WILL TRACK E ACROSS SRN CANADA TUE INITIATING ZONAL FLOW FOR WED-THU. IN THE MEANTIME...THE NRN MEX CUT-OFF LOW WILL BECOME MOBILE AND HEAD ACROSS THE SRN PLAINS...TOO LATE TO INFUSE ANY MSTR THIS FAR N. A BROAD TROF THEN DEVELOPS OVER THE WRN USA FRI AND LASTS INTO EARLY THE FOLLOWING WEEK. MULTIPLE LOW AMPLITUDE PV ANOMALIES WILL SHOULD INSTIGATE PERIODIC TSTM THREATS. SFC: THE WARM FRONT DEPARTS TO THE E MON AS LOW PRES MIGRATES ACROSS SRN CANADA. ITS ASSOCIATED COOL FRONT WILL MOVE THRU TUE NGT AND BECOME STATIONARY NEAR THE NEB-KS BORDER WED-THU. IT MAY HEAD BACK N TO NEAR THE NEB-SD BORDER FRI-SAT. THE DRYLINE WILL INTERSECT THIS FRONT JUST W OF THE FCST AREA. MODELS: 00Z GEM / 12Z AND 00Z EC / 18Z AND 00Z GFS / 12Z AND 00Z UKMET ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT ON THE OVERALL THEME THRU 00Z/SAT... DEAMPLIFICATION TO ZONAL FLOW THEN A MODEST AMPLITUDE TROF MOVING INTO THE WRN USA NEXT WEEKEND. TYPICAL TIMING DIFFERENCES BEGIN TO SHOW UP NEXT SAT WITH THE 00Z GFS FASTER THAN ALL THE OTHER GUIDANCE /AND EVEN ITS 18Z RUN/ ADVANCING THE TROF INTO THE ROCKIES. HAZARDS: NOTHING DEFINABLE AT THIS POINT BUT MULTIPLE CHANCES FOR TSTMS EXIST TUE NGT-SAT. IT/S TOO EARLY TO PIN DOWN LOCATION/TIMING/ COVERAGE AND INTENSITY...BUT ODDS ARE INCREASING THAT WE COULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH AT LEAST ONE EPISODE OF SEVERE. THE DAILY DETAILS... MON: THE WARM FRONT WILL BISECT THE FCST AREA AT DAYBREAK. ANY FRONTAL CLOUDS WILL CLEAR THE AREA AS THE FRONT DEPARTS TO THE E. THIS WILL RESULT IN A SUNNY VERY WARM DAY...BUT W OF HWY 281 IT WILL BE HOT /90-95F/. +24C AT H8 AND 582 HGTS AT H5. TUE: SUNNY AND HOT. 93-98F. +26C AT H8 AND 582 HGTS AT H5. H8 TEMPS 2 STANDARD DEVIATIONS ABOVE NORMAL. HIGHS WILL BE 25F ABOVE NORMAL. GRI AND HSI WILL BE WITHIN ABOUT 4F OF RECORD HIGHS BUT THEY SHOULD BE SAFELY OUT OF REACH. GRI 99-1941. HSI 97-1941. TUE NGT: COOL FRONTAL PASSAGE. IT/S PROBABLY DRY MOST LOCATIONS. AN ISOLATE TSTM IS POSSIBLE. WHILE THIS COOL FRONT WILL END THE HEAT...TEMPS WILL STILL REMAIN 8-15F ABOVE NORMAL WED-SAT. WED: POSSIBLY A LEFT OVER SHWR OR TSTM ALONG THE FRONT? THU-SAT: OVERALL SHOULD AVERAGE P/CLOUDY AND DRY MOST OF THE TIME. HOWEVER...MULTIPLE EPISODES OF TSTMS APPEAR POSSIBLE ALONG THE FRONT/DRYLINE. OF PARTICULAR INTEREST IS THE RISING HGTS OVER THE ERN USA. THIS WILL PREVENT TUE NGT/S COOL FRONT FROM PENETRATING FAR TO THE S. HIGH PRES WILL PARK ITSELF OFF THE CAROLINA/S...SETTING UP SEVERAL DAYS OF UNINTERRUPTED RICH GULF MSTR FLUX N INTO THE PLAINS. BY WED AFTN H8 DWPTS OF 8+C WILL BE IN PLACE WITH SFC DWPTS INTO THE 50S THU AND AROUND 60 FRI-SAT. DIURNAL OSCILLATIONS IN THE LLJ WILL PROBABLY TRIGGER MCS ACTIVITY OVER THE NRN/CNTRL PLAINS. INSTABILITY WILL BUILD A LITTLE MORE EACH DAY. SEVERE: AM GROWING INCREASINGLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR A COUPLE EPISODES OF SVR TSTMS IN THE THU-MON TIME FRAME. THU-SAT WOULD PROBABLY TAKE THE FORM OF A FORWARD PROPAGATING MCS. SUN COULD BE SUBSTANTIALLY MORE INTERESTING AS THE LFQ OF A 120 KT ULJ EJECTS INTO THE CNTRL PLAINS. IF WE DO GET AN MCS THRU HERE IT COULD SERIOUSLY IMPACT OUR TEMPS THE FOLLOWING DAY. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z MONDAY MORNING) ISSUED AT 543 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE TAF VALID PERIOD. THE WIND WILL REMAIN OUT OF THE SOUTHEAST. THERE ARE A FEW ISOLATED SPRINKLES AROUND THE AREA THIS MORNING BUT THESE WILL BE HIT AND MISS AND QUICKLY OUT OF THE AREA BY MID MORNING. && .GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...NONE. KS...NONE. && $$ UPDATE...WESELY SHORT TERM...WESELY LONG TERM...HALBLAUB AVIATION...WESELY
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS HASTINGS NE
352 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 305 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 THE PRIMARY FORECAST CONCERNS CENTER AROUND AREAS OF FROST ACROSS NORTHEAST ZONES THIS MORNING...AS WELL AS ISOLATED MORNING SPRINKLES FROM THE TRI CITES WEST AND SOUTH. AS OF 3 AM...AN AREA OF SFC HIGH PRESSURE WAS SITUATED OVER EASTERN NEBRASKA RESULTING IN CALM WINDS ALONG AND EAST OF HIGHWAY 281...WHICH IS RESULTING IN GOOD RADIATIONAL COOLING SINCE THIS AREA HAS ALSO BEEN LARGELY CLOUD FREE THUS FAR. THE 3 AM TEMPERATURE AT YORK WAS DOWN TO 34F AND IT IS LIKELY THAT LOW LYING AREAS ALONG HIGHWAY 81...ESPECIALLY NORTH OF HIGHWAY 6 ARE ALREADY STARTING TO SEE SOME FROST. HOWEVER...CLOUDS ARE ON THE INCREASE WEST OF HIGHWAY 81 AND SHOULD QUICKLY MOVE OVER THE REST OF OUR FORECAST AREA PRIOR TO DAWN. THIS WILL LIKELY RESULT IN RISING TEMPERATURES ONCE THE CLOUDS MOVE IN NEAR DAWN. THEREFORE...FROST WILL BE CONFINED TO LOW LYING AREAS OF OUR FAR NORTHEAST AND SHOULD NOT LAST LONG. WILL LIKELY BE ABLE TO END THE FROST ADVISORY A BIT EARLY. PRECIPITATION CHANCES THIS MORNING ARE LOW AND THE RADAR HAS BEEN RATHER QUIET THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS...WITH JUST A MINOR RETURN OR TWO. MOST FORECAST MODELS CONTINUE TO INDICATE NO QPF...BUT THE HRRR DOES SHOW A FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS. THEREFORE...LOWERED POPS AND WILL JUST CALL FOR A SLIGHT CHANCE OF ISOLATED SPRINKLES EARLY THIS MORNING. THERE COULD BE A FEW SHOWERS AROUND...BUT JUST DO NOT THINK MOST OF THEM WILL MEASURE MORE THAN A TRACE. THE CLOUDS WILL BE MORE OF A MORNING FEATURE WITH CLEARING SKIES BY AFTERNOON AND WARMER TEMPERATURES THANKS TO RETURN SOUTHEASTERLY FLOW ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE SFC HIGH AS WELL AS UPPER LEVEL RIDGING. AFTERNOON HIGHS WILL RANGE FROM THE UPPER 60S EAST TO THE MID 70S WEST. TONIGHT...THE UPPER RIDGE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD INTO THE HIGH PLAINS...SFC WINDS WILL REMAIN SOUTHERLY AND LOW TEMPERATURES WILL BE MORE MILD. LOW TEMPERATURES WILL PRIMARILY BE IN THE MID TO UPPER 40S. .LONG TERM...(MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY) ISSUED AT 305 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 MAIN STORY: WE ARE ENTERING A DECIDELY MORE SUMMERLIKE PATTERN THAT OFFERS POTENT HEAT AND MULTIPLE TSTM CHANCES. TEMPS WILL AVERAGE ABOVE NORMAL THRU NEXT SAT WITH MUCH ABOVE NORMAL MON-TUE AS THE ENTIRE FCST AREA WILL REACH 90F FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS SEASON. AREAS W OF HWY 281 PROBABLY REACH OR EXCEED 90 BOTH DAYS. THEN THE FOCUS SHIFTS TO TSTM CHANCES WITH A WRN TROF NEXT WEEKEND THAT COULD THREATEN SEVERE WX. PATTERN: THE PNA IS CURRENTLY PEAKING POSITIVE WITH A HIGH-AMPLITUDE WRN N AMERICA RIDGE AND ERN TROF...WITH A CUT-OFF LOW OVER NRN MEX. THE +PNA WILL HEAD BACK TO NEUTRAL BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK... INDICATING DEAMPLIFICATION OF THE LONG-WAVE /LGWV/ FLOW. TEMPS WILL BE WARMER THAN NORMAL THRU NEXT SUN THEN SHOULD RETURN TO NEAR TO POSSIBLY A LITTLE COOLER THAN NORMAL BY MON 5/20. ALOFT: THE HIGH-AMPLITUDE WRN USA RIDGE WILL GET MOWED DOWN BY A POTENT NEGATIVE TILT PV ANOMALY THAT MOVES ONSHORE IN THE PAC NW LATE MON. THIS PV ANOMALY WILL TRACK E ACROSS SRN CANADA TUE INITIATING ZONAL FLOW FOR WED-THU. IN THE MEANTIME...THE NRN MEX CUT-OFF LOW WILL BECOME MOBILE AND HEAD ACROSS THE SRN PLAINS...TOO LATE TO INFUSE ANY MSTR THIS FAR N. A BROAD TROF THEN DEVELOPS OVER THE WRN USA FRI AND LASTS INTO EARLY THE FOLLOWING WEEK. MULTIPLE LOW AMPLITUDE PV ANOMALIES WILL SHOULD INSTIGATE PERIODIC TSTM THREATS. SFC: THE WARM FRONT DEPARTS TO THE E MON AS LOW PRES MIGRATES ACROSS SRN CANADA. ITS ASSOCIATED COOL FRONT WILL MOVE THRU TUE NGT AND BECOME STATIONARY NEAR THE NEB-KS BORDER WED-THU. IT MAY HEAD BACK N TO NEAR THE NEB-SD BORDER FRI-SAT. THE DRYLINE WILL INTERSECT THIS FRONT JUST W OF THE FCST AREA. MODELS: 00Z GEM / 12Z AND 00Z EC / 18Z AND 00Z GFS / 12Z AND 00Z UKMET ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT ON THE OVERALL THEME THRU 00Z/SAT... DEAMPLIFICATION TO ZONAL FLOW THEN A MODEST AMPLITUDE TROF MOVING INTO THE WRN USA NEXT WEEKEND. TYPICAL TIMING DIFFERENCES BEGIN TO SHOW UP NEXT SAT WITH THE 00Z GFS FASTER THAN ALL THE OTHER GUIDANCE /AND EVEN ITS 18Z RUN/ ADVANCING THE TROF INTO THE ROCKIES. HAZARDS: NOTHING DEFINABLE AT THIS POINT BUT MULTIPLE CHANCES FOR TSTMS EXIST TUE NGT-SAT. IT/S TOO EARLY TO PIN DOWN LOCATION/TIMING/ COVERAGE AND INTENSITY...BUT ODDS ARE INCREASING THAT WE COULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH AT LEAST ONE EPISODE OF SEVERE. THE DAILY DETAILS... MON: THE WARM FRONT WILL BISECT THE FCST AREA AT DAYBREAK. ANY FRONTAL CLOUDS WILL CLEAR THE AREA AS THE FRONT DEPARTS TO THE E. THIS WILL RESULT IN A SUNNY VERY WARM DAY...BUT W OF HWY 281 IT WILL BE HOT /90-95F/. +24C AT H8 AND 582 HGTS AT H5. TUE: SUNNY AND HOT. 93-98F. +26C AT H8 AND 582 HGTS AT H5. H8 TEMPS 2 STANDARD DEVIATIONS ABOVE NORMAL. HIGHS WILL BE 25F ABOVE NORMAL. GRI AND HSI WILL BE WITHIN ABOUT 4F OF RECORD HIGHS BUT THEY SHOULD BE SAFELY OUT OF REACH. GRI 99-1941. HSI 97-1941. TUE NGT: COOL FRONTAL PASSAGE. IT/S PROBABLY DRY MOST LOCATIONS. AN ISOLATE TSTM IS POSSIBLE. WHILE THIS COOL FRONT WILL END THE HEAT...TEMPS WILL STILL REMAIN 8-15F ABOVE NORMAL WED-SAT. WED: POSSIBLY A LEFT OVER SHWR OR TSTM ALONG THE FRONT? THU-SAT: OVERALL SHOULD AVERAGE P/CLOUDY AND DRY MOST OF THE TIME. HOWEVER...MULTIPLE EPISODES OF TSTMS APPEAR POSSIBLE ALONG THE FRONT/DRYLINE. OF PARTICULAR INTEREST IS THE RISING HGTS OVER THE ERN USA. THIS WILL PREVENT TUE NGT/S COOL FRONT FROM PENETRATING FAR TO THE S. HIGH PRES WILL PARK ITSELF OFF THE CAROLINA/S...SETTING UP SEVERAL DAYS OF UNINTERRUPTED RICH GULF MSTR FLUX N INTO THE PLAINS. BY WED AFTN H8 DWPTS OF 8+C WILL BE IN PLACE WITH SFC DWPTS INTO THE 50S THU AND AROUND 60 FRI-SAT. DIURNAL OSCILLATIONS IN THE LLJ WILL PROBABLY TRIGGER MCS ACTIVITY OVER THE NRN/CNTRL PLAINS. SEVERE: AM GROWING INCREASINGLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR A COUPLE EPISODES OF SVR TSTMS IN THE THU-MON TIME FRAME. THU-SAT WOULD PROBABLY TAKE THE FORM OF A FORWARD PROPAGATING MCS. SUN COULD BE SUBSTANTIALLY MORE INTERESTING AS THE LFQ OF A 120 KT ULJ EJECTS INTO THE CNTRL PLAINS. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 1231 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE TAF VALID PERIOD. THE WIND WILL REMAIN OUT OF THE SOUTHEAST. THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF A FEW SPRINKLES AROUND DAWN...BUT NOTHING SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO WARRANT BEING PLACED IN THE TAF. && .GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...FROST ADVISORY UNTIL 9 AM CDT THIS MORNING FOR NEZ039>041-048- 049-064. KS...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...WESELY LONG TERM...HALBLAUB AVIATION...WESELY
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS BURLINGTON VT
148 AM EDT SUN MAY 12 2013 .SYNOPSIS... A SLOW-MOVING UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE EASTWARD FROM THE GREAT LAKES FOR SUNDAY AND MONDAY...BRINGING THE CHANCE FOR A FEW ISOLATED RAIN SHOWERS. THE AIR MASS WILL BE COLD ENOUGH TO SUPPORT A FEW SNOW SHOWERS IN THE ADIRONDACKS DURING SUNDAY NIGHT. CLEARING SKIES ARE EXPECTED MONDAY NIGHT AS A SURFACE RIDGE CRESTS OVER THE NORTH COUNTRY. ASSOCIATED LIGHT WINDS WILL BRING THE POSSIBILITY FOR PATCHY FROST DURING MONDAY NIGHT AS TEMPERATURES FALL BACK INTO THE LOW TO MID 30S. A GRADUAL MODERATING TREND IS EXPECTED BEGINNING TUESDAY AND THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. AN APPROACHING WARM FRONT MAY BRING ADDITIONAL SHOWERS LATE WEDNESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY NIGHT. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 8 AM THIS MORNING/... AS OF 113 AM EDT SUNDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES CONTINUE TONIGHT WITH THE NORTH COUNTRY UNDER WEAK SFC RIDGING IN THE WAKE OF THE COLD FRONT THAT PASSED THROUGH EARLIER. THE MORE SIGNIFICANT COLD FRONT IS NOW ENTERING FAR WESTERN NEW YORK STATE AND IS MOVING QUICKLY EASTWARD AIDED BY A 70-KT MID-LEVEL JET MAX. THE FRONTAL POSITION IS PRETTY EVIDENT IN IR SATELLITE IMAGERY BY A LINE OF COOLER CLOUD TOP TEMPERATURES. GIVEN THE FASTER FRONTAL APPROACH HAVE SPED UP THE TIMING OF THE FRONT BY A COUPLE HOURS BRINGING IT INTO THE SAINT LAWRENCE VALLEY AROUND SUNRISE. INTRODUCED A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS BASED ON RADAR AND SFC OBSERVATIONAL TRENDS AND RECENT RAP MODEL OUTPUT. WINDS ALSO WILL BEGIN TO PICK UP FROM THE SOUTHWEST IN THE SAINT LAWRENCE VALLEY. THE REST OF THE NORTH COUNTRY WILL BE CLOUDY BUT DRY THROUGH THE REST OF THE OVERNIGHT. NO CHANGES TO LOW TEMPERATURES...GENERALLY IN THE 40S TO AROUND 50 DEGREES. && .SHORT TERM /8 AM THIS MORNING THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/... AS OF 337 PM EDT SATURDAY...UPPER-LEVEL LOW ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES REGION TONIGHT AMPLIFIES AS IT SHIFTS EWD WITH LOW CENTER ACROSS SERN ONTARIO AT 18Z SUNDAY...AND THEN LIFTS NEWD ACROSS SRN QUEBEC DURING THE DAY MONDAY. MAIN IMPACT WILL BE COOLER TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE NORTH COUNTRY WITH THIS FEATURE. SECONDARY FRONTAL BNDRY CROSSES THE REGION FROM W-E DURING SUNDAY AFTN AND MAY BRING ISOLD/SCATTERED LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS. MOST OF THIS ACTIVITY WILL BE HIT OR MISS AND KEPT POPS GENERALLY ON THE LOW SIDE (20-30 PERCENT). STEEP LAPSE RATES AND MODERATE GRADIENT FLOW COULD YIELD SOME WIND GUSTS 35-40 MPH ACROSS THE NRN ADIRONDACKS AND ST. LAWRENCE VALLEY. SHOULD REMAIN BELOW WIND ADVISORY CRITERIA...BUT WILL BE BREEZY FOR MUCH OF SUNDAY AFTN...ESPECIALLY ACROSS NRN NY. HIGHS SUNDAY AFTN GENERALLY IN THE LOW-MID 50S ACROSS NRN NY...BUT INTO THE LOWER 60S FOR THE VALLEYS OF VT...AND CLOSER TO 64-65F IN THE CT RIVER VALLEY. ADDITIONAL LOW-LEVEL COLD ADVECTION SUNDAY NIGHT BRINGS 850MB TEMPS OF -7 TO -8C ACROSS LAKE ONTARIO WITH SUFFICIENT LAKE INDUCED INSTABILITY TO GENERATE SOME LAKE EFFECT RAIN/SNOW SHOWERS DURING SUNDAY NIGHT. HAVE INDICATED A REGION OF 40-60 POPS ACROSS SRN ST. LAWRENCE INTO SRN FRANKLIN COUNTY NY DURING SUNDAY NIGHT TO ACCOUNT FOR THIS LAKE EFFECT ACTIVITY. COULD SEE A LIGHT COATING OF SNOW IN THE ADIRONDACKS 06-12Z MONDAY WITH LOWS AROUND 30-32F. ELSEWHERE...NOT MUCH FORCING FOR ASCENT...SO REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST AREA SHOULD BE DRY WITH LOWS IN THE MID 30S. ENOUGH GRADIENT WIND IN THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY SHOULD PRECLUDE ANY FROST POTENTIAL FOR SUNDAY NIGHT WHERE THE GROWING SEASON IS CONSIDERED ACTIVE. ON MONDAY...MID-LEVEL TROUGH AXIS SHIFTS EWD ACROSS THE REGION WITH 850MB TEMPS AROUND -4C. SHOULD BE THE COOLEST DAY OF THE STRETCH WITH VALLEY HIGH TEMPERATURES MONDAY ONLY IN THE LOW-MID 50S. STEEP LAPSE RATES MAY YIELD A FEW SHOWERS WITH DAYTIME HEATING...ESPECIALLY OVER THE NRN MTNS. OTHERWISE...ANTICIPATE A MIX OF SUN AND CLOUDS ACROSS THE REGION. SFC RIDGE AXIS CRESTS OVERHEAD DURING MONDAY NIGHT WITH ASSOCIATED LIGHT WINDS AND CLEARING SKIES. GROWING SEASON IS UNDERWAY IN THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY...AND ANTICIPATE PATCHY FROST FORMATION WITH LOWS 33-35F THAT MAY REQUIRE COVERING OF TENDER VEGETATION. HAVE INCLUDED MENTION IN THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK AND IN THE FORECAST AT THIS TIME. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... AS OF 430 PM EDT SATURDAY...PROGRESSIVE UPPER LEVEL FLOW SETS UP ACROSS THE NORTH COUNTRY FOR THE TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY TIME FRAME. THERE WILL BE SEVERAL CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AS BLOCKING PATTERN SETS UP TO OUR EAST AND WILL CAUSE SEVERAL SHORTWAVES TO CROSS OUR FORECAST AREA. DEVELOPING OMEGA BLOCK OVER THE NORTH CENTRAL ATLANTIC OCEAN AND HEAT RIDGE ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES KEEPS NORTHEAST US RIGHT ALONG THE PERIPHERY OF A BUILDING UPPER RIDGE. IN THE THU-SAT TIME FRAME A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL PASS NORTH OF THE REGION AND BRING CHANCE FOR SHOWERS TO THE AREA. && .AVIATION /06Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... THROUGH 06Z MONDAY...COLD FRONT APPROACHING FROM THE WEST THIS MORNING WITH SOME MVFR CIGS AND LIGHT RA OR DZ SPOTTY ALONG THE FRONT. MVFR CONDITIONS MAINLY TO AFFECT KMSS AND KSLK WITH THE FRONT...WITH KMPV AND KRUT EXPERIENCING SOME MVFR CIGS ASSOCIATED WITH MOISTURE FROM YESTERDAYS FRONTAL SYSTEM. BEHIND THE FRONT WILL SEE FEW BREAKS...WITH VFR CIGS AT ALL TAF SITES FOR AT LEAST A FEW HRS IN THE LATE MORNING. OTHERWISE...SW FLOW WILL KEEP MOISTURE STREAMING OVER KSLK...WITH MVFR CIGS EXPECTED ONCE AGAIN IN THE AFTN...WHILE REST OF THE TAF SITES EXPERIENCE VFR CONDITIONS. OF CONCERN WILL BE WINDS AND WIND GUSTS. AROUND AND BEHIND THE FRONT...SW-WSW FLOW WILL DEVELOP WITH WIND SPEEDS OF 8-16 KTS AND GUSTS OF 20-35 KTS DEVELOPING THIS MORNING...INCREASING IN THE AFTN AND EARLY EVENING HRS. GUSTS WILL LIKELY SUBSIDE A BIT AFTER SUNSET...BUT BREEZY CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE INTO THE OVERNIGHT. OUTLOOK 06Z MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY... 06Z MONDAY THROUGH 00Z TUESDAY...MAINLY VFR THOUGH SPOTTY INSTABILITY-DRIVEN LIGHT SHOWERS COULD PRODUCE PERIODS OF MVFR. 00Z TUESDAY THROUGH 12Z WEDNESDAY...VFR UNDER HIGH PRESSURE. 12Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...VFR WITH MVFR PSBL WITHIN SCT SHOWERS. && .BTV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VT...NONE. NY...NONE. && $$ SYNOPSIS...BANACOS NEAR TERM...EVENSON/LOCONTO SHORT TERM...BANACOS LONG TERM...NEILES AVIATION...KGM
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS BURLINGTON VT
113 AM EDT SUN MAY 12 2013 .SYNOPSIS... A SLOW-MOVING UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE EASTWARD FROM THE GREAT LAKES FOR SUNDAY AND MONDAY...BRINGING THE CHANCE FOR A FEW ISOLATED RAIN SHOWERS. THE AIR MASS WILL BE COLD ENOUGH TO SUPPORT A FEW SNOW SHOWERS IN THE ADIRONDACKS DURING SUNDAY NIGHT. CLEARING SKIES ARE EXPECTED MONDAY NIGHT AS A SURFACE RIDGE CRESTS OVER THE NORTH COUNTRY. ASSOCIATED LIGHT WINDS WILL BRING THE POSSIBILITY FOR PATCHY FROST DURING MONDAY NIGHT AS TEMPERATURES FALL BACK INTO THE LOW TO MID 30S. A GRADUAL MODERATING TREND IS EXPECTED BEGINNING TUESDAY AND THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. AN APPROACHING WARM FRONT MAY BRING ADDITIONAL SHOWERS LATE WEDNESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY NIGHT. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 8 AM THIS MORNING/... AS OF 113 AM EDT SUNDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES CONTINUE TONIGHT WITH THE NORTH COUNTRY UNDER WEAK SFC RIDGING IN THE WAKE OF THE COLD FRONT THAT PASSED THROUGH EARLIER. THE MORE SIGNIFICANT COLD FRONT IS NOW ENTERING FAR WESTERN NEW YORK STATE AND IS MOVING QUICKLY EASTWARD AIDED BY A 70-KT MID-LEVEL JET MAX. THE FRONTAL POSITION IS PRETTY EVIDENT IN IR SATELLITE IMAGERY BY A LINE OF COOLER CLOUD TOP TEMPERATURES. GIVEN THE FASTER FRONTAL APPROACH HAVE SPED UP THE TIMING OF THE FRONT BY A COUPLE HOURS BRINGING IT INTO THE SAINT LAWRENCE VALLEY AROUND SUNRISE. INTRODUCED A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS BASED ON RADAR AND SFC OBSERVATIONAL TRENDS AND RECENT RAP MODEL OUTPUT. WINDS ALSO WILL BEGIN TO PICK UP FROM THE SOUTHWEST IN THE SAINT LAWRENCE VALLEY. THE REST OF THE NORTH COUNTRY WILL BE CLOUDY BUT DRY THROUGH THE REST OF THE OVERNIGHT. NO CHANGES TO LOW TEMPERATURES...GENERALLY IN THE 40S TO AROUND 50 DEGREES. && .SHORT TERM /8 AM THIS MORNING THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/... AS OF 337 PM EDT SATURDAY...UPPER-LEVEL LOW ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES REGION TONIGHT AMPLIFIES AS IT SHIFTS EWD WITH LOW CENTER ACROSS SERN ONTARIO AT 18Z SUNDAY...AND THEN LIFTS NEWD ACROSS SRN QUEBEC DURING THE DAY MONDAY. MAIN IMPACT WILL BE COOLER TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE NORTH COUNTRY WITH THIS FEATURE. SECONDARY FRONTAL BNDRY CROSSES THE REGION FROM W-E DURING SUNDAY AFTN AND MAY BRING ISOLD/SCATTERED LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS. MOST OF THIS ACTIVITY WILL BE HIT OR MISS AND KEPT POPS GENERALLY ON THE LOW SIDE (20-30 PERCENT). STEEP LAPSE RATES AND MODERATE GRADIENT FLOW COULD YIELD SOME WIND GUSTS 35-40 MPH ACROSS THE NRN ADIRONDACKS AND ST. LAWRENCE VALLEY. SHOULD REMAIN BELOW WIND ADVISORY CRITERIA...BUT WILL BE BREEZY FOR MUCH OF SUNDAY AFTN...ESPECIALLY ACROSS NRN NY. HIGHS SUNDAY AFTN GENERALLY IN THE LOW-MID 50S ACROSS NRN NY...BUT INTO THE LOWER 60S FOR THE VALLEYS OF VT...AND CLOSER TO 64-65F IN THE CT RIVER VALLEY. ADDITIONAL LOW-LEVEL COLD ADVECTION SUNDAY NIGHT BRINGS 850MB TEMPS OF -7 TO -8C ACROSS LAKE ONTARIO WITH SUFFICIENT LAKE INDUCED INSTABILITY TO GENERATE SOME LAKE EFFECT RAIN/SNOW SHOWERS DURING SUNDAY NIGHT. HAVE INDICATED A REGION OF 40-60 POPS ACROSS SRN ST. LAWRENCE INTO SRN FRANKLIN COUNTY NY DURING SUNDAY NIGHT TO ACCOUNT FOR THIS LAKE EFFECT ACTIVITY. COULD SEE A LIGHT COATING OF SNOW IN THE ADIRONDACKS 06-12Z MONDAY WITH LOWS AROUND 30-32F. ELSEWHERE...NOT MUCH FORCING FOR ASCENT...SO REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST AREA SHOULD BE DRY WITH LOWS IN THE MID 30S. ENOUGH GRADIENT WIND IN THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY SHOULD PRECLUDE ANY FROST POTENTIAL FOR SUNDAY NIGHT WHERE THE GROWING SEASON IS CONSIDERED ACTIVE. ON MONDAY...MID-LEVEL TROUGH AXIS SHIFTS EWD ACROSS THE REGION WITH 850MB TEMPS AROUND -4C. SHOULD BE THE COOLEST DAY OF THE STRETCH WITH VALLEY HIGH TEMPERATURES MONDAY ONLY IN THE LOW-MID 50S. STEEP LAPSE RATES MAY YIELD A FEW SHOWERS WITH DAYTIME HEATING...ESPECIALLY OVER THE NRN MTNS. OTHERWISE...ANTICIPATE A MIX OF SUN AND CLOUDS ACROSS THE REGION. SFC RIDGE AXIS CRESTS OVERHEAD DURING MONDAY NIGHT WITH ASSOCIATED LIGHT WINDS AND CLEARING SKIES. GROWING SEASON IS UNDERWAY IN THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY...AND ANTICIPATE PATCHY FROST FORMATION WITH LOWS 33-35F THAT MAY REQUIRE COVERING OF TENDER VEGETATION. HAVE INCLUDED MENTION IN THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK AND IN THE FORECAST AT THIS TIME. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... AS OF 430 PM EDT SATURDAY...PROGRESSIVE UPPER LEVEL FLOW SETS UP ACROSS THE NORTH COUNTRY FOR THE TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY TIME FRAME. THERE WILL BE SEVERAL CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AS BLOCKING PATTERN SETS UP TO OUR EAST AND WILL CAUSE SEVERAL SHORTWAVES TO CROSS OUR FORECAST AREA. DEVELOPING OMEGA BLOCK OVER THE NORTH CENTRAL ATLANTIC OCEAN AND HEAT RIDGE ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES KEEPS NORTHEAST US RIGHT ALONG THE PERIPHERY OF A BUILDING UPPER RIDGE. IN THE THU-SAT TIME FRAME A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL PASS NORTH OF THE REGION AND BRING CHANCE FOR SHOWERS TO THE AREA. && .AVIATION /06Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... THROUGH 00Z MONDAY...VFR CONDITIONS WILL START THE PERIOD WITH A TREND TOWARD VFR/MVFR CEILINGS WITH QUITE A BIT OF CLOUD COVER UPSTREAM. VISIBILITIES WILL REMAIN IN THE VFR CATEGORY THROUGH THE PERIOD. WEST TO SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL DIMINISH A BIT OVERNIGHT...THEN INCREASE A LITTLE ON SUNDAY WITH STRONGER WIND GUSTS OVER THE SAINT LAWRENCE VALLEY OF NEW YORK AFTER 18Z...GENERALLY IN THE 25 TO 35 KNOT RANGE. OUTLOOK 00Z MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY... 00Z MONDAY THROUGH 00Z TUESDAY...MAINLY VFR THOUGH SPOTTY INSTABILITY-DRIVEN LIGHT SHOWERS COULD PRODUCE MVFR PERIODS. 00Z TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...VFR UNDER HIGH PRESSURE. && .BTV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VT...NONE. NY...NONE. && $$ SYNOPSIS...BANACOS NEAR TERM...EVENSON/LOCONTO SHORT TERM...BANACOS LONG TERM...NEILES AVIATION...EVENSON/NEILES
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS TULSA OK
1239 PM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 .DISCUSSION... LARGE UPPER TROUGH OVER THE EASTERN CONUS CONTINUES TO SHIFT EAST TODAY. NW FLOW ALOFT PREVAILS OVER THE PLAINS IN BETWEEN THE TROUGH TO THE EAST AND THE AMPLIFYING RIDGE OVER THE WEST. HIGH BASED SHOWERS AND EVEN A FEW RUMBLES OF THUNDER ARE OBSERVED TO OUR NORTH AND WEST...MOST LIKELY DUE TO MID LVL WARM ADVECTION/FRONTOGENESIS ALONG THE NW FLOW BAROCLINIC ZONE. WILL MONITOR LIGHTNING ACTIVITY TO SEE IF THUNDER NEEDS TO BE INSERTED INTO THE GRIDS. CURRENT FORECAST 20 POP FOR SHOWERS OVER NE OK AND NW AR LOOKS GOOD BASED ON RECENT HRRR MODEL DATA. NO MAJOR CHANGES HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO THE GOING FORECAST. LACY && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1207 PM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013/ DISCUSSION... THE 18Z TAF DISCUSSION CAN BE FOUND BELOW. AVIATION... CONCERNING TAF SITES KTUL/KRVS/KBVO/KMLC/KXNA/KFYV/KFSM. VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL WITH SCT TO BKN MID CLOUDS AOA 10KFT. ISOLD TO WDLY SCT SHRA COULD BE NEAR THE NE OK AND NW AR TAF SITES THIS AFTERNOON SO INSERTED VCSH. LIGHT WINDS TODAY WILL SWITCH TO SOUTHWEST AND BECOME GUSTY AFT 15Z MONDAY AS LEE TROF DVLPS ON THE HI PLNS. LACY PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 542 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013/ AVIATION... CONCERNING TAF SITES KTUL/KRVS/KBVO/KMLC/KXNA/KFYV/KFSM. VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED THROUGH THE PERIOD...WITH INCREASING MID CLOUDS EXPECTED DURING THE AFTERNOON. SMALL CHANCE OF SHRA ACROSS NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS...BUT CONFIDENCE AND EXPECTED COVERAGE LOW ENOUGH TO NOT INCLUDE ATTM. PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 304 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013/ DISCUSSION... COOL START THIS MORNING AS SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE CONTINUES TO BUILD INTO THE REGION WITH MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES/NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT. WEAK UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL DIVE SOUTH INTO THE AREA TODAY WITH INCREASING MID CLOUDS AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A FEW ISOLATED/WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS INTO THE AFTERNOON HOURS. THIS WILL KEEP HIGH TEMPERATURES ON THE MILD SIDE...ESPECIALLY ACROSS FAR NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA/NORTHWEST ARKANSAS WHERE THE CLOUD COVER IS EXPECTED TO BE THE THICKEST/MORE WIDESPREAD. WARMING TREND WILL DEVELOP MONDAY AS UPPER RIDGE QUICKLY BUILDS INTO THE PLAINS WITH UNSEASONABLY WARM/BREEZY CONDITIONS TUESDAY AS GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS DEVELOP. UPPER LOW...CURRENTLY OVER THE BAJA OF MEXICO...WILL LIFT INTO OKLAHOMA ON WEDNESDAY WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE. PRECIPITATION CHANCES WILL LINGER INTO THURSDAY BEFORE UPPER LOW WEAKENS/SHIFTS EAST OF THE AREA BY FRIDAY. SLOW WARMING TREND RETURNS INTO THE WEEKEND AS UPPER RIDGE BUILDS BACK INTO THE SOUTHERN PLAINS. PRECIPITATION CHANCES APPEAR TO BE LIMITED WITH MILD NIGHTS/WARM AFTERNOONS EXPECTED BOTH FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... TUL 51 85 63 86 / 10 10 0 10 FSM 50 83 57 87 / 10 10 0 10 MLC 52 85 62 86 / 10 10 0 0 BVO 48 83 56 87 / 10 10 10 10 FYV 43 78 56 83 / 10 10 0 10 BYV 46 78 57 86 / 10 10 0 10 MKO 50 83 60 86 / 10 10 0 10 MIO 47 81 58 86 / 10 10 10 10 F10 52 85 62 85 / 10 10 0 10 HHW 51 83 60 84 / 10 10 0 10 && .TSA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OK...NONE. AR...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...30
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS PORTLAND OR
855 AM PDT SUN MAY 12 2013 .SYNOPSIS...A FRONTAL SYSTEM NEAR THE COAST WILL WEAKEN AND DISSIPATE AS IT MOVES ACROSS THE AREA TODAY. THE BULK OF THE RAINFALL WITH THIS SYSTEM WILL REMAIN WELL TO THE NORTH...BUT WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TO SEE SOME LIGHT PRECIP IN OUR NORTHERN ZONES TODAY. A REINFORCING UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE WILL BRING MORE WIDESPREAD AND HEAVIER RAIN TO THE REGION MONDAY. A FEW THUNDERSTORMS MAY DEVELOP ACROSS THE NORTHERN ZONES ON MONDAY AS WELL. SEVERAL WEAK STORM SYSTEMS WILL SKIRT THE REGION NEXT WEEK BRINGING CLOUDS...PERIODIC SHOWER ACTIVITY AND TEMPERATURES NEAR SEASONAL NORMALS. && .SHORT TERM...THE STRONG RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE THAT DOMINATED THE WEATHER OVER THE PACNW FOR THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS HAS MOVED EASTWARD. NEAR THE COAST...A FRONTAL SYSTEM WILL WEAKEN AND DISSIPATE AS IT PUSHES INLAND TODAY. MOST OF THE ENERGY AND HEAVIER PRECIP WITH THIS FRONT CONTINUES TO BE AIMED WELL TO THE NORTH TOWARD BC AND THE OLYMPIC PENINSULA. THE HRRR MODEL SHOWS THE FRONT DISSIPATING AS IT MOVES OVER THE COAST RANGE...WITH ANY SIGNIFICANT PRECIP MAINLY AFFECTING THE NORTH COAST AND THE SOUTH WA AND NORTH OR CASCADES AND FOOTHILLS. GIVEN THE RECENT WARM AIRMASS THERE MAY BE ENOUGH ENERGY TO ENHANCE SHOWER ACTIVITY THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS THE INTERIOR AS WHAT REMAINS OF THE FRONT MOVES THROUGH. A MORE POTENT SHORTWAVE WILL MOVE INTO THE REGION ON MONDAY. THIS SYSTEM WILL DROP FURTHER SOUTH...WITH THE BASE OF THE TROUGH MOVING THROUGH OREGON. THIS TRACK WOULD RESULT IN SIGNIFICANTLY MORE FORCING OVER SW WASHINGTON AND NW OREGON WITH INCREASED WESTERLY OROGRAPHIC FLOW. SO...MONDAY APPEARS TO HOLD A MUCH BETTER SHOT FOR RECEIVING SOME DECENT RAINFALL ACROSS OUR DISTRICT. MODELS ALSO SHOW QUITE A BIT OF INSTABILITY FROM ABOUT SALEM NORTHWARD ON MONDAY AFTERNOON...SO THERE IS ALSO A THREAT OF THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY MONDAY AFTERNOON INTO THE EARLY EVENING HOURS. .LONG TERM...NO CHANGES. PREVIOUS DISCUSSION FOLLOWS... TUE THROUGH FRIDAY...AFTER THE SYSTEM ON MON PASSES THROUGH...THE PAC NW WILL BE LEFT IN A RELATIVELY ZONAL PATTERN FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK. A COUPLE OF WEAK TROUGHS ARE DEPICTED MOVING THROUGH THE UPPER FLOW...SO WE WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME SOME PERIODIC SHOWER ACTIVITY. HOWEVER...NOTHING VERY WELL ORGANIZED IS EXPECTED. OTHERWISE...EXPECT CLOUDS AND COOLER MORE SEASONAL TEMPS FOR NEXT WEEK. PYLE && .AVIATION...A COLD FRONT IS SLOWLY PUSHING ONSHORE THIS MORNING. EXPECT LIGHT SHOWERS AND PERIODS OF MVFR CIGS AS THE FRONT SLOWLY MOVES THROUGH...ESPECIALLY THROUGH ABOUT 20Z. CHANCES FOR MORE WIDESPREAD MVFR INCREASE THIS EVENING AS THE WINDS TURN MORE SOUTHWESTERLY. A STRONGER FRONT WILL MOVE IN OVERNIGHT INTO MON...BRINGING HEAVIER RAIN AND LOWERED CIGS. KPDX AND APPROACHES...EXPECT PERIODIC LIGHT RAIN AND MVFR CIGS TODAY AS A WEAK FRONT SLOWLY PUSHES THROUGH. A STRONGER FRONT WILL BRING HEAVIER RAIN AND PREDOMINANTLY MVFR CIGS BETWEEN 12Z AND 18Z TOMORROW MORNING. PYLE && .MARINE...A WEAK COLD FRONT IS PUSHING INLAND THIS MORNING. WINDS ARE RUNNING LOWER THAN THE MODELS ARE SUGGESTING...SO DECIDED TO END THE SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR WINDS THIS MORNING. A STRONGER WAVE WILL MOVE ALONG THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY ON TOMORROW MORNING AND MON...WHICH SHOULD BRING A MORE SOLID SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY EVENT. SEAS SHOULD REMAIN 4 TO 6 FT RANGE TODAY THEN INCREASE FURTHER WITH THE SYSTEM ON MON...POTENTIALLY REACHING NEAR 10 FT LATE MON. && .PQR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OR...NONE. WA...NONE. PZ...NONE. && $$ MORE WEATHER INFORMATION ONLINE AT... HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/PORTLAND THIS DISCUSSION IS FOR NORTHWEST OREGON AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON FROM THE CASCADE CREST TO 60 NAUTICAL MILES OFFSHORE. THE AREA IS COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE FORECAST AREA.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS PORTLAND OR
310 AM PDT SUN MAY 12 2013 .SYNOPSIS...A FRONTAL SYSTEM NEAR THE COAST WILL WEAKEN AND DISSIPATE AS MOVES ACROSS THE AREA TODAY. THE BULK OF THE RAINFALL WITH THIS SYSTEM WILL REMAIN WELL TO THE NORTH...BUT WILL LIKELY SEE SOME LIGHT PRECIP IN OUR NORTHERN ZONES TODAY. A REINFORCING UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE WILL BRING MORE WIDESPREAD AND HEAVIER RAIN TO THE REGION MONDAY. A FEW THUNDERSTORMS MAY DEVELOP ACROSS THE NORTHERN ZONES ON MONDAY AS WELL. SEVERAL WEAK STORM SYSTEMS WILL SKIRT THE REGION NEXT WEEK BRINGING CLOUDS...PERIODIC SHOWER ACTIVITY AND TEMPERATURES NEAR SEASONAL NORMALS. && .SHORT TERM...THE STRONG RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE THAT DOMINATED THE WEATHER OVER THE PACNW FOR THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS HAS MOVED EASTWARD. NEAR THE COAST...A FRONTAL SYSTEM WILL WEAKEN AND DISSIPATE AS IT PUSHES INLAND TODAY. MOST OF THE ENERGY AND HEAVIER PRECIP WITH THIS FRONT CONTINUES TO BE AIMED WELL TO THE NORTH TOWARD BC AND THE OLYMPIC PENINSULA. THE HRRR MODEL SHOWS THE FRONT DISSIPATING AS IT MOVES OVER THE COAST RANGE...WITH ANY SIGNIFICANT PRECIP MAINLY AFFECTING THE NORTH COAST AND THE SOUTH WA AND NORTH OR CASCADES AND FOOTHILLS. A MORE POTENT SHORTWAVE WILL MOVE INTO THE REGION ON MONDAY. THIS SYSTEM WILL DROP FURTHER SOUTH...WITH THE BASE OF THE TROUGH MOVING THROUGH OREGON. THIS TRACK WOULD RESULT IN SIGNIFICANTLY MORE FORCING OVER SW WASHINGTON AND NW OREGON WITH INCREASED WESTERLY OROGRAPHIC FLOW. SO...MONDAY APPEARS TO HOLD A MUCH BETTER SHOT FOR RECEIVING SOME DECENT RAINFALL ACROSS OUR DISTRICT. MODELS ALSO SHOW QUITE ABIT OF INSTABILITY FROM ABOUT SALEM NORTHWARD ON MONDAY AFTERNOON...SO THERE IS ALSO A THREAT OF THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY MONDAY AFTERNOON INTO THE EARLY EVENING HOURS. TW .LONG TERM...NO CHANGES. PREVIOUS DISCUSSION FOLLOWS... TUE THROUGH FRIDAY...AFTER THE SYSTEM ON MON PASSES THROUGH...THE PAC NW WILL BE LEFT IN A RELATIVELY ZONAL PATTERN FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK. A COUPLE OF WEAK TROUGHS ARE DEPICTED MOVING THROUGH THE UPPER FLOW...SO WE WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME SOME PERIODIC SHOWER ACTIVITY. HOWEVER...NOTHING VERY WELL ORGANIZED IS EXPECTED. OTHERWISE...EXPECT CLOUDS AND COOLER MORE SEASONAL TEMPS FOR NEXT WEEK. PYLE && .AVIATION...A COLD FRONT IS STALLED OFFSHORE THROUGH TONIGHT. EXPECT SOME LIGHT RAIN AT TIMES ON THE COAST AND FAR NW OREGON AND SW WASHINGTON. ON THE COAST...GENERALLY VFR CONDITIONS THIS MORNING WITH OCCASIONAL MVFR CONDITIONS ESPECIALLY NORTH. CHANCES FOR MORE WIDESPREAD MVFR INCREASE IN THE AFTERNOON AS THE WINDS TURN MORE SOUTHWESTERLY. INLAND AREAS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN VFR TODAY WITH MVFR CIGS POSSIBLE LATER TONIGHT. KPDX AND APPROACHES...VFR EXPECTED THROUGH 06Z MON. AFTER THAT MODELS ARE INDICATING INCREASING CHANCES FOR MVFR CIGS AROUND 2500-3000 FEET. BUT CONFIDENCE IS NOT HIGH ENOUGH TO INCLUDE MVFR CONDITIONS IN THE 12Z TAFS. && .MARINE...FRONT REMAINS OFFSHORE WITH SLOW EASTWARD PROGRESS AS SEVERAL WAVES RIDE ALONG THE FRONT. MAIN CHANGES FOR TODAY IS TO ADJUST TIMING OF THE MARGINAL SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR THE NORTHERN OUTER WATERS TO 5 AM TO 11 AM TODAY. A STRONGER WAVE WILL MOVE ALONG THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY ON MON AND WILL PROBABLY BRING A MORE SOLID SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY EVENT. SEAS SHOULD REMAIN 4 TO 6 FT RANGE TODAY THEN INCREASE FURTHER WITH THE SYSTEM ON MON...POTENTIALLY REACHING NEAR 10 FT LATE MON. && .PQR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OR...NONE. WA...NONE. PZ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR WINDS FROM 5 AM TO 11 AM PDT THIS MORNING FOR WATERS FROM CAPE SHOALWATER WA TO CASCADE HEAD OR FROM 10 TO 60 NM. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR ROUGH COLUMBIA RIVER BAR FROM 5 AM TO 9 AM PDT THIS MORNING. && $$ MORE WEATHER INFORMATION ONLINE AT... HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/PORTLAND THIS DISCUSSION IS FOR NORTHWEST OREGON AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON FROM THE CASCADE CREST TO 60 NAUTICAL MILES OFFSHORE. THE AREA IS COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE FORECAST AREA.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NWS PENDLETON OR
1025 PM PDT SAT MAY 11 2013 UPDATED AVIATION DISCUSSION .UPDATE...THE UPPER LEVEL HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE THAT HAS BROUGHT UNSEASONABLY HOT CONDITIONS FOR SEVERAL DAYS IS SHIFTING EASTWARD...AND THE UPPER FLOW IS BACKING TO THE SOUTHWEST. HIGH LEVEL CLOUDS HAVE SPREAD THROUGHOUT WA/OR WHICH WILL KEEP OVERNIGHT LOWS VERY MILD. LOW TEMPERATURES MAY NEED TO BE INCREASED IN SEVERAL ZONES. FORECAST WAS UPDATED TO REMOVE THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING EXCEPT IN THE HIGHER TERRAIN...BUT THERE IS NO INDICATION OF ANY CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY SO WILL REMOVE ALTOGETHER FOR THIS EVENING. HOWEVER...THERE WILL BE ELEVATED INSTABILITY OVERNIGHT...AND THE HRRR AND OTHER RAP INSTABILITY PARAMETERS HAVE HINTED ON SOME CONVECTIVE PRECIPITATION MOVING ACROSS THE AREA. BASED ON PREVIOUS HRRR RUNS...I ADDED A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS OVERNIGHT TO CENTRAL AND NORTH CENTRAL OREGON AND SPRINKLES TO THE LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN AND BLUE MOUNTAIN FOOTHILLS EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. IT COULD BE ALTOCUMULUS CASTELLANUS CLOUDS...BUT WILL NOT RULE OUT SOME VERY LIGHT PRECIPITATION OR A HIGH BASED THUNDERSTORM OR TWO. THE LATEST HRRR IS FARTHER WEST WITH THE SMALL BAND OF CONVECTIVE PCPN...BUT WILL KEEP WHERE THE ELEVATED INSTABILITY IS GREATEST. WISTER && .AVIATION...06Z TAFS. BROKEN MID AND HIGH LEVEL CLOUDS WITH VARYING BASES ABOVE 10K FEET WILL BLANKET THE REGION THROUGH THE PERIOD. DUE TO ELEVATED INSTABILITY...THERE WILL LIKELY BE ACCAS CLOUDS EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. CUMULUS CLOUDS WITH BASES AROUND 6K FEET ARE POSSIBLE SUNDAY AFTN/EVE. WINDS WILL INCREASE SUNDAY AND WILL BE SUSTAINED AT 10-15 KNOTS GUSTING TO 20-25 KNOTS. THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS SUNDAY. WISTER && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... PDT 59 80 53 69 / 10 20 30 40 ALW 63 82 57 72 / 10 20 30 40 PSC 61 85 57 74 / 10 20 20 30 YKM 60 81 52 72 / 10 20 20 30 HRI 58 82 55 74 / 0 20 20 30 ELN 59 76 51 68 / 10 30 20 30 RDM 55 81 48 67 / 20 20 20 20 LGD 52 80 50 70 / 10 30 30 40 GCD 51 81 50 71 / 10 30 30 40 DLS 60 76 53 69 / 10 40 30 30 && .PDT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OR...NONE. WA...NONE. && THREAT INDEX SUNDAY : GREEN MONDAY : YELLOW TUESDAY : GREEN GREEN: NONE OR LIMITED NEED FOR WATCHES, WARNINGS, OR ADVISORIES. YELLOW: A FEW WATCHES, WARNINGS, OR ADVISORIES POSSIBLE OR IN EFFECT. RED: NUMEROUS WATCHES, WARNINGS, OR ADVISORIES POSSIBLE OR IN EFFECT. FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION, CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT... WWW.WEATHER.GOV/PENDLETON $$ 85
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION FOR WESTERN SD AND NORTHEASTERN WY
NWS RAPID CITY SD
256 PM MDT SUN MAY 12 2013 .SHORT TERM...THIS EVENING THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT ISSUED AT 255 PM MDT SUN MAY 12 2013 MASSIVE WESTERN CONUS UPPER RIDGE CONTINUES TO PUSH EAST WITH DEEP LAYER THETA-E RIDGING ONGOING. LEE SIDE TROUGH WILL ADVECT EAST AWAY FORM THE ROCKIES ON THE LEADING EDGE OF UPPER LEVEL HEIGHT RISES...WITH A STRONG UPPER LEVEL TROUGH EXPECTED TO ADVANCE INTO THE NORTHERN PLAINS MONDAY NIGHT...SUPPORTING ANOTHER MORE PRONOUNCED LL TROUGH INTO THE REGION. OVERALL...MAINLY DRY WEATHER EXPECTED...SAVE FOR PORTIONS OF THE BLACK HILLS WHERE LL THETA-E ADV COUPLED WITH STEEPENING MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES AND LOCAL OROGRAPHIC CONVERGENCE MAY SUPPORT ISOLD SHRA/TS LATE THIS AFTERNOON/EARLY EVENING AND AGAIN MONDAY AFTERNOON/EVENING. OTHERWISE...A SIG WARM NOSE ASSOCIATED WITH THE ADVANCING RIDGE IS EXPECTED TO KEEP CONVECTION AT BAY ELSEWHERE. LATE THIS AFTERNOON/TONIGHT...REMOVED LOW POPS OVER THE CENTRAL/SOUTHERN BH. NEARLY ALL HIRES MODELS DO NOT GENERATE ANY CONVECTION...WITH THE NAM BEING THE ONLY MODEL/OUTLIER THAT DOES. LATEST RAP BUFR PROGS INDICATE MID LEVEL WARMING IS STRONGER/FASTER THAN PREVIOUS INDICATIONS...WITH A DOWNTREND IN CU NOTED IN SAT TRENDS. OTHERWISE...A WARM NIGHT EXPECTED WITH LOWS IN THE 50S AT MANY PLACES. THERE IS A SMALL POTENTIAL FOR AN ELEVATED SHOWER ACROSS THE FAR NORTH GIVEN THETA-E ADV AT THE BASE OVER THE GROWING WARM NOSE WITH NEGATIVE SW INDICES. HOWEVER...GIVEN THE LOW POTENTIAL HAVE LEFT OUT AND WILL LET THE NEXT SHIFT ASSESS. MONDAY...LEAD LL TROUGH WILL ADVECT EAST ACROSS THE AREA IN THE MORNING...WITH ONGOING DEEP LAYER WAA. INCREASED LL MOISTURE MAY BE SUFFICIENT ENOUGH TO GENERATE ISOLD CONVECTION OVER THE BH...ESP WITH A WEAK MESO LOW AS INDICATED IN THE NAM. RETAINED SLIGHT CHANCE POPS THERE. OTHERWISE...VERY WARM CONDITIONS EXPECTED WITH LOW TO MID 90S OVER THE SD PLAINS...COOLER WEST. CURRENT FORECAST TEMPS SURPASSES THE RECORD OF 92 AT THE RAPID CITY AIRPORT...NEARING THE DOWNTOWN RECORD OF 94. A VERY WARM NIGHT IS IN STORE FOR MONDAY NIGHT...WITH LOWS IN THE 60S AT MANY PLACES GIVEN ONGOING SFC PRESSURE FALLS PER THE ADVANCING DEEP NORTHERN STREAM UPPER IMPULSE. THIS WILL SUPPORT A MIXED BL WITH GUSTY WINDS POTENTIALLY AT MANY LOCATIONS...ESP OVER THE NORTHERN BH FOOTHILLS...GIVEN A NEAR 5 MB SFC PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL FROM THE BH TO THE PLAINS. RECORD HIGH MIN/S MAY BE SET AT RAPID CITY. && .LONG TERM...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY ISSUED AT 255 PM MDT SUN MAY 12 2013 UPPER LEVEL RIDGE BREAKS DOWN BY TUESDAY MORNING AS A SURFACE LOW PASSES TO THE NORTH AND A STRONG COLD FRONT SLIDES QUICKLY ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA DURING THE MORNING. STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS CAN BE EXPECTED ACROSS THE NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA PLAINS BEHIND THE FRONT. THE STRONGEST WINDS LOOK TO BE NEAR THE ND BORDER. HAVE DECIDED TO ISSUE A HIGH WIND WATCH FOR HARDING AND PERKINS COUNTIES...WHERE SUSTAINED WINDS OF 40 MPH OR MORE LOOK POSSIBLE... ESPECIALLY DURING THE LATE MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON HOURS. HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL RANGE FROM THE LOWER 70S OVER FAR NORTHWESTERN SD AND PORTIONS OF NORTHEASTERN WY TO THE UPPER 80S ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL SD. DEPENDING ON THE EXACT TIMING OF THE FRONT AND HOW QUICKLY THE DRIER AIR PUSHES IN BEHIND THE FRONT...THERE IS SOME POTENTIAL FOR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS TO DEVELOP ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE SD PLAINS TUESDAY AFTERNOON. WILL LET LATER SHIFTS HAVE A LOOK AT UPDATED MODEL DAYA FOR THIS POTENTIAL AND WHETHER A FIRE WX WATCH MAY BE NEEDED. MORE SEASONABLE TEMPS ARE EXPECTED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK...THOUGH STILL ABOVE AVERAGE...AS AREA REMAINS UNDER ZONAL FLOW. WEAK DISTURBANCES WITHIN THIS FLOW WILL BRING SOME CHANCES FOR MAINLY AFTERNOON AND EVENING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS LATE IN THE WEEK...WITH CHANCES LIKELY INCREASING BY THE WEEKEND. LATEST GFS AND ECMWF BOTH CONTINUE TO SHOW A STRONGER UPPER TROF IMPACTING THE REGION FROM LATE FRIDAY THROUGH THE WEEKEND...BRINGING THE POTENTIAL FOR MORE WIDESPREAD PCPN AND OUR FIRST SEVERE WX OF THE SEASON. && .AVIATION...FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY AFTERNOON ISSUED AT 255 PM MDT SUN MAY 12 2013 VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH MONDAY MORNING. && .UNR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...HIGH WIND WATCH FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON FOR SDZ001-002. WY...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...JC LONG TERM...26 AVIATION...26
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS SPOKANE WA
223 PM PDT Sun May 12 2013 .SYNOPSIS... A cold front will arrive this evening, and bring breezy conditions to much of the Inland Northwest. On Monday a vigorous upper level disturbance will bring the first period of widespread precipitation to the region in over three weeks with locally heavy downpours and thunderstorms. The arrival of cooler, more seasonal temperatures Tuesday through the upcoming weekend will allow many rivers to recede. && .DISCUSSION... Tonight: There will be two features of note where showers will focus through this evening into tonight. This first is a mid level front that has stalled across northwest Oregon into north-central Washington. We have seen some very light shower activity along the eastern edge of this front and much of this precip is likely evaporating before reaching the surface. Radar imagery showed some enhancement over southwest Washington around 1:30 in the afternoon indicating a bit more lift across this area possibly due to a little ripple moving in. The HRRR model takes this enhancement moves it northeast ward over Wenatchee to Colville through this evening. As a result, I kept some minor mention of showers along this area; however, I am not that confident that we will generate much in the way of measurable rainfall along the front. The second area of note is a ridge axis in the equivalent potential temperature field between 850-700 mbs from northeast Oregon, across the Central Panhandle and into western Montana. Visible satellite imagery is showing signs of some surface based convection beginning to fire along this axis and should continue to develop through at least the early evening hours. There isn`t much of a trigger coming through to keep convection going through the night, but the mid level front looks to nudge a bit more eastward this evening. This may be enough to keep showers going through the evening from the Northeast Blue Mountains into the Central Panhandle Mountains. I kept a mention of isolated thunderstorms in these areas as sounding profiles would suggest that it is possible. The HRRR model does show the possibility of 40+ dbz echoes as well, but I am not too excited for thunderstorms this evening. /SVH Monday and Monday night...This period promises to be a very active weather period for much of the forecast area as a transition into a much cooler and spring-like weather pattern arrives. Satellite indicates a deep and long fetch of moisture impacting the Northwest Pacific Coast this afternoon...ahead of a deep Gulf of Alaska trough with the outriding showers creeping into the forecast area this evening. This situation will be aggravated on Monday as a vigorous upper level short wave now faintly visible as a digging wave near 150W tears into the region providing copious dynamic support with jet divergence...cyclonic diffluence and differential PVA as well as a healthy surface cold front. Precipitable water values available for exploitation by this lift will be on the order of an inch or more...almost 200 percent of normal. The confluence of all these elements will bring a number of meteorological inconveniences to the region Monday afternoon and evening. Rain showers... For the first time in weeks a very moist air mass will be exploited by synoptic forcing into a dense area of hefty and widespread shower activity...mainly focused over the eastern and northern zones...but with hit-and-miss showers possible just about anywhere in the region. On average most locations in the western basin will experience only a few hundredths of an inch...but amounts may exceed 1/4 to 1/2 inch east of a line from Republic to Pomeroy and near the Cascade Crest...with some locations being run over by multiple showers through the afternoon. Thunderstorms...While the thunder potential will be fairly small at any given location...the best chance for appreciable surface based instability on the order of a few hundred Joules/Kg will be over the southeastern zones during the afternoon and evening hours. The magnitude of the forcing and wind shear in the lower atmosphere suggests that any storms that get going south of a line from about La Crosse to Mullan Pass have the potential to become organized and strong producers of hail and gusty winds. north of this line there will likely be too much cloud cover early in the day to generate significant SB CAPE any any storms will be hit- and-miss isolated embedded cells in the predominant shower activity. These storm cores may also produce brief torrential downpours but will likely also be fast movers for only a remote threat of flash flooding. Synoptic wind...The surface cold front will cross the region from west to east during the afternoon period. Windy and gusty conditions will develop over the deep basin during the afternoon and over the eastern basin in the late afternoon and early evening hours as the precipitation band exits to the east. The gradient magnitude and gust potential from mixing does not appear to support Wind Advisory criteria at this time...but solid 15 to 25 mph sustained winds with gusts possibly as high as 40 mph will be possible into the evening over exposed locations of the basin during the evening hours. Monday night...After the evening activity dies down...windy condiitons will gradually abate to merely breezy and should keep overnight lows elevated even with partial clearing. Tuesday through Wednesday...A general zonal flow regime off the Pacific will settle over the region during this period. This flow should keep shower activity to a minimum over the basin...with a chance of mountain showers (of the snow variety on the higher peaks) each afternoon and evening north and east of the basin. No further organized storms or frontal complexes are forecast through Wednesday. The main story will be cooler and more seasonably normal temperatures with occasionally breezy conditions. /Fugazzi Wednesday night to Sunday: A progressive pattern with mean continued shower chances, especially in the mountains, and near seasonal temperatures. Models point to at least 2 organized disturbances entering the West: one around Thursday and Friday and another toward the weekend. There remains disagreement over precise timing and track. Regardless embedded smaller-scale vorticity maxima slip by. With Moisture and instability deepens later Thursday and especially Friday, with PWATs rising to 120-170% of normal and CAPE values between 100-400 J/kg roughly across north-central and east WA and north ID. Combined with any forcing that comes through this will lead to an above average threat of shower, with a chance of thunderstorms mixed in. Subtle ridging develops going into Saturday before the next wave rides in Sunday. This suggests a brief shift in the precipitation threat to the mountains going into Saturday and early Sunday, before being chances are renewed by later Sunday. Yet given limited agreement over precise timing I kept PoPs closer to climatological values between Saturday and early Sunday. This means while precipitation chances decline from Friday, they do not end. The main exception looks to be in the lee of the Cascades and deer Columbia Basin where the westerly flow and its shadowing effects will hold PoPs lower. /J. Cote` && .AVIATION... 18Z TAFS: A mid level front will stall over the region today from KEAT into the mountains of NE WA. Very light rain or sprinkles is expected ahead of the front, which may impact the KEAT and KMWH taf sites. Some isolated showers and thunderstorms may begin to fire off over the higher terrain of the northeast Blue Mountains over into the Idaho Panhandle after 21Z, but confidence is low as there is some CIN to overcome without much of a kicker pushing through. Breezy westerly winds are expected this afternoon as well with gusts up to 25 to 30 mph possible. /SVH && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Spokane 55 67 41 62 43 66 / 10 80 50 0 10 10 Coeur d`Alene 52 68 43 62 41 67 / 20 80 50 10 10 10 Pullman 51 69 40 61 40 65 / 10 80 50 0 10 10 Lewiston 58 79 44 71 45 74 / 20 70 40 0 10 10 Colville 50 67 43 67 39 72 / 30 80 60 10 10 20 Sandpoint 49 65 42 62 39 67 / 30 80 80 20 10 10 Kellogg 53 68 42 59 40 64 / 20 80 70 10 10 10 Moses Lake 55 72 46 70 44 74 / 20 40 10 0 0 0 Wenatchee 55 70 47 69 45 72 / 10 60 10 0 10 10 Omak 49 71 42 69 39 73 / 10 60 20 10 10 10 && .OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ID...None. WA...None. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS SPOKANE WA
919 PM PDT Sat May 11 2013 .SYNOPSIS... Changes in the weather pattern will arrive on Sunday with the arrival of a cold front. There will be a chance of showers and thunderstorms Sunday and again on Monday. The best chances however will be on Monday...with some thunderstorms possibly strong to severe. Gusty winds will be possible Sunday and Monday as well. Temperatures will return closer to average by Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday should be mainly dry over the Inland Northwest. A return of showers is expected Thursday or Friday. && .DISCUSSION... Overall the forecast for tonight looks in good shape with only very minor upward temperature adjustments for a few locations. Abundant mid and high level clouds passing through the area will reduce radiational cooling potential tonight which will allow for a very mild night. For most locations...lows in the mid 50s to lower 60s will end up being around 15 degrees above normal. For Sunday...most model guidance shows only marginal instability for showers...and especially thunderstorm development as a weakening front crosses the Cascades in the afternoon. However ahead of the front the NAM model continues to show an area of negative 700-500mb theta-e lapse rates with elevated CAPES of 50-100 J/KG mainly east of a line from Moses Lake to Republic in the morning. This could result in a stray lightning strike...but more likely just high based shower activity with just sprinkles reaching the ground. The latest 02z HRRR supports this idea. All in all...Sunday likely will be dry for most of the day for most locations in the Inland Northwest with temperatures still well above normal. However enough instability and mid level moisture will be present to warrant a chance for showers that could moves over areas for a brief duration. The front will also bring breezy to locally windy conditions Sunday afternoon. JW && .AVIATION... 06Z TAFS: Mid and high clouds will continue to move into the Inland Northwest through 06z Monday. High pressure will begin to shift east on Sunday with a weak cold front passage. This may provide enough lift for a better chance for showers and isolated thunderstorms mainly over Northeast Washington and the North Idaho Panhandle. However models have backed off a bit on the coverage of showers and instability such that most...if not all...TAF sites may stay dry through Sunday evening. The front will kick up some gusty winds...with southwest winds gusting to 15-25 kts for most TAF sites. JW && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Spokane 60 80 55 69 43 63 / 10 30 20 60 50 10 Coeur d`Alene 57 79 54 69 43 61 / 0 30 40 60 60 10 Pullman 58 79 52 68 40 60 / 10 20 40 70 50 10 Lewiston 62 87 59 76 47 69 / 10 20 40 70 50 0 Colville 55 84 50 72 41 68 / 0 50 20 50 70 20 Sandpoint 53 78 52 69 41 61 / 0 50 40 60 90 20 Kellogg 59 79 52 68 42 57 / 0 40 50 80 70 20 Moses Lake 62 85 56 74 46 73 / 10 20 10 40 20 0 Wenatchee 62 80 56 70 46 69 / 10 20 10 40 20 0 Omak 56 81 51 71 41 70 / 10 10 10 50 40 10 && .OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ID...None. WA...None. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS GREEN BAY WI
1034 PM CDT MON MAY 13 2013 UPDATED AVIATION PORTION FOR 06Z TAF ISSUANCE .SHORT TERM...TONIGHT AND TUESDAY ISSUED AT 233 PM CDT MON MAY 13 2013 LATEST RUC ANALYSIS AND SATELLITE/RADAR IMAGERY SHOW HIGH PRESSURE CENTERED OVER THE CENTRAL GREAT LAKES AND A WARM FRONT EXTENDING SOUTH ACROSS THE GREAT PLAINS. LEADING EDGE OF THE WARM/MOIST AIR ALOFT IS PRODUCING A NARROW BAND OF LIGHT RAIN ALONG THE WI/MN BORDER THIS AFTERNOON...WHICH IS MEASURING A HUNDREDTH OR TWO ACCORDING TO THE OBS. BAND OF LIGHT RAIN ALONG THIS 295-300K MOISTURE ADVECTION WILL PUSH INTO CENTRAL WISCONSIN AROUND 5PM...DESPITE VERY DRY AIR PRESENTLY AT THE SURFACE. WEST OF THE WARM FRONT...TEMPERATURES ARE MAINLY IN THE 80S AND A COUPLE 90 DEGREE READINGS ARE OUT THERE AS WELL. THE MAIN FORECAST CONCERNS ARE TIMING OF THE PRECIP LATER THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING...FOLLOWED BY TEMPS AND SMALL THUNDER CHANCES TOMORROW. TONIGHT...295-300K MOISTURE ADVECTION WILL PUSH A BAND OF LIGHT RAIN ACROSS THE AREA LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND THROUGH THE EVENING. MID-LEVEL LAPSE RATES ARE POOR AND SURFACE HUMIDITIES ARE IN THE 20S...SO SHOWERS SHOULD NOT AMOUNT TO MUCH. BUT OBS UPSTREAM INDICATE A HUNDREDTH OR TWO OF ACCUM...SO WILL SHOW THIS IN THE FORECAST AND RAISE POPS INTO THE LIKELY RANGE. THIS BAND WILL EXIT LATE THIS EVENING...BUT A SECONDARY SURGE OF MOISTURE MAY CAUSE ADDITIONAL REDEVELOPMENT OF SHOWERS OVER THE EASTERN HALF OR THIRD OF THE FORECAST AREA AFTER MIDNIGHT. THINK PRECIP CHANCES WILL LIKELY BE OVER BY THE START OF THE MORNING COMMUTE WHILE SKIES WILL BE CLEARING FROM WEST TO EAST AT THE SAME TIME. PLENTY OF CLOUDS AND A LIGHT SE WIND WILL KEEP TEMPS CONSIDERABLY WARMER THAN LAST NIGHT AND WILL GO WITH LOWS IN THE LOW TO MID 40S. TUESDAY...ELEVATED WARM FRONT WILL BE SHIFTING ACROSS LAKE MICHIGAN EARLY TUESDAY MORNING...WHICH WILL RESULT IN CLEARING SKIES ACROSS EASTERN WISCONSIN EARLY ON. EVEN THOUGH WILL LIKELY SEE CIRRUS OVERHEAD...MODELS FORECAST VERY DRY AIR ARRIVING IN THE LOW TO MID LEVELS SO DO NOT SEE A THREAT OF PRECIP THROUGH MID-AFTERNOON. BY MID TO LATE AFTERNOON...LOW PRESSURE WILL BE ACROSS CENTRAL MINNESOTA...AND A 850MB LLJ WILL PUSH A WARM FRONT INTO SW WISCONSIN. ORDINARILY...MASS CONVERGENCE ON THE NOSE OF THE LLJ WOULD BE CONDUCIVE FOR THUNDERSTORMS...ESPECIALLY WITH MID-LEVEL LAPSE RATES AROUND 8 C/KM....BUT THE INCOMING AIRMASS IS SO DRY BELOW 600MB...AND EXPECT SURFACE DEWPOINTS TO FALL THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. THIS RESULTS IN PROGGED CONVECTIVE INHIBITION OF 200-300 J/KG LATE IN THE AFTERNOON WHEN THE FORCING ARRIVES...WHICH LOOKS AWFULLY TOUGH TO OVERCOME. WILL LEAVE AN ISOLATED MENTION IN THE FORECAST OVER CENTRAL AND NORTH-CENTRAL WISCONSIN. STRONG WARM ADVECTION WILL PUSH TEMPS INTO THE LOWER 80S OVER CENTRAL WISCONSIN...BUT A NE WIND WILL KEEP TEMPS IN THE 50S AND 60S OVER FAR NE WISCONSIN. .LONG TERM...TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY ISSUED AT 233 PM CDT MON MAY 13 2013 MAIN FCST CONCERNS INCLUDE SVR TSTM POTENTIAL TUESDAY EVENING... A DRY PERIOD FOR THE MIDDLE TO LATE PART OF THE WORK WEEK...THEN A RETURN TO SHOWERY BUT SEASONABLE PERIOD FOR THE WEEKEND AND EARLY NEXT WEEK. NOTHING HAS CHANGED FOR TUESDAY NIGHT...WITH ENOUGH ELEVATED INSTABILITY (MUCAPES 750-1500 J/KG) AND SHEAR (STG DEEP LAYER SHEAR AND 0-3 KM HELICITIES OF 500-700) TO SUPPORT ELEVATED SUPERCELL TSTMS...BUT A DRY AND CAPPED ATMOSPHERE LIKELY SUPPRESSING CONVECTIVE INITIATION. HAD TO LIFT PARCELS FROM THE 850-750 MB LAYER TO GET CONVECTIVE INHIBITION UNDER 50 J/KG...AND LOWER LEVEL PARCELS ARE MUCH MORE STRONGLY CAPPED. BEST BEST FOR CONVECTIVE INITIATION WILL LIKELY BE ON THE NOSE OF A 40 KT LLJ AS IT MOVES INTO NE WI DURING THE EVENING. HAVE LOWERED POPS SLIGHTLY FROM THE PREVIOUS FEW FCSTS...BUT CAN`T RISK A DRY FCST...GIVEN THE SVR WX PARAMETERS THAT ARE IN PLACE. SPC HAS OUR AREA IN THE DAY 2 SEE TEXT...WHICH SEEMS REASONABLE. ANY THREAT OF CONVECTION SHOULD END BY 06Z/WED AS THE H8 MOISTURE CONVERGENCE SHIFTS EAST...AND THE COLD/OCCLUDED FRONT REACHES LAKE MICHIGAN. LOOKS LIKE A DRY PERIOD FROM LATE TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT OR FRIDAY MORNING...AS THE COLD FRONT SAGS WELL SOUTH OF THE REGION AND WEAK HIGH PRESSURE ARRIVES. DEEP MIXING ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY SHOULD ALLOW TEMPERATURES TO WARM INTO THE LOWER TO MIDDLE 70S IN MOST PLACES...AND ALSO CAUSE DEW POINTS/RELATIVE HUMIDITIES TO CRASH DURING THE AFTERNOONS. GIVEN THE DRYNESS OF THE AIR MASS... HAVE LOWERED MIN TEMPS CONSIDERABLY ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT...ESPECIALLY IN THE TYPICAL COLD SPOTS IN NC WI. THE PATTERN WILL UNDERGO A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE FOR THE WEEKEND AND EARLY NEXT WEEK. AN UPPER LEVEL TROF IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVER THE ROCKIES ON FRIDAY...THEN TRACK EAST TO THE WESTERN GREAT LAKES BY SUNDAY/MONDAY. AS THIS OCCURS...LOW PRESSURE WILL DEVELOP OVER THE HIGH PLAINS...THEN LIFT EAST-NORTHEAST TOWARD THE REGION. THIS WILL CAUSE THE OLD COLD FRONT TO LIFT BACK TO THE NORTH AS A WARM FRONT...THEN BECOME STATIONARY ACROSS WI LATE IN THE PERIOD. THIS WILL SET THE STAGE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF SHOWERS AND SCT TSTMS... WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL AMOUNTS. TEMPERATURES SHOULD REMAIN NEAR SEASONAL NORMALS...WITH HIGHS IN THE 60S TO AROUND 70. && .AVIATION...FOR 06Z TAF ISSUANCE ISSUED AT 1034 PM CDT MON MAY 13 2013 MID LEVEL CLOUDS WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS WILL LINGER EASTERN WISCONSIN OVERNIGHT. LLWS CONDITIONS TO PERSIST THROUGH 15Z TUESDAY. VFR CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE TUESDAY...WITH PERHAPS A CHANCE OF A MVFR CIGS WITH SHOWERS OR A THUNDERSTORM TUESDAY NIGHT WITH THE PASSAGE OF A COLD FRONT. && .GRB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM.....MPC LONG TERM......KIECKBUSCH AVIATION.......TDH
FORECAST DISCUSSION FOR ROUTINE AFTERNOON FORECAST ISSUANCE

.SHORT TERM...TONIGHT AND MONDAY ISSUED AT 232 PM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 LATEST RUC ANALYSIS AND SATELLITE/RADAR IMAGERY SHOW SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE STRETCHING FROM SOUTH-CENTRAL CANADA TO THE WESTERN GULF COAST EARLY THIS AFTERNOON WHILE LOW PRESSURE PEELS AWAY OVER QUEBEC. AS CYCLONIC FLOW ABATES AND DRIER AIR BUILDS IN FROM THE WEST...WIDESPREAD MORNING STRATO-CU HAS BEEN RETREATING TO THE NORTHEAST...TURNING SKIES MOSTLY CLEAR TO PARTLY CLOUDY OVER MUCH OF CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST WISCONSIN. PLENTY OF CLEAR SKIES BENEATH THE SURFACE HIGH OFF TO THE WEST...WHICH WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA TONIGHT. EVEN FARTHER WEST...A WARM FRONT OVER THE LEE OF THE ROCKIES WILL ENTER THE REGION TOMORROW AFTERNOON. FIRST CONCERN IS TEMPS TONIGHT...FOLLOWED BY SMALL PRECIP CHANCES TOMORROW AFTERNOON. TONIGHT...HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE GREAT PLAINS WILL SHIFT ACROSS THE WESTERN HALF OF WISCONSIN TONIGHT. AS CLOUDS CONTINUE TO MIX OUT THIS AFTERNOON...SKIES WILL BECOME CLEAR AND WINDS WILL BECOME LIGHT AND VARIABLE BY EARLY TO MID-EVENING. GOOD RADIATIONAL CONDITIONS WILL THEN EXIST FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHT. LOW TEMPS UPSTREAM OVER WESTERN WISCONSIN AND MINNESOTA WERE MOSTLY AT OR BELOW 32 DEGREES AND EXPECT SIMILAR READINGS LATE TONIGHT. TEMPS WERE ALSO IN THE 34 TO 36 DEGREE RANGE OVER THE FOX VALLEY AND LAKESHORE LAST NIGHT...WHEN THERE WAS CONSIDERABLY MORE WIND AND CLOUDS. WILL NOT HAVE THIS LUXURY TONIGHT...SO FIGURE TEMPS WILL FALL BELOW FREEZING ACROSS MOST OF THE CWA. WILL EXPAND THE FREEZE WARNING. MONDAY...HIGH PRESSURE WILL SLIDE TO THE EAST ACROSS THE CENTRAL GREAT LAKES. WARM ADVECTION WILL RAMP UP ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE HIGH AT THE SAME TIME AS MID AND HIGH CLOUDS SPILL OVER THE MID-LEVEL RIDGE AXIS. AS A RESULT...WILL SEE A SLOW INCREASE OF CLOUDS OVER THE COURSE OF THE DAY. AFTER 21Z...ENOUGH MOISTURE ADVECTION LOOKS TO TAKE PLACE TO NEARLY SATURATE THE COLUMN OVER CENTRAL AND NORTH-CENTRAL WISCONSIN. MID-LEVEL LAPSE RATES ARE VERY POOR...BUT MID-LEVEL FGEN APPEARS SUFFICIENT FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF SCATTERED LIGHT SHOWERS DEVELOPING. WILL INCREASE POPS INTO THE 40-50 PERCENT RANGE. THERE IS A FAIRLY LARGE RANGE IN GUIDANCE FOR TEMPS TOMORROW AFTERNOON...BETWEEN THE COLD ECMWF AND WARM NAM. SPLITTING THE DIFFERENCE SHOULD GET TEMPS CLOSE AND WILL GO WITH HIGHS IN THE UPPER 50S TO LOW 60S BUT COOLER LAKE SIDE. .LONG TERM...MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY ISSUED AT 232 PM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 PCPN TRENDS MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY NIGHT...THE POTENTIAL FOR SVR TSTMS TUESDAY NIGHT...GUSTY WINDS ON WEDNESDAY...PCPN TRENDS NEXT WEEKEND...AND TEMPERATURES THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD ARE THE MAIN FCST CONCERNS. STRONG H8 WAA/MOISTURE CONVERGENCE WILL BRING A BAND OF SHOWERS THROUGH THE AREA ON MONDAY NIGHT. ALTHOUGH THE RAIN WILL NOT LAST LONG AND QPF AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE LIGHT...FELT THAT POPS NEEDED TO BE RAISED A LITTLE BIT. WAA/ISENT LIFT WILL CONTINUE ON TUESDAY AS A WARM FRONT LIFTS INTO WISCONSIN. THIS FRONT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO CENTRAL WI LATE IN THE AFTERNOON. DESPITE SOME PERSISTENT FORCING...AN INCREASINGLY CAPPED ATMOSPHERE AND LATE ARRIVAL OF THE INSTABILITY AXIS PRECLUDES ADDING ANYTHING MORE THAN SLGT CHC/CHC POPS...MAINLY OVER NORTHERN WI. TEMPERATURES WILL VARY GREATLY...WITH READINGS IN THE MID 50S TO LOWER 60S NEAR THE LAKE...AND INLAND TEMPS RANGING FROM THE UPPER 60S FAR NE WI TO THE LOWER TO MIDDLE 80S IN C WI. THE WARM FRONT WILL LIFT NORTH TUESDAY...QUICKLY FOLLOWED BY THE COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE DURING THE LATE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT HOURS. ELEVATED CAPE OF 1500-2000 J/KG...VERY STEEP LAPSE RATES OF 7-8 C/KM...DEEP LAYER SHEAR OF 40-50+ KTS AND 0-3 KM HELICITIES OF 400-500 WILL PROVIDE PLENTY OF SUPPORT FOR SEVERE TSTMS...BUT CAPPING MAY BE PROHIBITIVE FOR CONVECTIVE INITIATION. BEST CASE SCENARIO FROM THE NAM AND A FEW OF THE SREF ENSEMBLE MEMBERS SHOW CINH OF 40-70 J/KG FOR A PARCEL LIFTED FROM THE 850-800 MB LEVEL OVER FAR NORTHERN WI...BUT OTHER FCST SOUNDINGS SHOWED MUCH HIGHER CINH... EVEN FROM ELEVATED PARCELS. WILL CONTINUE WITH CHC POPS TUESDAY EVENING...AND A MENTION OF THE SVR TSTM POTENTIAL IN THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...BUT HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE POTENTIAL FOR A MAINLY DRY FCST. ANY PCPN THAT DOES DEVELOP WILL COME TO AN END OVERNIGHT AS THE COLD FRONT SHIFTS EAST. CAA...AN INCREASING NW PRESSURE GRADIENT AND DEEP MIXING WILL LEAD TO A BREEZY/WINDY DAY ON WEDNESDAY. MIXING THROUGH 825-775 MB SUPPORTS HIGH TEMPS IN THE LOWER TO MIDDLE 70S IN MOST LOCATIONS. THE COLD FRONT WILL SETTLE SOUTH OF WISCONSIN FROM WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...AS ANOTHER COLD FRONT SAGS SOUTH OUT OF CANADA. WITH THE REGION IN BETWEEN SYSTEMS...EXPECT A GENERALLY DRY PERIOD OVER THE LATTER HALF OF THE WORK WEEK...WITH TEMPERATURES AT OR A LITTLE ABOVE NORMAL. LOW PRESSURE IS EXPECTED TO APPROACH FROM THE CENTRAL PLAINS THIS WEEKEND...AND REACH THE IOWA VCNTY BY SUNDAY. AS THIS HAPPENS... THE FRONT THAT STALLED TO OUR SOUTH WILL LIFT BACK INTO SOUTHERN WISCONSIN...ALONG WITH ITS ASSOCIATED MOISTURE/ELEVATED INSTABILITY. THIS SHOULD LEAD TO SHOWERS AND SCT TSTMS OVER THE REGION...ALONG WITH COOLER TEMPERATURES DUE TO EAST WINDS AND ABUNDANT CLOUD COVER. && .AVIATION...FOR 18Z TAF ISSUANCE ISSUED AT 1230 PM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 SCATTERED TO BROKEN CLOUDS BETWEEN 3500 FT AND 5000 FT WILL GRADUALLY DISSIPATE DURING THE AFTERNOON. THIS WILL SET UP A CLEAR AND COLD NIGHT. FROST WILL LIKELY FORM ON AIRCRAFT LATE TONIGHT. MONDAY WILL START OUT SUNNY THOUGH MIDDLE AND HIGH CLOUDS WILL BE ON THE INCREASE THROUGH THE DAY. A FEW SHOWERS ARE POSSIBLE OVER CENTRAL AND NORTH-CENTRAL WISCONSIN LATE IN THE AFTERNOON. && .GRB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FREEZE WARNING FROM 1 AM TO 7 AM CDT MONDAY FOR WIZ020-022-030- 031-035>040-045-048>050-073-074. && $$ SHORT TERM.....MPC LONG TERM......KIECKBUSCH AVIATION.......MPC
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS LA CROSSE WI
1146 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 1146 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 WILL EXPAND FROST ADVISORY WEST TO INCLUDE WABASHA...WINONA... HOUSTON...ALLAMAKEE AND CLAYTON COUNTIES ON WEST SIDE OF THE MS RIVER. TERRAIN IN THESE COUNTIES INCLUDES A LOT OF SHELTERED VALLEYS DUE TO THE STEEP TERRAIN AND TRIBUTARY RIVERS/STREAMS FLOWING TOWARD THE MS RIVER. WINDS IN THESE VALLEYS LIKELY TO STAY DECOUPLED THRU THE NIGHT...WITH STRONG RADIATIONAL COOLING AND COLD AIR DRAINAGE. PATCHY TO AREAS OF FROST EXPECTED IN THESE COUNTIES WITH LOWS IN THE LOWER 30S...NOT THAT DIFFERENT FROM NEIGHBORING AREAS/COUNTIES ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE MS RIVER. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 320 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 MAIN FORECAST CONCERN IS ON FROST/FREEZE CONDITIONS TONIGHT. CURRENTLY AS OF 08Z...WATER VAPOR LOOP AND RAP 500MB HEIGHT ANALYSIS SHOWED RIDGING OVER THE WESTERN U.S. INTO ALBERTA WHILE ANOMALOUSLY DEEP TROUGHING WAS PRESENT FROM HUDSON BAY INTO THE WESTERN GREAT LAKES REGION. THE FORECAST AREA LIES ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE TROUGHING...BUT STILL EAST OF THE INFLECTION POINT...WHICH RESULTS IN NORTHWEST FLOW FROM THE SURFACE TO 500MB. THE FLOW CONTINUED TO DRAG COLDER AIR SOUTHEAST WITH RAP 850MB TEMPS RANGING FROM -3C OVER NORTHEAST IOWA TO -9C IN TAYLOR COUNTY WISCONSIN. DESPITE THE COLD 850MB TEMPS...READINGS ARE GENERALLY IN THE MID 30S TO AROUND 40... STAYING UP BECAUSE OF THAT NORTHWEST WIND OF 5-10 KT AT THE SURFACE KEEPING THE BOUNDARY LAYER MIXED. A LOT OF DRY AIR CONTINUES TO FLOW IN TOO ON THE NORTHWEST WINDS FROM HIGH PRESSURE IN THE PLAINS. DEWPOINTS ARE IN THE TEENS ACROSS MUCH OF THE DAKOTAS INTO MN AND 20S OVER WISCONSIN. COMBINATION OF THE WIND...TEMPERATURES AND DRY AIR PRECLUDING ANY FROST DEVELOPMENT THUS FAR. THE AFOREMENTIONED DRY AIR IS ALSO QUITE DEEP...REFLECTIVE FROM 00Z SOUNDINGS AT BIS... ABR AND MPX HAVING PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES OF 0.1-0.2 INCHES...OR 20-40 PERCENT OF NORMAL. THIS DRY AIR HAS HELPED CLEAR SKIES OUT WEST OF WISCONSIN. SCT-BKN CLOUDS HAVE BEEN FLOWING ACROSS WISCONSIN IN THE CYCLONIC FLOW IN THE UPPER TROUGH. FARTHER TO THE WEST UNDER THE UPPER RIDGE...00Z SOUNDINGS FROM SAN FRANSISCO TO SALT LAKE CITY AND NORTH TO GREAT FALLS MT ALL REPORTED 850MB TEMPS OF 20C OR GREATER. THESE ARE 1.5-2.5 STANDARD DEVIATIONS ABOVE NORMAL. BOTH THE UPPER RIDGE AND ANOMALOUSLY DEEP TROUGH ARE PROGGED TO PROGRESS EASTWARD DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS...PUSHED ALONG BY A FAIRLY POTENT SHORTWAVE TROUGH APPROACHING THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST COAST AT 12Z MONDAY. IT APPEARS THIS EVENING IS WHEN THE INFLECTION POINT BETWEEN THE UPPER RIDGE AND DEEP TROUGH WILL REACH THE FORECAST AREA. THIS MEANS TO PLAN ON THE SURFACE HIGH OVERHEAD AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME. TODAY...THE COMBINATION OF DRY AIR AND BEING FARTHER AWAY FROM THE COLD POOL OF THE UPPER TROUGH WILL RESULT IN SUNNY SKIES. SINCE THE AREA STAYS IN A GRADIENT AHEAD OF THE SURFACE HIGH AND WE HAVE FULL SUN FOR DEEP MIXING...ANOTHER BREEZY DAY IS LIKELY...BUT NOT NEARLY AS WINDY AS YESTERDAY. TEMPERATURES ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO STAY ON THE COOL SIDE...THOUGH...WITH 850MB TEMPS HOLDING STEADY THROUGH 18Z. HIGHS SHOULD END UP VERY SIMILAR TO YESTERDAY. TONIGHT...A REALLY GOOD RADIATIONAL COOLING SETUP IS FORECAST. WITH THE SURFACE HIGH MOVING OVER THE AREA DURING THE EVENING...WINDS WILL DECOUPLE EVERYWHERE. ADDITIONALLY...WE HAVE ALL OF THE DRY AIR ACCOMPANYING THE SURFACE HIGH. THUS...TEMPERATURES SHOULD PLUMMET DURING THE EVENING HOURS AFTER SUNSET. NOW...AFTER MIDNIGHT...THE SURFACE RIDGE BEGINS TO PUSH EAST INTO CENTRAL WISCONSIN. THIS MEANS A SOUTHERLY WARM ADVECTION FLOW WILL COMMENCE OVER WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA. THEREFORE...OUR WISCONSIN COUNTIES CONTINUE TO LOOK THE MOST FAVORABLE FOR THE COLDEST CONDITIONS...AND THE COLDEST OVERALL OVER CENTRAL WISCONSIN. STAYED TOWARDS THE COLD SIDE OF GUIDANCE FOR LOWS. GIVEN THE CONSISTENCY FOR TONIGHT TO BE COLD... HAVE ISSUED FREEZE WARNINGS FOR THE PREVIOUS FREEZE WATCH AREA AND A FEW EXTRA COUNTIES WHERE TEMPS ARE NOW FORECAST COLDER...WITH FROST ADVISORIES FOR THE REST OF OUR WISCONSIN COUNTIES. .LONG TERM...(MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY) ISSUED AT 320 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT...THE UPPER RIDGING OVER THE WESTERN U.S. IS PROGGED TO CONTINUE TO GET PUSHED EASTWARD WHILE FLATTENING WITH TIME. THIS IN RESPONSE TO THE POTENT SHORTWAVE OFF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AT 12Z MONDAY TRACKING EASTWARD ALONG THE U.S./CANADIAN BORDER. OVERALL MODELS ARE IN PRETTY GOOD AGREEMENT ON THE TRACK AND SPEED OF THIS SHORTWAVE...WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE 12.00Z NAM WHICH BECOMES SLIGHTLY FASTER COME TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT. HAVE DISCOUNTED THE NAM PROGRESSION AS AN OUTLIER FOR NOW. THE PROGRESSIVE NATURE OF THE RIDGE AND SHORTWAVE RESULTS IN A VARIETY OF ISSUES TO CONTEND WITH... 1. PRECIPITATION CHANCES AND TEMPERATURES MONDAY INTO MONDAY NIGHT. A WARM FRONT AHEAD OF THE UPPER RIDGE AXIS IS FORECAST TO CROSS THE AREA MONDAY NIGHT. PACIFIC MOISTURE MOVING THROUGH THE UPPER RIDGE IN CONJUNCTION WITH ISENTROPIC LIFT AHEAD OF THIS WARM FRONT WILL LIKELY TO LEAD TO EXTENSIVE MID AND HIGH CLOUDS. ADDITIONALLY...THE LIFT APPEARS STRONG ENOUGH TO GENERATE PRECIPITATION FROM THESE CLOUDS. THE BIG PROBLEM...THOUGH...IS LOW LEVEL DRY AIR LEFT OVER FROM THE CURRENT CANADIAN HIGH PRESSURE AREA. OVERALL...12.00Z MODEL GUIDANCE HAS BACKED OFF ON THE AMOUNT OF QPF POSSIBLE FROM THESE CLOUDS...ESPECIALLY THE GFS...SUGGESTING THE DRY AIR MAY BE ABLE TO ABSORB MUCH OF THE PRECIPITATION. HOWEVER...ALL GUIDANCE DOES SUGGEST SOME LIGHT QPF POSSIBLE...THUS THE 20-40 PERCENT CHANCES FROM THE PREVIOUS FORECAST STILL SEEMS REASONABLE. TIMING BETWEEN 18Z MONDAY TO 06Z TUESDAY ALSO STILL LOOKS GOOD. SHOULD SEE THE CLOUDS AND PRECIPITATION PROGRESS EASTWARD THROUGH TIME DUE TO THE PROGRESSION OF THE UPPER RIDGE. THE CLOUDS COMBINED WITH 850MB TEMPS AT 18Z MONDAY OF 1C EAST TO 6C WEST ARE LIKELY TO KEEP TEMPERATURES BELOW NORMAL...BUT NOT AS COLD AS TODAY. 2. HOW WARM TEMPERATURES WILL GET ON TUESDAY. THE SIGNAL OF A CHINOOK WARM FRONT OFF THE ROCKIES...ACCOMPANYING THAT POTENT SHORTWAVE...REMAINS FORECAST TO PUSH EAST THROUGH MUCH OF THE FORECAST AREA DURING THE DAY TUESDAY. INCREDIBLY WARM 850MB TEMPS FOR MID MAY ARE PROGGED TO FOLLOW IN ITS WAKE...WITH READINGS BY 00Z OF 18-20C OVER CENTRAL WISCONSIN TO 22-24C WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER...OR 2 TO 3 STANDARD DEVIATIONS ABOVE NORMAL. SEEING THE OBSERVED 850MB TEMPS UNDER THE UPPER RIDGE RIGHT NOW OVER THE WESTERN U.S...THESE SEEM REASONABLE. THE QUESTION IS WITH A WARM ADVECTION PATTERN THROUGH THE DAY...CAN WE MIX TO THESE 850MB TEMPS. MODELS CONTINUE TO BE NOTORIOUSLY HIGH WITH SURFACE DEWPOINTS IN THIS SITUATION...PREVENTING MODELS FROM MIXING ENOUGH. FOR EXAMPLE...THE 12.00Z GFS/ECMWF/CANADIAN JUMP THEM OVER IOWA FROM 50-55 AT 12Z TO 60-65 AT 18Z...ALL LIKELY DUE TO EVAPOTRANSPIRATION THAT IS NOT THERE YET. ADDITIONALLY...A DOWN-SLOPE FLOW FROM THE ROCKIES USUALLY ENDS UP WITH DRIER DEWPOINTS...ESPECIALLY THIS TIME OF YEAR. THUS...HAVE CONTINUED TO STAY TOWARDS THE WARM SIDE OF GUIDANCE. ALTHOUGH THE 12.00Z NAM IS SLIGHTLY TOO PROGRESSIVE...ITS TEMPERATURES SEEM REASONABLE. FOLLOWED MOS GUIDANCE MORE FOR DEWPOINTS SINCE MOS HAS BEEN DOING MUCH BETTER IN THIS DEPARTMENT. 3. COLD FRONT CROSSING TUESDAY NIGHT AND POTENTIAL FOR PRECIPITATION WITH IT. 12.00Z NAM AND GFS ARE JUST SLIGHTLY FARTHER SOUTH WITH THE TRACK OF THE SHORTWAVE TRACKING ALONG THE CANADIAN BORDER...COMPARED TO THE 12.00Z ECMWF/UKMET/CANADIAN. THIS DIFFERENCE RESULTS IN THE NAM/GFS ADDING EXTRA FORCING TO THE LOW LEVEL FRONTOGENESIS ZONE ON AND BEHIND THE COLD FRONT...AND THUS THE MODELS PRODUCE A BAND OF PRECIPITATION OVER THE AREA. THE ECMWF/UKMET/CANADIAN ARE DRY. FEEL THE LATTER MODEL GROUP IS MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR...BUT CONTINUED TO HONOR THE NAM/GFS SCENARIO WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE JUST IN CASE. WEDNESDAY INTO NEXT WEEKEND... GOOD MODEL AGREEMENT EXISTS OF THE FLOW STARTING OFF AS ZONAL TO BEGIN THIS PERIOD. ANY LOW LEVEL FRONTOGENETICAL FORCING BEHIND TUESDAY NIGHTS COLD FRONT IS SOUTH OF THE AREA FOR WEDNESDAY...SO WENT DRY DURING THIS TIME. THE ZONAL FLOW DOES NOT LAST LONG...WITH A NEW TROUGH PROGGED TO COME INTO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST THURSDAY NIGHT. THIS CAUSES THE FLOW DOWNSTREAM TO BUCKLE...WITH THE 12.00Z ECMWF/GFS/CANADIAN ALL SHOWING A SHORTWAVE TROUGH TRACKING ACROSS MN AND WI THURSDAY INTO THURSDAY NIGHT. HAVE HONORED THE SHORTWAVE WITH SOME SMALL CHANCES OF PRECIPITATION. WE COULD END UP WITH A DRY DAY FRIDAY WITH SUBSIDENCE AND HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING IN. LOWERED PRECIPITATION CHANCES FURTHER AND MAY BE ABLE TO COMPLETELY PULL THEM WITH THE NEXT EXTENDED FORECAST UPDATE. THINGS LOOK TO PERHAPS TO GET MORE ACTIVE FOR FRIDAY NIGHT INTO THE WEEKEND AS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST TROUGH BEGINS TO APPROACH THE PLAINS. SURPRISINGLY GOOD MODEL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ECMWF AND GFS...ALONG WITH PREVIOUS RUNS...OF A DEEPENING LOW DOWNSTREAM OVER NEBRASKA. AS ONE WOULD EXPECT...A SURGE OF MOISTURE TRANSPORT OUT OF THE GULF OF MEXICO IS AIMED DIRECTLY TOWARDS THE FORECAST AREA AHEAD OF THE LOW. THUS...PRECIPITATION CHANCES INCREASE...ESPECIALLY ON SATURDAY WHERE THE CONSENSUS EVEN RESULTS IN 50-60 PROBABILITIES. TEMPERATURES SHOULD SLOWLY COOL THROUGH THE EXTENDED...BUT STILL STAY AT OR ABOVE NORMAL WITH A FLOW GENERALLY OFF THE PACIFIC. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 1146 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 GENERALLY QUIET VFR CONDITIONS ACROSS THE TAF SITES THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY MORNING AS COOL CANADIAN HIGH PRESSURE DRIFTS EAST ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST. CLOUDS THIS PERIOD LOOK LIMITED TO A FEW HIGH-BASED DIURNAL CUMULUS THIS AFTERNOON THEN SCT CIRRUS LATE TONIGHT/MON MORNING. DIURNAL WARMING/MIXING TO PRODUCE NORTHWEST WINDS 10-15KTS G20KTS THIS AFTERNOON...BECOMING LGT/VARIABLE AS THE SFC RIDGE AXIS DRIFTS OVERHEAD TONIGHT...THEN SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST 8- 14KT ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE HIGH ON MONDAY. MON AFTERNOON WILL SEE AN INCREASE OF MID LEVEL MOISTURE/CLOUDS AND A SMALL SHRA CHANCE AT THE TAF SITES. && .FIRE WEATHER...TUESDAY ISSUED AT 320 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 AFTER HAVING BREEZY...DRYING AND UNSEASONABLY COOL WEATHER THIS WEEKEND...INCLUDING FROST/FREEZE CONDITIONS TONIGHT ACROSS WISCONSIN...CONCERN CONTINUES TO INCREASE ABOUT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ON TUESDAY. MOST LOCATIONS SHOULD SEE HIGHS CLIMB INTO THE 80S...WITH SOME WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER REACHING 90. DEWPOINT FORECASTS REMAIN TRICKY...BUT MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM FALLING INTO THE 30 TO 40 PERCENT RANGE. IT IS POSSIBLE LOCATIONS SAY ALONG AND WEST OF US-52 COULD END UP DROPPING TOWARDS 25 PERCENT. COMBINED WITH SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 20 MPH AND HIGHER GUSTS...THE SITUATION BEARS WATCHING. && .ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WI...FROST ADVISORY FROM 1 AM TO 7 AM CDT MONDAY FOR WIZ032-041- 054- 061. FREEZE WARNING FROM 1 AM TO 7 AM CDT MONDAY FOR WIZ017-029- 033-034-042>044-053-055. MN...FROST ADVISORY FROM 1 AM TO 7 AM CDT MONDAY FOR MNZ079-088- 096. IA...FROST ADVISORY FROM 1 AM TO 7 AM CDT MONDAY FOR IAZ011-030. && $$ UPDATE.........RRS SHORT TERM.....AJ LONG TERM......AJ AVIATION.......RRS FIRE WEATHER...AJ
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
1100 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 .UPDATE...NO CHANGE TO FROST/FREEZE HEADLINES FOR TONIGHT. PC && .AVIATION/18Z TAFS/...VERY COLD AND BROAD UPPER TROUGH CONTINUES ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST. -34C 500 MILLIBAR TEMP AT KGRB FROM 12Z RESULTING IN VFR VFR CU FIELD AFFECTING ERN HALF OF WI. SKIES WILL BE CLEAR TONIGHT. WINDS DIMINISH AS WELL WITH SURFACE RIDGE AXIS SLIDING ACROSS. MID DECK WILL INCREASE MONDAY AFTERNOON WITH 700 MILLIBAR WARM ADVECTION. BEST POTENTIAL FOR SHRA WILL BE IN SC WI LATER IN THE AFTERNOON. PC && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 345 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013/ TODAY...FORECAST CONFIDENCE...MEDIUM TO HIGH NOT AS MUCH INSTABILITY OR DYNAMIC PUNCH AS THERE WAS YESTERDAY...BUT STILL HAVE THE THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE COLD POOL OVER US...ESPECIALLY OVER THE EASTERN CWA THIS MORNING. SHOULD SEE CU POP BY MID MORNING. RAP SOUNDINGS SHOW A DEEPER CLOUD LAYER THAN NAM OR GFS...WITH SOME MINIMAL CAPE DEVELOPING SOME SPRINKLES IN THE SOUTHEAST IN THE AFTERNOON. WILL LEAVE OUT FOR NOW...BUT WILL NEED TO BE WATCHED WITH SHEARED VORT DROPPING THROUGH REGION THIS AFTERNOON PROVIDING A BIT OF EXTRA LIFT. THE COLD AIR ADVECTION HAS BROUGHT 925 MB TEMPERATURES DOWN TO -1C TO -4C...BUT MODELS AGREE THAT THEY WILL RECOVER TO +3 TO +5C BY 00Z. THOUGH WARMEST 925 MB TEMPS WILL ARRIVE TOWARD THE END OF THE DAY...ENOUGH OF AN INFLUENCE TO LEAN TOWARD WARMER GUIDANCE WITH MID 50S IN THE WEST...TO AROUND 50 IN THE FAR EAST. TONIGHT...FORECAST CONFIDENCE...HIGH GIVEN THE EXPECTED GOOD RADIATIONAL COOLING CONDITIONS AS SURFACE RIDGE AXIS MOVES OVER THE STATE TONIGHT ...AND WITH BUFKIT SOUNDINGS SUPPORTING THE THE NAM/GFS 2-METER TEMPERATURES AND MOS GUIDANCE... WILL ISSUE A FREEZE WARNING FOR THE FAR NW COUNTIES WHERE LOWS TO BOTTOM OUT IN THE UPPER 20S...AND A FROST ADVISORY FOR THE REST OF THE CWA WITH LOW 30S AWAY FROM THE IMMEDIATE LAKESHORE. EVEN MILWAUKEE AND OZAUKEE COUNTIES SHOULD SEE AREAS OF FROST IN THEIR FAR WEST. THE LOWEST TEMPERATURES ARE CURRENTLY LIMITED TO NORTHERN SECTIONS OF THE FREEZE WARNING COUNTIES...BUT WARNING WOULD HAVE TO BE EXPANDED IF THE COLDER NAM IS CORRECT. MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...FORECAST CONFIDENCE...MEDIUM THE AXIS OF SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL BE OVERHEAD MONDAY MORNING...SO THERE SHOULD BE PLENTY OF SUNSHINE TO START THE DAY. THE HIGH WILL SLIDE EAST DURING THE DAY...WITH STRONG WARM ADVECTION ALOFT SLIDING INTO THE WEST BY LATE AFTERNOON. THIS WILL BRING INCREASING CLOUDS ALONG WITH A CHANCE FOR SHOWERS TO MAINLY WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA. THE MAX OF THE WARM ADVECTION WILL SLIDE THROUGH MAINLY DURING THE EVENING HOURS...SO KEPT HIGHEST POPS DURING THAT PERIOD. SHOULD BE MAINLY DRY THEN TUESDAY AS A WARMER AND CAPPED AIRMASS MOVES INTO THE FORECAST AREA. THE SURFACE COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO DROP THROUGH SOUTHERN WISCONSIN TUESDAY EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. MODELS ARE NOT SHOWING MUCH LIFT WITH THIS FRONT...SO KEPT POPS ON THE LOW END. TEMPERATURES MONDAY WILL CLIMB BACK TOWARD NORMAL VALUES UNDER SOUTHERLY WINDS BEHIND THE EXITING HIGH PRESSURE. MUCH WARMER TEMPERATURES ARE THEN EXPECTED TUESDAY...WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES EXPECTED TO CLIMB WELL ABOVE NORMAL INTO THE 80S ACROSS THE WESTERN FORECAST AREA. THERE IS MUCH LESS CERTAINTY WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE EAST THOUGH. MODELS VARY A BIT ON THE TIMING OF THE SYSTEM...THUS IMPACTING WIND DIRECTION. IF THE WINDS STAY SOUTHEAST THROUGH THE DAY AS THE SLOWER ECMWF SUGGESTS...HIGH TEMPS WILL LIKELY BE COOLER THAN WHAT IS CURRENTLY FORECAST. THE QUICKER NAM AND CANADIAN WOULD HAVE SOUTHWEST WINDS FOR A GOOD PART OF THE DAY...RESULTING IN WARMER TEMPS THAN FORECAST. OPTED TO GO DOWN THE MIDDLE FOR TEMPS TOWARD THE LAKE FOR NOW UNTIL MODELS COME INTO BETTER AGREEMENT. THOUGH THE SURFACE FRONT WILL LIKELY HAVE PUSHED SOUTH BY WEDNESDAY MORNING...MODELS ARE STILL SHOWING A FAIR AMOUNT OF WARM AIR LINGERING ACROSS SOUTHERN WISCONSIN. HIGH TEMPS ARE THUS EXPECTED TO REMAIN ABOVE NORMAL. THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...FORECAST CONFIDENCE...LOW TO MEDIUM HAVE SHOWER AND STORM CHANCES THROUGH THE LATTER HALF OF THE WEEK AS MODELS CONTINUE TO SHOW THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY STALLING IN THE AREA. WILL LIKELY SEE SYSTEMS MOVE THROUGH ALONG THE BOUNDARY. BIGGEST ISSUE IS HOW FAR SOUTH THE BOUNDARY WILL STALL AND THEN TIMING OF THE INDIVIDUAL SYSTEMS AND RESULTANT PRECIP CHANCES. ALSO...DIFFERING PLACEMENTS OF THE STALLED FRONT ARE PRODUCING DECENT SPREADS IN TEMPS AMONG MODELS. NOT A HIGH CONFIDENCE SETUP...SO STUCK WITH A CONSENSUS APPROACH FOR TEMPERATURES. AVIATION/12Z TAFS/... SHOULD SEE VFR CU DEVELOP/4-5K FT/ BY MID-MORNING AND BECOME BROKEN. WINDS WILL BE GUSTY TO START AFTER MORNING MIX OUT...THEN SLOWLY SUBSIDE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND REALLY EASE THIS EVENING AS SURFACE RIDGE BUILDS INTO THE AREA. VFR FOR REMAINDER OF THE PERIOD WITH LIGHT WINDS AND CLEAR SKIES TONIGHT. MARINE... CURRENT FORECAST WIND GUSTS STILL INDICATE 3 PM CDT END TIME FOR SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY HOLDS...THOUGH THERE COULD BE A FEW CRITERIA GUSTS UNTIL AFTER SUNSET...ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTHERN ZONES. WINDS WILL EASE TONIGHT AS SURFACE RIDGE PASSES THROUGH...TURNING SOUTH MONDAY AFTERNOON AND INCREASING MONDAY NIGHT AHEAD OF NEXT LOW. && .MKX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WI...FROST ADVISORY FROM 1 AM TO 7 AM CDT MONDAY FOR WIZ051-052- 057>060-062>072. FREEZE WARNING FROM 1 AM TO 7 AM CDT MONDAY FOR WIZ046-047-056. LM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 3 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR LMZ643>646. && $$ TODAY/TONIGHT AND AVIATION/MARINE...REM MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...DDV
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS LA CROSSE WI
611 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 320 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 MAIN FORECAST CONCERN IS ON FROST/FREEZE CONDITIONS TONIGHT. CURRENTLY AS OF 08Z...WATER VAPOR LOOP AND RAP 500MB HEIGHT ANALYSIS SHOWED RIDGING OVER THE WESTERN U.S. INTO ALBERTA WHILE ANOMALOUSLY DEEP TROUGHING WAS PRESENT FROM HUDSON BAY INTO THE WESTERN GREAT LAKES REGION. THE FORECAST AREA LIES ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE TROUGHING...BUT STILL EAST OF THE INFLECTION POINT...WHICH RESULTS IN NORTHWEST FLOW FROM THE SURFACE TO 500MB. THE FLOW CONTINUED TO DRAG COLDER AIR SOUTHEAST WITH RAP 850MB TEMPS RANGING FROM -3C OVER NORTHEAST IOWA TO -9C IN TAYLOR COUNTY WISCONSIN. DESPITE THE COLD 850MB TEMPS...READINGS ARE GENERALLY IN THE MID 30S TO AROUND 40... STAYING UP BECAUSE OF THAT NORTHWEST WIND OF 5-10 KT AT THE SURFACE KEEPING THE BOUNDARY LAYER MIXED. A LOT OF DRY AIR CONTINUES TO FLOW IN TOO ON THE NORTHWEST WINDS FROM HIGH PRESSURE IN THE PLAINS. DEWPOINTS ARE IN THE TEENS ACROSS MUCH OF THE DAKOTAS INTO MN AND 20S OVER WISCONSIN. COMBINATION OF THE WIND...TEMPERATURES AND DRY AIR PRECLUDING ANY FROST DEVELOPMENT THUS FAR. THE AFOREMENTIONED DRY AIR IS ALSO QUITE DEEP...REFLECTIVE FROM 00Z SOUNDINGS AT BIS... ABR AND MPX HAVING PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES OF 0.1-0.2 INCHES...OR 20-40 PERCENT OF NORMAL. THIS DRY AIR HAS HELPED CLEAR SKIES OUT WEST OF WISCONSIN. SCT-BKN CLOUDS HAVE BEEN FLOWING ACROSS WISCONSIN IN THE CYCLONIC FLOW IN THE UPPER TROUGH. FARTHER TO THE WEST UNDER THE UPPER RIDGE...00Z SOUNDINGS FROM SAN FRANSISCO TO SALT LAKE CITY AND NORTH TO GREAT FALLS MT ALL REPORTED 850MB TEMPS OF 20C OR GREATER. THESE ARE 1.5-2.5 STANDARD DEVIATIONS ABOVE NORMAL. BOTH THE UPPER RIDGE AND ANOMALOUSLY DEEP TROUGH ARE PROGGED TO PROGRESS EASTWARD DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS...PUSHED ALONG BY A FAIRLY POTENT SHORTWAVE TROUGH APPROACHING THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST COAST AT 12Z MONDAY. IT APPEARS THIS EVENING IS WHEN THE INFLECTION POINT BETWEEN THE UPPER RIDGE AND DEEP TROUGH WILL REACH THE FORECAST AREA. THIS MEANS TO PLAN ON THE SURFACE HIGH OVERHEAD AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME. TODAY...THE COMBINATION OF DRY AIR AND BEING FARTHER AWAY FROM THE COLD POOL OF THE UPPER TROUGH WILL RESULT IN SUNNY SKIES. SINCE THE AREA STAYS IN A GRADIENT AHEAD OF THE SURFACE HIGH AND WE HAVE FULL SUN FOR DEEP MIXING...ANOTHER BREEZY DAY IS LIKELY...BUT NOT NEARLY AS WINDY AS YESTERDAY. TEMPERATURES ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO STAY ON THE COOL SIDE...THOUGH...WITH 850MB TEMPS HOLDING STEADY THROUGH 18Z. HIGHS SHOULD END UP VERY SIMILAR TO YESTERDAY. TONIGHT...A REALLY GOOD RADIATIONAL COOLING SETUP IS FORECAST. WITH THE SURFACE HIGH MOVING OVER THE AREA DURING THE EVENING...WINDS WILL DECOUPLE EVERYWHERE. ADDITIONALLY...WE HAVE ALL OF THE DRY AIR ACCOMPANYING THE SURFACE HIGH. THUS...TEMPERATURES SHOULD PLUMMET DURING THE EVENING HOURS AFTER SUNSET. NOW...AFTER MIDNIGHT...THE SURFACE RIDGE BEGINS TO PUSH EAST INTO CENTRAL WISCONSIN. THIS MEANS A SOUTHERLY WARM ADVECTION FLOW WILL COMMENCE OVER WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA. THEREFORE...OUR WISCONSIN COUNTIES CONTINUE TO LOOK THE MOST FAVORABLE FOR THE COLDEST CONDITIONS...AND THE COLDEST OVERALL OVER CENTRAL WISCONSIN. STAYED TOWARDS THE COLD SIDE OF GUIDANCE FOR LOWS. GIVEN THE CONSISTENCY FOR TONIGHT TO BE COLD... HAVE ISSUED FREEZE WARNINGS FOR THE PREVIOUS FREEZE WATCH AREA AND A FEW EXTRA COUNTIES WHERE TEMPS ARE NOW FORECAST COLDER...WITH FROST ADVISORIES FOR THE REST OF OUR WISCONSIN COUNTIES. .LONG TERM...(MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY) ISSUED AT 320 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT...THE UPPER RIDGING OVER THE WESTERN U.S. IS PROGGED TO CONTINUE TO GET PUSHED EASTWARD WHILE FLATTENING WITH TIME. THIS IN RESPONSE TO THE POTENT SHORTWAVE OFF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AT 12Z MONDAY TRACKING EASTWARD ALONG THE U.S./CANADIAN BORDER. OVERALL MODELS ARE IN PRETTY GOOD AGREEMENT ON THE TRACK AND SPEED OF THIS SHORTWAVE...WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE 12.00Z NAM WHICH BECOMES SLIGHTLY FASTER COME TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT. HAVE DISCOUNTED THE NAM PROGRESSION AS AN OUTLIER FOR NOW. THE PROGRESSIVE NATURE OF THE RIDGE AND SHORTWAVE RESULTS IN A VARIETY OF ISSUES TO CONTEND WITH... 1. PRECIPITATION CHANCES AND TEMPERATURES MONDAY INTO MONDAY NIGHT. A WARM FRONT AHEAD OF THE UPPER RIDGE AXIS IS FORECAST TO CROSS THE AREA MONDAY NIGHT. PACIFIC MOISTURE MOVING THROUGH THE UPPER RIDGE IN CONJUNCTION WITH ISENTROPIC LIFT AHEAD OF THIS WARM FRONT WILL LIKELY TO LEAD TO EXTENSIVE MID AND HIGH CLOUDS. ADDITIONALLY...THE LIFT APPEARS STRONG ENOUGH TO GENERATE PRECIPITATION FROM THESE CLOUDS. THE BIG PROBLEM...THOUGH...IS LOW LEVEL DRY AIR LEFT OVER FROM THE CURRENT CANADIAN HIGH PRESSURE AREA. OVERALL...12.00Z MODEL GUIDANCE HAS BACKED OFF ON THE AMOUNT OF QPF POSSIBLE FROM THESE CLOUDS...ESPECIALLY THE GFS...SUGGESTING THE DRY AIR MAY BE ABLE TO ABSORB MUCH OF THE PRECIPITATION. HOWEVER...ALL GUIDANCE DOES SUGGEST SOME LIGHT QPF POSSIBLE...THUS THE 20-40 PERCENT CHANCES FROM THE PREVIOUS FORECAST STILL SEEMS REASONABLE. TIMING BETWEEN 18Z MONDAY TO 06Z TUESDAY ALSO STILL LOOKS GOOD. SHOULD SEE THE CLOUDS AND PRECIPITATION PROGRESS EASTWARD THROUGH TIME DUE TO THE PROGRESSION OF THE UPPER RIDGE. THE CLOUDS COMBINED WITH 850MB TEMPS AT 18Z MONDAY OF 1C EAST TO 6C WEST ARE LIKELY TO KEEP TEMPERATURES BELOW NORMAL...BUT NOT AS COLD AS TODAY. 2. HOW WARM TEMPERATURES WILL GET ON TUESDAY. THE SIGNAL OF A CHINOOK WARM FRONT OFF THE ROCKIES...ACCOMPANYING THAT POTENT SHORTWAVE...REMAINS FORECAST TO PUSH EAST THROUGH MUCH OF THE FORECAST AREA DURING THE DAY TUESDAY. INCREDIBLY WARM 850MB TEMPS FOR MID MAY ARE PROGGED TO FOLLOW IN ITS WAKE...WITH READINGS BY 00Z OF 18-20C OVER CENTRAL WISCONSIN TO 22-24C WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER...OR 2 TO 3 STANDARD DEVIATIONS ABOVE NORMAL. SEEING THE OBSERVED 850MB TEMPS UNDER THE UPPER RIDGE RIGHT NOW OVER THE WESTERN U.S...THESE SEEM REASONABLE. THE QUESTION IS WITH A WARM ADVECTION PATTERN THROUGH THE DAY...CAN WE MIX TO THESE 850MB TEMPS. MODELS CONTINUE TO BE NOTORIOUSLY HIGH WITH SURFACE DEWPOINTS IN THIS SITUATION...PREVENTING MODELS FROM MIXING ENOUGH. FOR EXAMPLE...THE 12.00Z GFS/ECMWF/CANADIAN JUMP THEM OVER IOWA FROM 50-55 AT 12Z TO 60-65 AT 18Z...ALL LIKELY DUE TO EVAPOTRANSPORATION THAT IS NOT THERE YET. ADDITIONALLY...A DOWNSLOPE FLOW FROM THE ROCKIES USUALLY ENDS UP WITH DRIER DEWPOINTS...ESPECIALLY THIS TIME OF YEAR. THUS...HAVE CONTINUED TO STAY TOWARDS THE WARM SIDE OF GUIDANCE. ALTHOUGH THE 12.00Z NAM IS SLIGHTLY TOO PROGRESSIVE...ITS TEMPERATURES SEEM REASONABLE. FOLLOWED MOS GUIDANCE MORE FOR DEWPOINTS SINCE MOS HAS BEEN DOING MUCH BETTER IN THIS DEPARTMENT. 3. COLD FRONT CROSSING TUESDAY NIGHT AND POTENTIAL FOR PRECIPITATION WITH IT. 12.00Z NAM AND GFS ARE JUST SLIGHTLY FARTHER SOUTH WITH THE TRACK OF THE SHORTWAVE TRACKING ALONG THE CANADIAN BORDER...COMPARED TO THE 12.00Z ECMWF/UKMET/CANADIAN. THIS DIFFERENCE RESULTS IN THE NAM/GFS ADDING EXTRA FORCING TO THE LOW LEVEL FRONTOGENESIS ZONE ON AND BEHIND THE COLD FRONT...AND THUS THE MODELS PRODUCE A BAND OF PRECIPITATION OVER THE AREA. THE ECMWF/UKMET/CANADIAN ARE DRY. FEEL THE LATTER MODEL GROUP IS MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR...BUT CONTINUED TO HONOR THE NAM/GFS SCENARIO WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE JUST IN CASE. WEDNESDAY INTO NEXT WEEKEND... GOOD MODEL AGREEMENT EXISTS OF THE FLOW STARTING OFF AS ZONAL TO BEGIN THIS PERIOD. ANY LOW LEVEL FRONTOGENETICAL FORCING BEHIND TUESDAY NIGHTS COLD FRONT IS SOUTH OF THE AREA FOR WEDNESDAY...SO WENT DRY DURING THIS TIME. THE ZONAL FLOW DOES NOT LAST LONG...WITH A NEW TROUGH PROGGED TO COME INTO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST THURSDAY NIGHT. THIS CAUSES THE FLOW DOWNSTREAM TO BUCKLE...WITH THE 12.00Z ECMWF/GFS/CANADIAN ALL SHOWING A SHORTWAVE TROUGH TRACKING ACROSS MN AND WI THURSDAY INTO THURSDAY NIGHT. HAVE HONORED THE SHORTWAVE WITH SOME SMALL CHANCES OF PRECIPITATION. WE COULD END UP WITH A DRY DAY FRIDAY WITH SUBSIDENCE AND HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING IN. LOWERED PRECIPITATION CHANCES FURTHER AND MAY BE ABLE TO COMPLETELY PULL THEM WITH THE NEXT EXTENDED FORECAST UPDATE. THINGS LOOK TO PERHAPS TO GET MORE ACTIVE FOR FRIDAY NIGHT INTO THE WEEKEND AS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST TROUGH BEGINS TO APPROACH THE PLAINS. SURPRISINGLY GOOD MODEL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ECMWF AND GFS...ALONG WITH PREVIOUS RUNS...OF A DEEPENING LOW DOWNSTREAM OVER NEBRASKA. AS ONE WOULD EXPECT...A SURGE OF MOISTURE TRANSPORT OUT OF THE GULF OF MEXICO IS AIMED DIRECTLY TOWARDS THE FORECAST AREA AHEAD OF THE LOW. THUS...PRECIPITATION CHANCES INCREASE...ESPECIALLY ON SATURDAY WHERE THE CONSENSUS EVEN RESULTS IN 50-60 PROBABILITIES. TEMPERATURES SHOULD SLOWLY COOL THROUGH THE EXTENDED...BUT STILL STAY AT OR ABOVE NORMAL WITH A FLOW GENERALLY OFF THE PACIFIC. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z MONDAY MORNING) ISSUED AT 611 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 PLAN ON VFR CONDITIONS AT KLSE/KRST TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE AREA. LOOK FOR BREEZY NORTHWEST WINDS TODAY IN THE 12-20KT RANGE...TAPERING OFF AFTER SUNSET. && .FIRE WEATHER...TUESDAY ISSUED AT 320 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 AFTER HAVING BREEZY...DRYING AND UNSEASONABLY COOL WEATHER THIS WEEKEND...INCLUDING FROST/FREEZE CONDITIONS TONIGHT ACROSS WISCONSIN...CONCERN CONTINUES TO INCREASE ABOUT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ON TUESDAY. MOST LOCATIONS SHOULD SEE HIGHS CLIMB INTO THE 80S...WITH SOME WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER REACHING 90. DEWPOINT FORECASTS REMAIN TRICKY...BUT MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM FALLING INTO THE 30 TO 40 PERCENT RANGE. IT IS POSSIBLE LOCATIONS SAY ALONG AND WEST OF US-52 COULD END UP DROPPING TOWARDS 25 PERCENT. COMBINED WITH SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 20 MPH AND HIGHER GUSTS...THE SITUATION BEARS WATCHING. && .ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WI...FROST ADVISORY FROM 1 AM TO 7 AM CDT MONDAY FOR WIZ032-041-054- 061. FREEZE WARNING FROM 1 AM TO 7 AM CDT MONDAY FOR WIZ017-029-033- 034-042>044-053-055. MN...NONE. IA...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...AJ LONG TERM...AJ AVIATION...DAS FIRE WEATHER...AJ
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
345 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 .TODAY...FORECAST CONFIDENCE...MEDIUM TO HIGH NOT AS MUCH INSTABILITY OR DYNAMIC PUNCH AS THERE WAS YESTERDAY...BUT STILL HAVE THE THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE COLD POOL OVER US...ESPECIALLY OVER THE EASTERN CWA THIS MORNING. SHOULD SEE CU POP BY MID MORNING. RAP SOUNDINGS SHOW A DEEPER CLOUD LAYER THAN NAM OR GFS...WITH SOME MINIMAL CAPE DEVELOPING SOME SPRINKLES IN THE SOUTHEAST IN THE AFTERNOON. WILL LEAVE OUT FOR NOW...BUT WILL NEED TO BE WATCHED WITH SHEARED VORT DROPPING THROUGH REGION THIS AFTERNOON PROVIDING A BIT OF EXTRA LIFT. THE COLD AIR ADVECTION HAS BROUGHT 925 MB TEMPERATURES DOWN TO -1C TO -4C...BUT MODELS AGREE THAT THEY WILL RECOVER TO +3 TO +5C BY 00Z. THOUGH WARMEST 925 MB TEMPS WILL ARRIVE TOWARD THE END OF THE DAY...ENOUGH OF AN INFLUENCE TO LEAN TOWARD WARMER GUIDANCE WITH MID 50S IN THE WEST...TO AROUND 50 IN THE FAR EAST. .TONIGHT...FORECAST CONFIDENCE...HIGH GIVEN THE EXPECTED GOOD RADIATIONAL COOLING CONDITIONS AS SURFACE RIDGE AXIS MOVES OVER THE STATE TONIGHT ...AND WITH BUFKIT SOUNDINGS SUPPORTING THE THE NAM/GFS 2-METER TEMPERATURES AND MOS GUIDANCE... WILL ISSUE A FREEZE WARNING FOR THE FAR NW COUNTIES WHERE LOWS TO BOTTOM OUT IN THE UPPER 20S...AND A FROST ADVISORY FOR THE REST OF THE CWA WITH LOW 30S AWAY FROM THE IMMEDIATE LAKESHORE. EVEN MILWAUKEE AND OZAUKEE COUNTIES SHOULD SEE AREAS OF FROST IN THEIR FAR WEST. THE LOWEST TEMPERATURES ARE CURRENTLY LIMITED TO NORTHERN SECTIONS OF THE FREEZE WARNING COUNTIES...BUT WARNING WOULD HAVE TO BE EXPANDED IF THE COLDER NAM IS CORRECT. .MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...FORECAST CONFIDENCE...MEDIUM THE AXIS OF SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL BE OVERHEAD MONDAY MORNING...SO THERE SHOULD BE PLENTY OF SUNSHINE TO START THE DAY. THE HIGH WILL SLIDE EAST DURING THE DAY...WITH STRONG WARM ADVECTION ALOFT SLIDING INTO THE WEST BY LATE AFTERNOON. THIS WILL BRING INCREASING CLOUDS ALONG WITH A CHANCE FOR SHOWERS TO MAINLY WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA. THE MAX OF THE WARM ADVECTION WILL SLIDE THROUGH MAINLY DURING THE EVENING HOURS...SO KEPT HIGHEST POPS DURING THAT PERIOD. SHOULD BE MAINLY DRY THEN TUESDAY AS A WARMER AND CAPPED AIRMASS MOVES INTO THE FORECAST AREA. THE SURFACE COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO DROP THROUGH SOUTHERN WISCONSIN TUESDAY EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. MODELS ARE NOT SHOWING MUCH LIFT WITH THIS FRONT...SO KEPT POPS ON THE LOW END. TEMPERATURES MONDAY WILL CLIMB BACK TOWARD NORMAL VALUES UNDER SOUTHERLY WINDS BEHIND THE EXITING HIGH PRESSURE. MUCH WARMER TEMPERATURES ARE THEN EXPECTED TUESDAY...WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES EXPECTED TO CLIMB WELL ABOVE NORMAL INTO THE 80S ACROSS THE WESTERN FORECAST AREA. THERE IS MUCH LESS CERTAINTY WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE EAST THOUGH. MODELS VARY A BIT ON THE TIMING OF THE SYSTEM...THUS IMPACTING WIND DIRECTION. IF THE WINDS STAY SOUTHEAST THROUGH THE DAY AS THE SLOWER ECMWF SUGGESTS...HIGH TEMPS WILL LIKELY BE COOLER THAN WHAT IS CURRENTLY FORECAST. THE QUICKER NAM AND CANADIAN WOULD HAVE SOUTHWEST WINDS FOR A GOOD PART OF THE DAY...RESULTING IN WARMER TEMPS THAN FORECAST. OPTED TO GO DOWN THE MIDDLE FOR TEMPS TOWARD THE LAKE FOR NOW UNTIL MODELS COME INTO BETTER AGREEMENT. THOUGH THE SURFACE FRONT WILL LIKELY HAVE PUSHED SOUTH BY WEDNESDAY MORNING...MODELS ARE STILL SHOWING A FAIR AMOUNT OF WARM AIR LINGERING ACROSS SOUTHERN WISCONSIN. HIGH TEMPS ARE THUS EXPECTED TO REMAIN ABOVE NORMAL. .THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...FORECAST CONFIDENCE...LOW TO MEDIUM HAVE SHOWER AND STORM CHANCES THROUGH THE LATTER HALF OF THE WEEK AS MODELS CONTINUE TO SHOW THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY STALLING IN THE AREA. WILL LIKELY SEE SYSTEMS MOVE THROUGH ALONG THE BOUNDARY. BIGGEST ISSUE IS HOW FAR SOUTH THE BOUNDARY WILL STALL AND THEN TIMING OF THE INDIVIDUAL SYSTEMS AND RESULTANT PRECIP CHANCES. ALSO...DIFFERING PLACEMENTS OF THE STALLED FRONT ARE PRODUCING DECENT SPREADS IN TEMPS AMONG MODELS. NOT A HIGH CONFIDENCE SETUP...SO STUCK WITH A CONSENSUS APPROACH FOR TEMPERATURES. && .AVIATION/12Z TAFS/... SHOULD SEE VFR CU DEVELOP/4-5K FT/ BY MID-MORNING AND BECOME BROKEN. WINDS WILL BE GUSTY TO START AFTER MORNING MIX OUT...THEN SLOWLY SUBSIDE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND REALLY EASE THIS EVENING AS SURFACE RIDGE BUILDS INTO THE AREA. VFR FOR REMAINDER OF THE PERIOD WITH LIGHT WINDS AND CLEAR SKIES TONIGHT. && .MARINE... CURRENT FORECAST WIND GUSTS STILL INDICATE 3 PM CDT END TIME FOR SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY HOLDS...THOUGH THERE COULD BE A FEW CRITERIA GUSTS UNTIL AFTER SUNSET...ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTHERN ZONES. WINDS WILL EASE TONIGHT AS SURFACE RIDGE PASSES THROUGH...TURNING SOUTH MONDAY AFTERNOON AND INCREASING MONDAY NIGHT AHEAD OF NEXT LOW. && .MKX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WI...FROST ADVISORY FROM 1 AM TO 7 AM CDT MONDAY FOR WIZ051-052- 057>060-062>072. FREEZE WARNING FROM 1 AM TO 7 AM CDT MONDAY FOR WIZ046-047-056. LM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 3 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR LMZ643>646. && $$ TODAY/TONIGHT AND AVIATION/MARINE...REM MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...DDV
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS LA CROSSE WI
320 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 320 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 MAIN FORECAST CONCERN IS ON FROST/FREEZE CONDITIONS TONIGHT. CURRENTLY AS OF 08Z...WATER VAPOR LOOP AND RAP 500MB HEIGHT ANALYSIS SHOWED RIDGING OVER THE WESTERN U.S. INTO ALBERTA WHILE ANOMALOUSLY DEEP TROUGHING WAS PRESENT FROM HUDSON BAY INTO THE WESTERN GREAT LAKES REGION. THE FORECAST AREA LIES ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE TROUGHING...BUT STILL EAST OF THE INFLECTION POINT...WHICH RESULTS IN NORTHWEST FLOW FROM THE SURFACE TO 500MB. THE FLOW CONTINUED TO DRAG COLDER AIR SOUTHEAST WITH RAP 850MB TEMPS RANGING FROM -3C OVER NORTHEAST IOWA TO -9C IN TAYLOR COUNTY WISCONSIN. DESPITE THE COLD 850MB TEMPS...READINGS ARE GENERALLY IN THE MID 30S TO AROUND 40... STAYING UP BECAUSE OF THAT NORTHWEST WIND OF 5-10 KT AT THE SURFACE KEEPING THE BOUNDARY LAYER MIXED. A LOT OF DRY AIR CONTINUES TO FLOW IN TOO ON THE NORTHWEST WINDS FROM HIGH PRESSURE IN THE PLAINS. DEWPOINTS ARE IN THE TEENS ACROSS MUCH OF THE DAKOTAS INTO MN AND 20S OVER WISCONSIN. COMBINATION OF THE WIND...TEMPERATURES AND DRY AIR PRECLUDING ANY FROST DEVELOPMENT THUS FAR. THE AFOREMENTIONED DRY AIR IS ALSO QUITE DEEP...REFLECTIVE FROM 00Z SOUNDINGS AT BIS... ABR AND MPX HAVING PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES OF 0.1-0.2 INCHES...OR 20-40 PERCENT OF NORMAL. THIS DRY AIR HAS HELPED CLEAR SKIES OUT WEST OF WISCONSIN. SCT-BKN CLOUDS HAVE BEEN FLOWING ACROSS WISCONSIN IN THE CYCLONIC FLOW IN THE UPPER TROUGH. FARTHER TO THE WEST UNDER THE UPPER RIDGE...00Z SOUNDINGS FROM SAN FRANSISCO TO SALT LAKE CITY AND NORTH TO GREAT FALLS MT ALL REPORTED 850MB TEMPS OF 20C OR GREATER. THESE ARE 1.5-2.5 STANDARD DEVIATIONS ABOVE NORMAL. BOTH THE UPPER RIDGE AND ANOMALOUSLY DEEP TROUGH ARE PROGGED TO PROGRESS EASTWARD DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS...PUSHED ALONG BY A FAIRLY POTENT SHORTWAVE TROUGH APPROACHING THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST COAST AT 12Z MONDAY. IT APPEARS THIS EVENING IS WHEN THE INFLECTION POINT BETWEEN THE UPPER RIDGE AND DEEP TROUGH WILL REACH THE FORECAST AREA. THIS MEANS TO PLAN ON THE SURFACE HIGH OVERHEAD AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME. TODAY...THE COMBINATION OF DRY AIR AND BEING FARTHER AWAY FROM THE COLD POOL OF THE UPPER TROUGH WILL RESULT IN SUNNY SKIES. SINCE THE AREA STAYS IN A GRADIENT AHEAD OF THE SURFACE HIGH AND WE HAVE FULL SUN FOR DEEP MIXING...ANOTHER BREEZY DAY IS LIKELY...BUT NOT NEARLY AS WINDY AS YESTERDAY. TEMPERATURES ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO STAY ON THE COOL SIDE...THOUGH...WITH 850MB TEMPS HOLDING STEADY THROUGH 18Z. HIGHS SHOULD END UP VERY SIMILAR TO YESTERDAY. TONIGHT...A REALLY GOOD RADIATIONAL COOLING SETUP IS FORECAST. WITH THE SURFACE HIGH MOVING OVER THE AREA DURING THE EVENING...WINDS WILL DECOUPLE EVERYWHERE. ADDITIONALLY...WE HAVE ALL OF THE DRY AIR ACCOMPANYING THE SURFACE HIGH. THUS...TEMPERATURES SHOULD PLUMMET DURING THE EVENING HOURS AFTER SUNSET. NOW...AFTER MIDNIGHT...THE SURFACE RIDGE BEGINS TO PUSH EAST INTO CENTRAL WISCONSIN. THIS MEANS A SOUTHERLY WARM ADVECTION FLOW WILL COMMENCE OVER WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA. THEREFORE...OUR WISCONSIN COUNTIES CONTINUE TO LOOK THE MOST FAVORABLE FOR THE COLDEST CONDITIONS...AND THE COLDEST OVERALL OVER CENTRAL WISCONSIN. STAYED TOWARDS THE COLD SIDE OF GUIDANCE FOR LOWS. GIVEN THE CONSISTENCY FOR TONIGHT TO BE COLD... HAVE ISSUED FREEZE WARNINGS FOR THE PREVIOUS FREEZE WATCH AREA AND A FEW EXTRA COUNTIES WHERE TEMPS ARE NOW FORECAST COLDER...WITH FROST ADVISORIES FOR THE REST OF OUR WISCONSIN COUNTIES. .LONG TERM...(MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY) ISSUED AT 320 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT...THE UPPER RIDGING OVER THE WESTERN U.S. IS PROGGED TO CONTINUE TO GET PUSHED EASTWARD WHILE FLATTENING WITH TIME. THIS IN RESPONSE TO THE POTENT SHORTWAVE OFF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AT 12Z MONDAY TRACKING EASTWARD ALONG THE U.S./CANADIAN BORDER. OVERALL MODELS ARE IN PRETTY GOOD AGREEMENT ON THE TRACK AND SPEED OF THIS SHORTWAVE...WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE 12.00Z NAM WHICH BECOMES SLIGHTLY FASTER COME TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT. HAVE DISCOUNTED THE NAM PROGRESSION AS AN OUTLIER FOR NOW. THE PROGRESSIVE NATURE OF THE RIDGE AND SHORTWAVE RESULTS IN A VARIETY OF ISSUES TO CONTEND WITH... 1. PRECIPITATION CHANCES AND TEMPERATURES MONDAY INTO MONDAY NIGHT. A WARM FRONT AHEAD OF THE UPPER RIDGE AXIS IS FORECAST TO CROSS THE AREA MONDAY NIGHT. PACIFIC MOISTURE MOVING THROUGH THE UPPER RIDGE IN CONJUNCTION WITH ISENTROPIC LIFT AHEAD OF THIS WARM FRONT WILL LIKELY TO LEAD TO EXTENSIVE MID AND HIGH CLOUDS. ADDITIONALLY...THE LIFT APPEARS STRONG ENOUGH TO GENERATE PRECIPITATION FROM THESE CLOUDS. THE BIG PROBLEM...THOUGH...IS LOW LEVEL DRY AIR LEFT OVER FROM THE CURRENT CANADIAN HIGH PRESSURE AREA. OVERALL...12.00Z MODEL GUIDANCE HAS BACKED OFF ON THE AMOUNT OF QPF POSSIBLE FROM THESE CLOUDS...ESPECIALLY THE GFS...SUGGESTING THE DRY AIR MAY BE ABLE TO ABSORB MUCH OF THE PRECIPITATION. HOWEVER...ALL GUIDANCE DOES SUGGEST SOME LIGHT QPF POSSIBLE...THUS THE 20-40 PERCENT CHANCES FROM THE PREVIOUS FORECAST STILL SEEMS REASONABLE. TIMING BETWEEN 18Z MONDAY TO 06Z TUESDAY ALSO STILL LOOKS GOOD. SHOULD SEE THE CLOUDS AND PRECIPITATION PROGRESS EASTWARD THROUGH TIME DUE TO THE PROGRESSION OF THE UPPER RIDGE. THE CLOUDS COMBINED WITH 850MB TEMPS AT 18Z MONDAY OF 1C EAST TO 6C WEST ARE LIKELY TO KEEP TEMPERATURES BELOW NORMAL...BUT NOT AS COLD AS TODAY. 2. HOW WARM TEMPERATURES WILL GET ON TUESDAY. THE SIGNAL OF A CHINOOK WARM FRONT OFF THE ROCKIES...ACCOMPANYING THAT POTENT SHORTWAVE...REMAINS FORECAST TO PUSH EAST THROUGH MUCH OF THE FORECAST AREA DURING THE DAY TUESDAY. INCREDIBLY WARM 850MB TEMPS FOR MID MAY ARE PROGGED TO FOLLOW IN ITS WAKE...WITH READINGS BY 00Z OF 18-20C OVER CENTRAL WISCONSIN TO 22-24C WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER...OR 2 TO 3 STANDARD DEVIATIONS ABOVE NORMAL. SEEING THE OBSERVED 850MB TEMPS UNDER THE UPPER RIDGE RIGHT NOW OVER THE WESTERN U.S...THESE SEEM REASONABLE. THE QUESTION IS WITH A WARM ADVECTION PATTERN THROUGH THE DAY...CAN WE MIX TO THESE 850MB TEMPS. MODELS CONTINUE TO BE NOTORIOUSLY HIGH WITH SURFACE DEWPOINTS IN THIS SITUATION...PREVENTING MODELS FROM MIXING ENOUGH. FOR EXAMPLE...THE 12.00Z GFS/ECMWF/CANADIAN JUMP THEM OVER IOWA FROM 50-55 AT 12Z TO 60-65 AT 18Z...ALL LIKELY DUE TO EVAPOTRANSPORATION THAT IS NOT THERE YET. ADDITIONALLY...A DOWNSLOPE FLOW FROM THE ROCKIES USUALLY ENDS UP WITH DRIER DEWPOINTS...ESPECIALLY THIS TIME OF YEAR. THUS...HAVE CONTINUED TO STAY TOWARDS THE WARM SIDE OF GUIDANCE. ALTHOUGH THE 12.00Z NAM IS SLIGHTLY TOO PROGRESSIVE...ITS TEMPERATURES SEEM REASONABLE. FOLLOWED MOS GUIDANCE MORE FOR DEWPOINTS SINCE MOS HAS BEEN DOING MUCH BETTER IN THIS DEPARTMENT. 3. COLD FRONT CROSSING TUESDAY NIGHT AND POTENTIAL FOR PRECIPITATION WITH IT. 12.00Z NAM AND GFS ARE JUST SLIGHTLY FARTHER SOUTH WITH THE TRACK OF THE SHORTWAVE TRACKING ALONG THE CANADIAN BORDER...COMPARED TO THE 12.00Z ECMWF/UKMET/CANADIAN. THIS DIFFERENCE RESULTS IN THE NAM/GFS ADDING EXTRA FORCING TO THE LOW LEVEL FRONTOGENESIS ZONE ON AND BEHIND THE COLD FRONT...AND THUS THE MODELS PRODUCE A BAND OF PRECIPITATION OVER THE AREA. THE ECMWF/UKMET/CANADIAN ARE DRY. FEEL THE LATTER MODEL GROUP IS MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR...BUT CONTINUED TO HONOR THE NAM/GFS SCENARIO WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE JUST IN CASE. WEDNESDAY INTO NEXT WEEKEND... GOOD MODEL AGREEMENT EXISTS OF THE FLOW STARTING OFF AS ZONAL TO BEGIN THIS PERIOD. ANY LOW LEVEL FRONTOGENETICAL FORCING BEHIND TUESDAY NIGHTS COLD FRONT IS SOUTH OF THE AREA FOR WEDNESDAY...SO WENT DRY DURING THIS TIME. THE ZONAL FLOW DOES NOT LAST LONG...WITH A NEW TROUGH PROGGED TO COME INTO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST THURSDAY NIGHT. THIS CAUSES THE FLOW DOWNSTREAM TO BUCKLE...WITH THE 12.00Z ECMWF/GFS/CANADIAN ALL SHOWING A SHORTWAVE TROUGH TRACKING ACROSS MN AND WI THURSDAY INTO THURSDAY NIGHT. HAVE HONORED THE SHORTWAVE WITH SOME SMALL CHANCES OF PRECIPITATION. WE COULD END UP WITH A DRY DAY FRIDAY WITH SUBSIDENCE AND HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING IN. LOWERED PRECIPITATION CHANCES FURTHER AND MAY BE ABLE TO COMPLETELY PULL THEM WITH THE NEXT EXTENDED FORECAST UPDATE. THINGS LOOK TO PERHAPS TO GET MORE ACTIVE FOR FRIDAY NIGHT INTO THE WEEKEND AS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST TROUGH BEGINS TO APPROACH THE PLAINS. SURPRISINGLY GOOD MODEL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ECMWF AND GFS...ALONG WITH PREVIOUS RUNS...OF A DEEPENING LOW DOWNSTREAM OVER NEBRASKA. AS ONE WOULD EXPECT...A SURGE OF MOISTURE TRANSPORT OUT OF THE GULF OF MEXICO IS AIMED DIRECTLY TOWARDS THE FORECAST AREA AHEAD OF THE LOW. THUS...PRECIPITATION CHANCES INCREASE...ESPECIALLY ON SATURDAY WHERE THE CONSENSUS EVEN RESULTS IN 50-60 PROBABILITIES. TEMPERATURES SHOULD SLOWLY COOL THROUGH THE EXTENDED...BUT STILL STAY AT OR ABOVE NORMAL WITH A FLOW GENERALLY OFF THE PACIFIC. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 1015 PM CDT SAT MAY 11 2013 CLOUDS AND -SHRA HAVE DISSIPATED FOR KRST/KLSE EARLY IN THE EVENING...WHILE WINDS WERE LESSENING WITH THE LOSS OF MIXING FROM DAYTIME HEATING. THE WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO DECREASE OVERNIGHT AS HIGH PRESSURE APPROACHES FROM THE WEST...ALLOWING FOR THE SFC PRESSURE GRADIENT TO SLACKEN. HOWEVER...EXPECTED SUNSHINE ON SUNDAY WILL RESULT IN MORE MIXING. EXPECT SOME GUSTS SUNDAY AFTERNOON...BUT ABOUT 1/2 OF WHAT THEY WERE TODAY. VFR CONDITIONS WILL BE THE RULE THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT AS THAT HIGH SETTLES OVERHEAD. CLOUDS WILL RETURN ON MONDAY AS AN UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE TROUGH MOVES ACROSS NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY. A FEW SHOWERS WILL DEVELOP ALONG ITS ASSOCIATED WARM FRONT...BUT THESE SHOULD STAY NORTH OF KRST/KLSE. LOOK FOR MUCH WARMER CONDITIONS FOR TUE/WED POST THE FRONT. && .FIRE WEATHER...TUESDAY ISSUED AT 320 AM CDT SUN MAY 12 2013 AFTER HAVING BREEZY...DRYING AND UNSEASONABLY COOL WEATHER THIS WEEKEND...INCLUDING FROST/FREEZE CONDITIONS TONIGHT ACROSS WISCONSIN...CONCERN CONTINUES TO INCREASE ABOUT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ON TUESDAY. MOST LOCATIONS SHOULD SEE HIGHS CLIMB INTO THE 80S...WITH SOME WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER REACHING 90. DEWPOINT FORECASTS REMAIN TRICKY...BUT MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM FALLING INTO THE 30 TO 40 PERCENT RANGE. IT IS POSSIBLE LOCATIONS SAY ALONG AND WEST OF US-52 COULD END UP DROPPING TOWARDS 25 PERCENT. COMBINED WITH SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 20 MPH AND HIGHER GUSTS...THE SITUATION BEARS WATCHING. && .ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WI...FROST ADVISORY FROM 1 AM TO 7 AM CDT MONDAY FOR WIZ032-041-054- 061. FREEZE WARNING FROM 1 AM TO 7 AM CDT MONDAY FOR WIZ017-029-033- 034-042>044-053-055. MN...NONE. IA...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...AJ LONG TERM...AJ AVIATION...RIECK FIRE WEATHER...AJ
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS TUCSON AZ
235 AM MST TUE MAY 14 2013 .SYNOPSIS...A WEAK LOW IN NORTHERN MEXICO WILL PUSH NORTHEAST THROUGH THE AREA TODAY...WITH A CHANCE OF MAINLY MOUNTAIN THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. OTHERWISE...TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE TO HEAT UP DURING THE WORK WEEK WITH HIGHS NEAR 100 DEGREES IN THE LOWER DESERT LOCATIONS AND 90S ELSEWHERE. A STRONGER SYSTEM WILL MOVE NORTH OF THE REGION THIS COMING WEEKEND...RESULTING IN SEVERAL DEGREES OF COOLING AND BREEZY CONDITIONS. && .DISCUSSION...SOME MID CLOUD ENHANCEMENT THIS MORNING ON THE NORTHERN PERIPHERY OF THE WEAKENING LOW IN NORTHWEST MEXICO. A FEW SPRINKLES REACHING THE GROUND UNDER MOSTLY VIRGA EARLY THIS MORNING. SOME BOUNDARY LAYER MOISTURE INCREASE UNDER THE MID LEVEL MOISTURE...AS THE LOW SHEARS INTO NEW MEXICO ON IT`S WAY TO HIGHER LATITUDES OVER THE NEXT 12 TO 24 HOURS. WE SHOULD MANAGE ENOUGH INSTABILITY FOR UNSEASONABLE MODERATE CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT OVER THE MOUNTAINS AS REFLECTED BY LATEST HRRR AND NAMDNG5 TRENDS. LATEST RAPID REFRESH AND PREVIOUS UOFAZ WRF OUTPUT SUGGEST DEVELOPING 250 TO 400 VALLEY CAPE THIS AFTERNOON. COMBINED WITH A LESS FAVORABLE FLOW WE STILL DON`T EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT MUCH CONVECTION IN MOST VALLEY LOCATIONS...HOWEVER SOME ORGANIZED OUTFLOW FROM COLLAPSING STORMS AS THEY TRY TO PUSH INTO VALLEYS EXPECTED AND FEW HUNDREDTHS HERE AND THERE NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION. THE RIDGE CLEANS UP A BIT AS THIS WEAKNESS KICKS WELL NORTHEAST TONIGHT...BUT LOSES GEOMETRY AS THE AXIS SHIFTS EAST OF US THURSDAY WITH A DEVELOPING SYSTEM NEAR THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. AFTER A PAUSE IN THE HEATING TREND TODAY...WE`LL HAVE TIME TO JUMP BACK INTO HOTTER TEMPERATURES WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY BUT STILL HAVING A HARD TIME JUSTIFYING THE FIRST 100 AT TIA...98 OR 99 IS ABOUT ALL WE CAN CURRENTLY SQUEEZE OUT OF THE FORECASTED THICKNESS AND HEIGHT TRENDS. TROUGH PUSHING THROUGH THE REGION FRIDAY INTO THE WEEKEND. AS ONE MIGHT EXPECT FOR THE SECOND HALF OF MAY...DYNAMICS AND BEST MOISTURE WELL NORTH OF OUR CWA BUT WE CAN EXPECT A MODEST COOLING TREND AND GUSTY WINDS OUT OF THE SYSTEM. WEAKENING RIDGE PHASING ACROSS THE AREA EARLY NEXT WEEK COULD BRING THE FIRST 100 FOR TIA MONDAY OR TUESDAY IF WE CAN`T MANAGE IT THIS WEEK. && .AVIATION...SKC-SCT 12KFT AGL LCL BKN 10KFT AGL WITH ISOLD -SHRA. FROM 14/20Z THRU 15/04Z SCT-BKN 12KFT WDLY SCTD -SHRA/TS BKN 8KFT AGL...MAINLY E AND S OF KTUS. AFT 15/04Z...FEW-SCT LCLY BKN 10KFT AGL. SFC WIND E-S 5-10 KTS WITH LCL GUSTS TO 18 KTS...FROM 14/19Z THRU 15/04Z SFC WND W-S 8-15 KTS WITH OCNL GUSTS 18-24 KTS...HIGHER GUSTS NR SHRA/TS E AND S OF KTUS...AFT 15/04Z WIND TERRAIN DRIVEN LESS THAN 10 KTS. AVIATION DISCUSSION NOT UPDATED FOR TAF AMENDMENTS. && .FIRE WEATHER...A WEAK UPPER LOW OVER NORTHERN MEXICO WILL MOVE NORTHEAST TODAY INTO THIS EVENING. ENOUGH MOISTURE IS AROUND FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ISOLATED SHOWERS...POSSIBLY A THUNDERSTORM...FROM TUCSON EAST AND SOUTH. WEAK RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE AREA WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY BEFORE AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH MOVES THROUGH THE INTERMOUNTAIN WEST FRIDAY AND SATURDAY BRINGING BREEZY TO LOCALLY WINDY CONDITIONS TO THE REGION. && .TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && $$ VISIT US ON FACEBOOK...TWITTER...YOUTUBE...AND AT WEATHER.GOV/TUCSON MEYER/GLUECK
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS DES MOINES IA
408 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 .SHORT TERM.../TODAY /... ISSUED AT 407 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 FORECAST CHALLENGE TODAY IS WITH RECORD OR NEAR RECORD HIGH MAX TEMPS...DEW POINTS AND WINDS. MODELS STILL INITIALIZING TOO MOIST WITH THE RAP CONTINUING TO BE THE DRY SOLUTION TODAY. RAP ALSO HAS THE BETTER HANDLE ON THE TEMPS TODAY...SO LEANED CLOSER TO THE RAP SOLUTION. WINDS WILL INCREASE LATE THIS MORNING AND CONTINUE TO MIX DURING THE AFTERNOON WITH RAP SHOWING THE BEST DRY ADIABATIC SOUNDING. MIXING TO 850MB SHOULD TAP INTO THE +25C TEMPERATURES ADVECTING INTO WESTERN TO NORTHERN IOWA BY THIS AFTERNOON. NAM/GFS/ECMWF SOUNDINGS ARE NOT AS AGGRESSIVE WITH THE MIXING TODAY...AND POSSIBLY ONE REASON THESE MODELS OVERDOING THE DEW POINTS. TEMPS OVERNIGHT REMAINING IN THE UPPER 50S/LOWER 60S ACROSS MUCH OF THE FORECAST AREA...AND WITH THE NORTHWEST FORECAST AREA RISING 2-4 DEGREES WARMER MONDAY THAN ANTICIPATED...CONFIDENT ENOUGH TO TWEAK MAX TEMPS UP SLIGHTLY OVER THE WEST AND NORTH. WENT ROUGHLY 3 TO 5 DEGREES ABOVE THE WARMEST GUIDANCE TODAY. WITH THE DRIER DEW POINTS AND RH VALUES COMBINED WITH THE GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS...DECIDED TO UPGRADE TO A RED FLAG WARNING. SEE FIRE WEATHER DISCUSSION FOR FURTHER DETAILS. .LONG TERM.../TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/... ISSUED AT 400 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL DROP SLOWLY SOUTH THROUGH THE STATE OVERNIGHT BEFORE STALLING IN THE ZONAL FLOW JUST SOUTH INTO MISSOURI ON WEDNESDAY. MOISTURE REMAINS QUITE LIMITED WITH THE SYSTEM. ANY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THAT DO FORM WILL BE EXTREMELY HIGH BASED AND ABOVE THE PRIMARY AREA OF FORCING. THIS COMBINED WITH THE LACK OF ASSOCIATED MOISTURE WILL KEEP ANY ACTIVITY QUITE SPARSE. BROAD AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WILL BECOME REFOCUSED OVER WYOMING AND THE WESTERN DAKOTAS THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY. THIS WILL HELP DRIVE THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY BACK NORTH AS A WARM FRONT. PRECIPITATION CHANCES WILL CONTINUE MAINLY OVER THE SOUTH WEDNESDAY BEFORE SPREADING BACK NORTH WITH THE FRONTAL PASSAGE THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK. HAVE MAINTAINED THUNDERSTORM CHANCES ON SATURDAY THOUGH THE SIGNS BEGINNING TO POINT TO THE STATE BEING IN THE WARM SECTOR WITH THE WARM FRONT MOVING NORTH OF THE STATE. WARM AIR ALOFT WOULD LEAVE A FAIR AMOUNT OF CONVECTIVE INHIBITION TO OVERCOME ON SATURDAY. BETTER CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS AND POSSIBLY SEVERE WEATHER WOULD BE SUNDAY AS A THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE BEGINS TO BE SHOVED EAST BY AN UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM ENTERING THE NORTHWESTERN CONUS. THIS WILL INCREASE THE SOUTHWEST FLOW INTO THE STATE EARLY SUNDAY WITH A COLD FRONT ARRIVING LATER IN THE DAY. CERTAINLY A FAVORABLE SETUP FOR SURFACE BASED CONVECTION WITH THE PRIMARY THREATS OF WIND AND HAIL WITH THE TRIPLE POINT WELL TO THE NORTH...BUT IT IS STILL SEVERAL DAYS AWAY. TEMPERATURES THROUGH THE PERIOD WILL BE SEASONAL TO ABOVE NORMAL. POSSIBLY CLOUD COVER ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON TEMPERATURES. THURSDAY ESPECIALLY WILL BE COOLER THAN THE NORTH DUE TO PRECIPITATION AND CLOUDS. LIKELY A RETURN TO THE 80S ON SATURDAY WITH DEWPOINTS POSSIBLY RISING INTO THE 60S. && .AVIATION...14/06Z ISSUED AT 1145 PM CDT MON MAY 13 2013 VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH THE TAF PERIOD...WITH SOUTHERLY WINDS INCREASING THROUGH THE DAY TUESDAY. WINDS TO BECOME MORE SOUTHWESTERLY TO WESTERLY AS A FRONTAL BOUNDARY APPROACHES TUESDAY EVENING. SCT-BKN150 HIGH CLOUDS POSSIBLE THROUGH THE PERIOD. && .FIRE WEATHER... STRONGEST WIND GUSTS AND LOWEST RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES ARE EXPECTED BETWEEN NOON AND 7PM TODAY OVER WESTERN AND NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA. RH VALUES RANGING FROM 17 TO 22 PERCENT AND SUSTAINED WINDS AROUND 25 MPH OR SLIGHTLY HIGHER ARE LIKELY DURING THE AFTERNOON. GFDI VALUES RANGES IN THE MODERATE TO HIGH CATEGORY PAST NOON TODAY AND MAY BARELY BUMP INTO THE EXTREME CATEGORY FOR A FEW HOURS BETWEEN 2PM AND 5PM THIS AFTERNOON. MIXING HEIGHT LOOKS TO BE IN THE 3000 TO 3500 FEET LATE THIS MORNING AND INTO THE AFTERNOON...WITH A SHORT STINT OF MIXING HIGHER. REPLACED THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH WITH A RED FLAG WARNING DUE TO THE VERY LOW RH VALUES...STRONG WINDS...AND FUELS NOT ENTIRELY GREEN YET. && .DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... RED FLAG WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR ADAIR-ADAMS-AUDUBON-BOONE-CALHOUN-CARROLL-CASS-CERRO GORDO- CRAWFORD-DALLAS-EMMET-FRANKLIN-GREENE-GUTHRIE-HAMILTON-HANCOCK- HUMBOLDT-KOSSUTH-PALO ALTO-POCAHONTAS-SAC-WEBSTER-WINNEBAGO- WORTH-WRIGHT. && $$ SHORT TERM...PODRAZIK LONG TERM...DONAVON AVIATION...BEERENDS FIRE WEATHER...PODRAZIK
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MARQUETTE MI
142 AM EDT TUE MAY 14 2013 .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH TUESDAY) ISSUED AT 351 PM EDT MON MAY 13 2013 TWO WAVES/DISTURBANCES WILL BE THE FOCUS FOR THE FORECAST...WITH THE FIRST ONE AFFECTING THE AREA TONIGHT AND THE OTHER TOMORROW AFTERNOON/EVENING. LATEST WV IMAGERY AND RUC ANALYSIS SHOWS THE AREA UNDER RIDGING ALOFT AS THE UPPER TROUGH THAT HAD BEEN AFFECTING THE AREA THIS WEEKEND SHIFTING EAST ACROSS QUEBEC AND AN UPPER RIDGE OVER THE WESTERN CONUS. THERE IS A DECENT AMOUNT OF MOISTURE ROUNDING THE RIDGE WITH A 996MB LOW JUST TO THE WEST OF LAKE WINNIPEG. CLOSER TO HOME...SKIES WERE CLEAR OVER MUCH OF UPPER MICHIGAN THIS MORNING...BUT INCREASING MID-HIGH CLOUDS ARE SPREADING ACROSS THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON. BAND OF RAIN IS STARTING TO MOVE INTO WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR AT THIS TIME AND IS ASSOCIATED WITH A THIN AREA OF 800-500MB MOISTURE AND 700MB F-GEN. EXPECT THE BAND TO CONTINUE EAST-SOUTHEAST THIS EVENING AS THE 700MB F-GEN AND BROAD 850-700MB WARM AIR ADVECTION CONTINUE. BUT...WITH THE 500MB SHORTWAVE AND ASSOCIATED HEIGHT FALLS SHIFTING EAST THROUGH ONTARIO AND WELL NORTH OF THE AREA ALONG WITH BEING UNDER THE WRONG AREA OF THE UPPER JET /RIGHT EXIT/ THE BETTER FORCING ISN/T OVER THE AREA. PLUS...WITH THE DRY AIR IT WILL BE RUNNING INTO...WONDERING IF THAT WILL LIMIT THE INTENSITY SOME. WITH AS PERSISTENT AS IT HAS BEEN TODAY...DID BUMP UP POPS A TOUCH TO GET MORE CHANCE/SCATTERED WORDING IN FOR THIS EVENING...BUT BASED OFF THE LIMITED RAIN AMOUNTS SEEN UPSTREAM /TRACE TO A COUPLE HUNDREDTHS/ DIDN/T WANT TO GO MUCH ABOVE THAT. AS ADDITIONAL 850-700MB MOISTURE SLIDES SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE EASTERN CWA TONIGHT...WOULD THINK THE PRECIPITATION CHANCES SHOULD INCREASE SOME OVERNIGHT. THERE IS LITTLE OR NO INSTABILITY WITH THIS PASSING WAA...AS MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES ARE ONLY AROUND 3-5 C/KM...SO WILL KEEP THUNDER OUT OF THE FORECAST. WITH THE BETTER CONSISTENCY IN THIS MOISTURE ARRIVING OVER THE EAST...DID BUMP UP VALUES TO HIGH CHANCE POPS THERE. EXPECT TO SEE A BRIEF REPRIEVE ON TUESDAY MORNING BEHIND THE INITIAL AREA OF WAA TONIGHT. THIS WILL LIKELY PRODUCE SOME BREAKS OR CLEARING OVER AT LEAST THE WEST HALF OF THE CWA DURING THE MORNING HOURS BEFORE MID-HIGH CLOUDS STREAM BACK INTO THE AREA. THEN...THE SHORTWAVE THAT IS CURRENTLY ENTERING THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST WILL BE MOVING EAST-NORTHEAST ALONG THE US/CANADIAN BORDER AND BE NEAR LAKE WINNIPEG BY 18Z TUESDAY. WARM AIR ADVECTION WILL AGAIN BE ON THE INCREASE FROM WEST TO EAST DURING THE AFTERNOON. MOISTURE WILL ALSO BE LIMITED AS IT MOVES THROUGH THE AREA DURING THE AFTERNOON. BEST MOISTURE AND CLOSEST PROXIMITY TO THE SHORTWAVE WILL BE OVER THE NORTHWEST HALF OF THE CWA...SO WILL HAVE HIGHEST POPS THEIR DURING THE LATTER PART OF THE AFTERNOON. QPF/REFLECTIVITY FROM HIGH RESOLUTION MODEL RUNS SEEM TO MATCH THIS IDEA AND LEADS TO GREATER CONFIDENCE. ELEVATED INSTABILITY IS MARGINAL ALONG/NORTH THE WARM FRONT...WITH THE BEST INSTABILITY FARTHER SOUTHWEST AND AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT. THIS IS LARGELY DUE TO THE MID-LEVEL LAPSE RATES STRUGGLING TO GET ABOVE 6C/KM. THUS...THUNDER POTENTIAL WILL BE SLIM THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HOURS. IF ANY ELEVATED THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP...WOULDN/T EXPECT THEM TO BE TOO STRONG...AS EFFECTIVE SHEAR VALUES WILL LIKELY BE BELOW 30KTS THROUGH 00Z ACROSS ALL BUT THE FAR SOUTHWEST CWA. AFTER A COOL WEEKEND...TEMPERATURES HAVE STARTED TO REBOUND TODAY AND EXPECT IT TO CONTINUE ON TUESDAY. THE WARM AIR ADVECTING INTO THE AREA ON TUESDAY ALONG WITH INCREASING SOUTHERLY FLOW SHOULD LEAD TO HIGHS IN THE LOWER 70S OVER THE FAR WEST AND A GRADIENT TO THE 50S OVER THE EAST HALF. .LONG TERM...(TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY) ISSUED AT 351 PM EDT MON MAY 13 2013 MUCH OF THIS PERIOD WILL BE MARKED BY THE PRESENCE OF A 70KT OR GREATER 250MB JET OVER UPPER MICHIGAN AND/OR LAKE SUPERIOR...AT LEAST FROM TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING. THIS WILL KEEP THE AREA IN A RELATIVELY BUSY WEATHER PATTERN...IN BETWEEN THE DOME OF HOT AIR OVER MUCH OF THE WESTERN HALF OF THE NATION...AND COLDER AIR RESIDING OVER CANADA. WE WILL START OUT TUESDAY NIGHT WITH A STACKED 500MB TROUGH-SFC LOW SET UP JUST NORTH OF CYRL IN WESTERN MANITOBA. A COLD FRONT WILL EXTEND S FROM THE SFC LOW...THROUGH THE EASTERN THIRD OF MN TO A SECONDARY SFC LOW/TRIPLE POINT THAT MAY BE DEVELOPING NEAR KDLH. THE LOCATION OF THE WARM FRONT IS KEY...LIKELY SET UP FROM THE ARROWHEAD OF MN DOWN AND NEAR THE WI BORDER OF UPPER MI AT 00Z WEDNESDAY. AS IS TYPICAL...THESE SPLITTING SYSTEMS CAN DEVELOP AND ROB US OF MOISTURE...AS CONVECTION POPS UP OVER WI. EXPECT WAA...LIMITED FORCING WILL LIKELY PERSIST...WITH MUCH OF THE BEST FORCING CLOSER TO THE MAIN SFC/500MB TROUGH ACROSS ONTARIO /WHERE AN AVERAGE QUARTER OF AN INCH OR MORE OF RAIN IS EXPECTED/. WE LOOK TO BE IN A PRETTY CAPPED ENVIRONMENT...WITH THE BEST CHANCE FOR ANY STRONGER SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTH CENTRAL AND EASTERN UPPER MI DURING THE LATE EVENING HOURS...AND EVEN THEN LIKELY ELEVATED ABOVE THE DRY AIR. THE SOUTHERN LOW/COLD FRONT WILL BE OVER EASTERN UPPER MI/LAKE SUPERIOR BY 09Z WEDNESDAY...AND EAST OF UPPER MI BY 12Z. COOLER/DRIER AIR WILL SWEEP IN FOR WEDNESDAY...WITH 850MB TEMPS FALLING FROM A MAX 14-18C OVERNIGHT TO AN AVERAGE 7-8C DURING THE DAY WEDNESDAY. PW VALUES FALL TO 0.37 TO 0.44IN...OR 60-70 PERCENT OF NORMAL...WITH THE LOWEST VALUES AWAY FROM THE KEWEENAW PENINSULA AND EXTREME S CENTRAL UPPER MI. EXPECT A MORE MODERATED AIRMASS FROM MUNISING EASTWARD AS MORE MOIST AIR SLIDES IN NEAR THE SHORELINE. A WORST CASE SCENARIO...WITH THE NAM MIXING UP TO 650-700MB DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS...DEW POINTS MIXING DOWN INTO THE UPPER 20S /F/ WOULD RESULT IN AFTERNOON MIN RH VALUES OF 19-25 PERCENT FROM JUST E OF IWD TO NORTHERN DELTA COUNTY...WITH GUSTS 25-30KTS. ON A POSITIVE NOTE...THE LATEST MODEL RUNS ARE NOT QUITE AS STRONG WITH THE WINDS. WILL NEED TO WAIT AND SEE IF THIS TREND HOLDS. IF LIMITED...OR NO...PRECIPITATION FALLS TUESDAY NIGHT...FIRE CONCERNS WILL BE ELEVATED. BEHIND THE ELONGATED LOW SHIFTING EAST INTO QUEBEC WEDNESDAY NIGHT...DRY WEATHER WILL REMAIN THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING...WITH COOL WEST TO NORTHWEST FLOW LINGERING. EXPECT THE RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE TO BE DIRECTLY OVERHEAD ON THURSDAY...WITH LIGHT WINDS AND LAKE BREEZES EXPECTED. OUR NEXT WEATHER MAKER WILL BE ORGANIZING ACROSS THE CENTRAL PLAINS FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY...BEFORE SHIFTING TOWARD MN AND IA SATURDAY NIGHT. THE SFC LOW WILL SIT AND SPIN BEFORE FINALLY EXITING NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS W LAKE SUPERIOR AROUND 06Z MONDAY AND SOUTHERN ONTARIO DURING THE DAY MONDAY...AS THE 500MB TROUGH/LOW DIVES ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS SUNDAY INTO SUNDAY NIGHT. ADDED TS CHANCES SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY MORNING...BEFORE THE END TO THE BULK OF MOISTURE. AT THIS POINT IT LOOKS LIKE THERE WILL BE A GOOD CHANCE OF SOAKING RAIN OVER THE FAR W PORTIONS OF UPPER MI FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY...WITH ANOTHER ROUND POSSIBLE LATER SUNDAY INTO MONDAY AS THE COLD FRONT SWINGS THROUGH. OTHER THAN SUNDAY TIMING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE 12Z RUNS OF THE GFS AND ECMWF...THE FCST MODELS ARE IN NORMAL TO SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL AGREEMENT. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z TUESDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 139 AM EDT TUE MAY 14 2013 VFR CONDITIONS REMAIN THE RULE AT ALL THREE TAF SITES THROUGH THE FORECAST PERIOD. CLOUD COVER AND RAIN SHOWERS HAVE ALL BUT EXITED KIWD AREA AND WILL MOVE OUT OF KCMX BY 8Z...AND KSAW SHORTLY AFTER THEN. WEAK RIDGING ALOFT BEHIND THE DISTURBANCE WILL REDUCE CLOUD COVER UNTIL THE APPROACH OF THE NEXT SHORT WAVE BRINGS INCREASING MID AND HIGH CLOUDS TO THE AREA IN THE LATE AFTERNOON/EVENING. AT THIS TIME...BETTER MOISTURE AND LOW LEVEL FORCING TO BE FOUND SOUTH OF THE AREA IN WI...WHILE BETTER DYNAMIC LIFT LOCATED NORTH OF THE BORDER...LEAVING THE THREE TAF SITES IN BETWEEN. WITH NO STRONG SIGNAL...WILL JUST MENTION VCSH AT KIWD AND KCMX AND WILL LEAVE OUT OF KSAW FOR NOW. && .MARINE...(FOR THE 4 PM LAKE SUPERIOR FORECAST ISSUANCE) ISSUED AT 351 PM EDT MON MAY 13 2013 HIGH PRESSURE WILL DEPART THE AREA THIS EVENING. THIS WILL LEAD TO INCREASING SOUTHERLY FLOW TONIGHT INTO TUESDAY AHEAD OF A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVING EAST THROUGH SOUTHERN CANADA. AT THIS POINT...THE INCREASING WARM AIR ABOVE THE SURFACE SHOULD LIMIT GUST TO 20KTS IN MOST LOCATIONS FOR OVERNIGHT TONIGHT AND TUESDAY. DISPITE A COUPLE OF SIGNIFICANT SYSTEMS PUSHING THROUGH THE AREA TUESDAY-TUESDAY NIGHT...AND AGAIN THIS WEEKEND...WINDS ARE CURRENTLY ANTICIPATED TO REMAIN BELOW 30KTS. IT IS THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN...THERE WILL BE A ROUND OF THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE TUESDAY AFTERNOON OVER WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR...PUSHING EASTWARD OVERNIGHT AND ENDING EARLY WEDNESDAY. ANOTHER ROUND OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE WEST ON SATURDAY/SATURDAY NIGHT...AND ACROSS ALL OF LAKE SUPERIOR SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY MORNING. && .MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... UPPER MICHIGAN... NONE. LAKE SUPERIOR... NONE. LAKE MICHIGAN... NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...SRF LONG TERM...KF AVIATION...RJT MARINE...SRF/KF
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
443 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 .FIRE WEATHER... ISSUED AT 440 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 A RED FLAG WARNING NOW COVERS ALL OF OUR MN COUNTIES FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. A DRY SURGE OF HEAT WILL OCCUR TODAY WITH AFTERNOON HUMIDITY VALUES LOWERING TO A FEW PERCENT ABOVE AND BELOW 20. THE VERY LOW HUMIDITY COUPLED WITH SOUTHWEST TO WEST WINDS FROM 20 TO 25 MPH ...WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH... COULD LEAD TO DANGEROUS WILDFIRE CONDITIONS. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 440 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 THERE ARE MANY CONCERNS TODAY AS A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM AND COLD FRONT MOVE ACROSS THE FA DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. A SMALL COMPLEX OF THUNDERSTORMS DID DEVELOP OVER NORTH DAKOTA OVERNIGHT AS EXPECTED. THIS AREA OF PRECIPITATION WILL ADVANCE ACROSS NORTHERN MN THIS MORNING. CONSENSUS FROM THE WRF MODELS WAS LITTLE (SPRINKLES) OR NOTHING REACHING DOWN INTO CENTRAL MN OTHER THAN SOME CLOUDS. BY LATE MORNING...THE LOW AND COLD FRONT SHOULD BE INTO FAR WESTERN AREAS OF MN. SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE AHEAD OF THE FRONT WHILE RATHER STRONG WEST/NORTHWEST WINDS OCCUR IN THE WAKE OF THE FRONT. A LOW LEVEL THERMAL RIDGE WILL ADVANCE NORTHEAST FROM THE CENTRAL PLAINS AND REACH INTO THE TWIN CITIES BY LATE IN THE AFTERNOON. THE SHORT TERM MODELS REMAIN CONSISTENT ON 23-26 DEG C AIR AT 850MB FROM THE TWIN CITIES ON SOUTHWEST INTO NORTHERN IA RESPECTIVELY. HIGHS RECENTLY TO OUR WEST AND NORTHWEST (CANADA) HAVE BEEN RUNNING REAL CLOSE TO 20 DEGREES ABOVE THESE CONVERTED VALUES. THIS WOULD YIELD HIGHS FROM 93 TO 99 DEGREES. AS A RESULT... OUR CURRENT FORECAST WAS RAISED A FEW DEGREES... ESPECIALLY ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL MN... WHERE THE RAP SOUNDINGS WERE SHOWING HIGHS OF 100-103. THIS ALSO RESULTED IN A RECORD HIGH BEING FORECAST FOR THE TWIN CITIES. THE HEAT TODAY HAS LEAD TO THE ISSUANCE OF A HEAT ADVISORY FROM THE TWIN CITIES ON SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST TO ALBERT LEA AND REDWOOD FALLS. THIS IS A DRY HEAT BEING ACCOMPANIED BY 20 TO 25 MPH WINDS DURING THE AFTERNOON... WHICH MAY LEAD TO DEHYDRATION ISSUES FOR THOSE WORKING OUTSIDE. ANOTHER IMPORTANT ISSUE IS THAT THE TWIN CITIES HAS ONLY BEEN IN THE 80S ONCE SO FAR THIS YEAR WITH 81 DEGREES ON APRIL 28TH. THIS BURST OF HEAT MAY LEAD TO HEALTH ISSUES. ANOTHER CONCERN TODAY IS THE POTENTIAL FOR WIND ADVISORY CRITERIA BEING MET IN THE NORTHWEST CWA IN THE MID TO LATE AFTERNOON HOURS. THE RAP LOW LEVEL WINDS IN THE 200-300 FOOT RANGE ARE FORECAST IN THE UPPER 20 KNOT RANGE. THIS IS THE HIGHEST OF ALL THE GUIDANCE. THE NAM WINDS WERE MORE IN THE 23-24 KNOT RANGE WHICH BLENDED WELL WITH THE LAMP GUIDANCE. CRITERIA FOR A WIND ADVISORY HAS A BETTER CHANCE OF BEGIN MET OVER NORTH DAKOTA. AT THIS POINT WE HELD OFF ON ISSUING AN ADVISORY. FINALLY...ALTHOUGH A STRONG CAP EXISTS IN THE 700-750MB RANGE TODAY...THERE REMAINS SOME POTENTIAL FOR CONVECTION TO BREACH THE CAP AND DEVELOP DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON/EVENING ALONG THE FRONT... MAINLY TO THE EAST AND SOUTH OF THE TWIN CITIES. WE KEPT THE SMALL CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS AS IS. OUR LOCAL WRF WAS THE MOST AGGRESSIVE WITH ACTIVITY DEVELOPING FROM JUST SOUTH OF THE TWIN CITIES TO OMAHA AROUND 21Z...WHILE THE NMM WRF HAS SOME STORMS JUST EAST OF US. MOST OF THE SOLUTIONS SHOW A HIGHER CHANCE FOR STORMS OVER IA TONIGHT AS WELL AS IN NORTHEAST WI. GIVEN THE SHEAR FORECAST...STORMS THAT DO DEVELOP COULD BECOME SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS... ESPECIALLY WITH THE INVERTED V SOUNDING. NAM DOWNDRAFT CAPE VALUES ARE ON THE ORDER OF 1000 J/KG OVER WEST CENTRAL WI AND SE MN LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. .LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY) ISSUED AT 415 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY...QUIET AND SEASONABLE WEATHER WILL GIVE WAY TO A WETTER PATTERN AT THE END OF THE PERIOD. SEVERE WEATHER IS ALSO POSSIBLE FOR THE WEEKEND. EARLY MORNING NORTHERN HEMISPHERIC IR IMAGERY TOGETHER WITH THE ECMWF 250MB HEIGHTS AND WINDS IDENTIFIED ZONAL FLOW ACROSS THE WESTERN CONUS...WITH A LOW AMPLITUDE PATTERN ACROSS THE PACIFIC. FOR WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY THIS ZONAL FLOW WILL SET UP ACROSS INTERNATIONAL BORDER...WITH NEGATIVE VORTICITY ADVECTION AND WEAK SUBSIDENCE ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST. THIS WILL RESULT IN TWO DRY DAYS WITH LIGHT WINDS AND TEMPERATURES 5 TO 10 DEGREES ABOVE THE SEASONAL AVERAGE FOR MID MAY. BY THURSDAY NIGHT THE AFOREMENTIONED LOW AMPLITUDE JET ACROSS THE PACIFIC WILL BEGIN TO DIG ACROSS THE WESTERN US...WITH A BROAD AREA OF LEE SIDE TROUGHING ALONG THE EASTERN SPINE OF THE ROCKIES. THIS WILL INDUCE SOUTHERLY FLOW WITH GULF MOISTURE TRANSPORT ACROSS THE CENTRAL CONUS...AND GRADUALLY BUILD AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY. MEANWHILE THE COLD FRONT THAT WILL HAVE PASSED THROUGH THE AREA ON TUESDAY AND STALL OUT ACROSS SOUTHERN IOWA WILL LIFT NORTHWARD AS A WARM FRONT. LOW LEVEL THETA_E ADVECTION AS SEEN IN THE H925-850 LAYER SHOULD PROMOTE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE WARM FRONT...WHILE THE UPPER LEVEL ANTICYCLONIC FLOW ALOFT ALLOWS EVACUATES THE OUTFLOW FROM THESES STORMS AND ALLOWS THEM TO PERSIST. DIFFICULT TO QUANTIFY THE CONVECTIVE POTENTIAL SINCE THE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE HAS BEEN UNRELIABLE LATELY. HOWEVER...THE SYNOPTIC SETUP WITH GULF MOISTURE ADVECTION INCREASES CONFIDENCE THAT THESE MOISTURE DEPENDENT VARIABLES...A.K.A. CAPE...ARE REASONABLY REPRESENTED. DEEP LAYER SHEAR PROFILES VARY DEPENDING ON THE TIMING AND PLACEMENT OF THE WARM FRONT...BUT BOTH THE 14.12 GFS AND ECMWF ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT AND LIFT THE FRONT THROUGH THE CWA ON FRIDAY. MEANWHILE THE UPPER LEVEL JET WILL CONTINUE TO CARVE OUT A TROUGH OVER THE FOUR CORNERS REGION. THE GFS...GEM...AND ECMWF ALL DEVELOP A SURFACE LOW AND TRACK IT ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST FOR THE WEEKEND...BRINGING CONTINUED CHANCES FOR PRECIP. THE RUN TOTAL PRECIP FROM THE GFS AND ECMWF INDICATE THAT OVER 3 INCHES OF RAIN ARE POSSIBLE. WITH THIS PROLONGED PERIOD OF PRECIP. IN SUMMATION...EXPECT AN MCS TO DEVELOP THURSDAY NIGHT AND MOVE ACROSS THE REGION FRIDAY AS THE WARM FRONT LIFTS NORTHWARD. THEN WILL SEE CONTINUES CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AS THE UPPER LEVEL DYNAMICS BECOME MORE FAVORABLE FOR ASCENT. SEVERE WEATHER REMAINS POSSIBLE...BUT CONFIDENCE IN THE EXACT PLACEMENT OF THE MESOSCALE FEATURES IS LOW AT THIS TIME. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z TUESDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 1201 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH THE TAF PERIOD WITH JUST SOME HIGH CLOUDS POSSIBLE. WIND WILL BE THE BIGGEST AVIATION WEATHER CONCERN TOMORROW. WE SHOULD SEE PLENTY OF GUSTS BETWEEN 20-30 KTS IN MN BY THE LATE MORNING OUT OF THE S-SW. WIND WILL FOLLOW IN WI 2-3 HOURS LATER. EXPECT GUSTS NEAR OR OVER 30 KTS IN MANY LOCATIONS BY THE AFTERNOON. NO REAL CONCERN WITH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OUTSIDE OF FAR EASTERN MN AND WESTERN WI TOMORROW AFTERNOON AND EVENING. INCLUDE VCTS IN THE FORECAST FOR KEAU...BUT CONFIDENCE IN STORM DEVELOPMENT AND COVERAGE IS STILL A BIG QUESTION MARK. KMSP... NO CONCERNS WITH THE CEILINGS OR VISIBILITY OVER THE NEXT 30 HOURS. THERE IS A SLIM CHANCE FOR A SHOWER OR THUNDERSTORM TOMORROW AFTERNOON...BUT EVEN IF WE WERE CONFIDENT IN DEVELOPMENT...THE COVERAGE LOOKS BETTER TO THE EAST AND IT SHOULD EVEN BE ISOLATED WHERE IT DOES OCCUR. WINDS WILL BE STRONG OUT OF THE S-SW BY THE AFTERNOON AND SLOWLY VEER AND REMAIN STRONG THROUGH THE EVENING PUSH. /OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/ WED...VFR. NW WINDS 10 KTS. THU...VFR. WINDS W 5 KTS. FRI...MVFR POSSIBLE WITH CHC -TSRA. WINDS SE 5-10 KTS. && .MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MN...RED FLAG WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093. HEAT ADVISORY FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR MNZ059>063-065>070-073>077-082>085-091>093. WI...NONE. && $$ FIRE WEATHER...RAH SHORT TERM...RAH LONG TERM...JRB AVIATION...CLF
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS GRAND FORKS ND
355 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 .SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY) ISSUED AT 355 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 FORECAST CHALLENGES INCLUDE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THIS MORNING...FOLLOWED BY STRONG WINDS AND CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON. GFS/NAM/ECMWF/GEM ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT...BUT WILL USE LATEST HRRR FOR PRECIPITATION TRENDS THROUGH 18 UTC. THEREAFTER...A BLENDED SOLUTION SHOULD SUFFICE. 08 UTC WATER VAPOR LOOP SHOWS A STRONG...YET PROGRESSIVE SHORT WAVE MOVING ALONG THE CANADIAN BORDER AND INTO NORTHEAST MT. A CLUSTER OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DEVELOPED ACROSS CENTRAL ND IN AN AREA OF WEAK ELEVATED INSTABILITY AND INCREASED DIVERGENCE ALOFT AHEAD OF A SURFACE COLD FRONT WHICH STRETCHES FROM NEAR WILLISTON TO MILES CITY MT. LATEST HRRR SHOWS THIS CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY MOVING EASTWARD THROUGH THE EARLY MORNING AND INTO THE MN ARROWHEAD AFTER 15 UTC. INCREASED POPS FROM 60 TO 80 PERCENT ACROSS THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA THIS MORNING WHERE A QUICK QUARTER INCH OF RAIN IS POSSIBLE... ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE AREAS THAT SEE THUNDERSTORMS. THE COLD FRONT IS FORECAST TO REACH THE VALLEY FLOOR BY 18 UTC. WITH STRONG LOW-MID LEVEL COLD AIR ADVECTION IN ITS WAKE...AN ADIABATIC BOUNDARY LAYER TO 750 HPA AND 30 TO 40 KTS TO MIX DOWN...EXPECT WINDY CONDITIONS TO DEVELOP FROM WEST TO EAST THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. WEST WINDS FROM 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ACROSS THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF EASTERN ND NECESSITATES A WIND ADVISORY FROM 17 TO 02 UTC FOR ALL AREAS EXPECT THE FAR EASTERN COUNTIES. WILL CANCEL THE HIGH WIND WATCH AS WINDS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO REACH CRITERIA. HIGH TEMPERATURES TODAY STILL EXPECTED TO CLIMB INTO THE MID 70S TO MID 80S BEFORE FRONTAL PASSAGE AND WHEN COMBINED WITH STRONG WINDS AND LOW RH WILL CREATE DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. SEE DISCUSSION BELOW FOR MORE DETAIL. THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY WILL BE DRY AS SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS ACROSS THE REGION. WINDS WILL DIMINISH SOMEWHAT AFTER SUNSET...BUT REMAIN ELEVATED FROM THE WEST-NORTHWEST TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY. TOMORROW WILL BE A BIT COOLER WITH AFTERNOON HIGHS IN THE 70S. .LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY) ISSUED AT 355 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MOST OF THURSDAY WILL BE DRY...BUT EXPECT PRECIPITATION CHANCES TO INCREASE THURSDAY NIGHT AHEAD OF THE NEXT PACIFIC TROUGH. GFS/ECMWF BOTH SHOW A WIDE SWATH OF SHOWERS AND STORMS MOVING INTO EASTERN ND BY 12 UTC FRIDAY. INCREASED POPS INTO THE HIGH CHANCE CATEGORY...BUT IF MODEL TRENDS CONTINUE... WILL NEED TO INCREASE FURTHER. DON/T EXPECT MUCH TEMPERATURE CHANGE FROM WEDNESDAY WITH THURSDAY/S HIGHS IN THE 70S. 00Z ECMWF/GFS WERE IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH OVERALL PATTERN FRI-MON IN SHOWING A LARGE 500 MB TROUGH OVER THE ROCKIES LIFTING NORTHEAST INTO THE NRN PLAINS AND EVENTUAL 500 MB LOW FORMATION IN MINNESOTA. THIS LEADS TO AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF PRECIPITATION CHANCES THRU THE PD. SHOWWALTERS FROM THE MODELS PROG INDICATE SOME THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL FRI-SUN THEN MOSTLY SHOWERS ON MONDAY. OVER THE 4 DAY PERIOD...SOME HEAVY RAINFALL TOTALS ARE POSSIBLE SOMEWHERE IN OUR REGION AS PWATS INCREASE TO 1.50 INCHES OVER SE ND INTO NRN MN. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z TUESDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 1154 PM CDT MON MAY 13 2013 VFR CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD. A FEW SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE 09Z AND AFTER AROUND KDVL AND FURTHER EAST LATER ON. WINDS WILL PICK UP OUT OF THE WEST AFTER 18Z WITH 20 TO 30 KTS AND GUSTS ABOVE 35 KTS. WINDS WILL DIMINISH AFTER 01Z WEDNESDAY. && .FIRE WEATHER... ISSUED AT 355 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 WILL ISSUE RED FLAG WARNING FOR ALL OF ERN ND INTO MUCH OF NW/WCNTRL MN (EXCEPT LAKE OF THE WOODS AND NORTH BELTRAMI REGIONS) FOR 17Z TUE TO 02Z WED. EVENING DISCUSSION WITH MN FIRE AGENCY INDICATES FUELS ARE DRY AND PRIME. WILDFIRE ONGOING NEAR GRYGLA IN SOUTHEASTERN MARSHALL COUNTY. FUELS REMAIN DRY IN ERN ND AS WELL...THOUGH PARTS OF NE ND AND FAR NW MN WILL SEE SOME RAINFALL THIS MORNING. THE EXTENT OF RAINFALL THIS MORNING IS STILL UNCERTAIN. AIDING IN FIRE POTENTIAL IS STRONG WESTERLY WINDS THAT WILL SPREAD EAST BEHIND THE COLD FRONT INTO ERN ND MIDDAY AND INTO NW/WCNTRL MN THIS AFTN WITH GUSTS 40-50 MPH IN ERN ND AND 35 TO 45 MPH IN THE PRAIRIE REGIONS OF NW/WCNTRL MN. THUS RED FLAG WARNING ISSUED. NOW HOURLY TRENDS OF RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL BE A CHALLENGE AND VERY DIFFICULT TO FORECAST FOR DUE TO IMPACTS OF ANY MORNING PRECIP AND LOCATION. THUS COULD HAVE WIDE VARIATIONS THIS MORNING-MIDDAY UNTIL THE FRONT AND WESTERLY WINDS ARRIVE. && .HYDROLOGY... ISSUED AT 1258 PM CDT MON MAY 13 2013 RIVER FLOOD WARNINGS CONTINUE ON THE RED RIVER AT OSLO...DRAYTON AND PEMBINA. RIVER STAGES AT DRAYTON AND PEMBINA ARE CONTINUING A SLOW RECESSION...WITH STAGES AT OSLO FALLING MORE RAPIDLY. OTHERWISE...MOST OTHER POINTS ON THE MAINSTEM RED AND ON THE ND/MN TRIBUTARIES SHOW RECEDING OR NEARLY STEADY LEVELS. && .FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ND...RED FLAG WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR NDZ006>008-014>016-024-026>030-038-039-049-052>054. WIND ADVISORY FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR NDZ006>008-014>016-024-026>030-038-039-049-052>054. MN...RED FLAG WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR MNZ001>005-007-008-013>017-022>024-027>032-040. WIND ADVISORY FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR MNZ001>005-007-008-013>016-022-023-027>031-040. && $$ SHORT TERM...ROGERS LONG TERM...ROGERS/RIDDLE AVIATION...JR FIRE WEATHER...RIDDLE HYDROLOGY...SPEICHER
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS SIOUX FALLS SD
343 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 343 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 MAIN CHALLENGE FOR TODAY WILL BE WINDS/HUMIDITY LEVELS/ASSOCIATED FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS IN MIXY ENVIRONMENT AHEAD OF AND BEHIND COOL FRONT WHICH WILL PUSH SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH THE DAY. LOW LEVEL TEMPERATURES AHEAD OF THE FRONT EASILY SUPPORTIVE OF MID 90S ACROSS MUCH OF NORTHWEST IOWA THIS AFTERNOON...WITH SOME MODELS SHOWING POTENTIAL FOR HIGHS CLOSER TO OR JUST ABOVE THE CENTURY MARK. WITH THE STRONG MIXING COMES LIKELIHOOD OF MIXING DRIER AIR ALOFT TO THE SURFACE. MODELS HAVE BEEN HAVING DIFFICULTY CAPTURING THE DIURNAL DRYING TREND WITH AFTERNOON MIXING...HANGING ONTO SHALLOW MOISTURE OR MIXING BOUNDARY LAYER MOISTURE UPWARD RATHER THAN BRINGING DRIER AIR TO SURFACE AS DEEPER MIXING COMMENCES. RUC SEEMS TO HANDLE IT BETTER THAN NAM/GFS...AND MORE CLOSELY FOLLOWED THAT IDEA THROUGH THE LATE MORNING/AFTERNOON...THOUGH NOT QUITE AS DRY AS RUC INDICATES AT THIS POINT GIVEN EXTREME DISPARITY FROM OTHER MODELS /AS MUCH AS 10-15F DRIER THAN MOST OTHER GUIDANCE FOR 21Z/. DRIEST AIR SHOULD BE OVER FAR SOUTHEAST AND WESTERN PARTS OF THE FORECAST AREA DURING PEAK HEATING...WITH SLIGHT MOISTURE POOLING IN SOMEWHAT LESS MIXY AREA RIGHT ALONG THE FRONT...FORECAST TO BE JUST EAST OF KYKN-KFSD-KMML LINE AT 21Z. ALL THIS LEADS TO MINIMUM HUMIDITY LEVELS OF 15-25 PERCENT THIS AFTERNOON... AND THIS ALONG WITH WINDS GUSTING IN THE 25-30KT RANGE STILL SUPPORTIVE OF RED FLAG WARNING WHICH WAS ISSUED ON THE DAY SHIFT YESTERDAY. COLD FRONT SETTLES SOUTH OF THE AREA TONIGHT...WITH COOLING TEMPERATURES AND DYING WINDS OVERNIGHT. LOWS LOOK TO DROP INTO THE UPPER 40S NORTHWEST...TO MID 50S THROUGH THE LOWER MISSOURI RIVER VALLEY INTO NORTHWESTERN IOWA. .LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY) ISSUED AT 343 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS SOUTHWARD INTO THE REGION ON WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT...PROVIDING FOR PLEASANT CONDITIONS WITH TEMPERATURES CLOSE TO NORMAL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR. THIS WILL PLAY OUT TO HIGHS IN THE MID AND UPPER 70S...WITH LOWS EARLY ON THURSDAY IN THE UPPER 40S TO LOWER 50S. THE HIGH MOVES EASTWARD ON THURSDAY WITH A SOUTHERLY FLOW RETURNING TO OUR AREA ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE HIGH. THINK MOST OF THE DAY WILL REMAIN DRY WITH WARMING TEMPERATURES...INTO THE UPPER 70S TO AROUND 80 FOR AFTERNOON HIGHS. CANNOT RULE OUT SOME THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT IN OUR SOUTHWEST LATER IN THE AFTERNOON...WITH A BETTER CHANCE ON THURSDAY NIGHT AS A WARM FRONT BEGINS TO LIFT THROUGH NEBRASKA AND 850 MB CONVERGENCE IS ENHANCED AS A LOW LEVEL JET DEVELOPS THROUGH THE REGION. DOES APPEAR TO BE ENOUGH ELEVATED CAPE...500 TO 1000 J/KG...AND EFFECTIVE SHEAR OF AROUND 30 KTS IN THE EVENING THAT CANNOT RULE OUT A COUPLE OF SEVERE STORMS WITH LARGE HAIL. A MESSY PATTERN CONTINUES THROUGH THE EXTENDED...FRIDAY INTO MONDAY OF NEXT WEEK...WITH PERIODIC CHANCES OF CONVECTION THROUGH THE PERIOD WITH A BOUNDARY MEANDERING AROUND THE AREA AND A SERIES OF SUBTLE WAVES TRACKING ACROSS THE REGION. HARD TO TIME THIS CONVECTION DEPENDENT ON WHERE SYNOPTIC/MESOSCALE FEATURES SET UP...BUT WITH INCREASING LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND INSTABILITY ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH THE WEEKEND THERE IS FAIRLY HIGH CONFIDENCE THAT CONVECTION WILL OCCUR. CONVECTIVE PARAMETERS WOULD ALSO SUGGEST THAT SEVERE STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR THOSE DAYS. AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH FINALLY SWINGS OUT OF THE WESTERN U.S. ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY...KEEPING A CHANCE OF CONVECTION ACROSS THE REGION...AS WELL AS BRINGING A COOLING TREND. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z TUESDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 1045 PM CDT MON MAY 13 2013 VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE PERIOD. LIGHT WESTERLY FLOW SHOULD GRADUALLY BECOME MORE SOUTHERLY THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT. GUSTY CONDITIONS WILL RETURN 14-15 Z WITH WINDS SHIFTING TO THE NORTHWEST THROUGHOUT THE DAY TUESDAY AS A COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH. THE GUSTY CONDITIONS SHOULD SUBSIDE WITH SUNSET. && .FIRE WEATHER... ISSUED AT 343 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 RED FLAG WARNING STILL LOOKS WARRANTED FOR THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH AHEAD OF COOL FRONT WILL SWITCH TO NORTHWEST BEHIND THE FRONT AND REMAIN AS STRONG. ALONG WITH THE GUSTY WINDS WILL BE DRY RELATIVE HUMIDITY LEVELS IN THE 15 TO 25 PERCENT RANGE...AS DRY AND UNSEASONABLY WARM AIR ALOFT MIXES TO THE SURFACE. AREAS RIGHT ALONG THE FRONT MAY NOT SEE AS SUSTAINED A PERIOD OF RED FLAG CRITERIA DUE TO MOISTURE POOLING AND LIGHTER/LESS GUSTY WINDS WITHIN THE FRONTAL ZONE...BUT SHOULD STILL REACH CRITERIA AT TIMES. RECENT GREENING OF COOL SEASON GRASSES MAY SLOW FIRE STARTS ACROSS THE AREA...BUT ANY FIRES THAT DO IGNITE WILL SPREAD VERY QUICKLY IN THE LINGERING DORMANT TALL GRASSES. SOME MODELS ALSO INDICATE POTENTIAL FOR EVEN WARMER/DRIER AIR MIXING TO THE SURFACE AHEAD OF THE FRONT...MAINLY IN NORTHWEST IOWA THIS AFTERNOON...SO THIS WILL BE WATCHED CLOSELY THROUGHOUT THE DAY. && .FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...RED FLAG WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR SDZ255>258. MN...RED FLAG WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR MNZ900. IA...RED FLAG WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR IAZ300-301. NE...RED FLAG WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR NEZ249. && $$ SHORT TERM...JH/JM LONG TERM...JM AVIATION... FIRE WEATHER...JH
FORECAST DISCUSSION FOR ROUTINE MORNING FORECAST ISSUANCE

.SHORT TERM...TODAY...TONIGHT...AND WEDNESDAY ISSUED AT 436 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 FORECAST CONCERNS ON TEMPERATURES TODAY AND CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING. HAVE TRENDED TOWARDS GEM/NAM FOR GUIDANCE ON THIS PACKAGE. ECMWF NOW TRENDING TOWARDS NAM WITH BETTER CHANCE FOR PCPN A BIT FURTHER SOUTH INTO CENTRAL WI CLOSER TO WARM FRONT POSITION. LAST EVENING SOUNDINGS SHOWS WHAT THE ISSUE WITH THIS FORECAST...THAT BEING TOO DRY. AREA OF HIGH BASED SHOWERS WENT THROUGH LAST NIGHT AROUND MIDNIGHT ASSOCIATED WITH STRONG WAA/850 WARM FRONT. NOTHING MORE THAN SPRINKLES SEEN. MID CLOUDINESS NOW EXITING EASTERN WI. FOCUS ON FAST MOVING SHORT WAVE ALONG CANADIAN BORDER AND FRONTAL SYSTEM NOW MOVING THROUGH NORTHERN PLAINS. BY MID AFTERNOON...WARM FRONT TO LIFT NORTH INTO SOUTHWEST WI. RATHER WARM AIR MASS TO PUSH INTO STATE TODAY WITH 850 TEMPS INTO THE 20S OVER CENTRAL WI. WITH STEEP MID-LEVEL LAPSE RATES BETWEEN 8 AND 9 C/KM....AND WARM FRONT...WILL CONTINUE TO CARRY SMALL/ISOLD CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS. MODEL SOUNDINGS SUGGEST STRONG CIN THROUGH THE DAY GIVEN DRY AIRMASS BELOW 600MB. SOUNDINGS ALSO SHOW CAPE HIGH BASED...MAINLY ABOVE 600MB. THIS TO LEAD TO HIGH BASED THUNDERSTORM THREAT...WHICH IF STORMS DO DEVELOP WOULD LIKELY LEAD TO GUSTY WINDS...POSSIBLY HAIL. COLD FRONT TO PUSH THROUGH STATE BY MIDNIGHT LEADING TO DRY FORECAST FOR REST OF NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY. ON WEDNESDAY...GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS BEHIND FRONT AND LOW HUMIDITIES WITH MIXING TO 5K FEET OR HIGHER MAY LEAD TO INCREASED FIRE DANGER. TEMPERATURES TO BE WELL ABOVE NORM TODAY...DROPPING CLOSER TO NORMS ON WEDNESDAY. FEW MODELS...INCLUDING HRRR SUGGEST 90 INTO SOUTHWEST WI. HAVE BUMPED TEMPS UP SLIGHTLY THROUGHOUT CWA. .LONG TERM...WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY ISSUED AT 436 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE MOVING ACROSS THE REGION AHEAD OF AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE SHOULD KEEP THE EARLY PART OF THE LONG TERM FORECAST DRY. THE 00Z NAM AND 00Z GFS GENERATED SOME QPF DURING THE DAY ON THURSDAY...BUT SINCE THE 00Z ECMWF...PREVIOUS FORECAST AND SURROUNDING GRIDS WERE DRY...A DRY FORECAST APPEARED TO BE THE WAY TO GO. A SHORT WAVE AND WARM ADVECTION AHEAD OF A SURFACE TROUGH APPROACHING FROM THE PLAINS WILL BRING A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO THE AREA STARTING ON FRIDAY. VARIOUS SHORT WAVES AHEAD OF THE MAIN UPPER TROUGH AND A SURFACE FRONTAL BOUNDARY...COMBINED WITH A FEED OF GULF MOISTURE AHEAD OF A DEVELOPING SURFACE LOW WILL KEEP AT LEAST A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THE END OF THE FORECAST PERIOD. CLOUDS AND PRECIPITATION WILL KEEP TEMPERATURES FROM WARMING TOO MUCH ABOVE NORMAL DURING THE DAYTIME...BUT THE SAME FACTORS SHOULD KEEP TEMPERATURES WELL ABOVE NORMAL AT NIGHT. && .AVIATION...FOR 06Z TAF ISSUANCE ISSUED AT 1034 PM CDT MON MAY 13 2013 MID LEVEL CLOUDS WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS WILL LINGER EASTERN WISCONSIN OVERNIGHT. LLWS CONDITIONS TO PERSIST THROUGH 15Z TUESDAY. VFR CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE TUESDAY...WITH PERHAPS A CHANCE OF A MVFR CIGS WITH SHOWERS OR A THUNDERSTORM TUESDAY NIGHT WITH THE PASSAGE OF A COLD FRONT. && .GRB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM.....TE LONG TERM......MG AVIATION.......TDH
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS DENVER/BOULDER CO
932 AM MDT TUE MAY 14 2013 .UPDATE...OVERALL JUST MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO THE GRIDS TODAY. MDLS INDICATE MORE OF AN INVERTED PROFILE WITH THE SOUNDINGS THIS AFTERNOON AS THE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE MIXES OUT...SO LIGHT RAINFALL AND GUSTY OUTFLOW WINDS THE MAIN PRODUCTS OF THESE STORMS. ISOLD COVERAGE EAST OF I-25 SHOULD NOT BECOME A REALITY UNTIL THIS EVENING. HRRR INDICATES THE BEST TSTM COVERAGE THIS AFTN WILL BE ALONG THE PALMER DIVIDE. FCST CAPES AROUND 500 J/KG...WITH TEMPERATURES LIKELY EQUALING OR EXCEEDING OUR RECORD HIGH IN DENVER FOR THIS DATE. WEAK FRONTAL BOUNDARY SHOULD BACK ITS WAY INTO THE CWFA THIS EVENING. && .AVIATION...NO BIG ADJUSTMENTS PLANNED AT THIS TIME. GUSTY OUTFLOW WINDS THE PRIMARY ISSUE WITH THE TSTMS THIS AFTN SO ADDED TEMPO PERIOD IN THE 23-01Z TIME FRAME TO REFLECT THIS...OTHERWISE THE REST OF THE TAF LOOKS ON TRACK. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 356 AM MDT TUE MAY 14 2013/ SHORT TERM...A FLAT UPPER LEVEL RIDGE WILL BE OVER THE AREA THRU TONIGHT WITH WEAK FLOW ALOFT. AT THE SURFACE THERE WILL BE A WK BNDRY MOVING ACROSS NERN CO BY MIDDAY WITH LOW LVL WINDS BECOMING NNE BY MIDDAY AND THEN MORE ELY BY LATE AFTN. OVERALL INSTABILITY IS NOT THAT GREAT BASED ON CURRENT SOUNDINGS WITH CAPES UNDER 500 J/KG. HOWEVER WITH SOME INCREASE IN MID LEVEL MOISTURE WILL SEE SOME HIGH BASED STORMS OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN THIS AFTN. OVER NERN CO THE NAM SHOWS SOME ISOLD TO WDLY SCT CONVECTION BY 21Z WHILE GFS KEEPS ALL OF THE ACTIVITY IN THE FOOTHILLS AND MTNS THRU 00Z. FOR NOW WILL JUST KEEP SOME LOW POPS ALONG THE FRONT RANGE AND ACROSS THE PALMER DIVIDE IN THE 21Z-00Z TIME PERIOD. AS FOR HIGHS WK BNDRY MOVING ACROSS NERN CO DOES NOT HAVE ANY COOL AIR SO WITH LITTLE CHANGE TO 850-700 MB TEMPS HIGHS SHOULD BE SIMILAR TO MON. RECORD HIGH AT DENVER IS 87 WHICH COULD BE TIED OR BKN. FOR TONIGHT THE NAM AND GFS INCREASE THE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE ACROSS NERN CO THIS EVENING AS A COOL FNT MOVES INTO THE AREA. THE GFS BLOWS UP CONVECTION IN THE 00Z-06Z TIMEFRAME OVER NERN CO WHILE THE NAM HAS FAR LESS ACTIVITY AS WELL AS THE ECMWF. FOR NOW WILL TREND MORE TOWARDS THE NAM AND ECMWF AND KEEP A SLIGHT CHC ACROSS THE PLAINS. LONG TERM...GENERALLY SPEAKING...THE NEXT WEEK OF WEATHER WILL PRIMARILY BE ISOLATED-SCATTERED AFTERNOON CONVECTION OVER THE MOUNTAINS AND A SLIGHT CHANCE OF AFTERNOON OR EVENING SHOWERS ON THE PLAINS. WHEN LOOKING AT THE DETAILS...WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON WILL FEATURE A SPLIT IN THE UPPER FLOW...THURSDAY WILL HAVE INCREASING SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT...WHILE FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY FEATURE A BROAD UPPER TROUGH MOVING OVER THE STATE. NONE OF THESE PATTERNS LOOKS LIKE THEY WILL HAVE THE STRENGTH TO GENERATE SIGNIFICANT SHOWER ACTIVITY...BUT UNCERTAINTY EXISTS OVER HOW MUCH LOW LEVEL MOISTURE WILL ADVECT INTO THE REGION WHILE A SURFACE LOW RESIDES OVER EASTERN COLORADO FROM WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. THEREFORE...WILL NOT MAKE ANY BIG CHANGES TO THE PREVIOUS FORECAST. IT STILL LOOKS LIKE THURSDAY...FRIDAY AND SATURDAY WILL BE WARMER THAN NORMAL BEFORE A COOL SURGE MOVES IN SATURDAY NIGHT CAUSING COOLER TEMPERATURES ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY. AT THAT TIME...THE ECMWF AND GFS INDICATE THERE WILL ALSO BE A BROAD UPPER TROUGH OVER THE STATE WHICH MAY HELP ORGANIZE SOME SHOWER ACTIVITY...ASSUMING ENOUGH MOISTURE IS PRESENT TO FEED INTO THE DEVELOPING CONVECTION. SATURDAY EVENING COULD ALSO BE A LITTLE BIT BREEZY AROUND THE PASSAGE OF THE UPPER TROUGH AXIS. AVIATION...DRAINAGE WINDS EARLY THIS MORNING WILL BECOME LIGHT NWLY BY 16Z AND THEN MORE NLY BY 18Z. BY 21Z WINDS WILL BECOME MORE ENE WITH SPEEDS AROUND 10 MPH AND THEN ELY BY 00Z. THERE COULD BE ISOLD HIGH BASED TSTMS MAINLY AFTER 23Z WHICH COULD PRODUCE SOME VARIABLE GUSTY WINDS FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME. AT THIS TIME WILL JUST MENTION VCTS IN THE 23Z-03Z TIME PERIOD. WINDS EARLY THIS EVENING WILL BECOME MORE SELY AND THEN MAY TREND MORE SWLY AFTER 03Z. A COOL FRONT MAY AFFECT THE AIRPORT BY 12Z WED WITH WINDS BECOMING MORE NLY. HYDROLOGY...RAINFALL AMOUNTS WILL BE UNDER ONE QUARTER INCH SO NO ISSUES ARE EXPECTED. && .BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...COOPER LONG TERM....DANKERS AVIATION...COOPER
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS DES MOINES IA
643 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 ...UPDATED AVIATION DISCUSSION... .SHORT TERM.../TODAY /... ISSUED AT 407 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 FORECAST CHALLENGE TODAY IS WITH RECORD OR NEAR RECORD HIGH MAX TEMPS...DEW POINTS AND WINDS. MODELS STILL INITIALIZING TOO MOIST WITH THE RAP CONTINUING TO BE THE DRY SOLUTION TODAY. RAP ALSO HAS THE BETTER HANDLE ON THE TEMPS TODAY...SO LEANED CLOSER TO THE RAP SOLUTION. WINDS WILL INCREASE LATE THIS MORNING AND CONTINUE TO MIX DURING THE AFTERNOON WITH RAP SHOWING THE BEST DRY ADIABATIC SOUNDING. MIXING TO 850MB SHOULD TAP INTO THE +25C TEMPERATURES ADVECTING INTO WESTERN TO NORTHERN IOWA BY THIS AFTERNOON. NAM/GFS/ECMWF SOUNDINGS ARE NOT AS AGGRESSIVE WITH THE MIXING TODAY...AND POSSIBLY ONE REASON THESE MODELS OVERDOING THE DEW POINTS. TEMPS OVERNIGHT REMAINING IN THE UPPER 50S/LOWER 60S ACROSS MUCH OF THE FORECAST AREA...AND WITH THE NORTHWEST FORECAST AREA RISING 2-4 DEGREES WARMER MONDAY THAN ANTICIPATED...CONFIDENT ENOUGH TO TWEAK MAX TEMPS UP SLIGHTLY OVER THE WEST AND NORTH. WENT ROUGHLY 3 TO 5 DEGREES ABOVE THE WARMEST GUIDANCE TODAY. WITH THE DRIER DEW POINTS AND RH VALUES COMBINED WITH THE GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS...DECIDED TO UPGRADE TO A RED FLAG WARNING. SEE FIRE WEATHER DISCUSSION FOR FURTHER DETAILS. .LONG TERM.../TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/... ISSUED AT 400 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL DROP SLOWLY SOUTH THROUGH THE STATE OVERNIGHT BEFORE STALLING IN THE ZONAL FLOW JUST SOUTH INTO MISSOURI ON WEDNESDAY. MOISTURE REMAINS QUITE LIMITED WITH THE SYSTEM. ANY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THAT DO FORM WILL BE EXTREMELY HIGH BASED AND ABOVE THE PRIMARY AREA OF FORCING. THIS COMBINED WITH THE LACK OF ASSOCIATED MOISTURE WILL KEEP ANY ACTIVITY QUITE SPARSE. BROAD AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WILL BECOME REFOCUSED OVER WYOMING AND THE WESTERN DAKOTAS THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY. THIS WILL HELP DRIVE THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY BACK NORTH AS A WARM FRONT. PRECIPITATION CHANCES WILL CONTINUE MAINLY OVER THE SOUTH WEDNESDAY BEFORE SPREADING BACK NORTH WITH THE FRONTAL PASSAGE THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK. HAVE MAINTAINED THUNDERSTORM CHANCES ON SATURDAY THOUGH THE SIGNS BEGINNING TO POINT TO THE STATE BEING IN THE WARM SECTOR WITH THE WARM FRONT MOVING NORTH OF THE STATE. WARM AIR ALOFT WOULD LEAVE A FAIR AMOUNT OF CONVECTIVE INHIBITION TO OVERCOME ON SATURDAY. BETTER CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS AND POSSIBLY SEVERE WEATHER WOULD BE SUNDAY AS A THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE BEGINS TO BE SHOVED EAST BY AN UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM ENTERING THE NORTHWESTERN CONUS. THIS WILL INCREASE THE SOUTHWEST FLOW INTO THE STATE EARLY SUNDAY WITH A COLD FRONT ARRIVING LATER IN THE DAY. CERTAINLY A FAVORABLE SETUP FOR SURFACE BASED CONVECTION WITH THE PRIMARY THREATS OF WIND AND HAIL WITH THE TRIPLE POINT WELL TO THE NORTH...BUT IT IS STILL SEVERAL DAYS AWAY. TEMPERATURES THROUGH THE PERIOD WILL BE SEASONAL TO ABOVE NORMAL. POSSIBLY CLOUD COVER ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON TEMPERATURES. THURSDAY ESPECIALLY WILL BE COOLER THAN THE NORTH DUE TO PRECIPITATION AND CLOUDS. LIKELY A RETURN TO THE 80S ON SATURDAY WITH DEWPOINTS POSSIBLY RISING INTO THE 60S. && .AVIATION...14/12Z ISSUED AT 641 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 WINDS WILL INCREASE LATE THIS MORNING AND EXPECTING STRONGEST WINDS TO MIX DURING THE AFTERNOON. SHOULD SEE SOME GUSTS AT MCW/DSM/FOD TO AROUND 30 KNOTS...SLIGHTLY LESS AT ALO/OTM. OTHERWISE...VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL. && .FIRE WEATHER... STRONGEST WIND GUSTS AND LOWEST RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES ARE EXPECTED BETWEEN NOON AND 7PM TODAY OVER WESTERN AND NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA. RH VALUES RANGING FROM 17 TO 22 PERCENT AND SUSTAINED WINDS AROUND 25 MPH OR SLIGHTLY HIGHER ARE LIKELY DURING THE AFTERNOON. GFDI VALUES RANGES IN THE MODERATE TO HIGH CATEGORY PAST NOON TODAY AND MAY BARELY BUMP INTO THE EXTREME CATEGORY FOR A FEW HOURS BETWEEN 2PM AND 5PM THIS AFTERNOON. MIXING HEIGHT LOOKS TO BE IN THE 3000 TO 3500 FEET LATE THIS MORNING AND INTO THE AFTERNOON...WITH A SHORT STINT OF MIXING HIGHER. REPLACED THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH WITH A RED FLAG WARNING DUE TO THE VERY LOW RH VALUES...STRONG WINDS...AND FUELS NOT ENTIRELY GREEN YET. && .DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... RED FLAG WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR ADAIR-ADAMS-AUDUBON-BOONE-CALHOUN-CARROLL-CASS-CERRO GORDO- CRAWFORD-DALLAS-EMMET-FRANKLIN-GREENE-GUTHRIE-HAMILTON-HANCOCK- HUMBOLDT-KOSSUTH-PALO ALTO-POCAHONTAS-SAC-WEBSTER-WINNEBAGO- WORTH-WRIGHT. && $$ SHORT TERM...PODRAZIK LONG TERM...DONAVON AVIATION...PODRAZIK FIRE WEATHER...PODRAZIK
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
633 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 .FIRE WEATHER... ISSUED AT 440 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 A RED FLAG WARNING NOW COVERS ALL OF OUR MN COUNTIES FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. A DRY SURGE OF HEAT WILL OCCUR TODAY WITH AFTERNOON HUMIDITY VALUES LOWERING TO A FEW PERCENT ABOVE AND BELOW 20. THE VERY LOW HUMIDITY COUPLED WITH SOUTHWEST TO WEST WINDS FROM 20 TO 25 MPH ...WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH... COULD LEAD TO DANGEROUS WILDFIRE CONDITIONS. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 440 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 THERE ARE MANY CONCERNS TODAY AS A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM AND COLD FRONT MOVE ACROSS THE FA DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. A SMALL COMPLEX OF THUNDERSTORMS DID DEVELOP OVER NORTH DAKOTA OVERNIGHT AS EXPECTED. THIS AREA OF PRECIPITATION WILL ADVANCE ACROSS NORTHERN MN THIS MORNING. CONSENSUS FROM THE WRF MODELS WAS LITTLE (SPRINKLES) OR NOTHING REACHING DOWN INTO CENTRAL MN OTHER THAN SOME CLOUDS. BY LATE MORNING...THE LOW AND COLD FRONT SHOULD BE INTO FAR WESTERN AREAS OF MN. SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE AHEAD OF THE FRONT WHILE RATHER STRONG WEST/NORTHWEST WINDS OCCUR IN THE WAKE OF THE FRONT. A LOW LEVEL THERMAL RIDGE WILL ADVANCE NORTHEAST FROM THE CENTRAL PLAINS AND REACH INTO THE TWIN CITIES BY LATE IN THE AFTERNOON. THE SHORT TERM MODELS REMAIN CONSISTENT ON 23-26 DEG C AIR AT 850MB FROM THE TWIN CITIES ON SOUTHWEST INTO NORTHERN IA RESPECTIVELY. HIGHS RECENTLY TO OUR WEST AND NORTHWEST (CANADA) HAVE BEEN RUNNING REAL CLOSE TO 20 DEGREES ABOVE THESE CONVERTED VALUES. THIS WOULD YIELD HIGHS FROM 93 TO 99 DEGREES. AS A RESULT... OUR CURRENT FORECAST WAS RAISED A FEW DEGREES... ESPECIALLY ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL MN... WHERE THE RAP SOUNDINGS WERE SHOWING HIGHS OF 100-103. THIS ALSO RESULTED IN A RECORD HIGH BEING FORECAST FOR THE TWIN CITIES. THE HEAT TODAY HAS LEAD TO THE ISSUANCE OF A HEAT ADVISORY FROM THE TWIN CITIES ON SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST TO ALBERT LEA AND REDWOOD FALLS. THIS IS A DRY HEAT BEING ACCOMPANIED BY 20 TO 25 MPH WINDS DURING THE AFTERNOON... WHICH MAY LEAD TO DEHYDRATION ISSUES FOR THOSE WORKING OUTSIDE. ANOTHER IMPORTANT ISSUE IS THAT THE TWIN CITIES HAS ONLY BEEN IN THE 80S ONCE SO FAR THIS YEAR WITH 81 DEGREES ON APRIL 28TH. THIS BURST OF HEAT MAY LEAD TO HEALTH ISSUES. ANOTHER CONCERN TODAY IS THE POTENTIAL FOR WIND ADVISORY CRITERIA BEING MET IN THE NORTHWEST CWA IN THE MID TO LATE AFTERNOON HOURS. THE RAP LOW LEVEL WINDS IN THE 200-300 FOOT RANGE ARE FORECAST IN THE UPPER 20 KNOT RANGE. THIS IS THE HIGHEST OF ALL THE GUIDANCE. THE NAM WINDS WERE MORE IN THE 23-24 KNOT RANGE WHICH BLENDED WELL WITH THE LAMP GUIDANCE. CRITERIA FOR A WIND ADVISORY HAS A BETTER CHANCE OF BEGIN MET OVER NORTH DAKOTA. AT THIS POINT WE HELD OFF ON ISSUING AN ADVISORY. FINALLY...ALTHOUGH A STRONG CAP EXISTS IN THE 700-750MB RANGE TODAY...THERE REMAINS SOME POTENTIAL FOR CONVECTION TO BREACH THE CAP AND DEVELOP DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON/EVENING ALONG THE FRONT... MAINLY TO THE EAST AND SOUTH OF THE TWIN CITIES. WE KEPT THE SMALL CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS AS IS. OUR LOCAL WRF WAS THE MOST AGGRESSIVE WITH ACTIVITY DEVELOPING FROM JUST SOUTH OF THE TWIN CITIES TO OMAHA AROUND 21Z...WHILE THE NMM WRF HAS SOME STORMS JUST EAST OF US. MOST OF THE SOLUTIONS SHOW A HIGHER CHANCE FOR STORMS OVER IA TONIGHT AS WELL AS IN NORTHEAST WI. GIVEN THE SHEAR FORECAST...STORMS THAT DO DEVELOP COULD BECOME SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS... ESPECIALLY WITH THE INVERTED V SOUNDING. NAM DOWNDRAFT CAPE VALUES ARE ON THE ORDER OF 1000 J/KG OVER WEST CENTRAL WI AND SE MN LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. .LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY) ISSUED AT 415 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY...QUIET AND SEASONABLE WEATHER WILL GIVE WAY TO A WETTER PATTERN AT THE END OF THE PERIOD. SEVERE WEATHER IS ALSO POSSIBLE FOR THE WEEKEND. EARLY MORNING NORTHERN HEMISPHERIC IR IMAGERY TOGETHER WITH THE ECMWF 250MB HEIGHTS AND WINDS IDENTIFIED ZONAL FLOW ACROSS THE WESTERN CONUS...WITH A LOW AMPLITUDE PATTERN ACROSS THE PACIFIC. FOR WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY THIS ZONAL FLOW WILL SET UP ACROSS INTERNATIONAL BORDER...WITH NEGATIVE VORTICITY ADVECTION AND WEAK SUBSIDENCE ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST. THIS WILL RESULT IN TWO DRY DAYS WITH LIGHT WINDS AND TEMPERATURES 5 TO 10 DEGREES ABOVE THE SEASONAL AVERAGE FOR MID MAY. BY THURSDAY NIGHT THE AFOREMENTIONED LOW AMPLITUDE JET ACROSS THE PACIFIC WILL BEGIN TO DIG ACROSS THE WESTERN US...WITH A BROAD AREA OF LEE SIDE TROUGHING ALONG THE EASTERN SPINE OF THE ROCKIES. THIS WILL INDUCE SOUTHERLY FLOW WITH GULF MOISTURE TRANSPORT ACROSS THE CENTRAL CONUS...AND GRADUALLY BUILD AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY. MEANWHILE THE COLD FRONT THAT WILL HAVE PASSED THROUGH THE AREA ON TUESDAY AND STALL OUT ACROSS SOUTHERN IOWA WILL LIFT NORTHWARD AS A WARM FRONT. LOW LEVEL THETA_E ADVECTION AS SEEN IN THE H925-850 LAYER SHOULD PROMOTE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE WARM FRONT...WHILE THE UPPER LEVEL ANTICYCLONIC FLOW ALOFT ALLOWS EVACUATES THE OUTFLOW FROM THESES STORMS AND ALLOWS THEM TO PERSIST. DIFFICULT TO QUANTIFY THE CONVECTIVE POTENTIAL SINCE THE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE HAS BEEN UNRELIABLE LATELY. HOWEVER...THE SYNOPTIC SETUP WITH GULF MOISTURE ADVECTION INCREASES CONFIDENCE THAT THESE MOISTURE DEPENDENT VARIABLES...A.K.A. CAPE...ARE REASONABLY REPRESENTED. DEEP LAYER SHEAR PROFILES VARY DEPENDING ON THE TIMING AND PLACEMENT OF THE WARM FRONT...BUT BOTH THE 14.12 GFS AND ECMWF ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT AND LIFT THE FRONT THROUGH THE CWA ON FRIDAY. MEANWHILE THE UPPER LEVEL JET WILL CONTINUE TO CARVE OUT A TROUGH OVER THE FOUR CORNERS REGION. THE GFS...GEM...AND ECMWF ALL DEVELOP A SURFACE LOW AND TRACK IT ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST FOR THE WEEKEND...BRINGING CONTINUED CHANCES FOR PRECIP. THE RUN TOTAL PRECIP FROM THE GFS AND ECMWF INDICATE THAT OVER 3 INCHES OF RAIN ARE POSSIBLE. WITH THIS PROLONGED PERIOD OF PRECIP. IN SUMMATION...EXPECT AN MCS TO DEVELOP THURSDAY NIGHT AND MOVE ACROSS THE REGION FRIDAY AS THE WARM FRONT LIFTS NORTHWARD. THEN WILL SEE CONTINUES CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AS THE UPPER LEVEL DYNAMICS BECOME MORE FAVORABLE FOR ASCENT. SEVERE WEATHER REMAINS POSSIBLE...BUT CONFIDENCE IN THE EXACT PLACEMENT OF THE MESOSCALE FEATURES IS LOW AT THIS TIME. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z WEDNESDAY MORNING) ISSUED AT 548 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 A COLD FRONT ACROSS THE EASTERN DAKOTAS WILL MOVE INTO WESTERN MN BY 15Z. THE FRONT SHOULD REACH THE TWIN CITIES AROUND 22Z AND PASS KEAU BY 15/02Z. SOME STORMS HAVE DEVELOPED ALONG THE FRONT THIS MORNING AND WILL BE PASSING THROUGH KAXN THROUGH 15Z. GUSTY WINDS TO 40 KNOTS MAY OCCUR WITH THESE STORMS. THE ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO WANE DURING THE MORNING AS A MID LEVEL CAP DEVELOPS. THIS SHOULD HOLD OFF CONVECTION OVER EASTERN AREAS FOR MUCH OF THE AFTERNOON... BUT BY 22Z OR SO SEVERAL WRF MODELS ARE HINTING AT STORMS DEVELOPING JUST SOUTH AND EAST OF KMSP. THE SITE WITH THE GREATEST RISK FOR SEEING A STORM IS KEAU AND A PROB GROUP FOR TSRA REMAINS. ANOTHER CONCERN TODAY IS THE WIND. THE PREVIOUS TAF FORECASTS HAD THIS HANDLED WELL AND LITTLE CHANGE WAS MADE. INITIALLY S TO SW WINDS WILL INCREASE AHEAD OF THE FRONT TO 15 KNOTS WITH GUSTS INTO THE 20-25 KNOT RANGE AND THEN BECOME W TO NW WITH FROPA NEAR 20 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO NEAR 30 KNOTS. THE WIND WILL THEN DIMINISH DURING THE EVENING. KMSP...SOUTH WINDS (180-200) INCREASING TO 12 KNOTS WITH GUSTS 18 KNOTS BY 16Z THEN BECOMING MORE SW FOR THE AFTERNOON (210-230) WITH A FURTHER INCREASE TO 15-20 KNOTS. GUSTS AROUND 25 KNOTS WILL ALSO OCCUR. WEST WINDS AROUND 20 KNOTS FOR THE LATE AFTERNOON/EVENING PUSH. GUSTS WILL CONTINUE. THERE IS ALSO A THREAT FOR STORMS TO DEVELOP...BUT AT THIS TIME THEY ARE EXPECTED TO BE EAST AND SOUTH OF THE AIRFIELD. DIMINISHING WIND AFTER 15/03Z. /OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/ WED...VFR. NW WINDS 10 KTS. THU...VFR. LGT AND VRBL WINDS. FRI...VFR WITH MVFR/-TSRA POSSIBLE. SE WINDS 10 KTS. && .MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MN...RED FLAG WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093. HEAT ADVISORY FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR MNZ059>063-065>070-073>077-082>085-091>093. WI...NONE. && $$ FIRE WEATHER...RAH SHORT TERM...RAH LONG TERM...JRB AVIATION...RAH
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS GRAND FORKS ND
959 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 959 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 SHOWERS HAVE EXITED THE AREA AND HAVE REMOVED POPS FOR ALL BUT THE NORTHERN RRV INTO THE LAKE OF THE WOODS AREA FOR POSSIBLE REDEVELOPMENT THIS AFTERNOON. AS OF 14Z WEST WIND SHIFT JUST EAST OF BISMARCK NORTH TO MCCLUSKY NEAR RUGBY TO BOTTINEAU. BEHIND THE FROPA STILL EXPECTING EFFICIENT MIXING TO 750MB...ALLOWING FOR RAPID WARM UP. GUSTS BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH STILL EXPECTED. UPDATE ISSUED AT 658 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BECOME MORE NUMEROUS ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA...WITH A STRONG LINE SEGMENT PRODUCING SPORADIC SEVERE (50+ KTS) DOWNBURST WINDS ACROSS BARNES/CASS COUNTIES. INCREASED POPS TO 100 PERCENT TO ACCOUNT FOR CURRENT CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY. ISOLATED STRONG TO SEVERE WINDS ARE POSSIBLE ELSEWHERE WITH THIS LINE AS ITS FORWARD PROPAGATION IS NEAR 60 MPH. PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM SHOULD PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE LATEST STATEMENTS AND/OR WARNINGS. REST OF THE FORECAST OK FOR NOW WITH NO OTHER MAJOR CHANGES. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY) ISSUED AT 355 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 FORECAST CHALLENGES INCLUDE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THIS MORNING...FOLLOWED BY STRONG WINDS AND CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON. GFS/NAM/ECMWF/GEM ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT...BUT WILL USE LATEST HRRR FOR PRECIPITATION TRENDS THROUGH 18 UTC. THEREAFTER...A BLENDED SOLUTION SHOULD SUFFICE. 08 UTC WATER VAPOR LOOP SHOWS A STRONG...YET PROGRESSIVE SHORT WAVE MOVING ALONG THE CANADIAN BORDER AND INTO NORTHEAST MT. A CLUSTER OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DEVELOPED ACROSS CENTRAL ND IN AN AREA OF WEAK ELEVATED INSTABILITY AND INCREASED DIVERGENCE ALOFT AHEAD OF A SURFACE COLD FRONT WHICH STRETCHES FROM NEAR WILLISTON TO MILES CITY MT. LATEST HRRR SHOWS THIS CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY MOVING EASTWARD THROUGH THE EARLY MORNING AND INTO THE MN ARROWHEAD AFTER 15 UTC. INCREASED POPS FROM 60 TO 80 PERCENT ACROSS THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA THIS MORNING WHERE A QUICK QUARTER INCH OF RAIN IS POSSIBLE... ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE AREAS THAT SEE THUNDERSTORMS. THE COLD FRONT IS FORECAST TO REACH THE VALLEY FLOOR BY 18 UTC. WITH STRONG LOW-MID LEVEL COLD AIR ADVECTION IN ITS WAKE...AN ADIABATIC BOUNDARY LAYER TO 750 HPA AND 30 TO 40 KTS TO MIX DOWN...EXPECT WINDY CONDITIONS TO DEVELOP FROM WEST TO EAST THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. WEST WINDS FROM 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ACROSS THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF EASTERN ND NECESSITATES A WIND ADVISORY FROM 17 TO 02 UTC FOR ALL AREAS EXPECT THE FAR EASTERN COUNTIES. WILL CANCEL THE HIGH WIND WATCH AS WINDS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO REACH CRITERIA. HIGH TEMPERATURES TODAY STILL EXPECTED TO CLIMB INTO THE MID 70S TO MID 80S BEFORE FRONTAL PASSAGE AND WHEN COMBINED WITH STRONG WINDS AND LOW RH WILL CREATE DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. SEE DISCUSSION BELOW FOR MORE DETAIL. THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY WILL BE DRY AS SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS ACROSS THE REGION. WINDS WILL DIMINISH SOMEWHAT AFTER SUNSET...BUT REMAIN ELEVATED FROM THE WEST-NORTHWEST TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY. TOMORROW WILL BE A BIT COOLER WITH AFTERNOON HIGHS IN THE 70S. .LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY) ISSUED AT 355 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MOST OF THURSDAY WILL BE DRY...BUT EXPECT PRECIPITATION CHANCES TO INCREASE THURSDAY NIGHT AHEAD OF THE NEXT PACIFIC TROUGH. GFS/ECMWF BOTH SHOW A WIDE SWATH OF SHOWERS AND STORMS MOVING INTO EASTERN ND BY 12 UTC FRIDAY. INCREASED POPS INTO THE HIGH CHANCE CATEGORY...BUT IF MODEL TRENDS CONTINUE... WILL NEED TO INCREASE FURTHER. DON/T EXPECT MUCH TEMPERATURE CHANGE FROM WEDNESDAY WITH THURSDAY/S HIGHS IN THE 70S. 00Z ECMWF/GFS WERE IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH OVERALL PATTERN FRI-MON IN SHOWING A LARGE 500 MB TROUGH OVER THE ROCKIES LIFTING NORTHEAST INTO THE NRN PLAINS AND EVENTUAL 500 MB LOW FORMATION IN MINNESOTA. THIS LEADS TO AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF PRECIPITATION CHANCES THRU THE PD. SHOWWALTERS FROM THE MODELS PROG INDICATE SOME THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL FRI-SUN THEN MOSTLY SHOWERS ON MONDAY. OVER THE 4 DAY PERIOD...SOME HEAVY RAINFALL TOTALS ARE POSSIBLE SOMEWHERE IN OUR REGION AS PWATS INCREASE TO 1.50 INCHES OVER SE ND INTO NRN MN. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z WEDNESDAY MORNING) ISSUED AT 959 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 EXPECT STRONG WEST- NORTHWEST WIND TO DEVELOP AND CONTINUE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 KTS POSSIBLE... ESPECIALLY AT KDVL/KGFK/KFAR. CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE MARKEDLY LATER THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. && .FIRE WEATHER... ISSUED AT 959 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 RED FLAG WARNING CONTINUES FOR ALL OF ERN ND INTO MUCH OF NW/WCNTRL MN (EXCEPT LAKE OF THE WOODS AND NORTH BELTRAMI REGIONS) FOR 17Z TUE TO 02Z WED. FUELS REMAIN DRY AND PRIME. WILDFIRE ONGOING NEAR GRYGLA IN SOUTHEASTERN MARSHALL COUNTY. FUELS REMAIN DRY IN ERN ND AS WELL...THOUGH PARTS OF NE ND AND FAR NW MN WILL SEE SOME RAINFALL THIS MORNING. BELIEVE THAT EARLY MORNING LOW PCPN AMTS WILL NOT HAVE GREAT IMPACT ON DECREASING HUMIDITIES THIS AFTERNOON AS DEEP MIXING LAYER COMBINES WITH STRONG WEST NORTHWEST WINDS TO YIELD VALUES BELOW 25 PERCENT EVEN IN WEST CENTRAL MN. WILL MONITOR HUMIDITY LEVELS THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND ADJUST ACCORDINGLY. && .FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ND...RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR NDZ006>008- 014>016-024-026>030-038-039-049-052>054. WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR NDZ006>008-014>016- 024-026>030-038-039-049-052>054. MN...RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR MNZ001>005-007- 008-013>017-022>024-027>032-040. WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR MNZ001>005-007-008- 013>016-022-023-027>031-040. && $$ UPDATE...JK SHORT TERM...ROGERS LONG TERM...ROGERS/RIDDLE AVIATION...TG FIRE WEATHER...WJB
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NWS GRAND FORKS ND
658 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 658 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BECOME MORE NUMEROUS ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA...WITH A STRONG LINE SEGMENT PRODUCING SPORADIC SEVERE (50+ KTS) DOWNBURST WINDS ACROSS BARNES/CASS COUNTIES. INCREASED POPS TO 100 PERCENT TO ACCOUNT FOR CURRENT CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY. ISOLATED STRONG TO SEVERE WINDS ARE POSSIBLE ELSEWHERE WITH THIS LINE AS ITS FORWARD PROPAGATION IS NEAR 60 MPH. PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM SHOULD PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE LATEST STATEMENTS AND/OR WARNINGS. REST OF THE FORECAST OK FOR NOW WITH NO OTHER MAJOR CHANGES. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY) ISSUED AT 355 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 FORECAST CHALLENGES INCLUDE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THIS MORNING...FOLLOWED BY STRONG WINDS AND CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON. GFS/NAM/ECMWF/GEM ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT...BUT WILL USE LATEST HRRR FOR PRECIPITATION TRENDS THROUGH 18 UTC. THEREAFTER...A BLENDED SOLUTION SHOULD SUFFICE. 08 UTC WATER VAPOR LOOP SHOWS A STRONG...YET PROGRESSIVE SHORT WAVE MOVING ALONG THE CANADIAN BORDER AND INTO NORTHEAST MT. A CLUSTER OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DEVELOPED ACROSS CENTRAL ND IN AN AREA OF WEAK ELEVATED INSTABILITY AND INCREASED DIVERGENCE ALOFT AHEAD OF A SURFACE COLD FRONT WHICH STRETCHES FROM NEAR WILLISTON TO MILES CITY MT. LATEST HRRR SHOWS THIS CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY MOVING EASTWARD THROUGH THE EARLY MORNING AND INTO THE MN ARROWHEAD AFTER 15 UTC. INCREASED POPS FROM 60 TO 80 PERCENT ACROSS THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA THIS MORNING WHERE A QUICK QUARTER INCH OF RAIN IS POSSIBLE... ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE AREAS THAT SEE THUNDERSTORMS. THE COLD FRONT IS FORECAST TO REACH THE VALLEY FLOOR BY 18 UTC. WITH STRONG LOW-MID LEVEL COLD AIR ADVECTION IN ITS WAKE...AN ADIABATIC BOUNDARY LAYER TO 750 HPA AND 30 TO 40 KTS TO MIX DOWN...EXPECT WINDY CONDITIONS TO DEVELOP FROM WEST TO EAST THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. WEST WINDS FROM 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ACROSS THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF EASTERN ND NECESSITATES A WIND ADVISORY FROM 17 TO 02 UTC FOR ALL AREAS EXPECT THE FAR EASTERN COUNTIES. WILL CANCEL THE HIGH WIND WATCH AS WINDS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO REACH CRITERIA. HIGH TEMPERATURES TODAY STILL EXPECTED TO CLIMB INTO THE MID 70S TO MID 80S BEFORE FRONTAL PASSAGE AND WHEN COMBINED WITH STRONG WINDS AND LOW RH WILL CREATE DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. SEE DISCUSSION BELOW FOR MORE DETAIL. THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY WILL BE DRY AS SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS ACROSS THE REGION. WINDS WILL DIMINISH SOMEWHAT AFTER SUNSET...BUT REMAIN ELEVATED FROM THE WEST-NORTHWEST TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY. TOMORROW WILL BE A BIT COOLER WITH AFTERNOON HIGHS IN THE 70S. .LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY) ISSUED AT 355 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MOST OF THURSDAY WILL BE DRY...BUT EXPECT PRECIPITATION CHANCES TO INCREASE THURSDAY NIGHT AHEAD OF THE NEXT PACIFIC TROUGH. GFS/ECMWF BOTH SHOW A WIDE SWATH OF SHOWERS AND STORMS MOVING INTO EASTERN ND BY 12 UTC FRIDAY. INCREASED POPS INTO THE HIGH CHANCE CATEGORY...BUT IF MODEL TRENDS CONTINUE... WILL NEED TO INCREASE FURTHER. DON/T EXPECT MUCH TEMPERATURE CHANGE FROM WEDNESDAY WITH THURSDAY/S HIGHS IN THE 70S. 00Z ECMWF/GFS WERE IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH OVERALL PATTERN FRI-MON IN SHOWING A LARGE 500 MB TROUGH OVER THE ROCKIES LIFTING NORTHEAST INTO THE NRN PLAINS AND EVENTUAL 500 MB LOW FORMATION IN MINNESOTA. THIS LEADS TO AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF PRECIPITATION CHANCES THRU THE PD. SHOWWALTERS FROM THE MODELS PROG INDICATE SOME THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL FRI-SUN THEN MOSTLY SHOWERS ON MONDAY. OVER THE 4 DAY PERIOD...SOME HEAVY RAINFALL TOTALS ARE POSSIBLE SOMEWHERE IN OUR REGION AS PWATS INCREASE TO 1.50 INCHES OVER SE ND INTO NRN MN. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z WEDNESDAY MORNING) ISSUED AT 658 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ALONG AND EAST OF THE VALLEY WILL MOVE RAPIDLY INTO THE MN ARROWHEAD LATER THIS MORNING. CEILINGS ARE VFR...BUT BRIEF HIGH WIND GUSTS ARE POSSIBLE WITH THE LEADING EDGE OF STORMS. EXPECT STRONG WEST-NORTHWEST WIND TO DEVELOP LATER THIS MORNING AND CONTINUE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 KTS POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY AT KDVL/KGFK/KFAR. CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE MARKEDLY LATER THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. && .FIRE WEATHER... ISSUED AT 355 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 WILL ISSUE RED FLAG WARNING FOR ALL OF ERN ND INTO MUCH OF NW/WCNTRL MN (EXCEPT LAKE OF THE WOODS AND NORTH BELTRAMI REGIONS) FOR 17Z TUE TO 02Z WED. EVENING DISCUSSION WITH MN FIRE AGENCY INDICATES FUELS ARE DRY AND PRIME. WILDFIRE ONGOING NEAR GRYGLA IN SOUTHEASTERN MARSHALL COUNTY. FUELS REMAIN DRY IN ERN ND AS WELL...THOUGH PARTS OF NE ND AND FAR NW MN WILL SEE SOME RAINFALL THIS MORNING. THE EXTENT OF RAINFALL THIS MORNING IS STILL UNCERTAIN. AIDING IN FIRE POTENTIAL IS STRONG WESTERLY WINDS THAT WILL SPREAD EAST BEHIND THE COLD FRONT INTO ERN ND MIDDAY AND INTO NW/WCNTRL MN THIS AFTN WITH GUSTS 40-50 MPH IN ERN ND AND 35 TO 45 MPH IN THE PRAIRIE REGIONS OF NW/WCNTRL MN. THUS RED FLAG WARNING ISSUED. NOW HOURLY TRENDS OF RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL BE A CHALLENGE AND VERY DIFFICULT TO FORECAST FOR DUE TO IMPACTS OF ANY MORNING PRECIP AND LOCATION. THUS COULD HAVE WIDE VARIATIONS THIS MORNING-MIDDAY UNTIL THE FRONT AND WESTERLY WINDS ARRIVE. && .HYDROLOGY... ISSUED AT 1258 PM CDT MON MAY 13 2013 RIVER FLOOD WARNINGS CONTINUE ON THE RED RIVER AT OSLO...DRAYTON AND PEMBINA. RIVER STAGES AT DRAYTON AND PEMBINA ARE CONTINUING A SLOW RECESSION...WITH STAGES AT OSLO FALLING MORE RAPIDLY. OTHERWISE...MOST OTHER POINTS ON THE MAINSTEM RED AND ON THE ND/MN TRIBUTARIES SHOW RECEDING OR NEARLY STEADY LEVELS. && .FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ND...RED FLAG WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR NDZ006>008-014>016-024-026>030-038-039-049-052>054. WIND ADVISORY FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR NDZ006>008-014>016-024-026>030-038-039-049-052>054. MN...RED FLAG WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR MNZ001>005-007-008-013>017-022>024-027>032-040. WIND ADVISORY FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR MNZ001>005-007-008-013>016-022-023-027>031-040. && $$ UPDATE...ROGERS SHORT TERM...ROGERS LONG TERM...ROGERS/RIDDLE AVIATION...ROGERS FIRE WEATHER...RIDDLE HYDROLOGY...SPEICHER
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS SIOUX FALLS SD
1038 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 1029 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 FORECAST LOOKS IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE. RED FLAG WARNING LOOKS GOOD...WITH BLUSTERY SOUTHWEST WINDS AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT...TRANSITIONING TO NORTHWEST BEHIND IT. EXPECT FREQUENT GUSTS INTO THE 25 TO 35 MPH RANGE WITH RELATIVE HUMIDITY DROPPING TO AROUND 20 PERCENT...OR EVEN A LITTLE LOWER AHEAD OF THE FRONT THIS AFTERNOON. LEADING EDGE OF THE ACCAS IS A SOME SORT OF BOUNDARY WITH WINDS TURNING MORE WEST SOUTHWESTERLY BEHIND IT. HOWEVER THE TRUE COLD FRONT IS BEHIND THIS...HAVING JUST GONE THROUGH CHAMBERLAIN AND HURON WITH THEIR WINDS TURNING NORTHWEST. WENT AHEAD AND RAISED HIGHS A FEW DEGREES FOR TODAY...WITH READINGS AROUND 100 LOOKING LIKELY ACROSS NORTHEAST NEBRASKA AND NORTHWEST IOWA...LOCATIONS THAT WILL STAY JUST AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT THROUGH THE PEAK OF DAYTIME HEATING. CONVECTION CHANCES WITH THE FRONT STILL LOOK LOW WITH DEWPOINTS MIXING OUT. HOWEVER HRRR IS SHOWING SOME ACTIVITY AFTER 21Z. AND GIVEN THAT ITS BOUNDARY LAYER DEPICTION SEEMS DECENT...CAN NOT COMPLETELY IGNORE THE CHANCE. HOWEVER IT DOES APPEAR THAT THE BEST CHANCE WILL STAY SOUTH OF OUR CWA ACROSS NEBRASKA...THUS WILL KEEP THE FORECAST DRY FOR NOW. ALTHOUGH ANY STORM THAT IS ABLE TO FORM WOULD BE CAPABLE OF POTENTIALLY SEVERE WIND GUSTS GIVEN THE DRY PROFILES. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 343 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 MAIN CHALLENGE FOR TODAY WILL BE WINDS/HUMIDITY LEVELS/ASSOCIATED FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS IN MIXY ENVIRONMENT AHEAD OF AND BEHIND COOL FRONT WHICH WILL PUSH SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH THE DAY. LOW LEVEL TEMPERATURES AHEAD OF THE FRONT EASILY SUPPORTIVE OF MID 90S ACROSS MUCH OF NORTHWEST IOWA THIS AFTERNOON...WITH SOME MODELS SHOWING POTENTIAL FOR HIGHS CLOSER TO OR JUST ABOVE THE CENTURY MARK. WITH THE STRONG MIXING COMES LIKELIHOOD OF MIXING DRIER AIR ALOFT TO THE SURFACE. MODELS HAVE BEEN HAVING DIFFICULTY CAPTURING THE DIURNAL DRYING TREND WITH AFTERNOON MIXING...HANGING ONTO SHALLOW MOISTURE OR MIXING BOUNDARY LAYER MOISTURE UPWARD RATHER THAN BRINGING DRIER AIR TO SURFACE AS DEEPER MIXING COMMENCES. RUC SEEMS TO HANDLE IT BETTER THAN NAM/GFS...AND MORE CLOSELY FOLLOWED THAT IDEA THROUGH THE LATE MORNING/AFTERNOON...THOUGH NOT QUITE AS DRY AS RUC INDICATES AT THIS POINT GIVEN EXTREME DISPARITY FROM OTHER MODELS /AS MUCH AS 10-15F DRIER THAN MOST OTHER GUIDANCE FOR 21Z/. DRIEST AIR SHOULD BE OVER FAR SOUTHEAST AND WESTERN PARTS OF THE FORECAST AREA DURING PEAK HEATING...WITH SLIGHT MOISTURE POOLING IN SOMEWHAT LESS MIXY AREA RIGHT ALONG THE FRONT...FORECAST TO BE JUST EAST OF KYKN-KFSD-KMML LINE AT 21Z. ALL THIS LEADS TO MINIMUM HUMIDITY LEVELS OF 15-25 PERCENT THIS AFTERNOON... AND THIS ALONG WITH WINDS GUSTING IN THE 25-30KT RANGE STILL SUPPORTIVE OF RED FLAG WARNING WHICH WAS ISSUED ON THE DAY SHIFT YESTERDAY. COLD FRONT SETTLES SOUTH OF THE AREA TONIGHT...WITH COOLING TEMPERATURES AND DYING WINDS OVERNIGHT. LOWS LOOK TO DROP INTO THE UPPER 40S NORTHWEST...TO MID 50S THROUGH THE LOWER MISSOURI RIVER VALLEY INTO NORTHWESTERN IOWA. .LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY) ISSUED AT 343 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS SOUTHWARD INTO THE REGION ON WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT...PROVIDING FOR PLEASANT CONDITIONS WITH TEMPERATURES CLOSE TO NORMAL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR. THIS WILL PLAY OUT TO HIGHS IN THE MID AND UPPER 70S...WITH LOWS EARLY ON THURSDAY IN THE UPPER 40S TO LOWER 50S. THE HIGH MOVES EASTWARD ON THURSDAY WITH A SOUTHERLY FLOW RETURNING TO OUR AREA ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE HIGH. THINK MOST OF THE DAY WILL REMAIN DRY WITH WARMING TEMPERATURES...INTO THE UPPER 70S TO AROUND 80 FOR AFTERNOON HIGHS. CANNOT RULE OUT SOME THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT IN OUR SOUTHWEST LATER IN THE AFTERNOON...WITH A BETTER CHANCE ON THURSDAY NIGHT AS A WARM FRONT BEGINS TO LIFT THROUGH NEBRASKA AND 850 MB CONVERGENCE IS ENHANCED AS A LOW LEVEL JET DEVELOPS THROUGH THE REGION. DOES APPEAR TO BE ENOUGH ELEVATED CAPE...500 TO 1000 J/KG...AND EFFECTIVE SHEAR OF AROUND 30 KTS IN THE EVENING THAT CANNOT RULE OUT A COUPLE OF SEVERE STORMS WITH LARGE HAIL. A MESSY PATTERN CONTINUES THROUGH THE EXTENDED...FRIDAY INTO MONDAY OF NEXT WEEK...WITH PERIODIC CHANCES OF CONVECTION THROUGH THE PERIOD WITH A BOUNDARY MEANDERING AROUND THE AREA AND A SERIES OF SUBTLE WAVES TRACKING ACROSS THE REGION. HARD TO TIME THIS CONVECTION DEPENDENT ON WHERE SYNOPTIC/MESOSCALE FEATURES SET UP...BUT WITH INCREASING LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND INSTABILITY ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH THE WEEKEND THERE IS FAIRLY HIGH CONFIDENCE THAT CONVECTION WILL OCCUR. CONVECTIVE PARAMETERS WOULD ALSO SUGGEST THAT SEVERE STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR THOSE DAYS. AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH FINALLY SWINGS OUT OF THE WESTERN U.S. ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY...KEEPING A CHANCE OF CONVECTION ACROSS THE REGION...AS WELL AS BRINGING A COOLING TREND. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z WEDNESDAY MORNING) ISSUED AT 634 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 MAIN AVIATION CONCERN TODAY WILL BE GUSTY WINDS...FIRST OUT OF THE SOUTHWEST BY 14Z AHEAD OF APPROACHING COLD FRONT...WITH THE WINDS BECOMING NORTHWEST AS THE FRONT PROGRESSES SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA THROUGH THE DAY. GUSTY WINDS WILL SUBSIDE WITH SUNSET AROUND 15/01Z. VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH THE PERIOD. && .FIRE WEATHER... ISSUED AT 343 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 RED FLAG WARNING STILL LOOKS WARRANTED FOR THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH AHEAD OF COOL FRONT WILL SWITCH TO NORTHWEST BEHIND THE FRONT AND REMAIN AS STRONG. ALONG WITH THE GUSTY WINDS WILL BE DRY RELATIVE HUMIDITY LEVELS IN THE 15 TO 25 PERCENT RANGE...AS DRY AND UNSEASONABLY WARM AIR ALOFT MIXES TO THE SURFACE. AREAS RIGHT ALONG THE FRONT MAY NOT SEE AS SUSTAINED A PERIOD OF RED FLAG CRITERIA DUE TO MOISTURE POOLING AND LIGHTER/LESS GUSTY WINDS WITHIN THE FRONTAL ZONE...BUT SHOULD STILL REACH CRITERIA AT TIMES. RECENT GREENING OF COOL SEASON GRASSES MAY SLOW FIRE STARTS ACROSS THE AREA...BUT ANY FIRES THAT DO IGNITE WILL SPREAD VERY QUICKLY IN THE LINGERING DORMANT TALL GRASSES. SOME MODELS ALSO INDICATE POTENTIAL FOR EVEN WARMER/DRIER AIR MIXING TO THE SURFACE AHEAD OF THE FRONT...MAINLY IN NORTHWEST IOWA THIS AFTERNOON...SO THIS WILL BE WATCHED CLOSELY THROUGHOUT THE DAY. && .FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR SDZ255>258. MN...RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR MNZ900. IA...RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR IAZ300-301. NE...RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR NEZ249. && $$ UPDATE...CHENARD SHORT TERM...JH/JM LONG TERM...JM AVIATION...JH FIRE WEATHER...JH
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS SIOUX FALLS SD
634 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 343 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 MAIN CHALLENGE FOR TODAY WILL BE WINDS/HUMIDITY LEVELS/ASSOCIATED FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS IN MIXY ENVIRONMENT AHEAD OF AND BEHIND COOL FRONT WHICH WILL PUSH SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH THE DAY. LOW LEVEL TEMPERATURES AHEAD OF THE FRONT EASILY SUPPORTIVE OF MID 90S ACROSS MUCH OF NORTHWEST IOWA THIS AFTERNOON...WITH SOME MODELS SHOWING POTENTIAL FOR HIGHS CLOSER TO OR JUST ABOVE THE CENTURY MARK. WITH THE STRONG MIXING COMES LIKELIHOOD OF MIXING DRIER AIR ALOFT TO THE SURFACE. MODELS HAVE BEEN HAVING DIFFICULTY CAPTURING THE DIURNAL DRYING TREND WITH AFTERNOON MIXING...HANGING ONTO SHALLOW MOISTURE OR MIXING BOUNDARY LAYER MOISTURE UPWARD RATHER THAN BRINGING DRIER AIR TO SURFACE AS DEEPER MIXING COMMENCES. RUC SEEMS TO HANDLE IT BETTER THAN NAM/GFS...AND MORE CLOSELY FOLLOWED THAT IDEA THROUGH THE LATE MORNING/AFTERNOON...THOUGH NOT QUITE AS DRY AS RUC INDICATES AT THIS POINT GIVEN EXTREME DISPARITY FROM OTHER MODELS /AS MUCH AS 10-15F DRIER THAN MOST OTHER GUIDANCE FOR 21Z/. DRIEST AIR SHOULD BE OVER FAR SOUTHEAST AND WESTERN PARTS OF THE FORECAST AREA DURING PEAK HEATING...WITH SLIGHT MOISTURE POOLING IN SOMEWHAT LESS MIXY AREA RIGHT ALONG THE FRONT...FORECAST TO BE JUST EAST OF KYKN-KFSD-KMML LINE AT 21Z. ALL THIS LEADS TO MINIMUM HUMIDITY LEVELS OF 15-25 PERCENT THIS AFTERNOON... AND THIS ALONG WITH WINDS GUSTING IN THE 25-30KT RANGE STILL SUPPORTIVE OF RED FLAG WARNING WHICH WAS ISSUED ON THE DAY SHIFT YESTERDAY. COLD FRONT SETTLES SOUTH OF THE AREA TONIGHT...WITH COOLING TEMPERATURES AND DYING WINDS OVERNIGHT. LOWS LOOK TO DROP INTO THE UPPER 40S NORTHWEST...TO MID 50S THROUGH THE LOWER MISSOURI RIVER VALLEY INTO NORTHWESTERN IOWA. .LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY) ISSUED AT 343 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS SOUTHWARD INTO THE REGION ON WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT...PROVIDING FOR PLEASANT CONDITIONS WITH TEMPERATURES CLOSE TO NORMAL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR. THIS WILL PLAY OUT TO HIGHS IN THE MID AND UPPER 70S...WITH LOWS EARLY ON THURSDAY IN THE UPPER 40S TO LOWER 50S. THE HIGH MOVES EASTWARD ON THURSDAY WITH A SOUTHERLY FLOW RETURNING TO OUR AREA ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE HIGH. THINK MOST OF THE DAY WILL REMAIN DRY WITH WARMING TEMPERATURES...INTO THE UPPER 70S TO AROUND 80 FOR AFTERNOON HIGHS. CANNOT RULE OUT SOME THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT IN OUR SOUTHWEST LATER IN THE AFTERNOON...WITH A BETTER CHANCE ON THURSDAY NIGHT AS A WARM FRONT BEGINS TO LIFT THROUGH NEBRASKA AND 850 MB CONVERGENCE IS ENHANCED AS A LOW LEVEL JET DEVELOPS THROUGH THE REGION. DOES APPEAR TO BE ENOUGH ELEVATED CAPE...500 TO 1000 J/KG...AND EFFECTIVE SHEAR OF AROUND 30 KTS IN THE EVENING THAT CANNOT RULE OUT A COUPLE OF SEVERE STORMS WITH LARGE HAIL. A MESSY PATTERN CONTINUES THROUGH THE EXTENDED...FRIDAY INTO MONDAY OF NEXT WEEK...WITH PERIODIC CHANCES OF CONVECTION THROUGH THE PERIOD WITH A BOUNDARY MEANDERING AROUND THE AREA AND A SERIES OF SUBTLE WAVES TRACKING ACROSS THE REGION. HARD TO TIME THIS CONVECTION DEPENDENT ON WHERE SYNOPTIC/MESOSCALE FEATURES SET UP...BUT WITH INCREASING LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND INSTABILITY ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH THE WEEKEND THERE IS FAIRLY HIGH CONFIDENCE THAT CONVECTION WILL OCCUR. CONVECTIVE PARAMETERS WOULD ALSO SUGGEST THAT SEVERE STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR THOSE DAYS. AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH FINALLY SWINGS OUT OF THE WESTERN U.S. ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY...KEEPING A CHANCE OF CONVECTION ACROSS THE REGION...AS WELL AS BRINGING A COOLING TREND. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z WEDNESDAY MORNING) ISSUED AT 634 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 MAIN AVIATION CONCERN TODAY WILL BE GUSTY WINDS...FIRST OUT OF THE SOUTHWEST BY 14Z AHEAD OF APPROACHING COLD FRONT...WITH THE WINDS BECOMING NORTHWEST AS THE FRONT PROGRESSES SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA THROUGH THE DAY. GUSTY WINDS WILL SUBSIDE WITH SUNSET AROUND 15/01Z. VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH THE PERIOD. && .FIRE WEATHER... ISSUED AT 343 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 RED FLAG WARNING STILL LOOKS WARRANTED FOR THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH AHEAD OF COOL FRONT WILL SWITCH TO NORTHWEST BEHIND THE FRONT AND REMAIN AS STRONG. ALONG WITH THE GUSTY WINDS WILL BE DRY RELATIVE HUMIDITY LEVELS IN THE 15 TO 25 PERCENT RANGE...AS DRY AND UNSEASONABLY WARM AIR ALOFT MIXES TO THE SURFACE. AREAS RIGHT ALONG THE FRONT MAY NOT SEE AS SUSTAINED A PERIOD OF RED FLAG CRITERIA DUE TO MOISTURE POOLING AND LIGHTER/LESS GUSTY WINDS WITHIN THE FRONTAL ZONE...BUT SHOULD STILL REACH CRITERIA AT TIMES. RECENT GREENING OF COOL SEASON GRASSES MAY SLOW FIRE STARTS ACROSS THE AREA...BUT ANY FIRES THAT DO IGNITE WILL SPREAD VERY QUICKLY IN THE LINGERING DORMANT TALL GRASSES. SOME MODELS ALSO INDICATE POTENTIAL FOR EVEN WARMER/DRIER AIR MIXING TO THE SURFACE AHEAD OF THE FRONT...MAINLY IN NORTHWEST IOWA THIS AFTERNOON...SO THIS WILL BE WATCHED CLOSELY THROUGHOUT THE DAY. && .FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...RED FLAG WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR SDZ255>258. MN...RED FLAG WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR MNZ900. IA...RED FLAG WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR IAZ300-301. NE...RED FLAG WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR NEZ249. && $$ SHORT TERM...JH/JM LONG TERM...JM AVIATION...JH FIRE WEATHER...JH
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS GREEN BAY WI
627 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 UPDATED AVIATION PORTION FOR 12Z TAF ISSUANCE .SHORT TERM...TODAY...TONIGHT...AND WEDNESDAY ISSUED AT 436 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 FORECAST CONCERNS ON TEMPERATURES TODAY AND CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING. HAVE TRENDED TOWARDS GEM/NAM FOR GUIDANCE ON THIS PACKAGE. ECMWF NOW TRENDING TOWARDS NAM WITH BETTER CHANCE FOR PCPN A BIT FURTHER SOUTH INTO CENTRAL WI CLOSER TO WARM FRONT POSITION. LAST EVENING SOUNDINGS SHOWS WHAT THE ISSUE WITH THIS FORECAST...THAT BEING TOO DRY. AREA OF HIGH BASED SHOWERS WENT THROUGH LAST NIGHT AROUND MIDNIGHT ASSOCIATED WITH STRONG WAA/850 WARM FRONT. NOTHING MORE THAN SPRINKLES SEEN. MID CLOUDINESS NOW EXITING EASTERN WI. FOCUS ON FAST MOVING SHORT WAVE ALONG CANADIAN BORDER AND FRONTAL SYSTEM NOW MOVING THROUGH NORTHERN PLAINS. BY MID AFTERNOON...WARM FRONT TO LIFT NORTH INTO SOUTHWEST WI. RATHER WARM AIR MASS TO PUSH INTO STATE TODAY WITH 850 TEMPS INTO THE 20S OVER CENTRAL WI. WITH STEEP MID-LEVEL LAPSE RATES BETWEEN 8 AND 9 C/KM....AND WARM FRONT...WILL CONTINUE TO CARRY SMALL/ISOLD CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS. MODEL SOUNDINGS SUGGEST STRONG CIN THROUGH THE DAY GIVEN DRY AIRMASS BELOW 600MB. SOUNDINGS ALSO SHOW CAPE HIGH BASED...MAINLY ABOVE 600MB. THIS TO LEAD TO HIGH BASED THUNDERSTORM THREAT...WHICH IF STORMS DO DEVELOP WOULD LIKELY LEAD TO GUSTY WINDS...POSSIBLY HAIL. COLD FRONT TO PUSH THROUGH STATE BY MIDNIGHT LEADING TO DRY FORECAST FOR REST OF NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY. ON WEDNESDAY...GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS BEHIND FRONT AND LOW HUMIDITIES WITH MIXING TO 5K FEET OR HIGHER MAY LEAD TO INCREASED FIRE DANGER. TEMPERATURES TO BE WELL ABOVE NORM TODAY...DROPPING CLOSER TO NORMS ON WEDNESDAY. FEW MODELS...INCLUDING HRRR SUGGEST 90 INTO SOUTHWEST WI. HAVE BUMPED TEMPS UP SLIGHTLY THROUGHOUT CWA. .LONG TERM...WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY ISSUED AT 436 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE MOVING ACROSS THE REGION AHEAD OF AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE SHOULD KEEP THE EARLY PART OF THE LONG TERM FORECAST DRY. THE 00Z NAM AND 00Z GFS GENERATED SOME QPF DURING THE DAY ON THURSDAY...BUT SINCE THE 00Z ECMWF...PREVIOUS FORECAST AND SURROUNDING GRIDS WERE DRY...A DRY FORECAST APPEARED TO BE THE WAY TO GO. A SHORT WAVE AND WARM ADVECTION AHEAD OF A SURFACE TROUGH APPROACHING FROM THE PLAINS WILL BRING A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO THE AREA STARTING ON FRIDAY. VARIOUS SHORT WAVES AHEAD OF THE MAIN UPPER TROUGH AND A SURFACE FRONTAL BOUNDARY...COMBINED WITH A FEED OF GULF MOISTURE AHEAD OF A DEVELOPING SURFACE LOW WILL KEEP AT LEAST A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THE END OF THE FORECAST PERIOD. CLOUDS AND PRECIPITATION WILL KEEP TEMPERATURES FROM WARMING TOO MUCH ABOVE NORMAL DURING THE DAYTIME...BUT THE SAME FACTORS SHOULD KEEP TEMPERATURES WELL ABOVE NORMAL AT NIGHT. && .AVIATION...FOR 12Z TAF ISSUANCE ISSUED AT 612 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 LLWS CONDITIONS TO PERSIST THROUGH 15Z IN THE EAST...OTHERWISE VFR CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE PERIOD. ISOLD TO SCT THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT AS A WARM/COLD FRONT MOVE THROUGH THE STATE. THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED TO BE HIGH BASED WITH STRONG...GUSTY WINDS POSSIBLE WITH ANY THUNDERSTORM THAT DEVELOPS. && .GRB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM.....TE LONG TERM......MG AVIATION.......TE
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS TAUNTON MA
705 PM EDT TUE MAY 14 2013 .SYNOPSIS... COOL CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST TONIGHT AS A HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE BUILDS ACROSS NEW ENGLAND. A WARM FRONT WILL APPROACH...BRINGING SHOWERS INTO THE REGION WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT. HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS SOUTH FROM CANADA WITH DRY WEATHER AND SEASONABLE TEMPERATURES FOR MOST OF THURSDAY THROUGH NEXT TUESDAY. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING/... 7 PM UPDATE... CLOUDS IN PLACE OVER SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND MOVING SOUTHEAST. CONTINUE TO EXPECT THEM TO DIMINISH/DISSIPATE AFTER SUNSET. RADAR SHOWS LIGHT SHOWERS...MOSTLY MOVING OFF THE COASTS OF MAINE AND NH AND PASSING JUST EAST OF CAPE ANN. NO CHANGES IN FORECAST THINKING. ADJUSTED TEMPS AND WINDS TOWARD OBSERVED VALUES AND PROJECTED THE NEXT FEW HOURS USING A BLEND OF THE GLAMP AND HRRR MODELS. PREVIOUS DISCUSSION... HIGH PRES RIDGE WILL BUILD OUT OF NY STATE ACROSS NEW ENGLAND TONIGHT...BRINGING DIMINISHING WINDS. HOWEVER...APPEARS THERE WILL BE JUST ENOUGH WIND THROUGH MOST OF THE NIGHT ESPECIALLY ACROSS CENTRAL AND EASTERN AREAS TO ESCAPE A LONG FROST. MAY SEE PATCHY FROST FOR AN HOUR OR TWO AFTER 06Z ACROSS THESE AREAS. BEST SHOT OF PATCHY FROST WILL OCCUR ACROSS S NH/N CENTRAL AND NW MA...WHERE THE GROWING SEASON HAS NOT BEGUN YET. EXPECT OVERNIGHT LOWS IN THE MID TO UPPER 30S ACROSS THE NORMALLY COLDER INLAND LOCATIONS...RANGING TO THE MID 40S ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COAST. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/... WEDNESDAY... UPPER LEVEL PATTERN REMAINS PROGRESSIVE ACROSS THE LOWER 48...SO EXPECT NEXT DISTURBANCE TO WORK OUT OF THE GREAT LAKES DURING WED. WILL SEE CLOUDS INCREASE STEADILY DURING THE DAY WITH THE APPROACH OF A WARM FRONT. SHOWERS WILL MOVE INTO THE CT VALLEY IN THE AFTERNOON AND MOVE STEADILY E. MAY HAVE MARGINAL INSTABILITY... WITH TOTAL TOTALS FROM 48 TO 50 MOVING ACROSS SOUTHERN AREAS. HAVE MENTIONED ISOLD THUNDER THERE...BUT LOW CONFIDENCE ON THIS ASPECT. TOTAL QFP WILL BE AROUND 0.25 INCHES...BUT CAN NOT RULE OUT LOCALIZED SPOTTY DOWNPOURS. AS WARM FRONT PASSES...S-SW WINDS WILL PICK UP WITH GUSTS UP TO 20-25 KT FROM AROUND 18Z INTO THE EVENING...HIGHEST ALONG THE S COAST. EXPECT HIGHS IN THE 60S...EXCEPT THE MID-UPPER 50S ALONG THE S COAST. WEDNESDAY NIGHT... TRAILING COLD FRONT WILL STEADILY MOVE ACROSS THE REGION EARLY. SHOWERS SHOULD PUSH E AFTER MIDNIGHT...EXITING THE CAPE AND ISLANDS BY 10Z OR SO. WINDS WILL SHIFT TO W AND DIMINISH. WITH CLOUDS LINGERING...EXPECT TEMPS TO ONLY FALL BACK TO THE MID 40S TO LOWER 50S. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... BIG PICTURE... UPPER TROUGH OVER NEW ENGLAND AND THE MARITIMES LATE WEEK AND OVER THE WEEKEND. UPPER RIDGE BUILDS ON MONDAY-TUESDAY. MODEL PREFERENCES... MODEL MASS FIELDS THIS SIDE OF THE GREAT LAKES LOOK RATHER SIMILAR THROUGH THE PERIOD. WE USED A BLEND OF THE LONG RANGE HPC/GMOS TEMPS AND GFS/ECMWF SKY COVER. POP CONTOURS WERE HAND DRAWN BASED ON OVERLAID QPF FIELDS. THE DAILIES... THURSDAY... COLD FRONT MOVES OFFSHORE EARLY. UPPER TROUGH AND COLD POOL MOVE ACROSS DURING THE DAY. SOME DESTABILIZATION/CAA ALOFT/ OVER OUR AREA...BUT THE FOCUS OF THIS WILL TAKE PLACE OVER VT/NH/MAINE. EXPECT DIURNAL CUMULUS BUT AIRMASS LOOKS TOO DRY FOR SHOWERS. MIXING WILL BE DEEP...REACHING ABOVE 800 MB. WINDS IN THIS LAYER ARE EXPECTED TO REACH 35 KNOTS...EVEN A FEW INDICATIONS OF NEAR 40 KNOTS HIGH IN THE LAYER. SO WIND GUSTS ABOVE 30 KNOTS ARE ALSO EXPECTED DURING THE AFTERNOON. CLOUDS AND WIND DIMINISH IN THE EVENING. TEMPS ARE A BLEND OF MOS. FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY... DRY THROUGH THE PERIOD AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS SOUTH FROM NORTHERN QUEBEC. THE HIGH SHIFTS OFFSHORE DURING SUNDAY. THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL DIURNAL CUMULUS ESPECIALLY ON FRIDAY- SATURDAY AND IN THIS RESPECT THE FORECAST MAY BE TOO OPTIMISTIC WITH SUNSHINE. BUT THE AIRMASS LOOKS SUFFICIENTLY DRY TO LIMIT CLOUD DEVELOPMENT. TEMPS ARE A BLEND OF LONG-RANGE MOS. SUNDAY NIGHT-MONDAY-TUESDAY... BUILDING RIDGE ALOFT WILL WORK TO KEEP THE WEATHER DRY. WARM ADVECTION WEST OF THE SURFACE HIGH WILL BRING ISENTROPIC LIFT AND WORK TO INCREASE SKY COVER. CLOUDS OVER THE MID ATLANTIC/OHIO VALLEY WILL GET CAUGHT UP IN THE RETURN FLOW AND GET DRAWN NORTH. NOT A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN THIS PART OF THE FORECAST...BUT MOST OF THE FAVORABLE PARAMETERS FOR SHOWERS WILL REMAIN TO OUR WEST OVER NY/PA THIS PERIOD. SOME SEMBLANCE OF A WARM FRONT MOVES THROUGH LATER SUNDAY NIGHT/MONDAY...AND WE HAVE INCLUDED CHANCE POPS DURING THIS PERIOD IN OUR WESTERN AND NORTHERN ZONES. MORE SHOWERS APPROACH FROM THE WEST LATE TUESDAY...AND SO WE HAVE CHANCE POPS ENTER FROM THE WEST TUESDAY NIGHT. STAY TUNED FOR LATER FORECAST CYCLES AS THIS SETUP BECOMES CLEARER. && .AVIATION /00Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... FORECASTER CONFIDENCE LEVELS... LOW...LESS THAN 30 PERCENT. MODERATE...30 TO 60 PERCENT. HIGH...GREATER THAN 60 PERCENT. SHORT TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/... TONIGHT...HIGH CONFIDENCE. VFR WITH DIMINISHING WIND. DIMINISHING SKY COVER BETWEEN 9 PM AND MIDNIGHT. WEDNESDAY...MODERATE TO HIGH CONFIDENCE. VFR MOST OF THE DAY. MAY SEE PATCHY MVFR CIGS/VSBYS MOVE INTO CT VALLEY LATE IN THE DAY. SCT SHOWERS MOVE IN FROM W-E DURING THE DAY AS WARM FRONT APPROACHES. WEDNESDAY NIGHT...MODERATE CONFIDENCE. CIGS/VSBYS LOWERING TO MVFR WITH POCKETS OF IFR CONDITIONS IN SCT-WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND FOG. S-SW WINDS MAY GUST TO 25 KT EARLY BEFORE WIND SHIFT. LOW CONFIDENCE OF ISOLD THUNDER. CONDITIONS IMPROVE ACROSS WESTERN AREAS AFTER MIDNIGHT ON W-NW WINDS. KBOS TERMINAL...HIGH CONFIDENCE IN TAF. KBDL TERMINAL...HIGH CONFIDENCE IN TAF. OUTLOOK...THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY... THURSDAY... AREAS OF IFR IN MORNING FOG...OTHERWISE VFR. VFR LEVEL CLOUDS DEVELOP MIDDAY/AFTERNOON ESPECIALLY SOUTHERN NH/NORTHERN MASS. WEST-NORTHWEST WINDS INCREASE DURING THE MORNING...WITH GUSTS TO 35 KNOTS EXPECTED IN THE AFTERNOON AND DIMINISHING IN THE EVENING. FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY... VFR THROUGH THE PERIOD. LIGHTER WINDS WITH POTENTIAL FOR MIDDAY/AFTERNOON SEABREEZES EACH DAY. && .MARINE... FORECASTER CONFIDENCE LEVELS... LOW...LESS THAN 30 PERCENT. MODERATE...30 TO 60 PERCENT. HIGH...GREATER THAN 60 PERCENT. SHORT TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/... HIGH CONFIDENCE THROUGH PERIOD. EXPECT WINDS AND SEAS TO REMAIN BELOW SMALL CRAFT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING. S-SW WINDS WILL PICK UP...GUSTING TO 25 KT OVER THE OPEN WATERS. SEAS WILL ALSO BUILD...UP TO 8 FT ON THE OUTER WATERS. WINDS WILL SHIFT TO W AND GRADUALLY DIMINISH LATE WED AS COLD FRONT PASSES. SEAS WILL REMAIN AOA 5 FT THROUGH WED NIGHT. OUTLOOK...THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY... THURSDAY...SEAS 5 TO 7 FEET ON THE OUTER WATERS AND RI/BID SOUNDS...SO A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR SEAS WILL CONTINUE TO BE NEEDED. WINDS OVER LAND WILL INCREASE TO 25-35 KNOTS MIDDAY AND AFTERNOON. SOME OF THIS WIND MAY AFFECT THE NEARSHORE WATERS AND REQUIRE A SMALL CRAFT HEADLINE AS WELL. FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY... WINDS AND SEAS EXPECTED TO REMAIN BELOW SMALL CRAFT CRITERIA MOST OF THE PERIOD. SEAS ON THE OUTER WATERS MAY APPROACH 5 FEET ON SUNDAY. && .FIRE WEATHER... WEDNESDAY...EXPECT MINIMUM RH VALUES TO RANGE FROM THE MID 30S ACROSS E MA TO 50-60 PERCENT ACROSS S COAST...CAPE COD AND THE ISLANDS EARLY WED...THEN WILL INCREASE AS CLOUDS AND SHOWERS MOVE IN. GREEN-UP ALSO CONTINUES...AS MUCH OF THE REGION REMAINS BELOW NORMAL FOR TOTAL RAINFALL OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS. S-SW WINDS WILL BECOME GUSTY...UP TO 20-25 KT WED AFTERNOON AND NIGHT BUT SHOULD SEE WIDESPREAD SHOWERS MOVING IN. NOT EXPECTING A LOT OF RAINFALL LATE WED AND WED NIGHT...MAINLY AROUND 0.25 INCHES. THE FORECASTED RAINFALL WILL BE OF SOME HELP TOWARDS THE BELOW NORMAL RAINFALL CONDITIONS. HOWEVER...THE REGION REMAINS DRY POSSIBLY CONDUCIVE TOWARDS FUTURE FIRE WEATHER POTENTIAL. OUTLOOK... MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THURSDAY AND FRIDAY IS EXPECTED AT 20 TO 30 PERCENT EACH DAY. WEST-NORTHWEST WINDS ON THURSDAY WILL INCREASE BY MIDDAY WITH AFTERNOON GUSTS TO 30 KNOTS AND POSSIBLY 35 KNOTS. THESE CONDITIONS ON THURSDAY WILL NEED TO BE WATCHED. && .BOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CT...NONE. MA...NONE. NH...NONE. RI...NONE. MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM 2 PM WEDNESDAY TO 2 AM EDT THURSDAY FOR ANZ232. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM 2 PM WEDNESDAY TO 8 AM EDT THURSDAY FOR ANZ235-237-250-254>256. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM 2 PM WEDNESDAY TO 6 AM EDT THURSDAY FOR ANZ251. && $$ SYNOPSIS...WTB/EVT NEAR TERM...WTB/EVT/THOMPSON SHORT TERM...EVT LONG TERM...WTB AVIATION...WTB/EVT/THOMPSON MARINE...WTB/EVT FIRE WEATHER...
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MOUNT HOLLY NJ
540 PM EDT TUE MAY 14 2013 .SYNOPSIS... HIGH PRESSURE WILL MOVE OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST TONIGHT AND OUT TO SEA INTO THURSDAY. A WARM FRONT IS FORECAST TO LIFT THROUGH OUR AREA ON EARLY WEDNESDAY, FOLLOWED BY A COLD FRONT WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THIS FRONT WILL SAG TO OUR SOUTH AND STALL FOR THE LATE WEEK PERIOD AND INTO THE WEEKEND. THE FRONT MAY LIFT BACK NORTHWARD ACROSS THE AREA AS A WARM FRONT EARLY NEXT WEEK. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING/... USED THE LATEST RAP AND HR3 TO MAKE SOME SOUTHWARD ADJUSTMENTS TO MENTION OF PCPN AT ONSET EARLY OVERNIGHT. SO FAR AIRPORTS IN WRN PA ARE OBSERVING TRACES. OTHERWISE TEMPS WERE TWEAKED SLIGHTLY DOWNWARD BASED ON CURRENT TEMPS. MOST OTHER PARAMETERS AND GRIDS DID NOT NEED MUCH CHANGE. RAPIDLY THICKENING AND LOWERING CIGS ...THE BAND YOU SEE ON 19Z SATELLITE IMAGERY FROM MICHIGAN TO W PTNS PA AND NYS. SCT LIGHT SHOWERS EXPECTED...MOSTLY TRACE...AFTER MIDNIGHT AND MODELED IMO PRETTY WELL BY THE 00Z/14 NSSL WRF AND NOW THE 18Z RAP...FLYING SEWD 30-40 KT. LIGHT S WIND IN THE WAA PATTERN BEHIND THE DEPARTING SFC HIGH OFF THE SE USA COAST. 50 50 BLENDED 12Z/14 NCEP MOS GUIDANCE FOR TEMPS/WINDS/DEWS. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH 6 PM WEDNESDAY/... WEDNESDAY...THE 12Z GFS LOOKS LIKE MY IDEA OF A BEST MODEL SOLN OF THE 12Z INTERNATIONAL SUITE. THE 12/14 GFS IMO HAS THE RIGHT IDEA ABOUT STRONG CONVECTION AND PROBABLY STREAMING EAST SOUTHEAST FROM SOUTHERN PA ACROSS S NJ AND OR THE DELMARVA LATE IN THE DAY WEDNESDAY. SPC 1715Z SWODY2 ASSESSMENT MATCHES MY THINKING. THE INCREASING BOUNDARY LAYER MOISTURE MAY BE OVERDONE BY THE MODELS, THUS LIMITING INSTABILITY AND THE POTENTIAL FOR INITIATING CONVECTION. THE 18Z GFS LAMP HAS GRIDDED LAMP TSTM PROBS IN W NYS AND NW PA BY 14Z. MODEL REMNANTS OF AN EML NOW SPREADING EWD FROM THE MIDWEST THAT SUPPORTS CONCERN FOR HAILERS....INCREASING THE 700-500MB LAPSE RATES LATE IN THE DAY. MORE THAN ADEQUATE BULK SHEAR FOR SVR WIND... AND SO THE QUESTION BECOMES...IS THERE ENOUGH MOISTURE TO SUPPORT TSTM GENERATION. 12Z/14 GFS ML CAPE IS ONLY 600J LATER IN THE DAY AND SO DID NOT WORD HAIL OR GUSTY WINDS IN THE ZONE PRODUCTS. OTRW TEMPS/WINDS/DEWS ARE 50 50 BLENDED 12Z/14 NCEP MOS GUIDANCE WITH A LEAN TO A WARMER TEMP SOLN SINCE MOST OF THE DAY SHOULD BE RAINFREE. CONFIDENCE ON POPS IS BELOW AVG AND I MAY BE OVER FCST THE CHC OF A SHOWER OR TSTM WED AFTN. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... THE PRE-FRONTAL SURFACE TROUGH AND ANY ASSOCIATED CONVECTION SHOULD BE PROGRESSING THROUGH THE AREA DURING THE EARLY EVENING TIME WEDNESDAY. ONCE THE TROUGH MOVES THROUGH AND THE SUN GOES DOWN, ANY CONVECTION SHOULD DIMINISH. THE ACTUAL COLD FRONT IS NOT EXPECTED TO MOVE THROUGH THE AREA UNTIL WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THERE STILL COULD BE A FEW SHOWERS AROUND UNTIL THE FRONT ACTUALLY MOVES THROUGH, BUT ANY THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY SHOULD HAVE ENDED BY THE TIME THE FRONT APPROACHES. THE AFOREMENTIONED COLD FRONT WILL SAG TO OUR SOUTH THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY, WHILE THE PARENT LOW WILL SPIN THROUGH NEW ENGLAND AND INTO THE CANADIAN MARITIMES. THIS WILL KEEP A STEADY WEST TO NORTHWEST FLOW ACROSS THE AREA. EVEN THOUGH A WEAK SURFACE TROUGH IS FORECAST TO CROSS THE AREA ON THURSDAY, MOST OF THE AREA SHOULD REMAIN DRY THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. THE EXCEPTION TO THIS WILL BE ACROSS THE SOUTHERN THIRD OF THE AREA, WHICH WOULD BE CLOSE TO THE OLD COLD FRONT AS IT SLOWLY SAGS TO OUR SOUTH, BEFORE STALLING. THERE MAY BE ENOUGH MOISTURE AND LIFT TO CREATE A FEW SCATTERED SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY AND THE DELMARVA. AS WE MOVE INTO THE WEEKEND, THE LOW TO OUR NORTHEAST WILL SLIDE OUT TO SEA, ALLOWING FOR HIGH PRESSURE TO BUILD ACROSS THE NORTHEAST. THIS HIGH IS EXPECTED TO PUSH OFF THE NEW ENGLAND COAST AND TO OUR EAST THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THIS WILL PUT OUR AREA INTO AN EASTERLY/SOUTHEASTERLY FLOW FOR MUCH OF THE WEEKEND, WHICH COULD HELP KEEP OUR TEMPERATURES FRONT RISING VERY MUCH. IT MAY ALSO KEEP SOME CLOUD COVER ACROSS THE AREA, AND WITH AN INCREASE IN MOISTURE, ANY ADDITIONAL LIFT COULD LEAD TO SOME PRECIPITATION. FOR NOW WE ONLY KEEP CHANCE/SLIGHT CHANCE POPS THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THE FRONT THAT STALLS TO OUR SOUTH IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN LIFTING BACK NORTHWARD AS A WARM FRONT BY LATE SUNDAY INTO MONDAY. THIS COULD LEAD TO SOME SHOWER ACTIVITY SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY. THEN WE WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE NEXT SYSTEM AS IT MOVES OUT OF THE CENTRAL/NORTHERN PLAINS AND THROUGH THE GREAT LAKES. GFS/ECMWF DIFFER ON HOW FAST THEY MOVE THE SYSTEM. IT`S POSSIBLE IT COULD GET HERE AS EARLY AS WEDNESDAY, BUT WE WILL SEE HOW MODELS HANDLE IT OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. && .AVIATION /22Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION IS FOR KPHL, KPNE, KTTN, KABE, KRDG, KILG, KMIV, KACY AND SURROUNDING AREAS. TONIGHT...VFR CIGS AOA 7000 FT DEVELOPING FM WNW TO ESE WITH SCT SPRINKLES OR LIGHT .02/HR SHOWERS STREAMING SEWD 30-40 KT AFTER 04Z. LIGHT SOUTH SFC WIND. WEDNESDAY...VFR SCT-BKN CLOUDS AOA 5000 FT WITH ONLY A SMALL CHANCE OF A LEFTOVER SHOWER POSSIBLE IN THE MORNING BUT A BAND OF SCT-BKN SHOWERS AND ISO STRONG TSTMS EXPECTED LATE IN THE DAY... PROBABLY MOVING ESEWD THRU SE PA NEAR KPHL. SSW WIND GUSTS 15 KT IN THE AFTN. STRONGER WLY GUST TO 35 KT `POSSIBLE` IN A LATE DAY TSTM VCNTY KPHL. CONFIDENCE ON THUNDERSTORM INITIATION WED AFTN IN SRN PA IS BELOW AVG DUE TO MOST MODELS NOT FCSTG MUCH IF ANY SHOWER ACTIVITY. OUTLOOK... WEDNESDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY VFR CONDITIONS. MVFR POSSIBLE WITH ANY SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS EARLY. THURSDAY-FRIDAY...MOSTLY VFR CONDITIONS. SATURDAY-SUNDAY...MAINLY VFR CONDITIONS...POSSIBLE PERIODS OF MVFR SATURDAY NIGHT. SHOWERS ALSO POSSIBLE && .MARINE... HIGH PRESSURE WILL MOVE OVER THE SERN CONUS TODAY AND THEN FURTHER EWD OVER THE SERN COASTAL WATERS TONIGHT. AS A RESULT THE WIND AND SEAS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN BELOW SCA CRITERIA THRU THE NEAR PERIOD. WEDNESDAY...GUIDANCE INDICATES OUR COASTAL WATERS WILL REACH SCA WIND GUSTS DURING THE DAYTIME WEDNESDAY WITH SEAS BUILDING TO 5 FT ON THE ATLC WATERS DURING THE AFTN GENERATED BY THE SLY FLOW AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING WFRONT. FOR LOWER DE BAY THERE MAY BE A PERIOD OF SCA WIND GUSTS WEDNESDAY BUT CONFIDENCE WAS NOT HIGH ENOUGH AT THIS TIME TO INCLUDE THIS AS A HEADLINE. AM STARTING THE SCA A BIT SOONER ON THE ATLC WATERS WEDNESDAY... AROUND 12Z. WILL LEAVE IT TO THE MID SHIFT TO ISSUE FOR DE BAY. OUTLOOK... THE SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT AS SEAS WILL LIKELY REMAIN ABOVE 5 FEET AND WINDS COULD GUST AROUND 25 KNOTS EARLY. HOWEVER, AFTER THE COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH, WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO DROP BELOW ADVISORY LEVELS THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. SEAS MAY REMAIN AROUND 5 FEET INTO EARLY THURSDAY, BUT NOT CONFIDENT ENOUGH TO EXTEND THE ADVISORY OUT ANOTHER DAY YET. ONCE SEAS DROP BELOW 5 FEET, THEY WILL REMAIN SO THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. AS WE MOVE INTO THE WEEKEND, HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS TO OUR NORTH/NORTHEAST, WHICH WILL PRESENT AN EAST/SOUTHEAST FETCH ACROSS THE WATERS. WINDS COULD BEGIN APPROACHING SMALL CRAFT CONDITIONS STARTING SATURDAY NIGHT AND SEAS COULD BEGIN INCREASING AS WELL CLOSE TO 5 FEET BY SUNDAY. && .PHI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...NONE. NJ...NONE. DE...NONE. MD...NONE. MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM 7 AM WEDNESDAY TO 8 AM EDT THURSDAY FOR ANZ450>455. && $$ SYNOPSIS...ROBERTSON NEAR TERM...DRAG/GIGI SHORT TERM...DRAG LONG TERM...ROBERTSON AVIATION...DRAG/ROBERTSON MARINE...DRAG/ROBERTSON
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS DES MOINES IA
1233 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 ...UPDATED AVIATION AND PUBLIC DISCUSSION... .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 1233 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 HOT CONDITIONS CONTINUE TO STREAM INTO WESTERN AND NORTHWEST IOWA... ALREADY BREAKING RECORDS IN SOME PORTIONS OF THE STATE TODAY. WINDS GENERALLY FULLY MIXED NOW SO WARMING OVER THESE AREAS WILL SLOW... BUT STILL MANAGE TO PUSH A FEW SPOTS IN OUR WEST TO NORTHWEST FORECAST AREA IN EXCESS OF 100F THIS AFTERNOON. HIGHS ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST LOOK REASONABLE...AND HAVE RAISED HIGHS NORTH AND WEST PORTIONS FOR TODAY. DEW POINTS HAVE RISEN MOST AREAS THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS AND HAVE MADE ADJUSTMENTS...SOME POOLING TAKING PLACE OVER CENTRAL IOWA NOW...WITH AREAS SEEING MIXING DEW POINTS RAPIDLY TANKING BACK INTO THE 40S. .SHORT TERM.../TODAY/... ISSUED AT 407 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 FORECAST CHALLENGE TODAY IS WITH RECORD OR NEAR RECORD HIGH MAX TEMPS...DEW POINTS AND WINDS. MODELS STILL INITIALIZING TOO MOIST WITH THE RAP CONTINUING TO BE THE DRY SOLUTION TODAY. RAP ALSO HAS THE BETTER HANDLE ON THE TEMPS TODAY...SO LEANED CLOSER TO THE RAP SOLUTION. WINDS WILL INCREASE LATE THIS MORNING AND CONTINUE TO MIX DURING THE AFTERNOON WITH RAP SHOWING THE BEST DRY ADIABATIC SOUNDING. MIXING TO 850MB SHOULD TAP INTO THE +25C TEMPERATURES ADVECTING INTO WESTERN TO NORTHERN IOWA BY THIS AFTERNOON. NAM/GFS/ECMWF SOUNDINGS ARE NOT AS AGGRESSIVE WITH THE MIXING TODAY...AND POSSIBLY ONE REASON THESE MODELS OVERDOING THE DEW POINTS. TEMPS OVERNIGHT REMAINING IN THE UPPER 50S/LOWER 60S ACROSS MUCH OF THE FORECAST AREA...AND WITH THE NORTHWEST FORECAST AREA RISING 2-4 DEGREES WARMER MONDAY THAN ANTICIPATED...CONFIDENT ENOUGH TO TWEAK MAX TEMPS UP SLIGHTLY OVER THE WEST AND NORTH. WENT ROUGHLY 3 TO 5 DEGREES ABOVE THE WARMEST GUIDANCE TODAY. WITH THE DRIER DEW POINTS AND RH VALUES COMBINED WITH THE GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS...DECIDED TO UPGRADE TO A RED FLAG WARNING. SEE FIRE WEATHER DISCUSSION FOR FURTHER DETAILS. .LONG TERM.../TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/... ISSUED AT 400 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL DROP SLOWLY SOUTH THROUGH THE STATE OVERNIGHT BEFORE STALLING IN THE ZONAL FLOW JUST SOUTH INTO MISSOURI ON WEDNESDAY. MOISTURE REMAINS QUITE LIMITED WITH THE SYSTEM. ANY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THAT DO FORM WILL BE EXTREMELY HIGH BASED AND ABOVE THE PRIMARY AREA OF FORCING. THIS COMBINED WITH THE LACK OF ASSOCIATED MOISTURE WILL KEEP ANY ACTIVITY QUITE SPARSE. BROAD AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WILL BECOME REFOCUSED OVER WYOMING AND THE WESTERN DAKOTAS THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY. THIS WILL HELP DRIVE THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY BACK NORTH AS A WARM FRONT. PRECIPITATION CHANCES WILL CONTINUE MAINLY OVER THE SOUTH WEDNESDAY BEFORE SPREADING BACK NORTH WITH THE FRONTAL PASSAGE THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK. HAVE MAINTAINED THUNDERSTORM CHANCES ON SATURDAY THOUGH THE SIGNS BEGINNING TO POINT TO THE STATE BEING IN THE WARM SECTOR WITH THE WARM FRONT MOVING NORTH OF THE STATE. WARM AIR ALOFT WOULD LEAVE A FAIR AMOUNT OF CONVECTIVE INHIBITION TO OVERCOME ON SATURDAY. BETTER CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS AND POSSIBLY SEVERE WEATHER WOULD BE SUNDAY AS A THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE BEGINS TO BE SHOVED EAST BY AN UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM ENTERING THE NORTHWESTERN CONUS. THIS WILL INCREASE THE SOUTHWEST FLOW INTO THE STATE EARLY SUNDAY WITH A COLD FRONT ARRIVING LATER IN THE DAY. CERTAINLY A FAVORABLE SETUP FOR SURFACE BASED CONVECTION WITH THE PRIMARY THREATS OF WIND AND HAIL WITH THE TRIPLE POINT WELL TO THE NORTH...BUT IT IS STILL SEVERAL DAYS AWAY. TEMPERATURES THROUGH THE PERIOD WILL BE SEASONAL TO ABOVE NORMAL. POSSIBLY CLOUD COVER ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON TEMPERATURES. THURSDAY ESPECIALLY WILL BE COOLER THAN THE NORTH DUE TO PRECIPITATION AND CLOUDS. LIKELY A RETURN TO THE 80S ON SATURDAY WITH DEWPOINTS POSSIBLY RISING INTO THE 60S. && .AVIATION...14/18Z ISSUED AT 1233 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 MAIN CONCERNS THIS PERIOD REMAIN WINDS AND POTENTIAL FOR SOME THUNDER FOR THE LATE AFTERNOON AND OVERNIGHT HOURS. WINDS CONTINUE STRONG NORTHWEST AND NORTH AREAS WHERE MIXED LAYER RAPIDLY REACHING FULL DEPTH EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. WILL CONTINUE TO SEE STRONG WINDS THROUGH 23Z DIMINISHING THEREAFTER. WITH MOISTURE POOLING OVER PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA...SOME CONCERNS OF INSTABILITY THOUGH NO FOCUSING MECHANISM UNTIL BOUNDARY APPROACHES THIS EVENING. WITH BOUNDARY SOUTH OF AREA OVERNIGHT...SOME RETURN FLOW ALOFT SHOWS MORE PROMISE TO INITIATE SCATTERED CONVECTION OVER THE SOUTH. HAVE INCLUDED VCSH FOR KDSM AND KOTM...BUT OTHERWISE WILL KEEP DRY FOR THIS PERIOD UNTIL ANY BETTER ORGANIZATION SHOWS ITS HAND. && .FIRE WEATHER... UPDATE AT 1233 PM TUE...NO CHANGES TO GOING CONDITIONS AND AREAL EXTENT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS AFTERNOON. STRONGEST WIND GUSTS AND LOWEST RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES ARE EXPECTED BETWEEN NOON AND 7PM TODAY OVER WESTERN AND NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA. RH VALUES RANGING FROM 17 TO 22 PERCENT AND SUSTAINED WINDS AROUND 25 MPH OR SLIGHTLY HIGHER ARE LIKELY DURING THE AFTERNOON. GFDI VALUES RANGES IN THE MODERATE TO HIGH CATEGORY PAST NOON TODAY AND MAY BARELY BUMP INTO THE EXTREME CATEGORY FOR A FEW HOURS BETWEEN 2PM AND 5PM THIS AFTERNOON. MIXING HEIGHT LOOKS TO BE IN THE 3000 TO 3500 FEET LATE THIS MORNING AND INTO THE AFTERNOON...WITH A SHORT STINT OF MIXING HIGHER. REPLACED THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH WITH A RED FLAG WARNING DUE TO THE VERY LOW RH VALUES...STRONG WINDS...AND FUELS NOT ENTIRELY GREEN YET. && .DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... RED FLAG WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR ADAIR-ADAMS-AUDUBON-BOONE-CALHOUN-CARROLL-CASS-CERRO GORDO- CRAWFORD-DALLAS-EMMET-FRANKLIN-GREENE-GUTHRIE-HAMILTON-HANCOCK- HUMBOLDT-KOSSUTH-PALO ALTO-POCAHONTAS-SAC-WEBSTER-WINNEBAGO- WORTH-WRIGHT. && $$ SHORT TERM...PODRAZIK LONG TERM...DONAVON AVIATION...REV FIRE WEATHER...PODRAZIK
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS DODGE CITY KS
355 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 ...UPDATED LONG TERM SECTION... .SYNOPSIS... ISSUED AT 931 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 THE 14.12Z 250 HPA RAOB MAP SHOWED TWO JETS ACROSS NORTH AMERICA. THE POLAR JET WAS LOCATED ACROSS THE NORTHERN PORTIONS OF UNITED STATES AND INTO CANADA. THE STRONGEST WINDS WERE LOCATED FROM NOVA SCOTIA AND INTO THE CANADIAN MARITIMES WITH MAGNITUDES AROUND 180 KT. NEXT, THE SUBTROPICAL JET WAS LOCATED FARTHER SOUTH WITH HIGHEST MAGNITUDES AROUND 90 KT ACROSS FLORIDA. CLOSER TO KANSAS, FLOW WAS QUITE WEAK AT 15 KT. AT 500 HPA, A TROF WAS MOVING ONSHORE ACROSS CENTRAL CALIFORNIA. DAMPENING SHORTWAVE RIDGING WAS DOWNSTREAM OF THIS FEATURE ACROSS THE 4 CORNERS REGION. A WEAK LOW WAS LOCATED ACROSS PORTIONS OF MEXICO. A SHORTWAVE TROF WAS MOVING ACROSS THE CENTRAL CANADIAN PRAIRIES. AN ELONGATED TROF WAS LOCATED ACROSS THE NE U.S. AND SE CANADA. AT 700 HPA, TEMPERATURES ACROSS SW KANSAS WERE FAIRLY WARM (10 DEG C). AT 850 HPA, 25 DEG C AT KDDC WAS SLIGHTLY UNDER THE +2 STANDARD DEVIATION STATISTICAL MARK. AT THE SFC, A COLD FRONT WAS LOCATED ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS AND A SURFACE LEE TROF WAS LOCATED ACROSS FAR WESTERN KANSAS. && .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY) ISSUED AT 252 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 TONIGHT: EARLY AFTERNOON VISIBLE SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS A FIELD OF CUMULUS HUMILIS CLOUDS ACROSS NORTHWEST KANSAS. THESE CLOUDS ARE IN ASSOCIATION WITH A LEE SURFACE TROF ACROSS NORTHWEST KANSAS AND WEAK INSTABILITY. RAP AND HRRR KEEPS THIS ACTIVITY NORTHWEST OF THE FORECAST AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY THROUGH TONIGHT. I HAVE 14 PERCENT PRECIPITATION PROBABILITIES IN THE GRIDS THROUGH EARLY EVENING ACROSS WEST CENTRAL KANSAS. OTHERWISE, TONIGHT WILL BE CLEAR AND PRECIPITATION FREE. LEE TROUGHING WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT PERIOD. SOUTHERLY WINDS IN ASSOCIATION WITH THIS FEATURE WILL CONTINUE OVERNIGHT AS WELL. THESE WINDS WILL KEEP TEMPERATURES MILD WITH LOWS IN THE UPPER 50S AND LOWER 60S DEG F. TOMORROW: ON WEDNESDAY, A LEE INDUCED LOW/TROF ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN COLORADO WILL DEEPEN THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. THIS WILL CAUSE A WARM FRONT TO LIFT NORTHWARD ACROSS PORTIONS OF WESTERN KANSAS. HIGHS TOMORROW IN THE WARM SECTOR WILL BE WARM TO HOT AGAIN WITH HIGHS IN THE 86-91 DEG F RANGE. RAMPED UP POPS IN THE AFTERNOON ACROSS THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY. THERE IS SOME UNCERTAINTY IN WHERE CONVECTION WILL DEVELOP ALONG THE FRONT AS MODELS DIFFER WITH THE FRONT POSITION. 12Z NAM DEVELOPS THUNDERSTORMS FROM LIBERAL TO HAYS, WHILE 12Z GFS KEEPS PRECIPITATION MAINLY EAST OF HIGHWAY 183. THE WRF-NMM ECHOES THE NAM SOLUTION, WHERE THE WRF-ARW KEEPS THE REGION DRY. DUE TO THE UNCERTAINTY, WILL LIMIT PRECIPITATION PROBABILITIES IN THE SLIGHT CHANCE CATEGORY. IF THE NAM SOLUTION IS CORRECT WITH MOISTURE, MLCAPE LOOKS TO BE AROUND 1500-3000 J/KG, MAINLY ACROSS SC KANSAS. 0-6 KM BULK SHEAR IS ON THE WEAKER SIDE AT 30-35 KT. UPPER LEVEL WIND SHEAR IS VERY WEAK AT 15-30 KT. LCL`S WILL BE FAIRLY HIGH AS WELL. PUTTING THIS ALL TOGETHER, THE OVERALL THREAT FOR HIGH END SEVERE WEATHER IS VERY LOW. THE MAIN THREAT TOMORROW IS MARGINAL HAIL SIZE PERHAPS UP TO QUARTERS AND 50-60 MPH OUTFLOW FROM THUNDERSTORMS. LASTLY, LESS FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS ARE EXPECTED TOMORROW AFTERNOON AS SLIGHTLY HIGHER DEWPOINTS AND RESULTANT HIGHER RELATIVE HUMIDITIES ARE EXPECTED. .LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY) ISSUED AT 354 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 PRECIPITATION CHANCES, SEVERITY, AND COVERAGE WILL BE CHALLENGES IN THE FORECAST LATE WEEK INTO THE WEEKEND...ALONG WITH AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES WITH DRYLINE POSITION UNCERTAINTY. WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT: A LOW AMPLITUDE SHORTWAVE TROUGH (CURRENTLY SEEN ON WATER VAPOR SPINNING ACROSS CENTRAL CALIFORNIA) WILL BE MOVING TOWARD THE CENTRAL HIGH PLAINS DURING THIS TIME FRAME. A WEAK FRONT MOVING INTO EAST-CENTRAL COLORADO AND WEST-CENTRAL KANSAS WILL BE THE FOCUS FOR THUNDERSTORMS LATE AFTERNOON WEDNESDAY...BUT THIS FRONT WILL DISSOLVE BY WEDNESDAY NIGHT. A SMALL...LOOSELY ORGANIZED AREA OF CONVECTION AHEAD OF THE APPROACHING WAVE MAY HOLD TOGETHER AS IT APPROACHES FAR WEST-CENTRAL KANSAS...BUT CONFIDENCE IN THIS IS VERY LOW AND ONLY SLIGHT CHANCE POPS ARE WARRANTED AT THIS TIME. ON THURSDAY...THERE IS A LOT OF DISAGREEMENT ON THE 850MB THERMODYNAMICS/MOISTURE BETWEEN THE NCEP MODELS AND THE ECMWF MODEL. THE GFS AND NAM SHOW COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF MOISTURE AND NEAR-SATURATED RH AT 850MB THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY WHICH IS AFFECTING THE BOUNDARY LAYER TEMPERATURES TO THE POINT THAT THE NCEP MODELS KEEP TEMPERATURES IN THE 70S FOR MUCH OF THE DAY. THE NCEP MODELS TEND TO BE A BIT TOO AGGRESSIVE IN HOLDING ONTO STRATUS TOO LONG SO THE OFFICIAL FORECAST FOR HIGHS THURSDAY WILL REFLECT MORE CLOSELY THE ECMWF MODEL. A DRYLINE WILL NO DOUBT BE A PREVAILING FEATURE, HOWEVER, WHICH SHOULD FOCUS A FEW ISOLATED STORMS BY LATE AFTERNOON/EARLY EVENING...ESPECIALLY SINCE THE AFOREMENTIONED LOW AMPLITUDE SHORTWAVE TROUGH WILL BE PASSING JUST TO THE NORTH AIDING IN SOME SLIGHT MID LEVEL COOLING AND OVERALL SLIGHT ENHANCEMENT OF DEEP TROPOSPHERIC UPWARD VERTICAL MOTION. MID LEVEL FLOW AT THE BASE OF THIS TROUGH AXIS OF 25 TO 35 KNOTS (500MB) ACROSS WESTERN KANSAS WILL PROVIDE THE NECESSARY SHEAR ALONG WITH SOUTH-SOUTHEAST BOUNDARY LAYER FLOW FOR SUPERCELL STORMS (ALONG WITH THE UPPER 50S TO NEAR 60 DEWPOINTS AT THE SURFACE). ANY THUNDERSTORMS LATE THURSDAY/THURSDAY EVENING SHOULD DISSOLVE AFTER SUNSET AS INSOLATION GOES AWAY AND THE SHORTWAVE TROUGH EXITS THE CENTRAL PLAINS. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY: A MUCH MORE IMPRESSIVE PACIFIC JET WILL ENTER THE SOUTHWEST/GREAT BASIN REGION DURING THIS TIME FRAME...ENTERING THE ROCKIES AND WESTERN PLAINS SATURDAY. THE DRYLINE WILL BE THE FOCUS FOR THUNDERSTORMS BOTH OF THESE DAYS...BUT SATURDAY WILL BE THE BETTER DAY OF THE TWO FOR MORE ORGANIZED SUPERCELL STORMS GIVEN THE GREATER LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE EXPECTED ALONG THE DRYLINE NEAR AND JUST SOUTH OF THE SURFACE LOW. WILL HAVE CHANCE POPS NORTH OF A DIGHTON TO LACROSSE LINE WHERE THE FORECAST SURFACE LOW WILL BE PER THE ECMWF MODEL. SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST OF THE SURFACE LOW...HOT TEMPERATURES WILL BE FOUND OVER A LARGER AREA THAN PREVIOUS DAYS WITH SOME UPPER 90S EVEN POSSIBLE. SUNDAY AND BEYOND: THE INITIAL JET STREAK WILL LIFT NORTH INTO THE NORTHERN PLAINS LEADING TO THE FORMATION OF AN UPPER LOW...HOWEVER AN ENERGETIC JET WILL STILL REMAIN ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN INTO THE CENTRAL ROCKIES WHICH COULD LEAD TO DEVELOPMENT OF A SECONDARY LOW LATE SUNDAY INTO MONDAY. SOME SLIGHT CHANCE POPS WERE INCLUDED THROUGH THE ALLBLEND GUIDANCE ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY GIVEN THE PROSPECTS OF SOME POTENTIAL POST-FRONTAL CONVECTION ROLLING EAST OFF THE EASTERN COLORADO TERRAIN. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 1200 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 VFR CIGS EXPECTED THROUGH PD. SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS 18-23 KT WILL CONTINUE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENTUALLY BACK SOUTHERLY 10-15 KT BY DUSK. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DDC 60 89 60 86 / 0 20 20 10 GCK 58 92 59 88 / 10 10 10 20 EHA 56 91 58 92 / 0 10 10 20 LBL 57 92 60 92 / 0 10 10 10 HYS 59 90 60 83 / 10 20 20 10 P28 63 86 63 84 / 0 20 20 10 && .DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR KSZ043>045- 062>064-075>078-084>088. && $$ SYNOPSIS...SUGDEN SHORT TERM...SUGDEN LONG TERM...UMSCHEID AVIATION...SUGDEN
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS DODGE CITY KS
252 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 ...UPDATE TO SHORT TERM DISCUSSION... .SYNOPSIS... ISSUED AT 931 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 THE 14.12Z 250 HPA RAOB MAP SHOWED TWO JETS ACROSS NORTH AMERICA. THE POLAR JET WAS LOCATED ACROSS THE NORTHERN PORTIONS OF UNITED STATES AND INTO CANADA. THE STRONGEST WINDS WERE LOCATED FROM NOVA SCOTIA AND INTO THE CANADIAN MARITIMES WITH MAGNITUDES AROUND 180 KT. NEXT, THE SUBTROPICAL JET WAS LOCATED FARTHER SOUTH WITH HIGHEST MAGNITUDES AROUND 90 KT ACROSS FLORIDA. CLOSER TO KANSAS, FLOW WAS QUITE WEAK AT 15 KT. AT 500 HPA, A TROF WAS MOVING ONSHORE ACROSS CENTRAL CALIFORNIA. DAMPENING SHORTWAVE RIDGING WAS DOWNSTREAM OF THIS FEATURE ACROSS THE 4 CORNERS REGION. A WEAK LOW WAS LOCATED ACROSS PORTIONS OF MEXICO. A SHORTWAVE TROF WAS MOVING ACROSS THE CENTRAL CANADIAN PRAIRIES. AN ELONGATED TROF WAS LOCATED ACROSS THE NE U.S. AND SE CANADA. AT 700 HPA, TEMPERATURES ACROSS SW KANSAS WERE FAIRLY WARM (10 DEG C). AT 850 HPA, 25 DEG C AT KDDC WAS SLIGHTLY UNDER THE +2 STANDARD DEVIATION STATISTICAL MARK. AT THE SFC, A COLD FRONT WAS LOCATED ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS AND A SURFACE LEE TROF WAS LOCATED ACROSS FAR WESTERN KANSAS. && .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY) ISSUED AT 252 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 TONIGHT: EARLY AFTERNOON VISIBLE SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS A FIELD OF CUMULUS HUMILIS CLOUDS ACROSS NORTHWEST KANSAS. THESE CLOUDS ARE IN ASSOCIATION WITH A LEE SURFACE TROF ACROSS NORTHWEST KANSAS AND WEAK INSTABILITY. RAP AND HRRR KEEPS THIS ACTIVITY NORTHWEST OF THE FORECAST AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY THROUGH TONIGHT. I HAVE 14 PERCENT PRECIPITATION PROBABILITIES IN THE GRIDS THROUGH EARLY EVENING ACROSS WEST CENTRAL KANSAS. OTHERWISE, TONIGHT WILL BE CLEAR AND PRECIPITATION FREE. LEE TROUGHING WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT PERIOD. SOUTHERLY WINDS IN ASSOCIATION WITH THIS FEATURE WILL CONTINUE OVERNIGHT AS WELL. THESE WINDS WILL KEEP TEMPERATURES MILD WITH LOWS IN THE UPPER 50S AND LOWER 60S DEG F. TOMORROW: ON WEDNESDAY, A LEE INDUCED LOW/TROF ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN COLORADO WILL DEEPEN THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. THIS WILL CAUSE A WARM FRONT TO LIFT NORTHWARD ACROSS PORTIONS OF WESTERN KANSAS. HIGHS TOMORROW IN THE WARM SECTOR WILL BE WARM TO HOT AGAIN WITH HIGHS IN THE 86-91 DEG F RANGE. RAMPED UP POPS IN THE AFTERNOON ACROSS THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY. THERE IS SOME UNCERTAINTY IN WHERE CONVECTION WILL DEVELOP ALONG THE FRONT AS MODELS DIFFER WITH THE FRONT POSITION. 12Z NAM DEVELOPS THUNDERSTORMS FROM LIBERAL TO HAYS, WHILE 12Z GFS KEEPS PRECIPITATION MAINLY EAST OF HIGHWAY 183. THE WRF-NMM ECHOES THE NAM SOLUTION, WHERE THE WRF-ARW KEEPS THE REGION DRY. DUE TO THE UNCERTAINTY, WILL LIMIT PRECIPITATION PROBABILITIES IN THE SLIGHT CHANCE CATEGORY. IF THE NAM SOLUTION IS CORRECT WITH MOISTURE, MLCAPE LOOKS TO BE AROUND 1500-3000 J/KG, MAINLY ACROSS SC KANSAS. 0-6 KM BULK SHEAR IS ON THE WEAKER SIDE AT 30-35 KT. UPPER LEVEL WIND SHEAR IS VERY WEAK AT 15-30 KT. LCL`S WILL BE FAIRLY HIGH AS WELL. PUTTING THIS ALL TOGETHER, THE OVERALL THREAT FOR HIGH END SEVERE WEATHER IS VERY LOW. THE MAIN THREAT TOMORROW IS MARGINAL HAIL SIZE PERHAPS UP TO QUARTERS AND 50-60 MPH OUTFLOW FROM THUNDERSTORMS. LASTLY, LESS FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS ARE EXPECTED TOMORROW AFTERNOON AS SLIGHTLY HIGHER DEWPOINTS AND RESULTANT HIGHER RELATIVE HUMIDITIES ARE EXPECTED. .LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY) ISSUED AT 342 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 .THROUGH FRIDAY... AN ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN IS FORECAST FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK INTO THE WEEKEND AS A FEW DISTURBANCES MOVE THROUGH THE PLAINS. AN UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL BE MOVING ACROSS KANSAS AS THE LONG TERM PERIOD BEGINS ON WEDNESDAY WITH A WEAK UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE MOVING ACROSS NORTHERN KANSAS ON THURSDAY. TOWARDS THE SURFACE, A COLD FRONT IS PROGGED TO MOVE SOUTH ACROSS NEBRASKA AND INTO NORTHERN KANSAS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON BEFORE BECOMING STATIONARY WEDNESDAY NIGHT. MEANWHILE, A DRYLINE WILL FORM ACROSS WESTERN KANSAS IN THE AFTERNOON. A FEW THUNDERSTORMS MAY FORM IN THE LATE AFTERNOON ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS IN THE LATE AFTERNOON INTO THE EARLY EVENING. A FEW THUNDERSTORMS WILL THEN BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE AFOREMENTIONED FRONT ACROSS CENTRAL AND WEST CENTRAL KANSAS IN THE EVENING. SKIES WILL GENERALLY BE PARTLY CLOUDY DURING THE DAY BECOMING MOSTLY CLOUDY ACROSS MUCH OF WESTERN KANSAS DURING THE OVERNIGHT PERIOD. ALTHOUGH, FAR WESTERN KANSAS SHOULD REMAIN MOSTLY CLEAR THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND NIGHT. WINDS WEDNESDAY WILL GENERALLY BE FROM A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION DURING THE DAY BECOMING LIGHT AND VARIABLE OVERNIGHT. THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY THEN MOVES BACK NORTH AS A WARM FRONT ON THURSDAY WITH PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES ACROSS WESTERN KANSAS. A DRYLINE WILL REMAIN PERSISTENT ACROSS WESTERN KANSAS AND MAY ALLOW FOR AN ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM OR TWO TO FORM EAST OF HIGHWAY 83 THURSDAY AFTERNOON. THESE STORMS WILL LIKELY PERISH SHORTLY AFTER SUNSET GIVEN ABSENCE OF LARGE SCALE FORCING FOR ASCENT. ALSO, A FEW MODELS SUGGEST A CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS OR A MCS TO MOVE ACROSS NEBRASKA OR NORTHERN KANSAS. THIS WILL NEED TO BE MONITORED IN CASE FUTURE MODELS PLACE THIS CHANCE FARTHER SOUTH. UPPER LEVEL RIDGING BUILDS ACROSS THE PLAINS FRIDAY WITH AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH DIGGING INTO THE WESTERN UNITED STATES. THERE WILL ONCE AGAIN BE A VERY SLIGHT CHANCE OF ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS IN THE AFTERNOON. HOWEVER, AN EML BECOMES MORE PREVALENT AND MAY CAP ANY CONVECTION FROM OCCURRING. MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES WILL BE FOUND ACROSS WESTERN KANSAS WITH A FEW CUMULUS CLOUDS IN THE AFTERNOON. .THIS WEEKEND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK... SATURDAY CONTINUES TO BE THE BEST CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION, BUT ONCE AGAIN GENERALLY CONFINED TO CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS. THIS IS DUE TO THE AFOREMENTIONED UPPER LEVEL TROUGH SPINNING INTO THE ROCKIES AND AN UPPER LEVEL JET NOSING INTO WESTERN KANSAS. TOWARDS THE SURFACE, AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE AND DRYLINE WILL INTENSIFY ACROSS WESTERN KANSAS AS THE DAY PROGRESSES. LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE SHOULD BE STRONG ENOUGH GIVEN THE INCREASED LARGER SCALE UPWARD VERTICAL MOTION TO PROMOTE A FEW SEVERE STORMS. MID RANGE MODELS CONTINUE TO INDICATE AMPLE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AHEAD OF THIS LOW WITH ENOUGH WIND SHEAR TO PROMOTE SUPERCELL DEVELOPMENT. THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE ACROSS THIS AREA SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY MORNING BUT SHOULD BECOME LESS INTENSE DUE TO THE LACK OF DAYTIME HEATING. A COLD FRONT IS FORECAST TO MOVE THROUGH THE AREA SUNDAY SHIFTING WINDS TO MORE OF A NORTHERLY DIRECTION. DRIER CONDITIONS ARE THEN SUGGESTED BY THE LONG RANGE MODELS DURING THE FIRST PART OF NEXT WEEK AS AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE BUILDS ACROSS THE WESTERN UNITED STATES AND SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE AREA. .TEMPERATURES... TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN ABOVE NORMAL THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK INTO THE WEEKEND. HIGHS WILL GENERALLY BE IN THE 80S WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FRIDAY AND SATURDAY WHERE 90S WILL BE POSSIBLE. LOWS WILL GENERALLY BE IN THE LOWER 60S WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FAR WESTERN KANSAS WHERE UPPER 50S WILL BE POSSIBLE. MODELS SUGGEST A SLIGHT COOL DOWN BY THE BEGINNING OF NEXT WEEK WITH HIGHS IN THE 70S AND LOW 80S WITH LOWS IN THE 50S. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 1200 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 VFR CIGS EXPECTED THROUGH PD. SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS 18-23 KT WILL CONTINUE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENTUALLY BACK SOUTHERLY 10-15 KT BY DUSK. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DDC 60 89 60 85 / 0 20 10 20 GCK 58 92 59 86 / 10 10 10 20 EHA 56 91 58 89 / 0 10 10 10 LBL 57 92 60 88 / 0 10 10 10 HYS 59 90 60 84 / 10 20 20 30 P28 63 86 63 83 / 0 20 20 20 && .DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR KSZ043>045- 062>064-075>078-084>088. && $$ SYNOPSIS...SUGDEN SHORT TERM...SUGDEN LONG TERM...HOVORKA_42 AVIATION...SUGDEN
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MARQUETTE MI
446 PM EDT TUE MAY 14 2013 .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY) ISSUED AT 422 PM EDT TUE MAY 14 2013 WV IMAGERY AND RUC ANALYSIS INDICATED A ZONAL MID/UPPER LEVEL PATTERN ACROSS THE NRN CONUS WITH A PROMINENT SHORTWAVE TROUGH NEAR WINNIPEG. AT THE SFC...A 992 MB LOW WAS ALSO LOCATED OVER SE MANITOBA WITH A COLD FRONT THROUGH NW MN INTO ERN SD. A WARM FRONT STRETCHED FROM CNTRL MN INTO SRN WI. RADAR INDICATED WEAK RETURNS WITH VERY LIGHT SHOWERS(VIRGA OR SPRINKLES) THROUGH CNTRL UPPER MI AS THE BAND OF 310K (750-600 MB)ISENTROPIC LIFT MOVES THROUGH THE AREA. SATELLITE SHOWED SKIES CLEARING OVER THE WEST AS DRIER AIR BEHIND THE PCPN BAND MOVES IN. TONIGHT...MODELS SUGGEST THAT AS THE MID LEVEL SHRTWV TROUGH AND ASSOCIATED SFC TROUGH MOVES THROUGH UPPER MI SOME SHOWERS MAY DEVELOP...MAINLY ACROSS NRN LAKE SUPERIOR AND POSSIBLY INTO THE NRN PORTIONS OF UPPER MI ON THE SRN TAIL OF THE STRONGER QVECTOR CONV AND FAVORABLE ISENTROPIC ASCENT JUST AHEAD OF THE SFC TROUGH. MUCAPE VALUES (LIFTING FROM NEAR 750 MB) OF 500-1000 J/KG STILL SUPPORT A CONDITIONAL THREAT OF TSRA. ALTHOUGH EFFECTIVE SHEAR VALUES ARE MARGINAL (20-30 KT) SOME SMALL HAIL MAY BE POSSIBLE WITH ANY TSRA THAT DEVELOP. CONFIDENCE IN SHRA/TSRA DEVELOPMENT IS LIMITED AS MODELS HAVE TRENDED TOO HIGH WITH LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AVAILABILITY. SO...ONLY LOWER END CHANCE POPS WERE INCLUDED. WED...MODEL SOUNDINGS SHOW STRONG MID-LVL DRYING/SUBSIDENCE IN THE WAKE OF THE COLD FRONT AS 850 MB TEMPS DROP TO AROUND 5C EARLY WED BUT REBOUND TO TO AROUND 8C-9C WED AFTERNOON. MIXING HEIGHTS ABOVE 800 MB SHOULD MIX A SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH PORTION OF THE VERY DRY 800-650 MB LAYER TO DROP DEWPOINTS INLAND TO AROUND 30F. WITH TEMPS INTO THE LOWER TO MID 70S...RH VALUES WILL DROP TO AROUND 20 PERCENT. NW WIND SHOULD ALSO INCREASE TO AROUND 15 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 20-25 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON. SO...A FIRE WEATHER WATCH WAS ISSUED FOR MOST OF INLAND WEST AND CENTRAL UPPER MICHIGAN. .LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY) ISSUED AT 444 PM EDT TUE MAY 14 2013 OUR STRONGER WINDS WILL QUICKLY DIMINISH WEDNESDAY NIGHT...EVEN WITH A REINFORCING SFC TROUGH STRETCHED W-E OVER LAKE SUPERIOR AT 06Z THURSDAY SINKING SE ACROSS EASTERN UPPER MI BY 12Z THURSDAY. WITH THAT RH VALUES SHOULD QUICKLY REBOUND TO 35 PERCENT OR BETTER BY 03Z THURSDAY. BEHIND THE EXITING TROUGH...HIGH PRESSURE SITUATED OVER S CENTRAL CANADA WEDNESDAY NIGHT WILL PUSH ACROSS THE CWA AND BE DIRECTLY OVERHEAD DURING THE DAY THURSDAY...BEFORE SLOWLY EXITING EASTERN UPPER MI/LAKE SUPERIOR THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY. THURSDAY WILL BE DRY ONCE AGAIN FOR SOUTH CENTRAL AREAS...AND IN PARTICULAR GOGEBIC...ONTONAGON...IRON...AND DICKINSON COUNTIES. WINDS WILL BE MUCH LIGHTER THAN WEDNESDAY GIVEN THE DIMINISHED PRESSURE GRADIENT...AVERAGING 5-10KTS. A WILDFIRE POTENTIAL STATEMENT MAY BE NEEDED...BUT IS REALLY MARGINAL GIVEN THE NEAR NORMAL TEMPS FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR...AND LIGHTER WINDS. THE WINDS ARE THE MAIN THREAT THIS TIME OF YEAR...GIVEN THAT THE MAIN CARRIER OF FIRES IS THE DRY GRASSES. THE LINGERING HIGH OVER THE EAST WILL KEEP DRIER AIR IN PLACE...LIMITING THE POTENTIAL FOR ANY SHOWERS TO MOVE MUCH EAST OF A LINE FROM MQT TO ESC UNTIL SATURDAY MORNING. EXPECT INCREASED S FLOW STARTING FRIDAY NIGHT...IN ADVANCE OF A NEARING LOW DEVELOPING ACROSS THE CENTRAL PLAINS STATES. SEVERAL WARMER NIGHTS ARE FIGURED WITH MID 40S FOR LOWS FRIDAY NIGHT...NEAR 50F SATURDAY NIGHT AND AGAIN SUNDAY NIGHT. THE LATEST TREND IS TO MINIMIZE THE POTENTIAL FOR THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY UNTIL THE SFC LOW AND 500MB TROUGH GET A BIT CLOSER TO THE CWA...AROUND OR AFTER THE SUNDAY TIME PERIOD. EXPECT THE ELONGATED LOW STRETCHING FROM NORTHEAST MN TO N TX AT 18Z SUNDAY /ECMWF FARTHEST EAST/ TO CONSOLIDATE OVER WESTERN UPPER MICHIGAN SUNDAY EVENING. THE 12Z GFS DOES NOT BRING THE LOW TO WESTERN UPPER MI UNTIL TUESDAY. NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS WILL BE A SLOW MOVING SYSTEM...WITH SEVERAL ROUNDS OF PRECIP ROTING INTO THE REGION. WILL GO WITH A MODEL CONSENSUS BEYOND SUNDAY...GIVEN THE LARGER DISCREPANCIES. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 139 PM EDT TUE MAY 14 2013 VFR CONDITIONS SHOULD PREVAIL AT ALL THREE TAF SITES THROUGH THE FORECAST PERIOD. A PERIOD OF MID CLOUDS IS EXPECTED THROUGH MID AFTERNOON AS A BAND OF DISSIPATING LIGHT SHOWERS OR SPRINKLES MOVES THROUGH WRN UPPER MI. ANOTHER ROUND OF ISOLD SHRA/TSRA POSSIBLE THIS EVENING AS PRIMARY SFC FRONT ARRIVES. PLENTY OF DRY AIR REMAINS OVER THE AREA WHICH MAY INHIBIT DEVELOPMENT. WENT FOR SHORT PERIOD OF VCSH AT CMX WHICH IS IN BEST PROXIMITY TO A DISTURANCE TO THE NORTH AND LIFT AHEAD OF A WARM FRONT...THEN SHARP DRYING/CLEARING OVERNIGHT TONIGHT. WILL ALSO SEE GUSTY WEST WINDS IN WAKE OF THE FRONT...STRONGEST AT THE MORE EXPOSED KCMX. && .MARINE...(FOR THE 4 PM LAKE SUPERIOR FORECAST ISSUANCE) ISSUED AT 422 PM EDT TUE MAY 14 2013 SOUTHERLY FLOW WAS INCREASING AHEAD OF A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVING EAST THROUGH SOUTHERN CANADA. WINDS INCREASE TO 25 KTS TONIGHT INTO WED BUT WILL BE LIMITED AS LOW LEVEL WARM AIR ADVECTION RESULTS IN INCREASING STABILITY. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN BELOW 30KTS LATER THIS WEEK AND INTO THE WEEKEND. AFTER COOL AND WINTRY WEATHER FOR THE SPRING SO FAR...SUMMERTIME WEATHER IS BECOMING MORE COMMON. THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE TONIGHT AND ENDING BY EARLY WEDNESDAY. ANOTHER ROUND OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE WEST ON SATURDAY/SATURDAY NIGHT...AND ACROSS ALL OF LAKE SUPERIOR SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY MORNING. && .MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... UPPER MICHIGAN... FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR MIZ002-004>006-009>014-084-085. LAKE SUPERIOR... NONE. LAKE MICHIGAN... NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...JLB LONG TERM...KF AVIATION...JLB MARINE...JLB
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MARQUETTE MI
423 PM EDT TUE MAY 14 2013 .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY) ISSUED AT 422 PM EDT TUE MAY 14 2013 WV IMAGERY AND RUC ANALYSIS INDICATED A ZONAL MID/UPPER LEVEL PATTERN ACROSS THE NRN CONUS WITH A PROMINENT SHORTWAVE TROUGH NEAR WINNIPEG. AT THE SFC...A 992 MB LOW WAS ALSO LOCATED OVER SE MANITOBA WITH A COLD FRONT THROUGH NW MN INTO ERN SD. A WARM FRONT STRETCHED FROM CNTRL MN INTO SRN WI. RADAR INDICATED WEAK RETURNS WITH VERY LIGHT SHOWERS(VIRGA OR SPRINKLES) THROUGH CNTRL UPPER MI AS THE BAND OF 310K (750-600 MB)ISENTROPIC LIFT MOVES THROUGH THE AREA. SATELLITE SHOWED SKIES CLEARING OVER THE WEST AS DRIER AIR BEHIND THE PCPN BAND MOVES IN. TONIGHT...MODELS SUGGEST THAT AS THE MID LEVEL SHRTWV TROUGH AND ASSOCIATED SFC TROUGH MOVES THROUGH UPPER MI SOME SHOWERS MAY DEVELOP...MAINLY ACROSS NRN LAKE SUPERIOR AND POSSIBLY INTO THE NRN PORTIONS OF UPPER MI ON THE SRN TAIL OF THE STRONGER QVECTOR CONV AND FAVORABLE ISENTROPIC ASCENT JUST AHEAD OF THE SFC TROUGH. MUCAPE VALUES (LIFTING FROM NEAR 750 MB) OF 500-1000 J/KG STILL SUPPORT A CONDITIONAL THREAT OF TSRA. ALTHOUGH EFFECTIVE SHEAR VALUES ARE MARGINAL (20-30 KT) SOME SMALL HAIL MAY BE POSSIBLE WITH ANY TSRA THAT DEVELOP. CONFIDENCE IN SHRA/TSRA DEVELOPMENT IS LIMITED AS MODELS HAVE TRENDED TOO HIGH WITH LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AVAILABILITY. SO...ONLY LOWER END CHANCE POPS WERE INCLUDED. WED...MODEL SOUNDINGS SHOW STRONG MID-LVL DRYING/SUBSIDENCE IN THE WAKE OF THE COLD FRONT AS 850 MB TEMPS DROP TO AROUND 5C EARLY WED BUT REBOUND TO TO AROUND 8C-9C WED AFTERNOON. MIXING HEIGHTS ABOVE 800 MB SHOULD MIX A SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH PORTION OF THE VERY DRY 800-650 MB LAYER TO DROP DEWPOINTS INLAND TO AROUND 30F. WITH TEMPS INTO THE LOWER TO MID 70S...RH VALUES WILL DROP TO AROUND 20 PERCENT. NW WIND SHOULD ALSO INCREASE TO AROUND 15 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 20-25 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON. SO...A FIRE WEATHER WATCH WAS ISSUED FOR MOST OF INLAND WEST AND CENTRAL UPPER MICHIGAN. .LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY) ISSUED AT 625 AM EDT TUE MAY 14 2013 MODEL SNDGS SHOW GOOD MID-LVL DRYING/SUBSIDENCE IN THE WAKE OF THE COLD FRONT AS 8H TEMPS DROP TO 8-9C. MODELS INDICATE PW VALUES DROP BLO .5 INCH OR OR 60-70 PERCENT OF NORMAL. GFE MIXED DEWPOINT TOOL FOR THE NAM AND GFS SHOWS POTENTIAL FOR DEWPOINTS TO DROP INTO THE LOWER TO MID 20S OVER THE WRN INTERIOR. LOOKING AT HOW DRY MODEL SNDGS ARE ABV 825 MB THESE DEWPOINTS WOULD NOT BE FAR-FETCHED AT ALL...ESPECIALLY IF WE MIX NEAR 800 MB. WITH T/TD OF 74/24 MIN RH VALUES WOULD DROP NEAR 15 PERCENT. NW WIND SHOULD STAY JUST BLO RED FLAG CRITERIA WITH SUSTAINED WINDS AROUND 15 KT AND GUSTS AROUND 20 KT. HOWEVER IF PCPN IS LIMITED TUE NIGHT...FIRE DANGER WILL DEFINITELY BE A CONCERN FOR WEDNESDAY. DAY SHIFT MAY NEED TO COORDINATE WITH FIRE WX USERS TODAY TO SEE IF FIRE WEATHER WATCH MAY BE NEEDED FOR WED AFTERNOON. MODELS SHOW A TROUGH MOVING THROUGH THE AREA WED NIGHT BUT NO PCPN IS EXPECTED FM THIS FEATURE AS THE AIRMASS AND FCST WILL REMAIN DRY INTO FRI MORNING UNDER CONFLUENT FLOW ALOFT AND BUILDING 5H RDG HEIGHTS. EXPECT THE SURFACE RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE TO BE DIRECTLY OVERHEAD ON THURSDAY WHICH WILL RESULT IN LIGHT WINDS AND LAKE BREEZES CIRCULATIONS. INCREASING WAA/ISENTROPIC LIFT FRI AFTERNOON INTO SAT MORNING SPREADING FM WEST TO EAST ACROSS THE CWA WILL BRING AN INCREASED CHC OF SHOWERS FRI NIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING FOR MUCH OF THE CWA. FCST SHOWALTER INDICES AND MUCAPE VALUES INDICATE CHC OF THUNDERSTORMS DURING THIS TIME WILL BE MAINLY CONFINED TO THE WEST HALF OF THE CWA LATE FRI NIGHT INTO SAT MORNING. AS 850 MB WARM FRONT LIFTS NORTH OF THE CWA BY SATURDAY AFTERNOON...MODEL SNDGS SUGGEST ENVIRONMENT WILL BECOME CAPPED BY WARMER/DRIER AIR AND THUS EXPECT A LULL IN SHOWER ACTIVITY FOR SAT AFTERNOON INTO AT LEAST SAT EVENING. BOTH THE 00Z ECMWF AND GFS INDICATE A SHORTWAVE LIFTING OUT FM BASE OF UPR TROUGH OVER THE SRN PLAINS AND TOWARD THE UPPER MS VALLEY ON SUNDAY. THIS SHORTWAVE WILL HELP PUSH FRONTAL BOUNDARY CLOSER TO THE UPPER MS VALLEY AND OUR WRN CWA ESPECIALLY SUN AFTERNOON. 8H THETA-E MAXIMUM ALONG THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY AND CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN INSTABILITY (MLCAPES REACH 700-1200 J/KG OVER WEST HALF) WILL WARRANT AN INCREASED CHC OF SHRA AND TSRA FOR SUNDAY ESPECIALLY OVER THE WEST HALF. WILL MAINTAIN HIGH CHC POPS FOR SHRA/TSRA SUN NIGHT INTO MONDAY ACROSS THE CWA AS MAIN SHORTWAVE AND ASSOC COLD FRONT MOVE ACROSS THE UPPER GREAT LAKES. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 139 PM EDT TUE MAY 14 2013 VFR CONDITIONS SHOULD PREVAIL AT ALL THREE TAF SITES THROUGH THE FORECAST PERIOD. A PERIOD OF MID CLOUDS IS EXPECTED THROUGH MID AFTERNOON AS A BAND OF DISSIPATING LIGHT SHOWERS OR SPRINKLES MOVES THROUGH WRN UPPER MI. ANOTHER ROUND OF ISOLD SHRA/TSRA POSSIBLE THIS EVENING AS PRIMARY SFC FRONT ARRIVES. PLENTY OF DRY AIR REMAINS OVER THE AREA WHICH MAY INHIBIT DEVELOPMENT. WENT FOR SHORT PERIOD OF VCSH AT CMX WHICH IS IN BEST PROXIMITY TO A DISTURANCE TO THE NORTH AND LIFT AHEAD OF A WARM FRONT...THEN SHARP DRYING/CLEARING OVERNIGHT TONIGHT. WILL ALSO SEE GUSTY WEST WINDS IN WAKE OF THE FRONT...STRONGEST AT THE MORE EXPOSED KCMX. && .MARINE...(FOR THE 4 PM LAKE SUPERIOR FORECAST ISSUANCE) ISSUED AT 422 PM EDT TUE MAY 14 2013 SOUTHERLY FLOW WAS INCREASING AHEAD OF A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVING EAST THROUGH SOUTHERN CANADA. WINDS INCREASE TO 25 KTS TONIGHT INTO WED BUT WILL BE LIMITED AS LOW LEVEL WARM AIR ADVECTION RESULTS IN INCREASING STABILITY. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN BELOW 30KTS LATER THIS WEEK AND INTO THE WEEKEND. AFTER COOL AND WINTRY WEATHER FOR THE SPRING SO FAR...SUMMERTIME WEATHER IS BECOMING MORE COMMON. THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE TONIGHT AND ENDING BY EARLY WEDNESDAY. ANOTHER ROUND OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE WEST ON SATURDAY/SATURDAY NIGHT...AND ACROSS ALL OF LAKE SUPERIOR SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY MORNING. && .MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... UPPER MICHIGAN... FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR MIZ002-004>006-009>014-084-085. LAKE SUPERIOR... NONE. LAKE MICHIGAN... NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...JLB LONG TERM...VOSS AVIATION...JLB MARINE...JLB
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
126 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 1241 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 DECAYING CLOUDS AND SHOWERS NOW OVER WRN WI HAS GENERATED A STRONG WARM FRONT ACROSS MN FROM ABOUT ABOUT DODGE CENTER...TO LE SEUR AND UP TO ABOUT MORRIS...WHERE IT MEETS UP WITH A N-S ORIENTED "COLD" FRONT THAT SITS JUST EAST OF FERGUS FALLS TO MARSHALL AT 1 PM. THIS WARM FRONT IS PROBABLY LEADING TO SOME COLD FEET FOR FORECASTERS IN THE TWIN CITIES AND CENTRAL MN...WHERE AT 1 PM IT WAS ONLY 81 AT MSP. HOWEVER...TO THOSE QUESTIONING 90S OCCURRING IN THE TWIN CITIES...BE PATIENT...TEMPERATURES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WARM REALLY TAKE OFF. FOR INSTANCE...OLIVIA WENT FROM 81 TO 95 IN 90 MINUTES AND MANKATO WENT FROM 84 AT NOON TO 97 AT 1 PM. SO BE PATIENT...ALL IT WILL TAKE IS AN HOUR OR TWO IN THE WARM SECTOR TO START PUSHING TEMPERATURES INTO THE MID 90S! STILL CONFIDENT THAT THE RECORD OF 95 AT MSP IS VERY MUCH IN JEOPARDY TODAY. FINALLY...18Z AVIATION DISCUSSION ADDED BELOW. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 440 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 THERE ARE MANY CONCERNS TODAY AS A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM AND COLD FRONT MOVE ACROSS THE FA DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. A SMALL COMPLEX OF THUNDERSTORMS DID DEVELOP OVER NORTH DAKOTA OVERNIGHT AS EXPECTED. THIS AREA OF PRECIPITATION WILL ADVANCE ACROSS NORTHERN MN THIS MORNING. CONSENSUS FROM THE WRF MODELS WAS LITTLE (SPRINKLES) OR NOTHING REACHING DOWN INTO CENTRAL MN OTHER THAN SOME CLOUDS. BY LATE MORNING...THE LOW AND COLD FRONT SHOULD BE INTO FAR WESTERN AREAS OF MN. SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE AHEAD OF THE FRONT WHILE RATHER STRONG WEST/NORTHWEST WINDS OCCUR IN THE WAKE OF THE FRONT. A LOW LEVEL THERMAL RIDGE WILL ADVANCE NORTHEAST FROM THE CENTRAL PLAINS AND REACH INTO THE TWIN CITIES BY LATE IN THE AFTERNOON. THE SHORT TERM MODELS REMAIN CONSISTENT ON 23-26 DEG C AIR AT 850MB FROM THE TWIN CITIES ON SOUTHWEST INTO NORTHERN IA RESPECTIVELY. HIGHS RECENTLY TO OUR WEST AND NORTHWEST (CANADA) HAVE BEEN RUNNING REAL CLOSE TO 20 DEGREES ABOVE THESE CONVERTED VALUES. THIS WOULD YIELD HIGHS FROM 93 TO 99 DEGREES. AS A RESULT... OUR CURRENT FORECAST WAS RAISED A FEW DEGREES... ESPECIALLY ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL MN... WHERE THE RAP SOUNDINGS WERE SHOWING HIGHS OF 100-103. THIS ALSO RESULTED IN A RECORD HIGH BEING FORECAST FOR THE TWIN CITIES. THE HEAT TODAY HAS LEAD TO THE ISSUANCE OF A HEAT ADVISORY FROM THE TWIN CITIES ON SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST TO ALBERT LEA AND REDWOOD FALLS. THIS IS A DRY HEAT BEING ACCOMPANIED BY 20 TO 25 MPH WINDS DURING THE AFTERNOON... WHICH MAY LEAD TO DEHYDRATION ISSUES FOR THOSE WORKING OUTSIDE. ANOTHER IMPORTANT ISSUE IS THAT THE TWIN CITIES HAS ONLY BEEN IN THE 80S ONCE SO FAR THIS YEAR WITH 81 DEGREES ON APRIL 28TH. THIS BURST OF HEAT MAY LEAD TO HEALTH ISSUES. ANOTHER CONCERN TODAY IS THE POTENTIAL FOR WIND ADVISORY CRITERIA BEING MET IN THE NORTHWEST CWA IN THE MID TO LATE AFTERNOON HOURS. THE RAP LOW LEVEL WINDS IN THE 200-300 FOOT RANGE ARE FORECAST IN THE UPPER 20 KNOT RANGE. THIS IS THE HIGHEST OF ALL THE GUIDANCE. THE NAM WINDS WERE MORE IN THE 23-24 KNOT RANGE WHICH BLENDED WELL WITH THE LAMP GUIDANCE. CRITERIA FOR A WIND ADVISORY HAS A BETTER CHANCE OF BEGIN MET OVER NORTH DAKOTA. AT THIS POINT WE HELD OFF ON ISSUING AN ADVISORY. FINALLY...ALTHOUGH A STRONG CAP EXISTS IN THE 700-750MB RANGE TODAY...THERE REMAINS SOME POTENTIAL FOR CONVECTION TO BREACH THE CAP AND DEVELOP DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON/EVENING ALONG THE FRONT... MAINLY TO THE EAST AND SOUTH OF THE TWIN CITIES. WE KEPT THE SMALL CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS AS IS. OUR LOCAL WRF WAS THE MOST AGGRESSIVE WITH ACTIVITY DEVELOPING FROM JUST SOUTH OF THE TWIN CITIES TO OMAHA AROUND 21Z...WHILE THE NMM WRF HAS SOME STORMS JUST EAST OF US. MOST OF THE SOLUTIONS SHOW A HIGHER CHANCE FOR STORMS OVER IA TONIGHT AS WELL AS IN NORTHEAST WI. GIVEN THE SHEAR FORECAST...STORMS THAT DO DEVELOP COULD BECOME SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS... ESPECIALLY WITH THE INVERTED V SOUNDING. NAM DOWNDRAFT CAPE VALUES ARE ON THE ORDER OF 1000 J/KG OVER WEST CENTRAL WI AND SE MN LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. .LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY) ISSUED AT 415 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY...QUIET AND SEASONABLE WEATHER WILL GIVE WAY TO A WETTER PATTERN AT THE END OF THE PERIOD. SEVERE WEATHER IS ALSO POSSIBLE FOR THE WEEKEND. EARLY MORNING NORTHERN HEMISPHERIC IR IMAGERY TOGETHER WITH THE ECMWF 250MB HEIGHTS AND WINDS IDENTIFIED ZONAL FLOW ACROSS THE WESTERN CONUS...WITH A LOW AMPLITUDE PATTERN ACROSS THE PACIFIC. FOR WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY THIS ZONAL FLOW WILL SET UP ACROSS INTERNATIONAL BORDER...WITH NEGATIVE VORTICITY ADVECTION AND WEAK SUBSIDENCE ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST. THIS WILL RESULT IN TWO DRY DAYS WITH LIGHT WINDS AND TEMPERATURES 5 TO 10 DEGREES ABOVE THE SEASONAL AVERAGE FOR MID MAY. BY THURSDAY NIGHT THE AFOREMENTIONED LOW AMPLITUDE JET ACROSS THE PACIFIC WILL BEGIN TO DIG ACROSS THE WESTERN US...WITH A BROAD AREA OF LEE SIDE TROUGHING ALONG THE EASTERN SPINE OF THE ROCKIES. THIS WILL INDUCE SOUTHERLY FLOW WITH GULF MOISTURE TRANSPORT ACROSS THE CENTRAL CONUS...AND GRADUALLY BUILD AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY. MEANWHILE THE COLD FRONT THAT WILL HAVE PASSED THROUGH THE AREA ON TUESDAY AND STALL OUT ACROSS SOUTHERN IOWA WILL LIFT NORTHWARD AS A WARM FRONT. LOW LEVEL THETA_E ADVECTION AS SEEN IN THE H925-850 LAYER SHOULD PROMOTE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE WARM FRONT...WHILE THE UPPER LEVEL ANTICYCLONIC FLOW ALOFT ALLOWS EVACUATES THE OUTFLOW FROM THESES STORMS AND ALLOWS THEM TO PERSIST. DIFFICULT TO QUANTIFY THE CONVECTIVE POTENTIAL SINCE THE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE HAS BEEN UNRELIABLE LATELY. HOWEVER...THE SYNOPTIC SETUP WITH GULF MOISTURE ADVECTION INCREASES CONFIDENCE THAT THESE MOISTURE DEPENDENT VARIABLES...A.K.A. CAPE...ARE REASONABLY REPRESENTED. DEEP LAYER SHEAR PROFILES VARY DEPENDING ON THE TIMING AND PLACEMENT OF THE WARM FRONT...BUT BOTH THE 14.12 GFS AND ECMWF ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT AND LIFT THE FRONT THROUGH THE CWA ON FRIDAY. MEANWHILE THE UPPER LEVEL JET WILL CONTINUE TO CARVE OUT A TROUGH OVER THE FOUR CORNERS REGION. THE GFS...GEM...AND ECMWF ALL DEVELOP A SURFACE LOW AND TRACK IT ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST FOR THE WEEKEND...BRINGING CONTINUED CHANCES FOR PRECIP. THE RUN TOTAL PRECIP FROM THE GFS AND ECMWF INDICATE THAT OVER 3 INCHES OF RAIN ARE POSSIBLE. WITH THIS PROLONGED PERIOD OF PRECIP. IN SUMMATION...EXPECT AN MCS TO DEVELOP THURSDAY NIGHT AND MOVE ACROSS THE REGION FRIDAY AS THE WARM FRONT LIFTS NORTHWARD. THEN WILL SEE CONTINUES CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AS THE UPPER LEVEL DYNAMICS BECOME MORE FAVORABLE FOR ASCENT. SEVERE WEATHER REMAINS POSSIBLE...BUT CONFIDENCE IN THE EXACT PLACEMENT OF THE MESOSCALE FEATURES IS LOW AT THIS TIME. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 1241 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 WARM FRONT MENTIONED IN UPDATE LEADING TO BIGGEST AVIATION ISSUE THIS PERIOD...WIND DIRECTIONS. NORTH OF THE WARM FRONT...WINDS HAVE BACKED CONSIDERABLY MORE THAN EXPECTED...WITH STC/MSP/RNH/EAU ALL EXPERIENCING ESE WINDS. COLD FRONT IN THE AREA OF AXN RIGHT NOW AND 12Z TAFS STILL HAD FROPA AND WIND SHIFT TIMED WELL...SO MADE FEW CHANGES TO THE TIMING OF THE FROPA WITH THESE TAFS. WARM SECTOR JUST TO HOT/DRY TO THINK THERE IS EVEN A REMOTE CHANCE FOR A TSRA...SO DID NOT CONTINUE MENTION OF TS AT EAU. REST OF TAF LOOKS GOOD...WITH WEAKER NW WINDS AND MAINLY CLEAR SKIES EXPECTED FROM TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY. KMSP...OUTSIDE OF TWEAKING WIND DIRECTION TO BE MORE SE AT THE BEGINNING...FEW CHANGES WERE NEEDED FOR THE TAF. EXPECT A FAIRLY RAPID VEERING OF WINDS THIS AFTERNOON AS THE COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH BETWEEN 21 AND 22Z. DURING THIS HOUR WIND SPEEDS WILL LIKELY BACK OFF SOME..BUT EXPECT 270-300 WINDS TO QUICKLY PICK UP IN STRENGTH AND GUSTINESS IN ITS WAKE. LOOKS LIKE THE WIND SHIFT SHOULD COME IN JUST BEFORE THE EVENING PUSH STARTS...SO SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET RUNWAYS TURNED AROUND BEFORE PEAK VOLUME HITS. /OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/ THU...VFR. LGT AND VRBL WINDS. FRI...VFR WITH MVFR/-TSRA LIKELY. SE WINDS 10 KTS. SAT...MVFR OR LOWER WITH -TSRA LIKELY. SE WINDS 5-10 KTS. && .FIRE WEATHER... ISSUED AT 440 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 A RED FLAG WARNING NOW COVERS ALL OF OUR MN COUNTIES FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. A DRY SURGE OF HEAT WILL OCCUR TODAY WITH AFTERNOON HUMIDITY VALUES LOWERING TO A FEW PERCENT ABOVE AND BELOW 20. THE VERY LOW HUMIDITY COUPLED WITH SOUTHWEST TO WEST WINDS FROM 20 TO 25 MPH ...WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH... COULD LEAD TO DANGEROUS WILDFIRE CONDITIONS. && .MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MN...RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR MNZ041>045- 047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093. HEAT ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR MNZ059>063-065>070- 073>077-082>085-091>093. WI...NONE. && $$ UPDATE...MPG SHORT TERM...RAH LONG TERM...JRB AVIATION...MPG FIRE WEATHER...RAH
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS GRAND FORKS ND
1239 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 1238 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 LITTLE CHANGE FOR THIS UPDATE. TWEAKED TEMPS AND DEW POINTS TO MATCH THE CURVE HOWEVER DID NOT ALTER MAX T OR MIN RH. IN THE LAST HOUR HAVE HAD WINDS STARTING TO PICK UP WITH GUSTS BETWEEN 30 AND 38 KTS. WIND AND RED FLAG HEADLINES IN EFFECT TO 9PM LOOK APROPOS. UPDATE ISSUED AT 959 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 SHOWERS HAVE EXITED THE AREA AND HAVE REMOVED POPS FOR ALL BUT THE NORTHERN RRV INTO THE LAKE OF THE WOODS AREA FOR POSSIBLE REDEVELOPMENT THIS AFTERNOON. AS OF 14Z WEST WIND SHIFT JUST EAST OF BISMARCK NORTH TO MCCLUSKY NEAR RUGBY TO BOTTINEAU. BEHIND THE FROPA STILL EXPECTING EFFICIENT MIXING TO 750MB...ALLOWING FOR RAPID WARM UP. GUSTS BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH STILL EXPECTED. UPDATE ISSUED AT 658 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BECOME MORE NUMEROUS ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA...WITH A STRONG LINE SEGMENT PRODUCING SPORADIC SEVERE (50+ KTS) DOWNBURST WINDS ACROSS BARNES/CASS COUNTIES. INCREASED POPS TO 100 PERCENT TO ACCOUNT FOR CURRENT CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY. ISOLATED STRONG TO SEVERE WINDS ARE POSSIBLE ELSEWHERE WITH THIS LINE AS ITS FORWARD PROPAGATION IS NEAR 60 MPH. PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM SHOULD PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE LATEST STATEMENTS AND/OR WARNINGS. REST OF THE FORECAST OK FOR NOW WITH NO OTHER MAJOR CHANGES. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY) ISSUED AT 355 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 FORECAST CHALLENGES INCLUDE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THIS MORNING...FOLLOWED BY STRONG WINDS AND CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON. GFS/NAM/ECMWF/GEM ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT...BUT WILL USE LATEST HRRR FOR PRECIPITATION TRENDS THROUGH 18 UTC. THEREAFTER...A BLENDED SOLUTION SHOULD SUFFICE. 08 UTC WATER VAPOR LOOP SHOWS A STRONG...YET PROGRESSIVE SHORT WAVE MOVING ALONG THE CANADIAN BORDER AND INTO NORTHEAST MT. A CLUSTER OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DEVELOPED ACROSS CENTRAL ND IN AN AREA OF WEAK ELEVATED INSTABILITY AND INCREASED DIVERGENCE ALOFT AHEAD OF A SURFACE COLD FRONT WHICH STRETCHES FROM NEAR WILLISTON TO MILES CITY MT. LATEST HRRR SHOWS THIS CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY MOVING EASTWARD THROUGH THE EARLY MORNING AND INTO THE MN ARROWHEAD AFTER 15 UTC. INCREASED POPS FROM 60 TO 80 PERCENT ACROSS THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA THIS MORNING WHERE A QUICK QUARTER INCH OF RAIN IS POSSIBLE... ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE AREAS THAT SEE THUNDERSTORMS. THE COLD FRONT IS FORECAST TO REACH THE VALLEY FLOOR BY 18 UTC. WITH STRONG LOW-MID LEVEL COLD AIR ADVECTION IN ITS WAKE...AN ADIABATIC BOUNDARY LAYER TO 750 HPA AND 30 TO 40 KTS TO MIX DOWN...EXPECT WINDY CONDITIONS TO DEVELOP FROM WEST TO EAST THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. WEST WINDS FROM 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ACROSS THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF EASTERN ND NECESSITATES A WIND ADVISORY FROM 17 TO 02 UTC FOR ALL AREAS EXPECT THE FAR EASTERN COUNTIES. WILL CANCEL THE HIGH WIND WATCH AS WINDS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO REACH CRITERIA. HIGH TEMPERATURES TODAY STILL EXPECTED TO CLIMB INTO THE MID 70S TO MID 80S BEFORE FRONTAL PASSAGE AND WHEN COMBINED WITH STRONG WINDS AND LOW RH WILL CREATE DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. SEE DISCUSSION BELOW FOR MORE DETAIL. THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY WILL BE DRY AS SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS ACROSS THE REGION. WINDS WILL DIMINISH SOMEWHAT AFTER SUNSET...BUT REMAIN ELEVATED FROM THE WEST-NORTHWEST TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY. TOMORROW WILL BE A BIT COOLER WITH AFTERNOON HIGHS IN THE 70S. .LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY) ISSUED AT 355 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MOST OF THURSDAY WILL BE DRY...BUT EXPECT PRECIPITATION CHANCES TO INCREASE THURSDAY NIGHT AHEAD OF THE NEXT PACIFIC TROUGH. GFS/ECMWF BOTH SHOW A WIDE SWATH OF SHOWERS AND STORMS MOVING INTO EASTERN ND BY 12 UTC FRIDAY. INCREASED POPS INTO THE HIGH CHANCE CATEGORY...BUT IF MODEL TRENDS CONTINUE... WILL NEED TO INCREASE FURTHER. DON/T EXPECT MUCH TEMPERATURE CHANGE FROM WEDNESDAY WITH THURSDAY/S HIGHS IN THE 70S. 00Z ECMWF/GFS WERE IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH OVERALL PATTERN FRI-MON IN SHOWING A LARGE 500 MB TROUGH OVER THE ROCKIES LIFTING NORTHEAST INTO THE NRN PLAINS AND EVENTUAL 500 MB LOW FORMATION IN MINNESOTA. THIS LEADS TO AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF PRECIPITATION CHANCES THRU THE PD. SHOWWALTERS FROM THE MODELS PROG INDICATE SOME THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL FRI-SUN THEN MOSTLY SHOWERS ON MONDAY. OVER THE 4 DAY PERIOD...SOME HEAVY RAINFALL TOTALS ARE POSSIBLE SOMEWHERE IN OUR REGION AS PWATS INCREASE TO 1.50 INCHES OVER SE ND INTO NRN MN. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 1238 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 IT WILL BE VERY WINDY THROUGH THIS EVENING...WITH WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS GUSTING TO AROUND 35KT AT TIMES. CIGS WILL REMAIN IN THE VFR CATEGORY WITH MAINLY HIGH CLOUDS AND SOME SHALLOW CUMULUS THIS AFTERNOON MAINLY IN THE NORTH. WINDS WILL TURN MORE NORTHERLY AFTER SUNSET AND DECREASE OVERNIGHT. && .FIRE WEATHER... ISSUED AT 959 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 RED FLAG WARNING CONTINUES FOR ALL OF ERN ND INTO MUCH OF NW/WCNTRL MN (EXCEPT LAKE OF THE WOODS AND NORTH BELTRAMI REGIONS) FOR 17Z TUE TO 02Z WED. FUELS REMAIN DRY AND PRIME. WILDFIRE ONGOING NEAR GRYGLA IN SOUTHEASTERN MARSHALL COUNTY. FUELS REMAIN DRY IN ERN ND AS WELL...THOUGH PARTS OF NE ND AND FAR NW MN WILL SEE SOME RAINFALL THIS MORNING. BELIEVE THAT EARLY MORNING LOW PCPN AMTS WILL NOT HAVE GREAT IMPACT ON DECREASING HUMIDITIES THIS AFTERNOON AS DEEP MIXING LAYER COMBINES WITH STRONG WEST NORTHWEST WINDS TO YIELD VALUES BELOW 25 PERCENT EVEN IN WEST CENTRAL MN. WILL MONITOR HUMIDITY LEVELS THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND ADJUST ACCORDINGLY. && .FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ND...RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR NDZ006>008- 014>016-024-026>030-038-039-049-052>054. WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR NDZ006>008-014>016- 024-026>030-038-039-049-052>054. MN...RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR MNZ001>005-007- 008-013>017-022>024-027>032-040. WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR MNZ001>005-007-008- 013>016-022-023-027>031-040. && $$ UPDATE...JK SHORT TERM...ROGERS LONG TERM...ROGERS/RIDDLE AVIATION...DK FIRE WEATHER...WJB
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS SIOUX FALLS SD
325 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY) ISSUED AT 211 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 FRONT CONTINUES TO MOVE ACROSS THE CWA THIS AFTERNOON. RECORD HEAT OUT AHEAD OF THE FRONT WITH LOW TO EVEN MID 100S ACROSS NORTHWEST IOWA AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA...AND STILL LOW TO MID 90S BEHIND THE FRONT ACROSS SOUTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA. WITH DEWPOINTS MIXING OUT...NOT MUCH IN THE WAY OF INSTABILITY AHEAD OF THE FRONT. ALTHOUGH THE HRRR AND RUC HAVE CONTINUED TO SHOW SOME ISOLATED DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE FRONT BY 22Z. GIVEN THAT BOTH OF THESE SHORT RANGE MODELS ARE DOING A PRETTY GOOD JOB WITH SURFACE TEMPS AND DEWPOINTS..THINK SOME ISOLATED CONVECTION MAY FIRE AS WE MIX THROUGH WHATEVER CAP THERE IS. HOWEVER LOOKS LIKE THIS THREAT IS MAINLY SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST OF OUR CWA...THUS WILL KEEP THE FORECAST DRY THROUGH THE EVENING. WEAK COLD AIR ADVECTION CONTINUES THROUGH THE NIGHT...WITH WINDS WEAKENING. THUS WHILE LOWS WILL BE ABOVE NORMAL...MAY STILL SEE THEM GET DOWN INTO THE LOW TO MID 50S BY MORNING IN MOST LOCATIONS. MID LEVEL FRONTAL BOUNDARY LINGERS OVERHEAD TONIGHT INTO TOMORROW...WITH A WEAK WAVE RIDING OVER THE RIDGE. SO WILL SEE A REGION OF WEAK LIFT AND DECENT MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES. HOWEVER THETAE ADVECTION IS PRETTY WEEK...AND LOW LEVELS WILL REMAIN VERY DRY. WILL PROBABLY SEE SOME ELEVATED CONVECTION FORM ACROSS WESTERN NEBRASKA AND SOUTH DAKOTA TONIGHT...WHICH WILL TRY TO MOVE EAST TOWARDS OUR AREA. HOWEVER GIVEN THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS...THINK THE CHANCE OF MEASURABLE PRECIP IN OUR CWA IS TOO LOW TO MENTION AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER CAN NOT RULE OUT AN ISOLATED SHOWER OR SOME SPRINKLES REACHING THE GROUND ANYTIME FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH THE DAY TOMORROW. HIGH TEMPERATURES A BIT TRICKY GIVEN CLOUD COVER POTENTIAL. BUT FEEL WE WILL SEE PERIODS OF SUN AS WELL...WITH GENERALLY PARTLY TO AT TIMES MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES. AND RECENTLY WE HAVE BEEN GETTING WARMER THAN JUST ABOUT EVERY GUIDANCE...SO DESPITE CLOUD COVER CONCERNS WENT AHEAD AND RAISED HIGHS A COUPLE DEGREES...GENERALLY IN THE UPPER 70S TO AROUND 80. .LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY) ISSUED AT 325 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 THE FRONT SOUTH OF THE AREA WILL BEGIN TO MOVE NORTH AS A WARM FRONT WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND SHOULD BEGIN TO BRING SOME MORE MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIR INTO THE AREA BY THE END OF THE NIGHT. LOW TEMEPRATURES SHOULD BE NEAR SEASONAL VALUES BEFORE MOST OF THE HUMID AIR GETS HERE ON THURSDAY. THE THREAT OF THUNDERSTORMS IN WARM ADVECTION PATTERN NORTH OF THE FRONT MAY BEGIN IN THE SOUTH LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THIS THREAT SHOULD GENERALLY BE AROUND FOR THE REST OF THE FORECAST...ALTHOUGH WILL KEEP POPS MINIMAL ON FRIDAY AS IT LOOKS LIKE THERE MAY BE A BREAK ON THAT DAY. THEN THE THREAT WILL INCREASE AGAIN FOR THE WEEKEND AS MAIN UPPER TROUGH APPROACHES...WITH THE PEAK THREAT SATURDAY NIGHT. A SEVERE THREAT OR MODESTLY HEAVY RAIN SEEMS POSSIBLE OVER THE WEEKEND. INSTABILITY AND MOISTURE UNCERTAIN WITH IT BEING WELL DISCUSSED ABOUT THE TOO HIGH GFS DEW POINTS. IN ANY EVENT TEMPERATURES WILL BE WARM DURING THE DAY BUT EVEN WARMER RELATIVE TO NORMAL AT NIGHT...OR NO REAL HOT SPELL. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 1227 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED THROUGH THE PERIOD. WINDS GUSTING TO AROUND 30 KTS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY...FROM THE SOUTHWEST AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT AND THE NORTHWEST BEHIND IT. WINDS WILL DIMINISH TONIGHT. WILL LIKELY SEE SOME INCREASING MID CLOUDS LATER TONIGHT INTO TOMORROW. CHANCE OF A FEW SHOWERS OUT OF THESE CLOUDS...BUT WITH DRY LOW LEVELS DO NOT THINK MUCH OF ANYTHING WILL REACH THE SURFACE. && .FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR SDZ255>258. MN...RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR MNZ900. IA...RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR IAZ300-301. NE...RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR NEZ249. && $$ SHORT TERM...CHENARD LONG TERM... AVIATION...CHENARD
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS SIOUX FALLS SD
212 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY) ISSUED AT 211 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 FRONT CONTINUES TO MOVE ACROSS THE CWA THIS AFTERNOON. RECORD HEAT OUT AHEAD OF THE FRONT WITH LOW TO EVEN MID 100S ACROSS NORTHWEST IOWA AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA...AND STILL LOW TO MID 90S BEHIND THE FRONT ACROSS SOUTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA. WITH DEWPOINTS MIXING OUT...NOT MUCH IN THE WAY OF INSTABILITY AHEAD OF THE FRONT. ALTHOUGH THE HRRR AND RUC HAVE CONTINUED TO SHOW SOME ISOLATED DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE FRONT BY 22Z. GIVEN THAT BOTH OF THESE SHORT RANGE MODELS ARE DOING A PRETTY GOOD JOB WITH SURFACE TEMPS AND DEWPOINTS..THINK SOME ISOLATED CONVECTION MAY FIRE AS WE MIX THROUGH WHATEVER CAP THERE IS. HOWEVER LOOKS LIKE THIS THREAT IS MAINLY SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST OF OUR CWA...THUS WILL KEEP THE FORECAST DRY THROUGH THE EVENING. WEAK COLD AIR ADVECTION CONTINUES THROUGH THE NIGHT...WITH WINDS WEAKENING. THUS WHILE LOWS WILL BE ABOVE NORMAL...MAY STILL SEE THEM GET DOWN INTO THE LOW TO MID 50S BY MORNING IN MOST LOCATIONS. MID LEVEL FRONTAL BOUNDARY LINGERS OVERHEAD TONIGHT INTO TOMORROW...WITH A WEAK WAVE RIDING OVER THE RIDGE. SO WILL SEE A REGION OF WEAK LIFT AND DECENT MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES. HOWEVER THETAE ADVECTION IS PRETTY WEEK...AND LOW LEVELS WILL REMAIN VERY DRY. WILL PROBABLY SEE SOME ELEVATED CONVECTION FORM ACROSS WESTERN NEBRASKA AND SOUTH DAKOTA TONIGHT...WHICH WILL TRY TO MOVE EAST TOWARDS OUR AREA. HOWEVER GIVEN THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS...THINK THE CHANCE OF MEASURABLE PRECIP IN OUR CWA IS TOO LOW TO MENTION AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER CAN NOT RULE OUT AN ISOLATED SHOWER OR SOME SPRINKLES REACHING THE GROUND ANYTIME FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH THE DAY TOMORROW. HIGH TEMPERATURES A BIT TRICKY GIVEN CLOUD COVER POTENTIAL. BUT FEEL WE WILL SEE PERIODS OF SUN AS WELL...WITH GENERALLY PARTLY TO AT TIMES MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES. AND RECENTLY WE HAVE BEEN GETTING WARMER THAN JUST ABOUT EVERY GUIDANCE...SO DESPITE CLOUD COVER CONCERNS WENT AHEAD AND RAISED HIGHS A COUPLE DEGREES...GENERALLY IN THE UPPER 70S TO AROUND 80. .LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY) ISSUED AT 343 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS SOUTHWARD INTO THE REGION ON WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT...PROVIDING FOR PLEASANT CONDITIONS WITH TEMPERATURES CLOSE TO NORMAL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR. THIS WILL PLAY OUT TO HIGHS IN THE MID AND UPPER 70S...WITH LOWS EARLY ON THURSDAY IN THE UPPER 40S TO LOWER 50S. THE HIGH MOVES EASTWARD ON THURSDAY WITH A SOUTHERLY FLOW RETURNING TO OUR AREA ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE HIGH. THINK MOST OF THE DAY WILL REMAIN DRY WITH WARMING TEMPERATURES...INTO THE UPPER 70S TO AROUND 80 FOR AFTERNOON HIGHS. CANNOT RULE OUT SOME THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT IN OUR SOUTHWEST LATER IN THE AFTERNOON...WITH A BETTER CHANCE ON THURSDAY NIGHT AS A WARM FRONT BEGINS TO LIFT THROUGH NEBRASKA AND 850 MB CONVERGENCE IS ENHANCED AS A LOW LEVEL JET DEVELOPS THROUGH THE REGION. DOES APPEAR TO BE ENOUGH ELEVATED CAPE...500 TO 1000 J/KG...AND EFFECTIVE SHEAR OF AROUND 30 KTS IN THE EVENING THAT CANNOT RULE OUT A COUPLE OF SEVERE STORMS WITH LARGE HAIL. A MESSY PATTERN CONTINUES THROUGH THE EXTENDED...FRIDAY INTO MONDAY OF NEXT WEEK...WITH PERIODIC CHANCES OF CONVECTION THROUGH THE PERIOD WITH A BOUNDARY MEANDERING AROUND THE AREA AND A SERIES OF SUBTLE WAVES TRACKING ACROSS THE REGION. HARD TO TIME THIS CONVECTION DEPENDENT ON WHERE SYNOPTIC/MESOSCALE FEATURES SET UP...BUT WITH INCREASING LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND INSTABILITY ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH THE WEEKEND THERE IS FAIRLY HIGH CONFIDENCE THAT CONVECTION WILL OCCUR. CONVECTIVE PARAMETERS WOULD ALSO SUGGEST THAT SEVERE STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR THOSE DAYS. AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH FINALLY SWINGS OUT OF THE WESTERN U.S. ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY...KEEPING A CHANCE OF CONVECTION ACROSS THE REGION...AS WELL AS BRINGING A COOLING TREND. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 1227 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED THROUGH THE PERIOD. WINDS GUSTING TO AROUND 30 KTS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY...FROM THE SOUTHWEST AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT AND THE NORTHWEST BEHIND IT. WINDS WILL DIMINISH TONIGHT. WILL LIKELY SEE SOME INCREASING MID CLOUDS LATER TONIGHT INTO TOMORROW. CHANCE OF A FEW SHOWERS OUT OF THESE CLOUDS...BUT WITH DRY LOW LEVELS DO NOT THINK MUCH OF ANYTHING WILL REACH THE SURFACE. && .FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR SDZ255>258. MN...RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR MNZ900. IA...RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR IAZ300-301. NE...RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR NEZ249. && $$ SHORT TERM...CHENARD LONG TERM...JM AVIATION...CHENARD
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS SIOUX FALLS SD
1229 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 1029 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 FORECAST LOOKS IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE. RED FLAG WARNING LOOKS GOOD...WITH BLUSTERY SOUTHWEST WINDS AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT...TRANSITIONING TO NORTHWEST BEHIND IT. EXPECT FREQUENT GUSTS INTO THE 25 TO 35 MPH RANGE WITH RELATIVE HUMIDITY DROPPING TO AROUND 20 PERCENT...OR EVEN A LITTLE LOWER AHEAD OF THE FRONT THIS AFTERNOON. LEADING EDGE OF THE ACCAS IS A SOME SORT OF BOUNDARY WITH WINDS TURNING MORE WEST SOUTHWESTERLY BEHIND IT. HOWEVER THE TRUE COLD FRONT IS BEHIND THIS...HAVING JUST GONE THROUGH CHAMBERLAIN AND HURON WITH THEIR WINDS TURNING NORTHWEST. WENT AHEAD AND RAISED HIGHS A FEW DEGREES FOR TODAY...WITH READINGS AROUND 100 LOOKING LIKELY ACROSS NORTHEAST NEBRASKA AND NORTHWEST IOWA...LOCATIONS THAT WILL STAY JUST AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT THROUGH THE PEAK OF DAYTIME HEATING. CONVECTION CHANCES WITH THE FRONT STILL LOOK LOW WITH DEWPOINTS MIXING OUT. HOWEVER HRRR IS SHOWING SOME ACTIVITY AFTER 21Z. AND GIVEN THAT ITS BOUNDARY LAYER DEPICTION SEEMS DECENT...CAN NOT COMPLETELY IGNORE THE CHANCE. HOWEVER IT DOES APPEAR THAT THE BEST CHANCE WILL STAY SOUTH OF OUR CWA ACROSS NEBRASKA...THUS WILL KEEP THE FORECAST DRY FOR NOW. ALTHOUGH ANY STORM THAT IS ABLE TO FORM WOULD BE CAPABLE OF POTENTIALLY SEVERE WIND GUSTS GIVEN THE DRY PROFILES. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 343 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 MAIN CHALLENGE FOR TODAY WILL BE WINDS/HUMIDITY LEVELS/ASSOCIATED FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS IN MIXY ENVIRONMENT AHEAD OF AND BEHIND COOL FRONT WHICH WILL PUSH SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH THE DAY. LOW LEVEL TEMPERATURES AHEAD OF THE FRONT EASILY SUPPORTIVE OF MID 90S ACROSS MUCH OF NORTHWEST IOWA THIS AFTERNOON...WITH SOME MODELS SHOWING POTENTIAL FOR HIGHS CLOSER TO OR JUST ABOVE THE CENTURY MARK. WITH THE STRONG MIXING COMES LIKELIHOOD OF MIXING DRIER AIR ALOFT TO THE SURFACE. MODELS HAVE BEEN HAVING DIFFICULTY CAPTURING THE DIURNAL DRYING TREND WITH AFTERNOON MIXING...HANGING ONTO SHALLOW MOISTURE OR MIXING BOUNDARY LAYER MOISTURE UPWARD RATHER THAN BRINGING DRIER AIR TO SURFACE AS DEEPER MIXING COMMENCES. RUC SEEMS TO HANDLE IT BETTER THAN NAM/GFS...AND MORE CLOSELY FOLLOWED THAT IDEA THROUGH THE LATE MORNING/AFTERNOON...THOUGH NOT QUITE AS DRY AS RUC INDICATES AT THIS POINT GIVEN EXTREME DISPARITY FROM OTHER MODELS /AS MUCH AS 10-15F DRIER THAN MOST OTHER GUIDANCE FOR 21Z/. DRIEST AIR SHOULD BE OVER FAR SOUTHEAST AND WESTERN PARTS OF THE FORECAST AREA DURING PEAK HEATING...WITH SLIGHT MOISTURE POOLING IN SOMEWHAT LESS MIXY AREA RIGHT ALONG THE FRONT...FORECAST TO BE JUST EAST OF KYKN-KFSD-KMML LINE AT 21Z. ALL THIS LEADS TO MINIMUM HUMIDITY LEVELS OF 15-25 PERCENT THIS AFTERNOON... AND THIS ALONG WITH WINDS GUSTING IN THE 25-30KT RANGE STILL SUPPORTIVE OF RED FLAG WARNING WHICH WAS ISSUED ON THE DAY SHIFT YESTERDAY. COLD FRONT SETTLES SOUTH OF THE AREA TONIGHT...WITH COOLING TEMPERATURES AND DYING WINDS OVERNIGHT. LOWS LOOK TO DROP INTO THE UPPER 40S NORTHWEST...TO MID 50S THROUGH THE LOWER MISSOURI RIVER VALLEY INTO NORTHWESTERN IOWA. .LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY) ISSUED AT 343 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS SOUTHWARD INTO THE REGION ON WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT...PROVIDING FOR PLEASANT CONDITIONS WITH TEMPERATURES CLOSE TO NORMAL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR. THIS WILL PLAY OUT TO HIGHS IN THE MID AND UPPER 70S...WITH LOWS EARLY ON THURSDAY IN THE UPPER 40S TO LOWER 50S. THE HIGH MOVES EASTWARD ON THURSDAY WITH A SOUTHERLY FLOW RETURNING TO OUR AREA ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE HIGH. THINK MOST OF THE DAY WILL REMAIN DRY WITH WARMING TEMPERATURES...INTO THE UPPER 70S TO AROUND 80 FOR AFTERNOON HIGHS. CANNOT RULE OUT SOME THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT IN OUR SOUTHWEST LATER IN THE AFTERNOON...WITH A BETTER CHANCE ON THURSDAY NIGHT AS A WARM FRONT BEGINS TO LIFT THROUGH NEBRASKA AND 850 MB CONVERGENCE IS ENHANCED AS A LOW LEVEL JET DEVELOPS THROUGH THE REGION. DOES APPEAR TO BE ENOUGH ELEVATED CAPE...500 TO 1000 J/KG...AND EFFECTIVE SHEAR OF AROUND 30 KTS IN THE EVENING THAT CANNOT RULE OUT A COUPLE OF SEVERE STORMS WITH LARGE HAIL. A MESSY PATTERN CONTINUES THROUGH THE EXTENDED...FRIDAY INTO MONDAY OF NEXT WEEK...WITH PERIODIC CHANCES OF CONVECTION THROUGH THE PERIOD WITH A BOUNDARY MEANDERING AROUND THE AREA AND A SERIES OF SUBTLE WAVES TRACKING ACROSS THE REGION. HARD TO TIME THIS CONVECTION DEPENDENT ON WHERE SYNOPTIC/MESOSCALE FEATURES SET UP...BUT WITH INCREASING LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND INSTABILITY ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH THE WEEKEND THERE IS FAIRLY HIGH CONFIDENCE THAT CONVECTION WILL OCCUR. CONVECTIVE PARAMETERS WOULD ALSO SUGGEST THAT SEVERE STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR THOSE DAYS. AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH FINALLY SWINGS OUT OF THE WESTERN U.S. ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY...KEEPING A CHANCE OF CONVECTION ACROSS THE REGION...AS WELL AS BRINGING A COOLING TREND. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 1227 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED THROUGH THE PERIOD. WINDS GUSTING TO AROUND 30 KTS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY...FROM THE SOUTHWEST AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT AND THE NORTHWEST BEHIND IT. WINDS WILL DIMINISH TONIGHT. WILL LIKELY SEE SOME INCREASING MID CLOUDS LATER TONIGHT INTO TOMORROW. CHANCE OF A FEW SHOWERS OUT OF THESE CLOUDS...BUT WITH DRY LOW LEVELS DO NOT THINK MUCH OF ANYTHING WILL REACH THE SURFACE. && .FIRE WEATHER... ISSUED AT 343 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 RED FLAG WARNING STILL LOOKS WARRANTED FOR THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH AHEAD OF COOL FRONT WILL SWITCH TO NORTHWEST BEHIND THE FRONT AND REMAIN AS STRONG. ALONG WITH THE GUSTY WINDS WILL BE DRY RELATIVE HUMIDITY LEVELS IN THE 15 TO 25 PERCENT RANGE...AS DRY AND UNSEASONABLY WARM AIR ALOFT MIXES TO THE SURFACE. AREAS RIGHT ALONG THE FRONT MAY NOT SEE AS SUSTAINED A PERIOD OF RED FLAG CRITERIA DUE TO MOISTURE POOLING AND LIGHTER/LESS GUSTY WINDS WITHIN THE FRONTAL ZONE...BUT SHOULD STILL REACH CRITERIA AT TIMES. RECENT GREENING OF COOL SEASON GRASSES MAY SLOW FIRE STARTS ACROSS THE AREA...BUT ANY FIRES THAT DO IGNITE WILL SPREAD VERY QUICKLY IN THE LINGERING DORMANT TALL GRASSES. SOME MODELS ALSO INDICATE POTENTIAL FOR EVEN WARMER/DRIER AIR MIXING TO THE SURFACE AHEAD OF THE FRONT...MAINLY IN NORTHWEST IOWA THIS AFTERNOON...SO THIS WILL BE WATCHED CLOSELY THROUGHOUT THE DAY. && .FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR SDZ255>258. MN...RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR MNZ900. IA...RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR IAZ300-301. NE...RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR NEZ249. && $$ UPDATE...CHENARD SHORT TERM...JH/JM LONG TERM...JM AVIATION...CHENARD FIRE WEATHER...JH
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS BROWNSVILLE TX
155 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 .SHORT TERM.../TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...EVEN THOUGH THE LATEST RUC13 MODEL RUNS CONTINUE TO SHOW SHOWERS DEVELOPING ACROSS THE CWA THIS AFTERNOON...RADAR AND SATELLITE IMAGES INDICATE NOT MUCH IN THE WAY OF RAIN DEVELOPING AS OF YET. SURFACE INSTABILITY IS MARGINAL ACROSS THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY AND THE CLOUD COVER MAY BE INHIBITING THE INSTABILITY. IN ADDITION...WATER VAPOR SAT IMAGES AND NAM80 500MB VORTICITY ANALYSIS INDICATE NEGATIVE VORT CENTER JUST TO THE WEST OF THE AREA. CURRENT FORECAST THINKING IS THAT AS THE 500MB LOW ACROSS NORTHWEST MEXICO IS KICKED EASTWARD WITH THE SHORTWAVE TROUGH MOVING INTO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP LATER THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING ACROSS THE MEXICAN PLATEAU AND MOVE EASTWARD INTO THE WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE CWA TONIGHT INTO EARLY WEDNESDAY. WITH THAT SAID...WILL ADJUST TIMING OF POPS TONIGHT INTO WED NIGHT AND KEEP AT LEAST A CHANCE OF RAIN ACROSS MOST OF THE AREA THROUGH WED AFTERNOON. RAIN CHANCES SHOULD DIMINISH WED AFTERNOON INTO WED EVENING AS SUBSIDENCE WILL INCREASE ACROSS SOUTHWEST TX AS THE UPPER LEVEL LOW MOVES ACROSS NORTHWEST TX WEDNESDAY. .LONG TERM.../THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/... LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER BAJA CA WILL QUICKLY MOVE ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS WED INTO THU WITH SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE TO THE EAST MOVING SOUTHWARD OVER THE GULF WATERS AS IT INTERACTS WITH THE LOW PRESSURE OVER WEST TEXAS. AS THIS SYSTEM LIFTS TO THE NORTHEAST... THE SURFACE WINDS WILL RETURN TO THE SOUTHEAST ACROSS SOUTH TEXAS AND THE GRADIENT IN RETURN WILL STRENGTHEN. EXPECT BREEZE CONDITIONS BETWEEN 20 TO 25 MPH THURSDAY AFTERNOON. MOST OF THE MOISTURE SEEN IN THE LAST FEW DAYS WILL DROP DRAMATICALLY ACROSS THE AREA WITH THE BUFF SOUNDING NEAR KBRO SHOWING THE INFILTRATION OF THE DRIER AIR IN THE UPPER AND MID LEVEL OF THE ATMOSPHERE AND A DROP IN THE PWAT VALUES TO 1.34 INCHES AND INTO 1.10 INCHES TOWARDS THE WEST. THE DRIER AIR MASS FROM THE RIDGE BUILDING ACROSS THE WESTERN PLAINS WILL SET UP THAT DRIER AND WARM PATTERN FOR MOST OF THE LONG TERM FORECAST. HIGH TEMPERATURES THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY WILL BE WARM AND HUMID REACHING THE MID TO UPPER 90S THROUGH THE WEEK. ANOTHER TROUGH DIGS SOUTHWARD ALONG BAJA CALIFORNIA AND SWING NORTHEASTWARD INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. THE MAIN IMPACT WITH THIS SYSTEM FOR SOUTH TEXAS WILL BE THE SE WINDS AND THE ABUNDANT WARM TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE CWA WITH NO CONVECTION AS THE SYSTEM REMAINS NORTH OF THE CWA. EXPECT SURFACE GRADIENT TO INCREASE WITH BREEZE TO CONDITIONS THIS WEEKEND. NEXT WEEK...THE TROUGH WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE NORTHEAST AND STRENGTHEN ITS SURFACE TROUGH OVER NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS. THIS WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP THE AREA UNDER SOUTHEAST WINDS ACROSS THE CWA. BY TUESDAY...THE HIGH PRESSURE ALOFT BUILDS FROM THE SOUTH AND A VERY WEAK GRADIENT AT THE SURFACE RETURNS. LOW TEMPERATURES FOR MUCH OF THE LONG TERM FORECAST REMAIN IN THE MID 70S ACROSS THE AREA. && .MARINE...TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT...SEAS WERE NEAR 4 FEET WITH SOUTHEAST WINDS NEAR 10 KNOTS AT BUOY020 EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL INCREASE ACROSS THE COASTAL WATERS TONIGHT AS THE PRESSURE GRADIENT INCREASES ACROSS THE WESTERN GULF OF MEXICO. MODERATE TO STRONG SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL PREVAIL TONIGHT WITH SCEC CONDITIONS LIKELY OFFSHORE. THE SCEC CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST WEDNESDAY INTO WED NIGHT...ESPECIALLY OFFSHORE...AS THE PRESSURE GRADIENT REMAINS STRONG ACROSS THE LOWER TEXAS COAST. THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... THE UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM OVER THE BAJA CA WILL FINALLY BEGIN TO MOVE NORTHEAST WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY LIMITING THE AREA OF ANY CONVECTION. THE SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE SOUTHEAST PLAINS WILL BEGIN TO SHIFT SOUTH OVER THE GULF WATERS SHIFTING WINDS ACROSS THE GULF TOWARDS THE SE. WINDS WILL INCREASE THURSDAY AFTERNOON WITH POSSIBLE SCA FOR MUCH OF THE DAY AND EARLY EVENING AS WINDS INCREASE. THIS SE FLOW WILL PREVAIL FOR MUCH OF THE LONG TERM FORECAST BUT WILL WEAKEN BY NEXT WEEK. SEAS WILL BE BETWEEN 4 TO 5 FEET OVER THE GULF WATERS AS THERE WILL BE A LONG DURATION FETCH OVER THE GULF. THE UPPER AND LOWER FLOW WILL WEAKEN AND KEEP THE WAVE HEIGHT 5 FEET OR LESS. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... BAYVIEW/PORT ISABEL 75 83 74 86 / 40 40 20 10 BROWNSVILLE 72 84 72 89 / 40 40 20 10 HARLINGEN 72 87 73 92 / 40 40 20 10 MCALLEN 74 90 74 95 / 50 40 20 0 RIO GRANDE CITY 73 92 73 98 / 50 30 10 0 SOUTH PADRE ISLAND 75 80 75 81 / 40 40 20 10 && .BRO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TX...NONE. GM...NONE. && $$ THIS PRODUCT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE WEB AT: HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RGV 61/67
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FORECAST DISCUSSION FOR ROUTINE AFTERNOON FORECAST ISSUANCE

.SHORT TERM...TONIGHT ISSUED AT 327 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 LATEST RUC ANALYSIS AND SATELLITE/RADAR IMAGERY SHOW A REMNANT NOCTURNAL MCS DIMINISHING ACROSS NORTHERN AND CENTRAL WISCONSIN EARLY THIS AFTERNOON AFTER IT PRODUCED LIGHT SHOWERS OVER PARTS OF THE AREA. AT THE SURFACE...A WARM FRONT EXTENDS FROM AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE OVER SOUTH-CENTRAL MINNESOTA TO NORTHEAST ILLINOIS. AND A COLD FRONT ALSO EXTENDS FROM THAT SURFACE LOW SOUTHWEST TO THE PANHANDLE OF NEBRASKA. TEMPERATURES TO THE SOUTHWEST OF THE WARM FRONT ARE IN THE UPPER 80S TO 100 DEGREES...BUT STILL PLENTY OF 70S TO THE NORTH OF THE BOUNDARY. CONVECTION ALONG EITHER BOUNDARY HAS FAILED TO DEVELOP SO FAR. THE LATEST MESOANALYSIS SUGGESTS SB CIN HAS BEEN ERODING OVER NE IOWA WHICH APPEARS TO BE THE MOSTLY LIKELY LOCATION OF THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT LATER THIS AFTERNOON. WITH TEMPS EXPECTED TO TOP OUT ONLY IN THE 70S TO LOWER 80S ACROSS OUR REGION THIS AFTERNOON...HAVING A HARD TIME SEEING ANY THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT IN OUR AREA...ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE IS NO SURFACE BASED NOR MOST UNSTABLE CAPE AS OF YET...AND DEWPOINTS ARE IN THE LOWER 40S. WILL CONSEQUENTLY REMOVE ANY THUNDERSTORM CHANCES FOR THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON. AS THE LOW MOVES ACROSS THE REGION TONIGHT...SMALL PRECIP CHANCES ARE THE MAIN FORECAST CONCERN. TONIGHT...WEAK LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE FROM FAR NW WISCONSIN ACROSS THE UPPER PENINSULA THIS EVENING. AS THIS OCCURS...AN 850MB WARM FRONT WILL LIFT ACROSS NE WISCONSIN EARLY IN THE EVENING WHILE THE COLD FRONT WILL SWEEP FROM NW TO SE ACROSS THE STATE MID TO LATE EVENING. DESPITE THE WARM SECTOR REACHING INTO CENTRAL AND EAST-CENTRAL WISCONSIN THIS EVENING...12Z SOUNDINGS FROM MPX AND DVN AND PROGGED SOUNDINGS ALL INDICATE AMPLE DRY AIR BELOW 600 AND 700MB. ONLY SB CAPES EXISTING ACROSS THE REGION CURRENTLY ARE OVER SW MN AND IOWA WHERE TEMPS RANGE FROM THE UPPER 80S TO THE UPPER 90S. NOT GOING TO COME CLOSE TO REACHING THOSE READINGS THIS EVENING...SO THE POSSIBILITY OF STORMS DEVELOPING WITHIN THE WARM SECTOR SEEMS TOO LOW TO MENTION IN THE FORECAST. IF STORMS WERE TO DEVELOP...THE BEST CHANCES APPEAR TO BE OVER FAR N-C TO FAR NE WISCONSIN EARLY TO MID EVENING DUE TO SOME INDICATIONS FROM THE RUC OF THE NOSE OF THE LLJ POINTED IN THAT DIRECTION. IN ADDITION...THERE IS SOME ELEVATED CAPE IN THE 850-800MB LAYER AROUND 850 J/KG AND THAT REGION WOULD BE CLOSER TO THE EDGE OF THE MID-LEVEL CAP. CAPPING WILL REMAIN TOUGH TO OVERCOME...SINCE BUFKIT SOUNDINGS INDICATE ELEVATED CIN UPWARDS OF 150 J/KG. WILL LEAVE AN ISOLATED STORM IN THE FORECAST FOR THIS REGION TONIGHT...BUT ADMITTEDLY...CHANCES ARE QUITE SMALL. IF STORMS DO FIRE...STRONG SHEAR WOULD SUPPORT ORGANIZATION THAT COULD LEAD TO HAIL AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS. THE THREAT OF ISOLATED STORMS WILL DEPART LATE THIS EVENING AND SKIES WILL BECOME CLEAR OVERNIGHT. WARM EVENING TEMPS WILL FALL INTO THE 50S FOR LOWS TONIGHT. .LONG TERM...WEDNESDAY THROUGH TUESDAY ISSUED AT 327 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 MAIN FCST CONCERNS INCLUDE FIRE WEATHER POTENTIAL ON WEDS/THURS...THEN PCPN TRENDS FOR THE END OF THIS WEEK AND EARLY NEXT WEEK. A VERY DRY AIR MASS WILL RESIDE OVER THE REGION FROM WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY...WITH DEEP MIXING ALLOWING TEMPERATURES TO WARM NICELY... AND ALSO CAUSING DEW POINTS TO PLUMMET DURING THE AFTERNOONS. HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE WELL INTO THE 70S BOTH DAYS. MODELS AGREE ON A GRADUAL RETURN OF PCPN CHANCES FROM THE WEST LATE THURSDAY NIGHT AND INTO THE WEEKEND. THE LATEST TRENDS DON`T SUPPORT AS MUCH OF A WASHOUT FOR THE WEEKEND AS WAS PREVIOUSLY SUSPECTED... SO POPS HAVE BEEN LOWERED A BIT AND TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO BE A LITTLE WARMER. RIGHT NOW...THE GREATEST THREAT OF SIGNIFICANT PCPN APPEARS TO BE DURING THE SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT TIME FRAME... AS A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED FRONTAL SYSTEM MOVES THROUGH. && .AVIATION...FOR 18Z TAF ISSUANCE ISSUED AT 1230 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 WEAKENING MID-LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL GENERATE SCT VERY LIGHT SHOWERS OVER NORTH-CENTRAL AND CENTRAL WISCONSIN THROUGH MID-AFTERNOON...BUT CONDITIONS TO REMAIN VFR. THEN LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE ACROSS CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND THE UPPER PENINSULA TONIGHT. ISOLATED STORMS ARE POSSIBLE AHEAD OF THIS LOW...MAINLY ACROSS THE UPPER PENINSULA...BUT THINK THE AIRMASS WILL BE TOO DRY FOR THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT OVER CENTRAL AND NORTHERN WISCONSIN. LLWS TO DEVELOPMENT THIS EVENING AHEAD OF THE LOW...AND THEN BEHIND THE LOW AS WELL. VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED TOMORROW WITH GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS. && .FIRE WEATHER... ISSUED AT 327 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 TEMPERATURES IN THE 70S AND MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITIES OF 20 TO 25 PERCENT IN THE SANDY SOIL AREAS CAN BE EXPECTED ON WEDS AND THURS. NORTHWEST WINDS WILL GUST TO AROUND 30 MPH IN FAR NE WI ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...SETTING THE STAGE FOR A CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER DAY. A FIRE WEATHER WATCH WILL BE ISSUED FOR FAR NE WI FROM NOON THROUGH 7 PM ON WEDNESDAY. WINDS WILL NOT BE AS STRONG ON THURSDAY...SO HEADLINES SHOULD NOT BE NEEDED THEN. && .GRB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR WIZ012-013-073. && $$ SHORT TERM.....MPC LONG TERM......KIECKBUSCH AVIATION.......MPC FIRE WEATHER...KIECKBUSCH
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS GREEN BAY WI
1230 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 UPDATED AVIATION PORTION FOR 18Z TAF ISSUANCE .SHORT TERM...TODAY...TONIGHT...AND WEDNESDAY ISSUED AT 436 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 FORECAST CONCERNS ON TEMPERATURES TODAY AND CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING. HAVE TRENDED TOWARDS GEM/NAM FOR GUIDANCE ON THIS PACKAGE. ECMWF NOW TRENDING TOWARDS NAM WITH BETTER CHANCE FOR PCPN A BIT FURTHER SOUTH INTO CENTRAL WI CLOSER TO WARM FRONT POSITION. LAST EVENING SOUNDINGS SHOWS WHAT THE ISSUE WITH THIS FORECAST...THAT BEING TOO DRY. AREA OF HIGH BASED SHOWERS WENT THROUGH LAST NIGHT AROUND MIDNIGHT ASSOCIATED WITH STRONG WAA/850 WARM FRONT. NOTHING MORE THAN SPRINKLES SEEN. MID CLOUDINESS NOW EXITING EASTERN WI. FOCUS ON FAST MOVING SHORT WAVE ALONG CANADIAN BORDER AND FRONTAL SYSTEM NOW MOVING THROUGH NORTHERN PLAINS. BY MID AFTERNOON...WARM FRONT TO LIFT NORTH INTO SOUTHWEST WI. RATHER WARM AIR MASS TO PUSH INTO STATE TODAY WITH 850 TEMPS INTO THE 20S OVER CENTRAL WI. WITH STEEP MID-LEVEL LAPSE RATES BETWEEN 8 AND 9 C/KM....AND WARM FRONT...WILL CONTINUE TO CARRY SMALL/ISOLD CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS. MODEL SOUNDINGS SUGGEST STRONG CIN THROUGH THE DAY GIVEN DRY AIRMASS BELOW 600MB. SOUNDINGS ALSO SHOW CAPE HIGH BASED...MAINLY ABOVE 600MB. THIS TO LEAD TO HIGH BASED THUNDERSTORM THREAT...WHICH IF STORMS DO DEVELOP WOULD LIKELY LEAD TO GUSTY WINDS...POSSIBLY HAIL. COLD FRONT TO PUSH THROUGH STATE BY MIDNIGHT LEADING TO DRY FORECAST FOR REST OF NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY. ON WEDNESDAY...GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS BEHIND FRONT AND LOW HUMIDITIES WITH MIXING TO 5K FEET OR HIGHER MAY LEAD TO INCREASED FIRE DANGER. TEMPERATURES TO BE WELL ABOVE NORM TODAY...DROPPING CLOSER TO NORMS ON WEDNESDAY. FEW MODELS...INCLUDING HRRR SUGGEST 90 INTO SOUTHWEST WI. HAVE BUMPED TEMPS UP SLIGHTLY THROUGHOUT CWA. .LONG TERM...WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY ISSUED AT 436 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE MOVING ACROSS THE REGION AHEAD OF AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE SHOULD KEEP THE EARLY PART OF THE LONG TERM FORECAST DRY. THE 00Z NAM AND 00Z GFS GENERATED SOME QPF DURING THE DAY ON THURSDAY...BUT SINCE THE 00Z ECMWF...PREVIOUS FORECAST AND SURROUNDING GRIDS WERE DRY...A DRY FORECAST APPEARED TO BE THE WAY TO GO. A SHORT WAVE AND WARM ADVECTION AHEAD OF A SURFACE TROUGH APPROACHING FROM THE PLAINS WILL BRING A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO THE AREA STARTING ON FRIDAY. VARIOUS SHORT WAVES AHEAD OF THE MAIN UPPER TROUGH AND A SURFACE FRONTAL BOUNDARY...COMBINED WITH A FEED OF GULF MOISTURE AHEAD OF A DEVELOPING SURFACE LOW WILL KEEP AT LEAST A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THE END OF THE FORECAST PERIOD. CLOUDS AND PRECIPITATION WILL KEEP TEMPERATURES FROM WARMING TOO MUCH ABOVE NORMAL DURING THE DAYTIME...BUT THE SAME FACTORS SHOULD KEEP TEMPERATURES WELL ABOVE NORMAL AT NIGHT. && .AVIATION...FOR 18Z TAF ISSUANCE ISSUED AT 1230 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013 WEAKENING MID-LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL GENERATE SCT VERY LIGHT SHOWERS OVER NORTH-CENTRAL AND CENTRAL WISCONSIN THROUGH MID-AFTERNOON...BUT CONDITIONS TO REMAIN VFR. THEN LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE ACROSS CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND THE UPPER PENINSULA TONIGHT. ISOLATED STORMS ARE POSSIBLE AHEAD OF THIS LOW...MAINLY ACROSS THE UPPER PENINSULA...BUT THINK THE AIRMASS WILL BE TOO DRY FOR THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT OVER CENTRAL AND NORTHERN WISCONSIN. LLWS TO DEVELOPMENT THIS EVENING AHEAD OF THE LOW...AND THEN BEHIND THE LOW AS WELL. VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED TOMORROW WITH GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS. && .GRB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM.....TE LONG TERM......MG AVIATION.......MPC
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS CHEYENNE WY
407 PM MDT TUE MAY 14 2013 .SHORT TERM...(TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 234 PM MDT TUE MAY 14 2013 WIDESPREAD CUMULUS HAVE DEVELOPED ALONG THE SOUTHERN ZONES THIS AFTERNOON IN A VERY DEEP BOUNDARY LAYER. RADAR IS SHOWING SOME WEAK SHOWERS OUT THERE...HOWEVER ITS PROBABLY MOSTLY VIRGA WITH GUSTY WINDS. THIS ISOLATED SHOWER ACTIVITY WILL LIKELY CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING AS THE RUC SHOWS AROUND 100-200 J/KG OF CAPE THROUGH AROUND 03Z. LAPS ANALYSIS SHOWS A WEAK FRONT LOCATED FROM DOUGLAS TO SIDNEY WITH HIGHER LLVL MOISTURE (DEWPOINTS IN THE 40S) BEHIND IT AND THE MUCH DRIER AIR TO THE SOUTH OF IT. THE MODELS HAVE THIS BOUNDARY PUSHING TO THE SOUTHWEST OVERNIGHT AND STALLING ALONG THE LARAMIE RANGE IN THE MORNING. BOTH THE GFS AND NAM SHOW SOME IMPRESSIVE LLVL MOISTURE BEING ADVECTED IN ON EAST-TO- SOUTHEAST WINDS BY THE MORNING. INCREASED DEWPOINTS INTO THE LOW- TO-MID 40S OVER THE PLAINS OF SOUTHEAST WY FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. THE COMBINATION OF HIGHER LLVL MOISTURE AND SLIGHTLY COOLER MIDLEVEL TEMPS ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON WILL RESULT IN GOOD SFC INSTABILITY ALONG AND EAST OF THE LARAMIE RANGE. THE GFS AND NAM BOTH SHOW LIFTED INDICES OF -3C TO -5C WHICH TRANSLATES INTO 1000-1250 J/KG OF CAPE. THE TREND OF THE MODELS HAS BEEN TO INCREASE CONVECTIVE POTENTIAL AND QPF FOR WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. FOR THIS REASON...UP POPS INTO THE CHANCE CATEGORY OVER THE MTNS AND PLAINS. THE DEEP LAYER SHEAR DOES NOT LOOK IMPRESSIVE OVER THE SOUTHERN ZONES (AROUND 20 KTS)...HOWEVER FURTHER TO THE NORTH ACROSS CONVERSE/NIOBRARA COUNTIES THE MIDLEVEL WINDS ARE STRONGER AND 0-6KM SHEAR APPROACHES 40 KTS. SO IT LOOKS LIKE THAT WILL BE THE REGION TO MONITOR FOR STRONGER STORMS WITH SOME SMALL HAIL POTENTIAL. THE STORMS THAT DEVELOP OVER THE LARAMIE RANGE IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON WILL PROGRESS EASTWARD INTO PORTIONS OF THE WESTERN NEBRASKA PANHANDLE BY THE EARLY EVENING. TEMPS WILL BE AROUND 10 DEGREES COOLER ON WEDNESDAY WITH THE MOIST SE SFC WINDS AND GREATER CLOUD COVER. .LONG TERM...(THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY) ISSUED AT 234 PM MDT TUE MAY 14 2013 THURSDAY...WEAK SHORTWAVE RIDGING ALOFT. WILL SEE ISOLATED AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS...PRIMARILY ORIENTED ALONG THE SURFACE TROUGH AXIS FROM EASTERN WYOMING SOUTHWARD THROUGH EASTERN COLORADO. FRIDAY...FLOW ALOFT BACKS TO SOUTHWEST IN ADVANCE OF NEXT SHORTWAVE TROUGH ALOFT. QUITE WARM WITH A DECENT LOW LEVEL THERMAL RIDGE ORIENTED NORTH TO SOUTH ALONG A DECENT SURFACE TROUGH OVER OUR COUNTIES. ISOLATED AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE AXIS FROM CASPER TO CHADRON TO SIDNEY...WITH AREAL COVERAGE OF THUNDERSTORMS MINIMIZED BY WARM TEMPERATURES ALOFT PROVIDING SIGNIFICANT CONVECTIVE INHIBITION...CIN. SATURDAY...DECENT NEGATIVELY TILTED SHORTWAVE TROUGH ALOFT ROTATES EASTWARD ACROSS OUR COUNTIES AND ALONG WITH ITS ASSOCIATED PACIFIC ORIGIN COLD FRONT...EXPECT ISOLATED TO SCATTERED AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS...MOST NUMEROUS NEAR THE MOUNTAINS DUE TO DIFFERENTIAL HEATING AND OROGRAPHIC EFFECTS. SUNDAY...A DEFINITE BRITISH ISLES COASTAL FEEL TYPE DAY. BRISK WINDS...COOLER TEMPERATURES AND ISOLATED TO SCATTERED AFTERNOON AND EVENING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ON TAP WITH NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT AND ENOUGH LOW AND MID LEVEL MOISTURE TO BE LIFTED BY DAYTIME HEATING EFFECTS AND CYCLONIC FLOW ALOFT. LOW LEVEL DOWNSLOPE WINDS WILL PRODUCE A RAIN SHADOW EFFECT FROM WHEATLAND TO CHEYENNE AND MINIMIZE PRECIPITATION COVERAGE. MONDAY...REFRESHINGLY COOL START TO THE TRADITIONAL WORKWEEK IN THE WAKE OF THE RELATIVELY STRONG SHORTWAVE TROUGH PASSAGE AND WITH COOL NORTH WINDS IN USHERING IN RELATIVELY COOL CANADIAN AIR. ISOLATED AFTERNOON SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. TEMPERATURES WILL STILL BE NEAR NORMAL THOUGH. TUESDAY...TRANSITORY SHORTWAVE RIDGE ALOFT MOVES ACROSS OUR COUNTIES AND ALONG WITH MUCH LESS LOW AND MID LEVEL MOISTURE...ONLY ISOLATED AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 402 PM MDT TUE MAY 14 2013 VFR PREVAILS. THROUGH 02Z TONIGHT...ISOLATED HIGH BASED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT THE LARAMIE AND CHEYENNE TAFS WITH GUSTY AND ERRATIC WINDS AS ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP OVER AND NEAR THE SNOWY...SIERRA MADRE AND SOUTHERN LARAMIE RANGES. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE LOCALIZED TURBULENCE. PERIODS OF SCATTERED TO BROKEN LOW AND MIDDLE CLOUDS AT OR ABOVE 6000 FEET AGL. A WEAK COLD FRONT WILL MOVE SOUTHWESTWARD TO THE LEE OF THE LARAMIE RANGE THIS EVENING. SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL MOVE INTO SOUTH DAKOTA TONIGHT PRODUCING WEAK LOW LEVEL UPSLOPE SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST WINDS ACROSS TAF SITES. LOW LEVEL SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL STRENGTHEN WEDNESDAY MORNING...WITH SCATTERED CUMULUS AND TOWERING CUMULUS DEVELOPMENT ALONG AND WEST OF INTERSTATE 25 BY LATE MORNING...ALONG WITH ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS IN THIS AREA TOWARDS NOON. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP OVER SOUTHEAST WYOMING AFTER NOON WEDNESDAY PRODUCING LOCALIZED MVFR AND ERRATIC AND GUSTY WINDS TO 50 MPH. && .FIRE WEATHER... ISSUED AT 234 PM MDT TUE MAY 14 2013 RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES HAVE DROPPED BELOW 15 PERCENT THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS MUCH OF THE LOWER ELEVATIONS IN A VERY WARM AIRMASS. WINDS HAVE BECOME WEAK NORTHERLY OVER THE PANHANDLE BEHIND A WEAK FRONT...WITH GUSTS GENERALLY BELOW 20 MPH. TEMPERATURES ON WEDNESDAY ARE EXPECTED TO BE AROUND 10 DEGREES COOLER WITH SOUTHEAST WINDS ALONG AND EAST OF THE LARAMIE RANGE. THE INCREASING LOW LEVEL MOISTURE WILL PROMOTE SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. && .CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WY...NONE. NE...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...FINCH LONG TERM...RUBIN AVIATION...RUBIN FIRE WEATHER...FINCH
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS CHEYENNE WY
303 PM MDT TUE MAY 14 2013 .SHORT TERM...(TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 234 PM MDT TUE MAY 14 2013 WIDESPREAD CUMULUS HAVE DEVELOPED ALONG THE SOUTHERN ZONES THIS AFTERNOON IN A VERY DEEP BOUNDARY LAYER. RADAR IS SHOWING SOME WEAK SHOWERS OUT THERE...HOWEVER ITS PROBABLY MOSTLY VIRGA WITH GUSTY WINDS. THIS ISOLATED SHOWER ACTIVITY WILL LIKELY CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING AS THE RUC SHOWS AROUND 100-200 J/KG OF CAPE THROUGH AROUND 03Z. LAPS ANALYSIS SHOWS A WEAK FRONT LOCATED FROM DOUGLAS TO SIDNEY WITH HIGHER LLVL MOISTURE (DEWPOINTS IN THE 40S) BEHIND IT AND THE MUCH DRIER AIR TO THE SOUTH OF IT. THE MODELS HAVE THIS BOUNDARY PUSHING TO THE SOUTHWEST OVERNIGHT AND STALLING ALONG THE LARAMIE RANGE IN THE MORNING. BOTH THE GFS AND NAM SHOW SOME IMPRESSIVE LLVL MOISTURE BEING ADVECTED IN ON EAST-TO- SOUTHEAST WINDS BY THE MORNING. INCREASED DEWPOINTS INTO THE LOW- TO-MID 40S OVER THE PLAINS OF SOUTHEAST WY FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. THE COMBINATION OF HIGHER LLVL MOISTURE AND SLIGHTLY COOLER MIDLEVEL TEMPS ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON WILL RESULT IN GOOD SFC INSTABILITY ALONG AND EAST OF THE LARAMIE RANGE. THE GFS AND NAM BOTH SHOW LIFTED INDICES OF -3C TO -5C WHICH TRANSLATES INTO 1000-1250 J/KG OF CAPE. THE TREND OF THE MODELS HAS BEEN TO INCREASE CONVECTIVE POTENTIAL AND QPF FOR WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. FOR THIS REASON...UP POPS INTO THE CHANCE CATEGORY OVER THE MTNS AND PLAINS. THE DEEP LAYER SHEAR DOES NOT LOOK IMPRESSIVE OVER THE SOUTHERN ZONES (AROUND 20 KTS)...HOWEVER FURTHER TO THE NORTH ACROSS CONVERSE/NIOBRARA COUNTIES THE MIDLEVEL WINDS ARE STRONGER AND 0-6KM SHEAR APPROACHES 40 KTS. SO IT LOOKS LIKE THAT WILL BE THE REGION TO MONITOR FOR STRONGER STORMS WITH SOME SMALL HAIL POTENTIAL. THE STORMS THAT DEVELOP OVER THE LARAMIE RANGE IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON WILL PROGRESS EASTWARD INTO PORTIONS OF THE WESTERN NEBRASKA PANHANDLE BY THE EARLY EVENING. TEMPS WILL BE AROUND 10 DEGREES COOLER ON WEDNESDAY WITH THE MOIST SE SFC WINDS AND GREATER CLOUD COVER. .LONG TERM...(THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY) ISSUED AT 234 PM MDT TUE MAY 14 2013 THURSDAY...WEAK SHORTWAVE RIDGING ALOFT. WILL SEE ISOLATED AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS...PRIMARILY ORIENTED ALONG THE SURFACE TROUGH AXIS FROM EASTERN WYOMING SOUTHWARD THROUGH EASTERN COLORADO. FRIDAY...FLOW ALOFT BACKS TO SOUTHWEST IN ADVANCE OF NEXT SHORTWAVE TROUGH ALOFT. QUITE WARM WITH A DECENT LOW LEVEL THERMAL RIDGE ORIENTED NORTH TO SOUTH ALONG A DECENT SURFACE TROUGH OVER OUR COUNTIES. ISOLATED AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE AXIS FROM CASPER TO CHADRON TO SIDNEY...WITH AREAL COVERAGE OF THUNDERSTORMS MINIMIZED BY WARM TEMPERATURES ALOFT PROVIDING SIGNIFICANT CONVECTIVE INHIBITION...CIN. SATURDAY...DECENT NEGATIVELY TILTED SHORTWAVE TROUGH ALOFT ROTATES EASTWARD ACROSS OUR COUNTIES AND ALONG WITH ITS ASSOCIATED PACIFIC ORIGIN COLD FRONT...EXPECT ISOLATED TO SCATTERED AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS...MOST NUMEROUS NEAR THE MOUNTAINS DUE TO DIFFERENTIAL HEATING AND OROGRAPHIC EFFECTS. SUNDAY...A DEFINITE BRITISH ISLES COASTAL FEEL TYPE DAY. BRISK WINDS...COOLER TEMPERATURES AND ISOLATED TO SCATTERED AFTERNOON AND EVENING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ON TAP WITH NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT AND ENOUGH LOW AND MID LEVEL MOISTURE TO BE LIFTED BY DAYTIME HEATING EFFECTS AND CYCLONIC FLOW ALOFT. LOW LEVEL DOWNSLOPE WINDS WILL PRODUCE A RAIN SHADOW EFFECT FROM WHEATLAND TO CHEYENNE AND MINIMIZE PRECIPITATION COVERAGE. MONDAY...REFRESHINGLY COOL START TO THE TRADITIONAL WORKWEEK IN THE WAKE OF THE RELATIVELY STRONG SHORTWAVE TROUGH PASSAGE AND WITH COOL NORTH WINDS IN USHERING IN RELATIVELY COOL CANADIAN AIR. ISOLATED AFTERNOON SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. TEMPERATURES WILL STILL BE NEAR NORMAL THOUGH. TUESDAY...TRANSITORY SHORTWAVE RIDGE ALOFT MOVES ACROSS OUR COUNTIES AND ALONG WITH MUCH LESS LOW AND MID LEVEL MOISTURE...ONLY ISOLATED AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY MORNING) ISSUED AT 1106 AM MDT TUE MAY 14 2013 VFR PREVAILS. THROUGH 02Z TONIGHT...ISOLATED HIGH BASED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MAY AFFECT THE LARAMIE AND CHEYENNE TAFS WITH GUSTY AND ERRATIC WINDS AS ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP OVER AND NEAR THE SNOWY...SIERRA MADRE AND SOUTHERN LARAMIE RANGES. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE LOCALIZED TURBULENCE. PERIODS OF SCATTERED TO BROKEN LOW AND MIDDLE CLOUDS AT OR ABOVE 6000 FEET AGL. A WEAK COLD FRONT WILL MOVE SOUTHWESTWARD TO THE LEE OF THE LARAMIE RANGE THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING. SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL MOVE INTO SOUTH DAKOTA TONIGHT PRODUCING WEAK LOW LEVEL UPSLOPE SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST WINDS ACROSS TAF SITES. LOW LEVEL SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL STRENGTHEN WEDNESDAY MORNING...WITH SCATTERED CUMULUS AND TOWERING CUMULUS DEVELOPMENT ALONG AND WEST OF INTERSTATE 25 BY LATE MORNING...ALONG WITH ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS IN THIS AREA TOWARDS NOON. && .FIRE WEATHER... ISSUED AT 234 PM MDT TUE MAY 14 2013 RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES HAVE DROPPED BELOW 15 PERCENT THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS MUCH OF THE LOWER ELEVATIONS IN A VERY WARM AIRMASS. WINDS HAVE BECOME WEAK NORTHERLY OVER THE PANHANDLE BEHIND A WEAK FRONT...WITH GUSTS GENERALLY BELOW 20 MPH. TEMPERATURES ON WEDNESDAY ARE EXPECTED TO BE AROUND 10 DEGREES COOLER WITH SOUTHEAST WINDS ALONG AND EAST OF THE LARAMIE RANGE. THE INCREASING LOW LEVEL MOISTURE WILL PROMOTE SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. && .HYDROLOGY... ISSUED AT 234 PM MDT TUE MAY 14 2013 TEMPERATURES THIS AFTERNOON HAVE CLIMBED INTO THE 60S ACROSS THE SNOWY AND SIERRA MADRE RANGES. LATEST RIVER GAGES ON THE RIVERS IN CARBON AND ALBANY COUNTY ARE SHOWING A STEADY INCREASE IN RIVER LEVELS...PEAKING OUT DURING THE LATE EVENING. THOUGH RIVERS ARE EXPECTED TO STAY WITHIN THEIR BANKS...OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS OR PERSONS LIVING NEAR THESE RIVERS IN SOUTHEAST WYOMING NEED TO MONITOR RIVERS AND STREAMS NEAR THEIR CAMPSITES OR HOMES IN CASE RAPID RISES DO OCCUR. THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF SNOW PACK THAT WILL MELT OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS AS TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN ABOVE NORMAL THROUGH FRIDAY. && .CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WY...NONE. NE...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...FINCH LONG TERM...RUBIN AVIATION...RUBIN FIRE WEATHER...FINCH HYDROLOGY...FINCH