Forecast Discussions mentioning any of "HRRR" "RAP" "RR" "RUC13" "RUC" received at GSD on 04/15/16


AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS PHOENIX AZ
920 PM MST TUE APR 12 2016 .SYNOPSIS... MUCH WARMER AND DRIER WEATHER WILL RETURN TO THE REGION WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE SETTLES OVER THE AREA. ANOTHER PACIFIC WEATHER SYSTEM WILL MOVE THROUGH THE WESTERN UNITED STATES FRIDAY AND SATURDAY BRINGING WINDY CONDITIONS AND MUCH COOLER WEATHER BACK TO THE REGION. && .DISCUSSION... UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM HAS EXITED WELL OFF THE EAST THIS EVENING...AND THE 00Z 500MB PLOT DATA SHOWED THE CENTER OVER EAST-CENTRAL NEW MEXICO. A SUBSIDENT NWLY FLOW ALOFT HAS SPREAD IN BEHIND THE EXITING LOW...RESULTING IN A QUICK DISSIPATION OF THE BOUNDARY LAYER CUMULUS THAT FORMED OVER THE LOWER CENTRAL DESERTS DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS. AT 9 PM IR IMAGERY SHOWED GENERALLY CLEAR SKIES ACROSS THE AREA. DEWPOINTS OVER THE LOWER DESERTS WERE STILL A BIT ELEVATED AND WERE MOSTLY RUNNING IN THE 40S EARLY THIS EVENING. FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHT WE CAN EXPECT MOSTLY CLEAR OR CLEAR SKIES ALONG WITH LIGHT WINDS. NO UPDATES NEEDED TO THE FORECAST FOR THE REST OF TONIGHT. .PREVIOUS DISCUSSION... A NICELY DEFINED COLD CORE SHORTWAVE HAS NOW EJECTED INTO SOUTH CENTRAL NEW MEXICO WITH HIGHER HEIGHTS AND SUBSIDENCE FEEDING INTO THE LEFT REAR JET CORE BUILDING INTO SERN CALIFORNIA/SWRN ARIZONA. THE COMBINATION OF WEAK DEFORMATION...MODESTLY STEEP MIDLEVEL LAPSE RATES...AND MINOR INSTABILITY (MUCAPE NEARING 500 J/KG) HAVE SUPPORTED NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE MOGOLLON RIM AND WHITE MOUNTAINS. WHILE STEERING FLOW AND INSTABILITY PARAMETERS MAY SUPPORT SHOWERS/STORMS PROPAGATING INTO PARTS OF SRN GILA COUNTY...VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL MIXING OF DRY AIR AT LOWER ELEVATIONS ARE CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT MORE HOSTILE TOWARDS MAINTAINING CONVECTION DIRECTED SOUTH DOWN THE I-17 CORRIDOR. A BLEND OF RECENT HRRR ITERATIONS AND HIGH RESOLUTION CONVECTIVE MODELS MOST ACCURATELY DEPICTS THIS EVOLUTION KEEPING CONVECTIVE ELEMENTS PRIMARILY OVER HIGHER TERRAIN FEATURES INTO EARLY EVENING BEFORE DISSIPATING ACTIVITY WITH LOSS OF DAYTIME HEATING. DAMPENED WEAK RIDGING/QUASI-ZONAL FLOW WILL BECOME ESTABLISHED OVER SWRN CONUS WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY WITH H5 HEIGHTS STAY IN A 573- 579DM RANGE. FULL INSOLATION WILL CREATE DEEP BOUNDARY LAYER MIXING WHILE MODEL H8 TEMPERATURES INCREASE TOWARDS 16-19C RANGE BY THURSDAY AFTERNOON. MODEL SPREAD HAS DECREASED SOMEWHAT WITH RECENT MODEL OUTPUT YIELDING BETTER CONFIDENCE IN BEST PERFORMING GUIDANCE PEAKING AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES IN THE MIDDLE 80S TO LOWER 90S. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY... A COLDER PACIFIC WEATHER SYSTEM WILL DESCEND FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST INTO THE REGION FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT. DIFFERENCES AMONG ALL OPERATIONAL AND ENSEMBLE MEMBERS ABOUND WITH LITTLE RUN TO RUN CONSISTENCY...MUCH LESS AGREEMENT ON TRACK AND INTENSITY. ONE MEASURE OF CONSISTENCY IS THE CONTINENTAL TRACK OF THE LOW DROPPING SOUTH OVER GREAT BASIN/ROCKIES...WHICH CONTINUES TO FAVOR SHOWER CHANCES DURING THE DAYLIGHT HOURS OVER HIGHER TERRAIN WITH MUCH OF THE LOWER ELEVATION COMMUNITIES CLEARING. THE LARGEST IMPACT FROM THIS WEATHER SYSTEM WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY BE STRONGER WINDS THROUGH SE CALIFORNIA/WRN ARIZONA. OPERATIONAL GFS WIND ANOMALIES ARE TOWARDS THE STRONGER END OF THE MODEL SPREAD ENVELOPE (NEAR 40KT AT H8)...HOWEVER EVEN THE NAEFS AVERAGE V-WIND H8-H7 ANOMALIES LIE TOWARDS THE SEASONALLY EXTREME THRESHOLD. THUS...THERE IS SUFFICIENT SIGNAL TO START MENTIONING BLOWING DUST POTENTIAL FRIDAY AFTERNOON IN ADDITION TO ELEVATED FIRE DANGER. WHILE TAKING A BLENDED APPROACH TO THE EXTENDED FORECAST...COOLER TEMPERATURES ALSO LOOK TO BE EXTREMELY LIKELY...BUT MOISTURE CONTINUES TO LOOK VERY LIMITED WITH EACH MODEL RUN SO HAVE TRIMMED PRECIPITATION CHANCES BACK TOWARDS MAINLY HIGHER TERRAIN AREAS NORTH AND EAST OF THE PHOENIX METRO. SUNDAY INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK... SUBSTANTIAL ENSEMBLE SPREAD EXISTS DURING THIS PERIOD WITH SOME MEMBERS MORE RAPIDLY EJECTING NEGATIVE HEIGHT ANOMALIES INTO THE PLAINS...WHILE OTHERS LINGER A CLOSED LOW NEAR THE LOCAL REGION THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK. THUS...FORECAST CONFIDENCE DECREASES SOMEWHAT DURING THIS TIME FRAME ALBEIT WITH NUMERICAL GUIDANCE NOT DISPLAYING THE AMOUNT OF SPREAD THAT OTHERWISE WOULD BE ANTICIPATED. && .AVIATION... SOUTH-CENTRAL ARIZONA INCLUDING KPHX...KIWA...AND KSDL... DRIER SUBSIDENT NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT HAS SPREAD INTO THE CENTRAL DESERTS...ALLOWING FOR QUICK DISSIPATION OF THE BOUNDARY LAYER CU THAT FORMED OVER THE CENTRAL DESERTS DURING THE AFTERNOON. WE CAN EXPECT GENLY CLEAR SKIES NEXT 24 HOURS...WITH POSSIBLY SOME HIGH LEVEL CIRRUS SPREADING INTO THE AREA DURING THE DAY TOMORROW. WE MAY SEE A FEW HIGH BASED CU FORM AGAIN IN THE AFTERNOON BUT MORE LIKELY THIS WILL BE CONFINED TO HIGHER TERRAIN AREAS ON THE NRN AND ERN FRINGES OF THE PHOENIX AREA. WINDS SHOULD BE ON THE LIGHT SIDE NEXT 24 HOURS AND FOLLOW NORMAL DIURNAL TENDENCIES. SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA/SOUTHWEST ARIZONA INCLUDING KIPL AND KBLH... MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES AND LIGHT DIURNALLY-DRIVEN WINDS TO PREVAIL THROUGH THE TAF PERIOD. && .FIRE WEATHER... THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY... ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES WILL PERSIST THURSDAY ALONG WITH A SLIGHT DRYING TREND. THEREAFTER...A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL DROP DOWN OUT OF THE NORTHERN ROCKIES TOWARDS THE FOUR CORNERS. BIGGEST IMPACT FROM THIS SYSTEM WILL BE AN INCREASE IN WIND. VERY BREEZY TO WINDY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED EACH AFTERNOON BEGINNING THURSDAY AND CONTINUING THROUGH SATURDAY. ELEVATED FIRE DANGER WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR A FEW HOURS EACH AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY...PARTICULARLY ACROSS THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF SOUTHWESTERN ARIZONA AND SOUTHEASTERN CALIFORNIA. ALTHOUGH THE DRY AIR WILL PERSIST SUNDAY AND INTO NEXT MONDAY...THE THREAT FOR HAZARDOUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL DECREASE AS THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVES EASTWARD AND WINDS SUBSIDE. && .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED. && .PSR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AZ...NONE. CA...NONE. && $$ VISIT US ON FACEBOOK...TWITTER...AND AT WEATHER.GOV/PHOENIX DISCUSSION...CB PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...MO/MEYERS AVIATION...CB FIRE WEATHER...HIRSCH
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
451 PM PDT THU APR 14 2016 .SYNOPSIS....DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL RETURN TO MOST AREAS BY LATE MORNING THURSDAY AND THEN CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEKEND...ALONG WITH A SIGNIFICANT WARMING TREND. COOLING IS THEN EXPECTED MONDAY AND TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK AS AN UPPER TROUGH APPROACHES THE WEST COAST. && .DISCUSSION...AS OF 2:50 PM PDT THURSDAY...IN THE SHORT TERM...A FEW INSTABILITY SHOWERS WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER THE NORTH BAY. THE LATEST HRRR MODEL OUTPUT INDICATES A FEW SHOWERS WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH 23-00Z. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN A FEW SPOTTER REPORTS OF LIGHT RAIN OVER WINDSOR AND SANTA ROSA. EXPECT SHOWER ACTIVITY TO DIMINISH RAPIDLY AS THE SUN SETS. A NOWCAST HAS BEEN ISSUED TO HIGHLIGHT SHOWERS THROUGH 23Z. IN ADDITION TO THE POST FRONTAL SHOWERS...WINDS WILL BE BRISK LATE THIS AFTERNOON WITH COLD ADVECTION UNDERWAY. REST OF THE FORECAST REMAINS MOSTLY UNCHANGED. FOR SEVERAL DAYS NOW...WEATHER MODELS HAVE BEEN ADVERTISING A NICE RIDGE OVER THE REGION FRIDAY INTO THE WEEKEND. AS A RESULT...RAPID WARMING AND DRYING WILL OCCUR. FORECAST 850MB TEMPERATURES ARE FORECAST TO BE 1-2 STD DEVIATIONS ABOVE NORMAL OVER THE WEEKEND. THE WARM AIRMASS WILL TRANSLATE TO DAYTIME HIGHS IN THE 70S AND 80S...INTERIOR POSS LOW 90S ON SUNDAY. SUNDAY APPEARS TO BE THE WARMEST DAY OF THE WEEKEND WITH HIGHS 5 TO 10 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. UPPER LEVEL RIDGE WEAKENS EARLY NEXT WEEK WITH INCREASED ONSHORE FLOW. A COOL DOWN WILL BE NOTICED ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY. LONGER RANGE MODELS DO GENERALLY AGREE THAT THE TAIL END OF AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL APPROACH OUR COAST IN THE TUESDAY TO TUESDAY NIGHT TIME FRAME...BUT RAIN CHANCES PRESENTLY APPEAR MINIMAL AS GENERAL CONSENSUS THAT IT WILL THEN WEAKEN AND LIFT QUICKLY TO THE NORTH- NORTHEAST BEFORE MOVING ONSHORE. && .AVIATION...AS OF 4:51 PM PDT THURSDAY...COOL AIR CONTINUES TO RUSH INTO THE FORECAST AREA THIS EVENING...RESULTING IN GUSTY WESTERLY WINDS AT THE TERMINALS. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO STAY UP THROUGH SUNSET BEFORE DECREASING OVERNIGHT. WITH THE GUSTY WINDS AND COOL AIR IN PLACE DON`T EXPECT ANY LOW CLOUDS TO OCCUR OVERNIGHT OR FRIDAY MORNING. VICINITY OF KSFO...VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO PREVAIL OVER THE NEXT 24 TO 36 HOURS. GUSTY WESTERLY WINDS ARE ANTICIPATED TO STAY UP THROUGH SUNSET BEFORE SLOWLY DECREASING OVERNIGHT. FRIDAY WILL BE ANOTHER BREEZY DAY. CONFIDENCE IS HIGH. SFO BRIDGE APPROACH...SIMILAR TO KSFO. MONTEREY BAY TERMINALS...VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO PREVAIL OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS. ALTHOUGH WINDS WILL DECREASE AFTER SUNSET THEY REMAIN A LITTLE BIT BREEZY OVERNIGHT. CONFIDENCE IS HIGH. && .MARINE...AS OF 2:52 PM PDT THURSDAY...BREEZY NORTHWEST WINDS WILL PREVAIL TONIGHT AND THROUGH TOMORROW AS HIGH PRESSURE GRADUALLY BUILDS OVER THE COASTAL WATERS. NORTHWESTERLY SWELLS WILL BUILD THROUGH TONIGHT THEN SUBSIDE LATER FRIDAY INTO THE WEEKEND. && .MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... .TNGT...HIGH SURF ADVISORY...ENTIRE COAST FROM SONOMA COUNTY SOUTH TO MONTEREY COUNTY SCA...PIGEON PT TO PT PINOS 0-10 NM SCA...PT ARENA TO PIGEON PT 10-60 NM SCA...PIGEON PT TO PT PIEDRAS BLANCAS 10-60 NM SCA...PT ARENA TO PT REYES 0-10 NM SCA...PT PINOS TO PT PIEDRAS BLANCAS 0-10 NM SCA...PT REYES TO PIGEON PT 0-10 NM SCA...ROUGH BAR ADVISORY FOR SF BAR SCA...MRY BAY && $$ PUBLIC FORECAST: MM AVIATION: LARRY MARINE: DRP VISIT US AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/SANFRANCISCO FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AT: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/NWSBAYAREA WWW.TWITTER.COM/NWSBAYAREA
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS TALLAHASSEE FL
621 PM EDT WED APR 13 2016 .Update... Interesting scenario shaping up over the next 24 hours. Water vapor imagery shows a large upper level low spinning over Oklahoma and moving slowly eastward. An upper ridge is actually located to its north, and over the next 24 hours both of these features are forecast to continue to move slowly eastward, eventually forming something similar to a rex block. In the meantime, deep moisture will continue to feed into the local area with west to southwest mean layer flow in the mid to upper levels. However, at the surface, high pressure across the northeast states is nosing southwestward, providing east to northeast surface flow across the area. This is providing an extra boundary to promote lift and enhance the rainfall potential across the area. The radar echoes this evening have actually been exhibiting some warm rain type features with shallow convection and 50+ dbz values occurring near and below the freezing level (low echo centroid). As we head deeper into the evening hours and overnight, some of our local hi-res guidance as well as some HRRR runs have shown the potential for this slow moving, shallow convection to produce some localized excessive rainfall amounts. Given the still relatively saturated conditions across southeast Alabama and the eastern Florida panhandle, the flash flood watch was issued earlier and will continue into the overnight hours. Based on the latest radar trends and dual-pol rainfall rates, the watch has been expanded eastward some to include Tallahassee and Albany overnight. && .Aviation... [Through 00z Friday] A large area of rain will continue to move into the region overnight. Northeasterly surface winds will continue into Thursday. MVFR to IFR ceilings are expected overnight and into Thursday as well with areas of rain persisting. && .Prev Discussion [352 PM EDT]... .Near Term [Through Tonight]... Large MCS is continuing to approach the western border of the forecast area this afternoon. At the same time, high pressure nosing down the lee of the Appalachians is pushing a backdoor cold front into the northeastern portion of the forecast area. The upper divergence associated with the MCS/shortwave is forecast to overspread the forecast area overnight. With low-level convergence likely to be enhanced in the vicinity of the backdoor front, there remains the potential for a corridor of heavy rain overnight. Several of the available hi-res models show the best potential for heavy rain stretching from Tallahassee into SE Alabama. In this area, could see a widespread 2 to 3 inches with isolated higher amounts. Given the fairly we soils from recent rains and stronger returns beginning to appear on radar, will go ahead with a Flash Flood Watch for SE Alabama and portions of the eastern Panhandle. .Short Term [Thursday Through Friday Night]... An upper level low will slowly move eastward from the Lower Mississippi River Valley to the southeast Georgia coast by 12z Saturday. Deep layer moisture, abundant short wave energy as well as a surface front in close proximity will keep cloudy and wet conditions through the period. The front will mostly lay west to east across or just south of our coastal waters as the wedge of high pressure extending down from the mid-Atlantic region becomes firmly established. With the overrunning setup, a few elevated thunderstorms are possible mainly near the Florida coast. Some of the rain may be heavy at times and will monitor for the possibility of extending the Flash Flood Watch further east. Daytime temps will generally be cooler than normal with lower to mid 60s north and around 70 to the lower 70s for all but Dixie County (mid to upper 70s). Lows will mostly be in the 50s. .Long Term [Saturday Through Wednesday]... A much drier pattern returns for the weekend and early next week as deep layer ridging builds over the region. A cold front will drop down from the north all the way to the Gulf coast on Wednesday and bring with it a low end chance for rain. Max temps will gradually warm to the lower 80s by Monday with lows mostly in the in the mid 50s to around 60s. .Marine... Light to occasionally moderate easterly winds will gradually increase to cautionary levels Thursday night and to advisory levels by Friday night. Saturday night winds will increase to 20 to 25 knots with higher gusts and seas will build to 4 to 6 feet. .Fire Weather... Rain chances will be elevated through Friday. On Saturday, drier air will move in and stay in place for several days. Daytime dispersion values could stay below 20 today and tomorrow. .Hydrology... Currently the only river in flood stage is the Apalachicola River at Blountstown. It is forecast to drop below flood stage late this afternoon. Rain chances are elevated through Friday. Rain totals through Friday are expected to be in the 1 to 2.5 inch range for the most part with isolated higher amounts likely. Flooding issues are not expected at this time but many rivers are still high from the last big rain event and should be monitored closely. && .Preliminary Point Temps/PoPs... Tallahassee 63 71 56 71 57 / 80 60 60 50 30 Panama City 65 69 58 70 58 / 80 70 60 40 30 Dothan 60 64 52 64 53 / 90 80 60 50 30 Albany 58 65 51 63 52 / 80 80 60 50 40 Valdosta 61 68 54 68 56 / 60 70 60 60 30 Cross City 64 75 60 77 61 / 70 50 40 50 30 Apalachicola 65 71 60 71 60 / 70 50 60 40 30 && .TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...Flash Flood Watch through Thursday morning FOR Calhoun-Central Walton-Coastal Bay-Gadsden-Holmes-Inland Bay-Inland Jefferson-Jackson-Leon-Liberty-North Walton-South Walton- Washington. GA...Flash Flood Watch through Thursday morning FOR Baker-Calhoun- Clay-Colquitt-Decatur-Dougherty-Early-Grady-Lee-Miller- Mitchell-Quitman-Randolph-Seminole-Terrell-Thomas-Worth. AL...Flash Flood Watch through Thursday morning FOR Coffee-Dale- Geneva-Henry-Houston. GM...NONE. && $$ UPDATE...DVD NEAR TERM...CAMP SHORT TERM...BARRY LONG TERM...BARRY AVIATION...DVD MARINE...BARRY FIRE WEATHER...DVD HYDROLOGY...MCDERMOTT
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS CHARLESTON SC
1046 PM EDT THU APR 14 2016 .SYNOPSIS... A STRONG HIGH PRESSURE WEDGE WILL PREVAIL ACROSS THE AREA INTO THE WEEKEND...WHILE AN UPPER LEVEL LOW SLOWLY MOVES ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST. NEXT WEEK...THE UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL MOVE AWAY...AND HIGH PRESSURE WILL SHIFT OVER THE REGION. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM FRIDAY MORNING/... A DRY WEDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE CONTINUES TO RIDGE DOWN THE EASTERN SEABOARD TONIGHT WHILE AN EXPANSIVE BAROCLINIC ZONE REMAINS OVER SOUTHEAST GA. MESOANALYSIS SHOWS A CONTINUED TIGHT MOISTURE GRADIENT FROM SOUTH TO NORTH WITH PWATS ALONG THE ALTAMAHA RIVER AROUND 1.3" WHILE NORTHERN AREAS ONLY AROUND 0.75". SURFACE LOW PRESSURE WILL STRENGTHEN OFF THE FLORIDA COAST OVERNIGHT. THIS WILL KEEP THE BEST MOISTURE CONVERGENCE OVER THE COASTAL WATERS AND FAR SOUTHERN GA ZONES. FARTHER NORTH...OCCASIONAL PATCHES OF LIGHT RAIN WILL OVERSPREAD BUT LIKELY DISSIPATE AS THEY ENCOUNTER THE CONTINUALLY REINFORCED DRY AIRMASS. ONLY MINOR ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE TO ONGOING POP SCHEME...KEEPING LIKELY TO CATEGORICAL ACROSS FAR SOUTHERN AREAS AND SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER FARTHER NORTH. MODELS SHOW THE GRADIENT TIGHTENING LATER TONIGHT AS THE SURFACE LOW STRENGTHENS OFF THE GA/FL COAST. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL BE ALONG THE EXPOSED BEACHES. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY/... FRIDAY...A STRONG SURFACE WEDGE PATTERN REMAINS ENTRENCHED FROM THE NORTH WHILE A WEAK MID LEVEL LOW PRES AREA OVER THE MID SOUTH REGION SLIDES SE AND FILLS. THE BLOCKING RIDGE OVER THE OHIO VALLEY DOES NOT BUDGE KEEPING THE PATTERN STATIC. IMPRESSIVE MOISTURE GRADIENTS ARE EXPECTED TO EXTEND ACROSS EASTERN SOUTH CAROLINA. MODELS SHOWING HIGHEST 850-500 MB RH VALUES FROM THE SAVANNAH RIVER SOUTHWARD WHERE WE HAVE RETAINED LIKELY POPS. POCKETS OF UPPER FORCING LACK FOCUS AND WE EXPECT PERIODIC RAINS TO BE LIGHT TO MODERATE ACROSS SOUTH GEORGIA. SHOWERS WILL BE MORE ISOLATED/SPORADIC MOVING UP TOWARD THE SANTEE COOPER LAKES REGION EAST TO CENTRAL COASTAL SOUTH CAROLINA...WHERE THE LOWER LEVELS WILL BE DRIER. IT WILL BE BREEZY TO WINDY ON FRIDAY WITH 20-30 MPH WINDS AND HIGHER GUSTS ALONG IMMEDIATE COASTAL ZONES AND FROM SAVANNAH TO THE ALTAMAHA RIVER ENTRANCE. CLOUDS AND SHOWERS SHOULD KEEP TEMPS IN THE 60S DURING THE DAY. FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY...THE UPPER RIDGE TO THE NORTH BEGINS TO SUPPRESS DEEPER MOISTURE SOUTH OF THE FORECAST AREA WHILE THE STRONG SURFACE HIGH TO THE NORTH REMAINS THE MAIN SYNOPTIC FEATURE. WE CONTINUE TO TAPER POPS OFF ACROSS SE GEORGIA THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS ON SATURDAY AS SUBSIDENCE BUILDS OVER THE REGION. REMNANT LIGHT SHOWERS MAY REMAIN ALONG THE COAST THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. NE WINDS AND BREEZY CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE ON SATURDAY WITH CLEARING INTO THE AFTERNOON. SUNDAY...THE INFLUENCE OF THE RIDGE WILL TAKE FULL HOLD WITH SUNSHINE RETURNING FOR ALL AREAS. EXPECT LIGHTER NE WINDS...AND WARMER TEMPS IN THE MID 70S. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... AN UPPER RIDGE WILL CONTINUE OVER THE REGION EARLY NEXT WEEK THEN GRADUALLY FLATTEN BY MID WEEK AS THE LARGE MID LEVEL CUT-OFF LOW PRES OVER THE WESTERN ATLC FINALLY GETS KICKED OUT BY A DIGGING UPPER TROUGH OVER THE NE U.S. AND SE CANADA. SURFACE HIGH PRES WILL REMAIN THE DOMINATE WEATHER FEATURE FOR THE AREA WITH MAINLY DRY WEATHER EXPECTED THE FIRST HALF OF THE UPCOMING WEEK. TEMPS WILL GENERALLY BE AT OR ABOVE CLIMO WITH HIGHS WARMING TO AT LEAST THE LOWER 80S BY TUESDAY. THESE WARMER READINGS MAY BE TEMPERED BY A POTENTIAL BACK DOOR COLD FRONT DURING MID WEEK TIME PERIOD. && .AVIATION /03Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... KCHS...EXPECT VFR FOR THE BRUNT OF THE 00Z TAF PERIOD. FAIRLY DRY AIR FROM PARENT HIGH PRESSURE WILL SUPPRESS MOST OF THE PRECIPITATION AND LOW CLOUDS TO AREAS JUST SOUTH OF THE TERMINAL. CANNOT RULE OUT A FEW PATCHES OF LIGHT RAIN OVERNIGHT BUT NOT WORTH MENTIONING AT THIS TIME. STRONG NORTHEAST WINDS WILL DEVELOP ON FRIDAY WITH SOME GUSTS APPROACHING 25 KT AS THE PRESSURE GRADIENT TIGHTENS. KSAV...LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN WILL SPREAD IN FROM THE SOUTHWEST OVERNIGHT...ALONG WITH MVFR CEILINGS. GIVEN THAT DEEPER MOISTURE EXISTS ACROSS SOUTHEAST GA AND THE BEST ASCENT WILL BE FOUND IN THIS AREA...A FAIRLY EXTENSIVE PERIOD OF MVFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED. WE MAINTAINED VFR VSBYS THOUGH THE PRECIPITATION COULD OCCASIONALLY DROP VSBYS TO 5 SM OR LOWER. NUMERICAL MODELS ARE SHOWING POTENTIAL FOR IFR CEILINGS OVERNIGHT. MODEL SOUNDINGS LESS SUPPORTIVE AND THE NUMERICAL GUIDANCE HAS BEEN TOO AGGRESSIVE WITH IFR CEILINGS AS OF LATE SO WE SHOW NO LOWER THAN MVFR. SIMILAR TO KCHS...GUSTY NE WINDS DEVELOP ON FRIDAY WITH SUSTAINED SPEEDS APPROACHING 20 KT. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...AN UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL IMPACT THE REGION THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY. FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS ARE EXPECTED AT KSAV THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT WHILE PERIODS OF FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS ARE POSSIBLE AT KCHS DURING THIS PERIOD. && .MARINE... TONIGHT...THE GRADIENT REMAINS FAIRLY TIGHT ACROSS THE WATERS ESPECIALLY SOUTH OF EDISTO BEACH SC. AS LOW PRESSURE STRENGTHENS OFF THE GA/FL COAST OVERNIGHT...THE TIGHTEST GRADIENT WILL EXIST WITHIN 20 NM. WITHOUT THE DATA FROM BUOY 41008 WHICH REMAINS OUT OF SERVICE...IT IS HARD TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER GALE CONDITIONS ARE OCCURRING IN THE AREAS WHERE THE GALE WARNINGS EXIST. AT PRESENT THE GUSTS ARE PROBABLY JUST BELOW 34 KT BASED ON OBS FARTHER NORTH AND THE LATEST HIGH-RES DATA. HOWEVER...THE HRRR AND RUC INDICATE WINDS INCREASING OVERNIGHT SO WE MAINTAINED THE GALES FOR THE WATERS SOUTH OF EDISTO FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHT PERIOD. IN CHARLESTON HARBOR THE WINDS HAVE DROPPED OFF SLIGHTLY NOW THAT THE AFTERNOON SEA BREEZE ENHANCEMENT HAS ENDED. FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHT THE BEST CHANCE FOR 25 KT GUSTS WILL CONTINUE TO BE AT THE HARBOR ENTRANCE WHERE THE BETTER GRADIENT EXISTS. WE HAVE INCLUDED THIS VERBIAGE IN THE LATEST COASTAL WATERS FORECAST. SATURDAY...THIS PERIOD WILL FEATURE HAZARDOUS WINDS/SEAS DUE TO A TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT BETWEEN A STRONG WEDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE AND A SURFACE LOW/TROUGH OVER THE GULF STREAM EAST OF FLORIDA. SOLID SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CONDITIONS ARE CERTAIN INTO THIS WEEKEND. GALES COULD ALSO DEVELOP IN SOME AREAS THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING...BUT FORECAST CONFIDENCE IN THE TIMING AND LOCATION REMAINS TOO LOW TO JUSTIFY ANY WATCHES AT THIS TIME. ON SUNDAY...GRADUAL IMPROVEMENT IS EXPECTED AS HIGH PRESSURE SHIFTS SOUTH TOWARD THE WATERS AND ADVISORIES OVER NEAR SHORE WATERS SHOULD EVENTUALLY COME DOWN LATE IN THE WEEKEND BUT MAY EVENTUALLY NEED TO BE EXTENDED A BIT LONG DURING THE DAY ON SUNDAY...ESPECIALLY ALONG THE GEORGIA COAST. MONDAY AND TUESDAY...MUCH LIGHTER WINDS BUT THERE COULD SOME RESIDUAL ELEVATED SWELL FROM THE LONG FETCH/LONG DURING NE FETCH. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES FOR SEAS FOR GEORGIA WATERS 20-60 NM OFFSHORE COULD LINGER INTO EARLY TUESDAY MORNING. RIP CURRENTS..MODERATE RISK FOR ALL BEACHES FRIDAY. AN ENHANCED RISK OF RIP CURRENTS WILL PERSIST INTO THE WEEKEND...RESULTING FROM MODERATE TO STRONG ONSHORE WINDS AND MAYBE EVENTUALLY SOME SWELL ENERGY ARRIVING AT THE BEACHES. && .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... MODERATE TO STRONG AND PERSISTENT NORTHEAST/EAST WINDS WILL CONTRIBUTE TO ELEVATED TIDES AND INCREASED PROBABILITIES OF BEACH EROSION INTO THE WEEKEND. DESPITE DEPARTURES AS GREAT AS 1.0-2.0 FT MLLW ABOVE THE PREDICTED ASTRONOMICAL TIDES...HIGH TIDE LEVELS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN BELOW COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY THRESHOLDS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO ASSESS TIDAL DEPARTURE TRENDS. && .CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...NONE. SC...NONE. MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 5 PM EDT SATURDAY FOR AMZ330. GALE WARNING UNTIL 8 AM EDT FRIDAY FOR AMZ352-354-374. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 5 AM EDT SUNDAY FOR AMZ350. && $$ SYNOPSIS... NEAR TERM...JRL SHORT TERM... LONG TERM... AVIATION...JRL MARINE...JRL TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS COLUMBIA SC
555 PM EDT WED APR 13 2016 .SYNOPSIS... HIGH PRESSURE WILL WEDGE INTO THE FORECAST AREA FROM THE NORTH THROUGH SATURDAY. A FRONT WILL BE STALLED JUST SOUTH OF THE AREA. IT WILL BE COOL WITH POSSIBLE SHOWERS...MAINLY FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT AND IN THE SOUTH SECTION OF THE FORECAST AREA. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM THURSDAY MORNING/... HIGH PRESSURE RIDGING INTO THE FORECAST AREA FROM THE NORTH WILL CONTINUE TO DOMINATE. SATELLITE TRENDS INDICATED AN INCREASE IN MOISTURE WILL OCCUR AHEAD OF A MID-LEVEL SHORTWAVE TROUGH. THE MODELS SHOWED WEAK ISENTROPIC LIFT DEVELOPING MAINLY IN THE SOUTH PART. LATEST REGIONAL RADAR COMPOSITE INDICATING AN AREA OF LIGHT TO MODERATE SHOWERS OVER SW GA AND THE FL PANHANDLE SLOWLY MOVING TO THE EAST. THE 13Z HRRR DISPLAYED RAIN REACHING THE CSRA TOWARD SUNRISE. THE 12Z ARW AND SPC WRF KEPT THE RAIN SUPPRESSED SOUTH OF THE AREA. THE MAV AND MET MOS PLUS SREF MEAN SUPPORTED CHANCE POPS IN THE SOUTH PART LATE AND WE LEANED TOWARD THAT GUIDANCE. USED THE GUIDANCE CONSENSUS FOR THE TEMPERATURE FORECAST. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY/... CONSIDERABLE UNCERTAINTY IN THE SHORT TERM PERIOD...ESPECIALLY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...IN TERMS OF SHOWER COVERAGE AND THEREFORE TEMPERATURES WITH LARGE GRADIENTS IN BOTH EXPECTED ACROSS THE AREA. THURSDAY...A CLOSED UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL SLOWLY SHIFT ACROSS THE LOWER/MIDDLE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY AS A WEDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE AT THE SURFACE MAINTAINS A COOL NORTHEAST FLOW ACROSS THE AREA. DEEPENING MOISTURE PROFILES AND STRENGTHENING ISENTROPIC ASCENT COULD SUPPORT ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS ACROSS THE CSRA AND SOUTHERN MIDLANDS...WITH DRIER LOW LEVEL AIR PREVENTING ANY SHOWERS FROM DEVELOPING FARTHER NORTH. TEMPERATURES WILL ONLY REACH HIGHS IN THE LOWER 60S ACROSS SOUTHERN AREAS WHERE THE SHOWER POTENTIAL IS GREATEST...AND MID 60S ACROSS CENTRAL AND NORTHERN AREAS. THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...A DEVELOPING COASTAL TROUGH COMBINED WITH THE PERSISTENT WEDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING FROM THE NORTH WILL RESULT IN A TIGHT SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT ACROSS THE AREA...WITH BREEZY NORTHEAST WINDS AT TIMES. THE FORMATION OF THE COASTAL TROUGH WILL ALLOW THE DEEP LAYERED MOISTURE TO ADVECT NORTHWARD INTO THE AREA. MEANWHILE IN THE UPPER LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE...AN OMEGA BLOCK WILL FORM...HOLDING THE CLOSED LOW JUST TO THE WEST. THE COMBINATION OF ABUNDANT MOISTURE...FORCING FOR ASCENT AHEAD OF THE CLOSED LOW AND ISENTROPIC LIFT WILL RESULT IN UNSETTLED CONDITIONS...WITH SHOWERS LIKELY ACROSS THE CSRA AND A CHANCE OF SHOWERS JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE ELSE ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA. NIGHTTIME LOWS WILL BE IN THE 40S...BUT DAYTIME HIGHS ON FRIDAY COULD RANGE FROM THE MID AND UPPER 50S IN THE CSRA AND LOWER MIDLANDS TO THE LOWER AND MID 60S ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN MIDLANDS. SATURDAY...THE UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL WEAKEN AND SHIFT SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST OF THE AREA...WHILE AT THE SURFACE THE CENTER OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL SHIFT SOUTH INTO THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION AND SHUNT THE DEEPEST MOISTURE OUT OF THE AREA. ANY LINGERING ISOLATED SHOWERS ACROSS THE CSRA SHOULD TAPER OFF IN THE MORNING...WITH CLEARING SKIES IN THE AFTERNOON. THE NORTHEAST FLOW WILL KEEP COOL TEMPERATURES IN PLACE HOWEVER...WITH HIGHS GENERALLY IN THE MID 60S. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... UPPER LEVEL RIDGING WILL STRENGTHEN TO THE WEST AS SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE INITIALLY BUILDS OVER THE REGION THEN SHIFTS INTO THE WESTERN ATLANTIC LATE IN THE PERIOD. STRONG SUBSIDENCE AND A LACK OF DEEP MOISTURE WILL RESULT IN RAIN-FREE CONDITIONS. TEMPERATURES WILL ALSO WARM THROUGH THE PERIOD...RISING ABOVE NORMAL BY EARLY NEXT WEEK. && .AVIATION /22Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... THE COLD FRONT HAS PUSHED SOUTH OF THE FORECAST AREA. LINGERING MVFR STRATOCUMULUS WAS OCCURRING JUST BEHIND THE FRONT. IT WILL ALSO BREEZY WITH NORTHEAST WIND GUSTS 15 TO 20 KNOTS. DRY AIR ADVECTION WITH HEATING AND MIXING SHOULD HELP RAISE CEILINGS TODAY. USED THE GFS LAMP FOR THE TIMING OF MAINLY VFR CONDITIONS. THE FRONT WILL BE STALLED SOUTH OF THE AREA THROUGH TONIGHT. A DEVELOPING ONSHORE FLOW AND MOISTURE INCREASE AHEAD OF A MID- LEVEL SHORTWAVE TROUGH SHOULD BRING THICKENING CLOUDINESS MAINLY AT THE SOUTHERN TERMINALS OF AGS AND DNL. SOME OF THE GUIDANCE INDICATED MVFR CEILINGS DEVELOPING LATE TONIGHT. WE LEANED TOWARD THE GFS MOS AND SREF MEAN AND MAINTAINED VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH TONIGHT. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...A FRONT WILL REMAIN JUST SOUTH OF THE AREA THROUGH SATURDAY. MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONT MAY LEAD TO MVFR OR IFR CONDITIONS MAINLY AT THE SOUTHERN TERMINALS OF AGS...DNL...AND OGB ESPECIALLY THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. && .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...NONE. SC...NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS COLUMBIA SC
249 PM EDT WED APR 13 2016 .SYNOPSIS... HIGH PRESSURE WILL WEDGE INTO THE FORECAST AREA FROM THE NORTH THROUGH SATURDAY. A FRONT WILL BE STALLED JUST SOUTH OF THE AREA. IT WILL BE COOL WITH POSSIBLE SHOWERS...MAINLY FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT AND IN THE SOUTH SECTION OF THE FORECAST AREA. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... THIS AFTERNOON...THE COLD FRONT HAS PUSHED SOUTH OF THE FORECAST AREA. LINGERING STRATOCUMULUS WAS OCCURRING JUST BEHIND THE FRONT IN THE SOUTH PART OF THE AREA. IT WAS ALSO BREEZY WITH NORTHEAST WINDS GUSTING TO AROUND 20 MPH. THE NORTHEAST FLOW AND CLOUDINESS WILL HELP HOLD DOWN TEMPERATURES. EXPECT HIGHS BELOW THE GUIDANCE CONSENSUS. TONIGHT...HIGH PRESSURE RIDGING INTO THE FORECAST AREA FROM THE NORTH WILL CONTINUE TO DOMINATE. SATELLITE TRENDS INDICATED AN INCREASE IN MOISTURE WILL OCCUR AHEAD OF A MID-LEVEL SHORTWAVE TROUGH. THE MODELS SHOWED WEAK ISENTROPIC LIFT DEVELOPING MAINLY IN THE SOUTH PART. THE 13Z HRRR DISPLAYED RAIN REACHING THE CSRA TOWARD SUNRISE. THE 12Z ARW AND SPC WRF KEPT THE RAIN SUPPRESSED SOUTH OF THE AREA. THE MAV AND MET MOS PLUS SREF MEAN SUPPORTED CHANCE POPS IN THE SOUTH PART LATE AND WE LEANED TOWARD THAT GUIDANCE. USED THE GUIDANCE CONSENSUS FOR THE TEMPERATURE FORECAST. && .SHORT TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... CONSIDERABLE UNCERTAINTY IN THE SHORT TERM PERIOD...ESPECIALLY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...IN TERMS OF SHOWER COVERAGE AND THEREFORE TEMPERATURES WITH LARGE GRADIENTS IN BOTH EXPECTED ACROSS THE AREA. THURSDAY...A CLOSED UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL SLOWLY SHIFT ACROSS THE LOWER/MIDDLE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY AS A WEDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE AT THE SURFACE MAINTAINS A COOL NORTHEAST FLOW ACROSS THE AREA. DEEPENING MOISTURE PROFILES AND STRENGTHENING ISENTROPIC ASCENT COULD SUPPORT ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS ACROSS THE CSRA AND SOUTHERN MIDLANDS...WITH DRIER LOW LEVEL AIR PREVENTING ANY SHOWERS FROM DEVELOPING FARTHER NORTH. TEMPERATURES WILL ONLY REACH HIGHS IN THE LOWER 60S ACROSS SOUTHERN AREAS WHERE THE SHOWER POTENTIAL IS GREATEST...AND MID 60S ACROSS CENTRAL AND NORTHERN AREAS. THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...A DEVELOPING COASTAL TROUGH COMBINED WITH THE PERSISTENT WEDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING FROM THE NORTH WILL RESULT IN A TIGHT SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT ACROSS THE AREA...WITH BREEZY NORTHEAST WINDS AT TIMES. THE FORMATION OF THE COASTAL TROUGH WILL ALLOW THE DEEP LAYERED MOISTURE TO ADVECT NORTHWARD INTO THE AREA. MEANWHILE IN THE UPPER LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE...AN OMEGA BLOCK WILL FORM...HOLDING THE CLOSED LOW JUST TO THE WEST. THE COMBINATION OF ABUNDANT MOISTURE...FORCING FOR ASCENT AHEAD OF THE CLOSED LOW AND ISENTROPIC LIFT WILL RESULT IN UNSETTLED CONDITIONS...WITH SHOWERS LIKELY ACROSS THE CSRA AND A CHANCE OF SHOWERS JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE ELSE ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA. NIGHTTIME LOWS WILL BE IN THE 40S...BUT DAYTIME HIGHS ON FRIDAY COULD RANGE FROM THE MID AND UPPER 50S IN THE CSRA AND LOWER MIDLANDS TO THE LOWER AND MID 60S ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN MIDLANDS. SATURDAY...THE UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL WEAKEN AND SHIFT SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST OF THE AREA...WHILE AT THE SURFACE THE CENTER OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL SHIFT SOUTH INTO THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION AND SHUNT THE DEEPEST MOISTURE OUT OF THE AREA. ANY LINGERING ISOLATED SHOWERS ACROSS THE CSRA SHOULD TAPER OFF IN THE MORNING...WITH CLEARING SKIES IN THE AFTERNOON. THE NORTHEAST FLOW WILL KEEP COOL TEMPERATURES IN PLACE HOWEVER...WITH HIGHS GENERALLY IN THE MID 60S. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... UPPER LEVEL RIDGING WILL STRENGHTEN TO THE WEST AS SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE INITIALLY BUILDS OVER THE REGION THEN SHIFTS INTO THE WESTERN ATLANTIC LATE IN THE PERIOD. STRONG SUBSIDENCE AND A LACK OF DEEP MOISTURE WILL RESULT IN RAIN-FREE CONDITIONS. TEMPERATURES WILL ALSO WARM THROUGH THE PERIOD...RISING ABOVE NORMAL BY EARLY NEXT WEEK. && .AVIATION /17Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... THE COLD FRONT HAS PUSHED SOUTH OF THE FORECAST AREA. LINGERING MVFR STRATOCUMULUS WAS OCCURRING JUST BEHIND THE FRONT. IT WILL ALSO BREEZY WITH NORTHEAST WIND GUSTS 15 TO 20 KNOTS. DRY AIR ADVECTION WITH HEATING AND MIXING SHOULD HELP RAISE CEILINGS TODAY. USED THE GFS LAMP FOR THE TIMING OF MAINLY VFR CONDITIONS. THE FRONT WILL BE STALLED SOUTH OF THE AREA THROUGH TONIGHT. A DEVELOPING ONSHORE FLOW AND MOISTURE INCREASE AHEAD OF A MID- LEVEL SHORTWAVE TROUGH SHOULD BRING THICKENING CLOUDINESS MAINLY AT THE SOUTHERN TERMINALS OF AGS AND DNL. SOME OF THE GUIDANCE INDICATED MVFR CEILINGS DEVELOPING LATE TONIGHT. WE LEANED TOWARD THE GFS MOS AND SREF MEAN AND MAINTAINED VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH TONIGHT. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...A FRONT WILL REMAIN JUST SOUTH OF THE AREA THROUGH SATURDAY. MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONT MAY LEAD TO MVFR OR IFR CONDITIONS MAINLY AT THE SOUTHERN TERMINALS OF AGS...DNL...AND OGB ESPECIALLY THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. && .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...NONE. SC...NONE. && $$ SYNOPSIS...99 NEAR TERM...99 SHORT TERM...99 LONG TERM...99 AVIATION...99
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS COLUMBIA SC
122 PM EDT WED APR 13 2016 .SYNOPSIS... HIGH PRESSURE WILL WEDGE INTO THE FORECAST AREA FROM THE NORTH THROUGH SATURDAY. A FRONT WILL BE STALLED JUST SOUTH OF THE AREA. IT WILL BE COOL WITH POSSIBLE SHOWERS...MAINLY FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT AND IN THE SOUTH SECTION OF THE FORECAST AREA. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... THIS AFTERNOON...THE COLD FRONT HAS PUSHED SOUTH OF THE FORECAST AREA. LINGERING STRATOCUMULUS WAS OCCURRING JUST BEHIND THE FRONT IN THE SOUTH PART OF THE AREA. IT WAS ALSO BREEZY WITH NORTHEAST WINDS GUSTING TO AROUND 20 MPH. THE NORTHEAST FLOW AND CLOUDINESS WILL HELP HOLD DOWN TEMPERATURES. EXPECT HIGHS BELOW THE GUIDANCE CONSENSUS. TONIGHT...HIGH PRESSURE RIDGING INTO THE FORECAST AREA FROM THE NORTH WILL CONTINUE TO DOMINATE. SATELLITE TRENDS INDICATED AN INCREASE IN MOISTURE WILL OCCUR AHEAD OF A MID-LEVEL SHORTWAVE TROUGH. THE MODELS SHOWED WEAK ISENTROPIC LIFT DEVELOPING MAINLY IN THE SOUTH PART. THE 13Z HRRR DISPLAYED RAIN REACHING THE CSRA TOWARD SUNRISE. THE 12Z ARW AND SPC WRF KEPT THE RAIN SUPPRESSED SOUTH OF THE AREA. THE MAV AND MET MOS PLUS SREF MEAN SUPPORTED CHANCE POPS IN THE SOUTH PART LATE AND WE LEANED TOWARD THAT GUIDANCE. USED THE GUIDANCE CONSENSUS FOR THE TEMPERATURE FORECAST. && .SHORT TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... A CLOSED UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL MOVE FROM THE CENTRAL PLAINS TOWARD THE GULF COAST REGION BY FRIDAY. WEAK RIDGE ALOFT OVER THE CAROLINAS EARLY IN THE PERIOD. MODELS SUGGEST INCREASING EAST LOW-LEVEL FLOW AND ISENTROPIC LIFT DEVELOPING LATE THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY ALONG WITH A DEFINED COASTAL SURFACE TROUGH. THE STRONGEST MOISTURE FLUX APPEARS TO BE ACROSS THE CSRA DURING THE PERIOD. LOW LEVEL DRY AIR NOTED ACROSS THE NORTH MIDLANDS. MOS POP CONSENSUS INCREASING ESPECIALLY FRIDAY...ALTHOUGH CONSIDERABLE SPREAD REMAINS AND UNCERTAINTY REMAINS BOTH POPS AND TEMPERATURE. BUT FRIDAY APPEARS TO BE THE MOST UNSETTLED DAY OF THE WEEK...ESPECIALLY IN THE CSRA AND SOUTHEAST MIDLANDS...SO RAISED POPS DURING THIS PERIOD. COOL TEMPERATURES DURING THE PERIOD WITH FRIDAY THE COOLEST...WITH 50S FOR MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES OVER THE CSRA AND POSSIBLY THE CENTRAL MIDLANDS. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... UPPER LEVEL LOW PASSING SOUTHEAST OF REGION WITH SURFACE RIDGE BUILDING IN FROM THE NORTH. LIMITED MOISTURE AND FORCING FOR ASCENT LACKING...WILL GO WITH A DRY FORECAST AFTER FRIDAY NIGHT AND THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEKEND. UPPER LEVEL RIDGING WILL THEN BEGIN TO BUILD EARLY NEXT WEEK AS HIGH PRESSURE AT THE SURFACE BECOMES ESTABLISHED OVER THE WESTERN ATLANTIC...SUPPORTING WARMER TEMPERATURES AND RAIN-FREE CONDITIONS. && .AVIATION /17Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... THE COLD FRONT HAS PUSHED SOUTH OF THE FORECAST AREA. WIND GUSTS NEAR 20 KNOTS WERE OCCURRING BEHIND THE FRONT. DRY AIR ADVECTION PLUS HEATING AND MIXING HAS RESULTING IN RISING CEILINGS. WIND SHOULD DIMINISH WITH THE LOSS OF HEATING AND LESS MIXING THIS EVENING. EXPECT MAINLY VFR CEILINGS DURING THE TAF PERIOD. HOWEVER...SOME OF THE GUIDANCE HAS INDICATED MVFR CEILINGS DEVELOPING LATE TONIGHT. WE LEANED TOWARD THE SREF MEAN AND MAINTAINED VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH THE TAF PERIOD. THE GFS LAMP AND NAM BUFKIT MOMENTUM TRANSFER TOOL SUGGESTED WIND GUSTS NEAR 20 KNOTS AGAIN DURING THE DAY THURSDAY. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...A FRONT WILL REMAIN JUST SOUTH OF THE AREA THROUGH SATURDAY. MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONT MAY LEAD TO MVFR OR IFR CONDITIONS MAINLY AT THE SOUTHERN TERMINALS OF AGS...DNL...AND OGB ESPECIALLY FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT. && .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...NONE. SC...NONE. && $$ SYNOPSIS...99 NEAR TERM...99 SHORT TERM...99 LONG TERM...99 AVIATION...99
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NWS POCATELLO ID
937 AM MDT WED APR 13 2016 .UPDATE...WE`VE UPDATED THE FORECAST BASED ON CURRENT TRENDS AND LATEST MODEL INFORMATION. THE CHANCE OF SHOWERS/STORMS IS TRENDING DOWNWARD ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS AND MAGIC VALLEY THIS AFTERNOON. THE BIGGEST ADJUSTMENT WAS TO PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST...WHERE SOME IMPRESSIVE 1 AND 6 HOUR AMOUNTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED. A FEW LIGHTNING STRIKES HAVE BEEN NOTED THIS MORNING ALREADY SO WE ADDED BACK IN ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THE REST OF THE DAY. KEYES && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 301 AM MDT WED APR 13 2016/ SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. UPPER WAVE LIFTING AHEAD OF PARENT LOW AND IS TRIGGERING SHOWERS OVER PARTS OF IDAHO THIS MORNING...EVEN PRODUCING SOME LIGHTNING. HRRR PUSHES MOST OF THE SHOWERS OUT OF THE FORECAST AREA BY MID-MORNING...BUT SOME LINGERING SHOWERS SHOULD REMAIN THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. BOTH NAM AND GFS DRY THINGS OUT A BIT TONIGHT...BUT RAMP UP MOISTURE AGAIN THURSDAY MORNING ALONG A COLD FRONT. STRONG QPF FIELD CONTINUES TO HIGHLIGHT THE SOUTHEASTERN HIGHLANDS AS A RESULT OF THE FRONTOGENETICAL FORCING WHILE THE UPPER LOW CONTINUES INTO THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN. GFS IS A BIT SLOWER WITH THE PROGRESSION OF THE UPPER LOW IN COMPARISON WITH THE NAM. MODELS HAVE THEIR DIFFERENCES WITH RESPECT TO THE EVOLUTION OF THE UPPER LOW. GFS SPLITS THE UPPER LOW SUCH THAT SOUTHEAST IDAHO GETS MORE FAVORABLE WRAP-AROUND MOISTURE THROUGHOUT THE DAY FRIDAY WHILE THE NAM PRODUCES LIGHTER PRECIP AROUND THE WEAKER NORTHERN BRANCH OF THE LOW. BOTH NAM AND GFS ARE TRENDING DRIER AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND. HINSBERGER LONG TERM...SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. LOW TRACKING THROUGH THE FOUR CORNERS AREA REMAINS JUST FAR ENOUGH SOUTH AND EAST TO PREVENT WRAP AROUND MOISTURE FROM CIRCULATING BACK INTO SOUTHEAST IDAHO. THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS DEVELOPING AROUND BEAR LAKE. OTHERWISE...TRIMMED BACK POPS FOR MUCH OF OUR AREA AND SLIGHTLY INCREASED AFTERNOON HIGHS. AFTERNOON HIGHS FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY WERE NOT RAISED MUCH OWING TO EXPECTED NORTH TO NORTHEAST SURFACE WINDS. RS AVIATION...THERE IS A SURFACE FRONT THAT PASSES THROUGH KSUN ABOUT 13Z AND KPIH ABOUT 18Z TODAY. A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO FOLLOW IN THE MODELS....THE UPPER LEVEL SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO FAVOR SOME LEE SIDE TROUGHING IN SOUTHWEST MONTANA AND THE ARCO DESERT THROUGH THE DAY. BOTTOM LINE BREEZY UNTIL SUNSET. SOME DRIER AIR AND SUBSIDENCE FOLLOWS THE FRONT WITH SHOWERS ENDING AT KSUN AND KBYI ABOUT 16Z...KIDA AND KPIH ABOUT 18Z. NOT A LOT OF INSTABILITY FOR THUNDERSTORMS...BEST AREA COULD BE ISLAND PARK AND POSSIBLY BEAR LAKE. DID NOT INCLUDE THUNDERSTORMS AT THE TAF SITES. ANOTHER SPOKE OF ENERGY COMES OFF THE EASTERN PACIFIC LOW LATER TONIGHT WITH SHOWERS REDEVELOPING TOWARDS MORNING. RS && .PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS POCATELLO ID
301 AM MDT WED APR 13 2016 .SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. UPPER WAVE LIFTING AHEAD OF PARENT LOW AND IS TRIGGERING SHOWERS OVER PARTS OF IDAHO THIS MORNING...EVEN PRODUCING SOME LIGHTNING. HRRR PUSHES MOST OF THE SHOWERS OUT OF THE FORECAST AREA BY MID-MORNING...BUT SOME LINGERING SHOWERS SHOULD REMAIN THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. BOTH NAM AND GFS DRY THINGS OUT A BIT TONIGHT...BUT RAMP UP MOISTURE AGAIN THURSDAY MORNING ALONG A COLD FRONT. STRONG QPF FIELD CONTINUES TO HIGHLIGHT THE SOUTHEASTERN HIGHLANDS AS A RESULT OF THE FRONTOGENETICAL FORCING WHILE THE UPPER LOW CONTINUES INTO THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN. GFS IS A BIT SLOWER WITH THE PROGRESSION OF THE UPPER LOW IN COMPARISON WITH THE NAM. MODELS HAVE THEIR DIFFERENCES WITH RESPECT TO THE EVOLUTION OF THE UPPER LOW. GFS SPLITS THE UPPER LOW SUCH THAT SOUTHEAST IDAHO GETS MORE FAVORABLE WRAP-AROUND MOISTURE THROUGHOUT THE DAY FRIDAY WHILE THE NAM PRODUCES LIGHTER PRECIP AROUND THE WEAKER NORTHERN BRANCH OF THE LOW. BOTH NAM AND GFS ARE TRENDING DRIER AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND. HINSBERGER .LONG TERM...SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. LOW TRACKING THROUGH THE FOUR CORNERS AREA REMAINS JUST FAR ENOUGH SOUTH AND EAST TO PREVENT WRAP AROUND MOISTURE FROM CIRCULATING BACK INTO SOUTHEAST IDAHO. THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS DEVELOPING AROUND BEAR LAKE. OTHERWISE...TRIMMED BACK POPS FOR MUCH OF OUR AREA AND SLIGHTLY INCREASED AFTERNOON HIGHS. AFTERNOON HIGHS FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY WERE NOT RAISED MUCH OWING TO EXPECTED NORTH TO NORTHEAST SURFACE WINDS. RS && .AVIATION...THERE IS A SURFACE FRONT THAT PASSES THROUGH KSUN ABOUT 13Z AND KPIH ABOUT 18Z TODAY. A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO FOLLOW IN THE MODELS....THE UPPER LEVEL SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO FAVOR SOME LEE SIDE TROUGHING IN SOUTHWEST MONTANA AND THE ARCO DESERT THROUGH THE DAY. BOTTOM LINE BREEZY UNTIL SUNSET. SOME DRIER AIR AND SUBSIDENCE FOLLOWS THE FRONT WITH SHOWERS ENDING AT KSUN AND KBYI ABOUT 16Z...KIDA AND KPIH ABOUT 18Z. NOT A LOT OF INSTABILITY FOR THUNDERSTORMS...BEST AREA COULD BE ISLAND PARK AND POSSIBLY BEAR LAKE. DID NOT INCLUDE THUNDERSTORMS AT THE TAF SITES. ANOTHER SPOKE OF ENERGY COMES OFF THE EASTERN PACIFIC LOW LATER TONIGHT WITH SHOWERS REDEVELOPING TOWARDS MORNING. RS && .PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE, IL
1227 PM CDT WED APR 13 2016 .SHORT TERM... 200 AM CDT THROUGH TONIGHT... SOME SPLENDID WEATHER IS ON TAP FOR THE MIDWEST THROUGH THIS WEEKEND, WITH SOME WARMING GETTING READY TO MAKE IT FEEL A BIT MORE SPRINGLIKE IN THE DAYS TO COME. A COMPACT SHORTWAVE TROUGH WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE SOUTHEAST THROUGH WISCONSIN THIS MORNING...THEN TO THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES LATER THIS AFTERNOON. LOWER LEVEL ISENTROPIC LIFT WITH THIS WAVE FOR LIGHTER PRECIPITATION REMAINS FOCUSED NORTH OF THE WISCONSIN BORDER THROUGH THE DAY...BUT AS IT MOVES THROUGH WE WILL LESS CLEAR BLUE SKY THEN SEEN ON TUESDAY. STILL THESE WILL BE MID AND HIGH CLOUDS AND SHOULD SLOW THE TEMPERATURE CLIMB TOO MUCH. MEANWHILE...A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL MOVE TO THE QUEBEC PROVINCE AND INTO NEW ENGLAND THROUGH TONIGHT. 850-925MB TEMPERATURES WARM SOME 3-4 DEGREES CELSIUS...AND WITH MIXED SUNSHINE SHOULD SUPPORT DAYTIME HIGHS PEAKING 6-8 F OR SO HIGHER THAN TUESDAY...WHICH WILL SUPPORT HIGHS INTO THE MID TO UPPER 50S INLAND...MAYBE A 60 IN OUR SOUTHWEST (NEAR PERU). ONSHORE FLOW WILL BE IN PLACE ALL DAY AT THE LAKE..AND EXPECT THERE TO BE A LAKE BREEZE AGAIN WHICH LIMIT WARMING TO THE MORNING HOURS CLOSER IN THESE LOCATIONS WITH SOME COOLING AS IT MOVES INLAND. OTHER THAN SOME LINGERING HIGH CLOUDINESS FROM THE DEPARTING LOW TONIGHT...THE WARMER START POINT SHOULD KEEP MOST LOCATIONS ABOVE FREEZING TONIGHT. KMD && .LONG TERM... 200 AM CDT THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... THE SURFACE RIDGE WILL REMAIN LARGELY STATIONARY THROUGH FRIDAY. EACH DAY WITH DIFFERENTIAL HEATING LOCALIZED HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE LAKE DUE TO DIFFERENTIAL HEATING WILL SUPPORT AFTERNOON LAKE BREEZE DEVELOPMENT EACH DAY. ALOFT...THE UPPER RIDGE IN THE CENTER OF THE COUNTRY WILL EXPAND EAST THURSDAY THAN EXPAND AND STRENGTHEN FRIDAY AND STRENGTHEN MORE WHILE BACKBUILDING WESTWARD THROUGH THE WEEKEND. MEANWHILE...A CUT OFF LOW WILL CONTINUE TO PASS BY TO OUR SOUTH...AND DEPENDING ON ITS PROXIMITY TO OUR AREA WILL RESULT IN SOME OCCASIONAL CLOUDS OUR WAY FROM THE SOUTHEAST IN A GENERALLY SUNNY PATTERN THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THE LOW LEVEL TEMPERATURE PROFILE CONTINUES ITS GRADUAL WARMING EACH DAY WHICH WILL ALLOW US TO TAG ON SEVERAL DEGREES TO HIGHS EACH DAY. THIS WILL RESULT IN MID TO UPPER 60S ON SATURDAY AND LOW 70S SUNDAY FOR INLAND AREAS. THE ONSHORE PATTERN REMAINS THROUGH THE WEEKEND...BUT EVEN LAKE AREAS WILL MOVE THROUGH THE 50S. DEEP LOW PRESSURE WILL HAVE BUILT INTO THE DESERT SOUTHWEST ON SUNDAY IN THE HIGHLY AMPLIFIED PATTERN OF LATE...WHILE A PORTION OF THE ENERGY WILL GET EMBEDDED IN WESTERLY FLOW IN CANADA. NEXT WEEK WILL FEATURE THE BREAKDOWN OF THE RIDGE AND RETURN THE CHANCES OF RAIN. SOME MODEL GUIDANCE FROM LAST NIGHT`S RUNS WERE SUGGESTING THIS COULD OCCUR AS EARLY AS SUNDAY NIGHT. ON MONDAY THE NORTHERN STREAM ENERGY WILL PASS OVER LAKE MICHIGAN. GUIDANCE IS IN GOOD AGREEMENT IN SENDING A BACKDOOR COLD FRONT SOUTHWARD ON MONDAY...BUT THE EXTENT TO WHICH THIS OCCURS WILL DETERMINE PRECIPITATION TIMING AND COVERAGE. EITHER WAY, EXPECT THERE TO BE A COOL DOWN. THE OPERATIONAL GFS IS A BIT MORE AGGRESSIVE WITH THE PRECIPITATION AND COOLING THAN THE EC/GEM. HAVE HELD ONTO SOME LOWER CHANCE POPS FOR MONDAY AS MOST GUIDANCE HAS RAIN WITH THE FRONT BUT TIMING, AMOUNT, AND EXTENT OF HOW FAR SOUTH IS STILL IN QUESTION. WE THEN HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE ARRIVAL OF THE WESTERN CONUS LOW TO SEE HOW MUCH OF ITS ENERGY REMAINS ONCE IT GETS HERE...WHICH LONG TERM GUIDANCE IS NOT AS EXCITED ABOUT QUITE AS QUICKLY AS IN PREVIOUS RUNS. KMD && .AVIATION... FOR THE 18Z TAFS... OVERALL QUIET WEATHER CONDITIONS EXPECTED AT THE TERMINALS THROUGH THE LATEST TAF PERIOD...WITH A LAKE BREEZE PRESENTING THE MAIN FORECAST CHALLENGE. VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL WITH MAINLY SOME MID AND HIGH LEVEL CLOUDS CLIPPING NORTHERN ILLINOIS. MODEST SOUTHEASTERLY FLOW IS IN PLACE THIS AFTERNOON...AND IT DOES APPEAR THAT A LAKE BREEZE HAS DEVELOPED THOUGH IS NOT VERY WELL DEFINED ON RADAR IMAGERY THIS AFTERNOON. EXPECT PASSAGE THROUGH THE CHICAGO AREA BY THE TIME 18Z TAFS GO INTO EFFECT WITH WINDS SHIFTING FROM THE SOUTHEAST TO THE EAST OR EAST-NORTHEAST AROUND 10 KT. WINDS WILL SETTLE BACK BELOW 10 KT BY LATE AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING AND SHOULD VEER TO THE SOUTHEAST AGAIN THIS EVENING. ANOTHER LAKE BREEZE IS ON TAP FOR THURSDAY. BMD && .MARINE... 225 AM...QUIET WEATHER EXPECTED INTO THIS WEEKEND. HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE EASTERN LAKES REGION WILL MOVE NORTHEAST TO QUEBEC AND NEW ENGLAND TONIGHT AND BECOME STATIONARY THURSDAY. THE GRADIENT MAY TIGHTEN SOME ON THURSDAY AS LOW PRESSURE MOVES NORTH ACROSS THE DAKOTAS. THE HIGH WILL THEN BUILD BACK TO THE SOUTHWEST ACROSS THE EASTERN LAKES AND MID ATLANTIC THIS WEEKEND. A COLD FRONT MAY MOVE SOUTH ACROSS LAKE MICHIGAN NEXT MONDAY AS ANOTHER HIGH BUILDS ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST AND NORTHERN LAKES REGION MONDAY INTO MONDAY NIGHT. CMS && .LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...NONE. IN...NONE. LM...NONE. && $$ VISIT US AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/CHICAGO (ALL LOWERCASE) FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK...TWITTER...AND YOUTUBE AT: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/NWSCHICAGO WWW.TWITTER.COM/NWSCHICAGO WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/NWSCHICAGO
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 1155 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016 .UPDATE... Issued at 929 AM CDT Wed Apr 13 2016 Another sunny morning across the forecast area, but some mid-level clouds are accompanying a shortwave moving through Wisconsin and eastern Iowa. Latest RAP humidity plots for the 850-700mb layer show this largely staying to our north. Some high clouds with convection over the lower Mississippi Valley may brush the far southeast CWA this afternoon, but shouldn`t provide much of an obstacle to the sunshine. Made some minor adjustments to the temperatures, going with highs 60-65 everywhere. Updated zones/grids have been sent. && .SHORT TERM...(Today) ISSUED AT 317 AM CDT Wed Apr 13 2016 08z/3am surface analysis shows ridge of high pressure extending from the eastern Great Lakes to the southern Plains. Beneath the ridge, skies are mostly clear and winds are light across central Illinois with current temperatures mainly in the middle to upper 30s. Abundant sunshine and light E/NE winds will be the rule today as the ridge remains firmly in place. Forecast soundings support mixing up to around 860mb, which will result in afternoon highs in the upper 50s and lower 60s. .LONG TERM...(Tonight through Tuesday) ISSUED AT 317 AM CDT Wed Apr 13 2016 Another chilly night will be on tap tonight, as clear skies and light winds allow low temperatures to bottom out in the middle to upper 30s. As upper ridging builds over the Midwest, temperatures will continue to slowly climb through the end of the week. Warming will be somewhat mitigated by a continued easterly flow around persistent surface ridging, but high temperatures will still climb into the lower 70s by Friday. The only potential fly-in-the- ointment will be an upper low currently over the Texas panhandle. This feature is expected to drift slowly eastward over the next couple of days and perhaps approach southeast Illinois by Thursday night into Friday. 00z Apr 13 models are in good agreement that this feature will stay south of Illinois, but will need to keep an eye on it in case clouds and a few showers spread into the far SE KILX CWA Thursday night. At this point, will maintain a dry forecast. After that, the big question in the extended will be how quickly the upper ridge will break down. Models are still having trouble with the evolution of the upper pattern next week, with the latest runs of the GFS/GEM both showing a strong northern-stream short-wave diving into the Great Lakes and pushing a frontal boundary southward into central Illinois by Monday. ECMWF shows this wave as well, but is a bit slower with the southward progress of the front. Meanwhile, an upper low will remain well to the west across the Rockies/western Plains until the middle of the week. How far south the cold front drops and how quickly the upper low tracks eastward still remain in question. Will include low chance PoPs for showers/thunder Monday into Tuesday, with continued warm temperatures in the upper 60s and lower 70s. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Thursday afternoon) Issued at 1154 AM CDT Wed Apr 13 2016 VFR conditions to continue the next 24 hours, with little in the way of cloud cover. Winds near 10 knots this afternoon expected to subside a bit this evening and become more east-southeast, before increasing again to near 10 knots by late Thursday morning. && .ILX Watches/Warnings/Advisories... NONE. && $$ UPDATE...Geelhart SHORT TERM...Barnes LONG TERM...Barnes AVIATION...Geelhart
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS DES MOINES IA
1200 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 928 PM CDT TUE APR 12 2016 JUDGING FROM UPSTREAM CONDITIONS WITH SCATTERED WEAK CONVECTION JUST WEST OF THE SIOUXLAND AREA...IT HAS BECOME HARDER TO CONTINUE CURRENT DRY FORECAST GOING OVERNIGHT. LATEST RAP ANALYSIS SHOWS FAIRLY STRONG WARM/THETA-E ADVECTION AND THERMODYNAMIC SUPPORT GOING INTO THE EARLY MORNING HOURS. RECENT CONVECTION ALLOWING MODELS SUCH AS THE HOPWRF AND HRRR HAVE SUGGESTED ISOLATED COVERAGE WILL MAINTAIN ITSELF OVER NRN IA INTO EARLY WED MORNING WITH THE RAP ALSO SHOWING PRECIP. THUS HAVE ADDED ISOLATED SHOWER/THUNDERSTORM WORDING OVER NRN IA 06-10Z FOR A START. && .SHORT TERM.../TONIGHT/ ISSUED AT 325 PM CDT TUE APR 12 2016 RATHER QUIET EVENING AND OVERNIGHT ON TAP. ONLY REAL CONCERN WILL BE WHETHER OR NOT LIGHT RAIN CLIPS NORTHERN AND NORTHEAST IOWA OVERNIGHT. THE ASSOCIATED SHORTWAVE IS DEPICTED NICELY ON WATER VAPOR IMAGERY AND IS MOVING SOUTHEAST THROUGH THE EASTERN DAKOTAS. CURRENT RADAR RETURNS IN THOSE AREAS SHOW NO PRECIP REACHING THE GROUND...WHICH I SUSPECT WILL BE THE CASE IN NORTHERN IOWA THIS EVENING WITH DRY LAYER DEPTH AROUND 6 KFT AND BETTER LIFT FURTHER NORTH. OTHERWISE...TEMPERATURES OVERNIGHT WILL BE ON THE MILD SIDE...ESPECIALLY OUT WEST WHERE SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL BE STRONGEST AND PREVENT SIGNIFICANT DECOUPLING. LOWS MAY EVEN NEED TO BE BOOSTED A DEGREE OR TWO OUT WEST THIS EVENING IF WINDS CONTINUE TO BE A COUPLE KTS OVER GUIDANCE AS THEY WERE THROUGH THE DAY. .LONG TERM.../WEDNESDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/ ISSUED AT 325 PM CDT TUE APR 12 2016 VERY LITTLE TO TALK ABOUT THROUGH FRIDAY AS MAIN CONCERN WILL BE TEMPS AND HOW WARM IT WILL GET WITH AN UPPER RIDGE SLOWLY MIGRATING EAST OVER THE CENTRAL PLAINS AND INTO THE GREAT LAKES REGION THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK. THE BIGGEST JUMP IN TEMPS SHOULD BE FROM TODAY INTO WEDNESDAY WHEN SOUTHERLY FLOW BECOMES ESTABLISHED AND HIGHS WARM SOME 10 TO 15 DEGREES FROM TODAYS HIGHS. THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK HIGHS WILL WARM JUST A FEW DEGREES...MAINLY ACROSS THE NORTH...AND REMAIN FAIRLY STEADY IN THE LOWER 70S ACROSS THE REST OF THE FORECAST AREA. BEGINNING SATURDAY A LARGE LOW WILL DEVELOP OVER THE SOUTHERN PLAINS AND INCH INTO THE ROCKIES BUT THE UPPER RIDGE WILL HOLD TOUGH OVER THE GREAT LAKES PUTTING THE WESTERN MOST PORTION OF THE UPPER MIDWEST ON THE FRINGE OF THE TWO SYSTEMS. MOISTURE WILL INCREASE ACROSS FAR WESTERN IOWA AND LOCATIONS WEST BUT FOR THE MOST PART SHOULD STAY WEST OF THE AREA THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING. THE MODELS DIFFER AFTER THAT WITH THE GFS HOLDING THE HIGH STRONGLY IN PLACE OVER THE SOUTHERN PLAINS AND GREAT LAKES WHILE THE EURO SHOVES THE HIGH FURTHER EAST ALLOWING FOR PRECIP TO WORK IT`S WAY MORE INTO IOWA. CONFIDENCE ON THIS IS LOW HOWEVER AND PRECIP CHANCES WERE KEPT IN THE SLIGHT CHANCE TO LOW CHANCE CATEGORIES. FOR MONDAY THE LOW OVER THE ROCKIES BEGINS TO LIFT NORTHEAST AND THIS WILL ACT TO EITHER MOVE OR FLATTEN THE RIDGE AND THUS PRECIP CHANCES LOOK BETTER FROM SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY. && .AVIATION.../FOR THE 06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z WEDNESDAY NIGHT/ ISSUED AT 1200 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016 HIGH CONFIDENCE IN VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH THE PERIOD. DAKOTAS/MN SYSTEM MAY JUST CLIP NRN IA TONIGHT WITH ISOLATED CONVECTION. THUNDER IS POSSIBLE...BUT CONFIDENCE IS NOT THERE FOR INCLUSION AS OF YET. SURFACE WINDS WILL CHANGE LITTLE...REMAINING SLY...BUT A PERIOD OF LLWS IS EXPECTED EARLY THIS MORNING NORTH NEAR KMCW AS WINDS JUST OFF THE SURFACE INCREASE AHEAD OF SD LOW PRESSURE. && .DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && $$ UPDATE...SMALL SHORT TERM...CURTIS LONG TERM...FAB AVIATION...SMALL
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS JACKSON KY
323 PM EDT WED APR 13 2016 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 145 PM EDT WED APR 13 2016 HOURLY GRIDS HAVE BEEN FRESHENED UP BASED ON RECENT TRENDS. THIS LED TO A BIT MORE CLOUD COVER NEAR THE TN BORDER SO MORE OR LESS MOSTLY SUNNY THERE INSTEAD OF SUNNY. OTHERWISE...THE PREVIOUS FORECAST REMAINS ON TRACK WITH THE NORTH AND EAST GENERALLY DRIEST. UPDATE ISSUED AT 938 AM EDT WED APR 13 2016 TEMPERATURES HAVE RISEN ABOVE FREEZING IN ALL LOCATIONS ENDING THE THREAT FOR FROST. THUS THE FROST ADVISORY WAS CANCELLED AROUND 9 AM EDT. OTHERWISE...THE PREVIOUS FORECAST APPEARS TO BE ON TRACK WITH MOSTLY SUNNY TO SUNNY SKIES ANTICIPATED AS HIGH PRESSURE WILL DOMINATE. TEMPERATURES WILL MODERATE TO NEAR NORMAL FOR MID APRIL TODAY. WINDS WILL BE LIGHT WITH THE HIGH IN PLACE...BUT THE AIRMASS IN PLACE UNDER HIGH PRESSURE IS DRY. PW IS GENERALLY IN THE 0.20 TO 0.25 INCH RANGE AND ANALYSIS OF REGIONAL 12Z RAOB DATA SUGGESTS THAT NORTHEAST TO EASTERLY FLOW AND MIXING TODAY SHOULD KEEP THE AIRMASS DRY. NORTHERN AND EASTERN LOCATIONS MAY EXPERIENCE DEWPOINTS LOWER THAN THE PREVIOUS FORECAST. MODEL BLENDS HAVE BEEN TOO HIGH FOR AFTERNOON DEWPOINTS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THIS SPRING AND THE MAV MOS...AS WELL AS RAW SFC DEWPOINTS FROM 6Z ON THE NAM AND GFS SEEM TOO HIGH AS WELL AND PROBABLY ARE BUMPING UP THE BLENDS TOO MUCH. THE 0Z MET NUMBERS ARE MORE REALISTIC WHEN COMPARED TO FORECAST AND OBSERVED SOUNDINGS...WITH THE RECENT HRRR AND RAP EVEN A BIT DRIER. HUMIDITIES SHOULD BOTTOM OUT AROUND 25 PERCENT OR LOWER IN MANY LOCATIONS THIS AFTERNOON...BUT AS ALREADY NOTED WINDS WILL BE LIGHT. UPDATE ISSUED AT 652 AM EDT WED APR 13 2016 QUIET NIGHT OVERNIGHT...WITH CONTINUED LIGHT WINDS AND CLEAR SKIES. MAIN UPDATE WAS TO TWEAK THE NEAR TERM TEMPERATURE FORECAST SO THAT IT MATCHED UP WITH THE ONGOING CONDITIONS. THIS RESULTED IN SOME LOWERING OF THE OVERNIGHT LOWS...MAINLY IN THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE CWA...WITH SLIGHTLY HIGHER VALUES IN THE FAR WEST. TWEAKED THE DIURNAL CURVE A BIT AS WELL TO BETTER REFLECT THE CHANGE IN TEMPERATURES OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS BASED ON THESE LOWER VALUES. ALL CHANGES HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED AND SENT TO NDFD/WEB. NO FORECAST PACKAGE UPDATES WILL BE NEEDED AT THIS TIME. NPW WAS UPDATED TO REMOVE OVERNIGHT WORDING...BUT OTHERWISE IS IN GOOD SHAPE UNTIL EXPIRATION AT 13Z. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY) ISSUED AT 327 AM EDT WED APR 13 2016 DESPITE AN AMPLIFYING SHORTWAVE TRAVELING SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES REGION TODAY...SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN STRONG ENOUGH TO MITIGATE ANY AFFECTS ACROSS OUR REGION. THIS HIGH IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE ON ITS TRACK EASTWARD AND FARTHER AWAY FROM THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY THROUGHOUT THE DAY...HOWEVER WE SHOULD KEEP DRY AND LIGHT NE FLOW ACROSS THE REGION AS A RESULT. ABUNDANT SUNSHINE WILL PROMOTE TEMPERATURES INTO THE 60S ACROSS THE CWA...WITH MUCH OF THE AREA IN THE MID AND UPPER 60S. TONIGHT...CONTINUED CLEAR CONDITIONS AND GENERALLY LIGHT WINDS NEAR THE SURFACE WILL PROMOTE ANOTHER GOOD RIDGE VALLEY SPLIT IN TEMPERATURES. HOWEVER...GIVEN THE WARMER DAYTIME TEMPERATURES TODAY COMPARED TO THAT OF YESTERDAY...THIS SHOULD KEEP NIGHTTIME TEMP- FALLS FROM DROPPING BELOW FREEZING. CAN/T RULE OUT SOME CONTINUED UPPER 30S AND LOW 40S HOWEVER...SO STILL QUITE CHILLY. FOR THURSDAY...WHILE MUCH OF THE REGION WILL REMAIN IN AN OVERALL SUBTLE UPPER LEVEL RIDGING PATTERN...WE CONTINUE TO MONITOR A STRONG CLOSED LOW WHICH WILL BE LOCATED ACROSS OKLAHOMA THIS AFTERNOON...AND ARKANSAS AND SOUTHERN MISSOURI BY OVERNIGHT. THIS LOW WILL VERY SLOWLY EDGE FURTHER EASTWARD THROUGHOUT THE DAY THURSDAY AS WELL. AS IT DOES SO...EXPECT SOME AMOUNT OF MOISTURE TO BE PULLED INTO THE REGION...MAINLY IN THE SOUTH WHERE EASTERLY WINDS WILL LIKELY FEED OFF MOISTURE FROM THE ATLANTIC SEABOARD. THE TRACK OF THIS LOW IS SLIGHTLY FARTHER NORTH THAN PREVIOUS DAY RUNS...WHICH WOULD ALSO PROMOTE BETTER MOISTURE ADVECTION INTO THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE CWA. THIS...COMBINED WITH DAYTIME HEATING MAY PROMOTE SOME LIGHT SHOWER ACTIVITY ALONG THE TN BORDER DURING THE AFTERNOON THURSDAY...SOMETHING WHICH BOTH THE ECMWF/GFS...AND TO A LESSER EXTENT...THE NAM12 ALL SUPPORT. IMPACTS AND QPF SHOULD BE MINIMAL AT BEST...BUT DID GO AHEAD AND ADD IN SOME LOW END POPS ACROSS THE SOUTHERN BORDER BETWEEN 16 THURSDAY AND 0Z FRIDAY. .LONG TERM...(FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY) ISSUED AT 323 PM EDT WED APR 13 2016 AT THE START OF THE EXTENDED PERIOD...A LOW WILL BE SKIRTING BY TO OUR SOUTH UNDERNEATH A DOMINATE AMPLIFIED RIDGE SET UP OVER THE OHIO VALLEY REGION. THIS LOW IS PROGGED TO PUSH OFF OF THE SOUTHEAST COAST BY SATURDAY NIGHT ALLOWING FOR THE UPPER RIDGE TO STRENGTHEN AND EXTEND SOUTHWARD...ENCOMPASSING MOST OF THE EASTERN HALF OF THE CONUS. MEANWHILE...A LARGE CLOSED LOW WILL DOMINATE THE WEATHER OVER THE FOUR CORNERS AREA. THIS CLOSED LOW THEN STARTS TO OPEN UP INTO THE START OF NEXT WEEK WITH ENERGY DRIFTING EAST INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS ON MONDAY. AT THE SAME TIME...A NORTHERN STREAM TROF SWINGS PAST KENTUCKY TO THE NORTHEAST...STRONGER IN THE GFS. THIS MAY HELP TO PULL ENERGY FROM THE WESTERN LOW INTO THE STATE TUESDAY. SENSIBLE WEATHER WILL FEATURE A BOUT OF SEASONABLY MILD TEMPERATURES AND MOSTLY DRY WEATHER FOR THE EXTENDED PORTION OF THE FORECAST. HIGH PRESSURE WILL CONTROL THE WEATHER FOR EASTERN KENTUCKY THROUGH THE WEEKEND AND INTO THE START OF NEXT WEEK. A SMALL THREAT OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL POTENTIALLY DEVELOP AND MOVE INTO THE AREA MONDAY NIGHT/TUESDAY AS A BACKDOOR COLD FRONT PUSHES THROUGH THE CENTRAL APPALACHIANS... IN CONJUNCTION WITH MORE ENERGY MOVING INTO THE REGION ALOFT. HIGH PRESSURE BEGINS BUILDING BACK INTO THE REGION ON WEDNESDAY. MOST OF THIS PERIOD WILL SHOWCASE ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES. SUNDAY AND MONDAY LOOK TO BE THE WARMEST DAYS OF THE PERIOD...WITH AFTERNOON HIGH TEMPERATURES REACHING THE MID AND UPPER 70S. MORNING LOWS WILL REMAIN NEAR OR JUST ABOVE SEASONABLE LEVELS...IN THE UPPER 40S AND LOW 50S. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 200 PM EDT WED APR 13 2016 A STRONG AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE IS LOCATED NE OF THE REGION...AND WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH FARTHER AWAY FROM EASTERN KY THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD. WINDS WILL REMAIN 10KT OR LESS THROUGH THE PERIOD. FEW TO SCT CU IN THE VFR RANGE IN THE LAKE CUMBERLAND REGION MAY AFFECT KSME AND KLOZ DURING THE FIRST 4 TO 6 HOURS OF THE PERIOD. SOME MID OR HIGH CLOUDS MAY AFFECT SME AND LOZ THROUGH THE END OF THE PERIOD... BUT VFR SHOULD PREVAIL AT ALL THE TAF SITES. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FROST ADVISORY FROM 2 AM TO 9 AM EDT THURSDAY FOR KYZ052-104-106- 107-109-110-119-120. && $$ UPDATE...JP SHORT TERM...JMW LONG TERM...JVM/CG AVIATION...JP
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NWS JACKSON KY
210 PM EDT WED APR 13 2016 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 145 PM EDT WED APR 13 2016 HOURLY GRIDS HAVE BEEN FRESHENED UP BASED ON RECENT TRENDS. THIS LED TO A BIT MORE CLOUD COVER NEAR THE TN BORDER SO MORE OR LESS MOSTLY SUNNY THERE INSTEAD OF SUNNY. OTHERWISE...THE PREVIOUS FORECAST REMAINS ON TRACK WITH THE NORTH AND EAST GENERALLY DRIEST. UPDATE ISSUED AT 938 AM EDT WED APR 13 2016 TEMPERATURES HAVE RISEN ABOVE FREEZING IN ALL LOCATIONS ENDING THE THREAT FOR FROST. THUS THE FROST ADVISORY WAS CANCELLED AROUND 9 AM EDT. OTHERWISE...THE PREVIOUS FORECAST APPEARS TO BE ON TRACK WITH MOSTLY SUNNY TO SUNNY SKIES ANTICIPATED AS HIGH PRESSURE WILL DOMINATE. TEMPERATURES WILL MODERATE TO NEAR NORMAL FOR MID APRIL TODAY. WINDS WILL BE LIGHT WITH THE HIGH IN PLACE...BUT THE AIRMASS IN PLACE UNDER HIGH PRESSURE IS DRY. PW IS GENERALLY IN THE 0.20 TO 0.25 INCH RANGE AND ANALYSIS OF REGIONAL 12Z RAOB DATA SUGGESTS THAT NORTHEAST TO EASTERLY FLOW AND MIXING TODAY SHOULD KEEP THE AIRMASS DRY. NORTHERN AND EASTERN LOCATIONS MAY EXPERIENCE DEWPOINTS LOWER THAN THE PREVIOUS FORECAST. MODEL BLENDS HAVE BEEN TOO HIGH FOR AFTERNOON DEWPOINTS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THIS SPRING AND THE MAV MOS...AS WELL AS RAW SFC DEWPOINTS FROM 6Z ON THE NAM AND GFS SEEM TOO HIGH AS WELL AND PROBABLY ARE BUMPING UP THE BLENDS TOO MUCH. THE 0Z MET NUMBERS ARE MORE REALISTIC WHEN COMPARED TO FORECAST AND OBSERVED SOUNDINGS...WITH THE RECENT HRRR AND RAP EVEN A BIT DRIER. HUMIDITIES SHOULD BOTTOM OUT AROUND 25 PERCENT OR LOWER IN MANY LOCATIONS THIS AFTERNOON...BUT AS ALREADY NOTED WINDS WILL BE LIGHT. UPDATE ISSUED AT 652 AM EDT WED APR 13 2016 QUIET NIGHT OVERNIGHT...WITH CONTINUED LIGHT WINDS AND CLEAR SKIES. MAIN UPDATE WAS TO TWEAK THE NEAR TERM TEMPERATURE FORECAST SO THAT IT MATCHED UP WITH THE ONGOING CONDITIONS. THIS RESULTED IN SOME LOWERING OF THE OVERNIGHT LOWS...MAINLY IN THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE CWA...WITH SLIGHTLY HIGHER VALUES IN THE FAR WEST. TWEAKED THE DIURNAL CURVE A BIT AS WELL TO BETTER REFLECT THE CHANGE IN TEMPERATURES OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS BASED ON THESE LOWER VALUES. ALL CHANGES HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED AND SENT TO NDFD/WEB. NO FORECAST PACKAGE UPDATES WILL BE NEEDED AT THIS TIME. NPW WAS UPDATED TO REMOVE OVERNIGHT WORDING...BUT OTHERWISE IS IN GOOD SHAPE UNTIL EXPIRATION AT 13Z. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY) ISSUED AT 327 AM EDT WED APR 13 2016 DESPITE AN AMPLIFYING SHORTWAVE TRAVELING SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES REGION TODAY...SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN STRONG ENOUGH TO MITIGATE ANY AFFECTS ACROSS OUR REGION. THIS HIGH IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE ON ITS TRACK EASTWARD AND FARTHER AWAY FROM THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY THROUGHOUT THE DAY...HOWEVER WE SHOULD KEEP DRY AND LIGHT NE FLOW ACROSS THE REGION AS A RESULT. ABUNDANT SUNSHINE WILL PROMOTE TEMPERATURES INTO THE 60S ACROSS THE CWA...WITH MUCH OF THE AREA IN THE MID AND UPPER 60S. TONIGHT...CONTINUED CLEAR CONDITIONS AND GENERALLY LIGHT WINDS NEAR THE SURFACE WILL PROMOTE ANOTHER GOOD RIDGE VALLEY SPLIT IN TEMPERATURES. HOWEVER...GIVEN THE WARMER DAYTIME TEMPERATURES TODAY COMPARED TO THAT OF YESTERDAY...THIS SHOULD KEEP NIGHTTIME TEMP- FALLS FROM DROPPING BELOW FREEZING. CAN/T RULE OUT SOME CONTINUED UPPER 30S AND LOW 40S HOWEVER...SO STILL QUITE CHILLY. FOR THURSDAY...WHILE MUCH OF THE REGION WILL REMAIN IN AN OVERALL SUBTLE UPPER LEVEL RIDGING PATTERN...WE CONTINUE TO MONITOR A STRONG CLOSED LOW WHICH WILL BE LOCATED ACROSS OKLAHOMA THIS AFTERNOON...AND ARKANSAS AND SOUTHERN MISSOURI BY OVERNIGHT. THIS LOW WILL VERY SLOWLY EDGE FURTHER EASTWARD THROUGHOUT THE DAY THURSDAY AS WELL. AS IT DOES SO...EXPECT SOME AMOUNT OF MOISTURE TO BE PULLED INTO THE REGION...MAINLY IN THE SOUTH WHERE EASTERLY WINDS WILL LIKELY FEED OFF MOISTURE FROM THE ATLANTIC SEABOARD. THE TRACK OF THIS LOW IS SLIGHTLY FARTHER NORTH THAN PREVIOUS DAY RUNS...WHICH WOULD ALSO PROMOTE BETTER MOISTURE ADVECTION INTO THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE CWA. THIS...COMBINED WITH DAYTIME HEATING MAY PROMOTE SOME LIGHT SHOWER ACTIVITY ALONG THE TN BORDER DURING THE AFTERNOON THURSDAY...SOMETHING WHICH BOTH THE ECMWF/GFS...AND TO A LESSER EXTENT...THE NAM12 ALL SUPPORT. IMPACTS AND QPF SHOULD BE MINIMAL AT BEST...BUT DID GO AHEAD AND ADD IN SOME LOW END POPS ACROSS THE SOUTHERN BORDER BETWEEN 16 THURSDAY AND 0Z FRIDAY. .LONG TERM...(THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY) ISSUED AT 345 AM EDT WED APR 13 2016 THE MODELS ARE IN SOMEWHAT BETTER AGREEMENT ALOFT THROUGH THE LONG TERM PORTION OF THE FORECAST. THEY ALL DEPICT A DEVOLVING MINI-REX BLOCK OVER THE TENNESSEE AND SOUTHERN OHIO VALLEY THROUGH THE START OF THE WEEKEND. DURING THIS PROCESS...A WEAK CLOSED LOW OVER WESTERN TENNESSEE AT MID LEVELS WILL SLOWLY FILL WHILE RIDGING BUILDS OVER LAKE ERIE. THIS RIDGING EVENTUALLY EXPANDS ENOUGH TO WIPE OUT THE LOW OVER THE WEEKEND PLACING THE OHIO VALLEY IN THE MIDST OF A BUBBLE OF HIGHER HEIGHTS...THOUGH THERE REMAINS SOME WEAKNESS MANIFESTED BY LINGERING ENERGY TRAPPED IN THE HEART OF THE RIDGE. IN TIME...RIDGING BECOMES DOMINANT THROUGH THE LATTER PART OF THE WEEKEND...PARTIALLY IN RESPONSE TO A DEEP CLOSED LOW TROUGH OVER THE FOUR CORNERS AREA. THE PLACEMENT FOR THIS WESTERN LOW IS SHOWING BETTER CLUSTERING THAN 24 HOURS AGO WITH THE ECMWF ACTUALLY THE WEAKER COMPONENT. THIS LOW THEN STARTS TO OPEN UP INTO THE START OF NEXT WEEK WITH ENERGY DRIFTING EAST INTO THE SOUTHERN PLAINS ON MONDAY. MEANWHILE...A NORTHERN STREAM TROUGH SWINGS PAST KENTUCKY TO THE NORTHEAST...STRONGER IN THE GFS. THIS MAY HELP TO LURE WESTERN ENERGY INTO THE STATE MORE DEFINITIVELY FOR TUESDAY. GIVEN THE BETTER MODEL AGREEMENT HAVE FAVORED A GENERALLY BLEND THROUGH THE PERIOD. SENSIBLE WEATHER WILL FEATURE A BOUT OF SEASONABLY MILD TEMPERATURES AND MOSTLY DRY WEATHER FOR THE EXTENDED PORTION OF THE FORECAST. EARLY ON...A FEW SHOWERS MAY SNEAK INTO FAR SOUTHWEST PARTS OF THE CWA ON FRIDAY AS A WEAK SFC LOW FADES OUT. HIGH PRESSURE OFF TO THE NORTHEAST WILL THEN CONTROL THE WEATHER FOR EASTERN KENTUCKY THROUGH THE WEEKEND AND INTO THE START OF THE NEW WORK WEEK. A SMALL THREAT OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL POTENTIALLY DEVELOP AND MOVE INTO THE AREA MONDAY NIGHT/TUESDAY AS A BACKDOOR COLD FRONT PUSHES THROUGH THE CENTRAL APPALACHIANS... IN CONJUNCTION WITH MORE ENERGY MOVING INTO THE REGION ALOFT. AGAIN ADJUSTED THE GRIDS FROM THE CR INIT MAINLY TO JUST ACCOUNT FOR A SMALL TO MODERATE RIDGE/VALLEY TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE EACH NIGHT. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 200 PM EDT WED APR 13 2016 A STRONG AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE IS LOCATED NE OF THE REGION...AND WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH FARTHER AWAY FROM EASTERN KY THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD. WINDS WILL REMAIN 10KT OR LESS THROUGH THE PERIOD. FEW TO SCT CU IN THE VFR RANGE IN THE LAKE CUMBERLAND REGION MAY AFFECT KSME AND KLOZ DURING THE FIRST 4 TO 6 HOURS OF THE PERIOD. SOME MID OR HIGH CLOUDS MAY AFFECT SME AND LOZ THROUGH THE END OF THE PERIOD... BUT VFR SHOULD PREVAIL AT ALL THE TAF SITES. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ UPDATE...JP SHORT TERM...JMW LONG TERM...GREIF AVIATION...JP
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NWS JACKSON KY
945 AM EDT WED APR 13 2016 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 938 AM EDT WED APR 13 2016 TEMPERATURES HAVE RISEN ABOVE FREEZING IN ALL LOCATIONS ENDING THE THREAT FOR FROST. THUS THE FROST ADVISORY WAS CANCELLED AROUND 9 AM EDT. OTHERWISE...THE PREVIOUS FORECAST APPEARS TO BE ON TRACK WITH MOSTLY SUNNY TO SUNNY SKIES ANTICIPATED AS HIGH PRESSURE WILL DOMINATE. TEMPERATURES WILL MODERATE TO NEAR NORMAL FOR MID APRIL TODAY. WINDS WILL BE LIGHT WITH THE HIGH IN PLACE...BUT THE AIRMASS IN PLACE UNDER HIGH PRESSURE IS DRY. PW IS GENERALLY IN THE 0.20 TO 0.25 INCH RANGE AND ANALYSIS OF REGIONAL 12Z RAOB DATA SUGGESTS THAT NORTHEAST TO EASTERLY FLOW AND MIXING TODAY SHOULD KEEP THE AIRMASS DRY. NORTHERN AND EASTERN LOCATIONS MAY EXPERIENCE DEWPOINTS LOWER THAN THE PREVIOUS FORECAST. MODEL BLENDS HAVE BEEN TOO HIGH FOR AFTERNOON DEWPOINTS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THIS SPRING AND THE MAV MOS...AS WELL AS RAW SFC DEWPOINTS FROM 6Z ON THE NAM AND GFS SEEM TOO HIGH AS WELL AND PROBABLY ARE BUMPING UP THE BLENDS TOO MUCH. THE 0Z MET NUMBERS ARE MORE REALISTIC WHEN COMPARED TO FORECAST AND OBSERVED SOUNDINGS...WITH THE RECENT HRRR AND RAP EVEN A BIT DRIER. HUMIDITIES SHOULD BOTTOM OUT AROUND 25 PERCENT OR LOWER IN MANY LOCATIONS THIS AFTERNOON...BUT AS ALREADY NOTED WINDS WILL BE LIGHT. UPDATE ISSUED AT 652 AM EDT WED APR 13 2016 QUIET NIGHT OVERNIGHT...WITH CONTINUED LIGHT WINDS AND CLEAR SKIES. MAIN UPDATE WAS TO TWEAK THE NEAR TERM TEMPERATURE FORECAST SO THAT IT MATCHED UP WITH THE ONGOING CONDITIONS. THIS RESULTED IN SOME LOWERING OF THE OVERNIGHT LOWS...MAINLY IN THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE CWA...WITH SLIGHTLY HIGHER VALUES IN THE FAR WEST. TWEAKED THE DIURNAL CURVE A BIT AS WELL TO BETTER REFLECT THE CHANGE IN TEMPERATURES OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS BASED ON THESE LOWER VALUES. ALL CHANGES HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED AND SENT TO NDFD/WEB. NO FORECAST PACKAGE UPDATES WILL BE NEEDED AT THIS TIME. NPW WAS UPDATED TO REMOVE OVERNIGHT WORDING...BUT OTHERWISE IS IN GOOD SHAPE UNTIL EXPIRATION AT 13Z. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY) ISSUED AT 327 AM EDT WED APR 13 2016 DESPITE AN AMPLIFYING SHORTWAVE TRAVELING SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES REGION TODAY...SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN STRONG ENOUGH TO MITIGATE ANY AFFECTS ACROSS OUR REGION. THIS HIGH IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE ON ITS TRACK EASTWARD AND FARTHER AWAY FROM THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY THROUGHOUT THE DAY...HOWEVER WE SHOULD KEEP DRY AND LIGHT NE FLOW ACROSS THE REGION AS A RESULT. ABUNDANT SUNSHINE WILL PROMOTE TEMPERATURES INTO THE 60S ACROSS THE CWA...WITH MUCH OF THE AREA IN THE MID AND UPPER 60S. TONIGHT...CONTINUED CLEAR CONDITIONS AND GENERALLY LIGHT WINDS NEAR THE SURFACE WILL PROMOTE ANOTHER GOOD RIDGE VALLEY SPLIT IN TEMPERATURES. HOWEVER...GIVEN THE WARMER DAYTIME TEMPERATURES TODAY COMPARED TO THAT OF YESTERDAY...THIS SHOULD KEEP NIGHTTIME TEMP- FALLS FROM DROPPING BELOW FREEZING. CAN/T RULE OUT SOME CONTINUED UPPER 30S AND LOW 40S HOWEVER...SO STILL QUITE CHILLY. FOR THURSDAY...WHILE MUCH OF THE REGION WILL REMAIN IN AN OVERALL SUBTLE UPPER LEVEL RIDGING PATTERN...WE CONTINUE TO MONITOR A STRONG CLOSED LOW WHICH WILL BE LOCATED ACROSS OKLAHOMA THIS AFTERNOON...AND ARKANSAS AND SOUTHERN MISSOURI BY OVERNIGHT. THIS LOW WILL VERY SLOWLY EDGE FURTHER EASTWARD THROUGHOUT THE DAY THURSDAY AS WELL. AS IT DOES SO...EXPECT SOME AMOUNT OF MOISTURE TO BE PULLED INTO THE REGION...MAINLY IN THE SOUTH WHERE EASTERLY WINDS WILL LIKELY FEED OFF MOISTURE FROM THE ATLANTIC SEABOARD. THE TRACK OF THIS LOW IS SLIGHTLY FARTHER NORTH THAN PREVIOUS DAY RUNS...WHICH WOULD ALSO PROMOTE BETTER MOISTURE ADVECTION INTO THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE CWA. THIS...COMBINED WITH DAYTIME HEATING MAY PROMOTE SOME LIGHT SHOWER ACTIVITY ALONG THE TN BORDER DURING THE AFTERNOON THURSDAY...SOMETHING WHICH BOTH THE ECMWF/GFS...AND TO A LESSER EXTENT...THE NAM12 ALL SUPPORT. IMPACTS AND QPF SHOULD BE MINIMAL AT BEST...BUT DID GO AHEAD AND ADD IN SOME LOW END POPS ACROSS THE SOUTHERN BORDER BETWEEN 16 THURSDAY AND 0Z FRIDAY. .LONG TERM...(THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY) ISSUED AT 345 AM EDT WED APR 13 2016 THE MODELS ARE IN SOMEWHAT BETTER AGREEMENT ALOFT THROUGH THE LONG TERM PORTION OF THE FORECAST. THEY ALL DEPICT A DEVOLVING MINI-REX BLOCK OVER THE TENNESSEE AND SOUTHERN OHIO VALLEY THROUGH THE START OF THE WEEKEND. DURING THIS PROCESS...A WEAK CLOSED LOW OVER WESTERN TENNESSEE AT MID LEVELS WILL SLOWLY FILL WHILE RIDGING BUILDS OVER LAKE ERIE. THIS RIDGING EVENTUALLY EXPANDS ENOUGH TO WIPE OUT THE LOW OVER THE WEEKEND PLACING THE OHIO VALLEY IN THE MIDST OF A BUBBLE OF HIGHER HEIGHTS...THOUGH THERE REMAINS SOME WEAKNESS MANIFESTED BY LINGERING ENERGY TRAPPED IN THE HEART OF THE RIDGE. IN TIME...RIDGING BECOMES DOMINANT THROUGH THE LATTER PART OF THE WEEKEND...PARTIALLY IN RESPONSE TO A DEEP CLOSED LOW TROUGH OVER THE FOUR CORNERS AREA. THE PLACEMENT FOR THIS WESTERN LOW IS SHOWING BETTER CLUSTERING THAN 24 HOURS AGO WITH THE ECMWF ACTUALLY THE WEAKER COMPONENT. THIS LOW THEN STARTS TO OPEN UP INTO THE START OF NEXT WEEK WITH ENERGY DRIFTING EAST INTO THE SOUTHERN PLAINS ON MONDAY. MEANWHILE...A NORTHERN STREAM TROUGH SWINGS PAST KENTUCKY TO THE NORTHEAST...STRONGER IN THE GFS. THIS MAY HELP TO LURE WESTERN ENERGY INTO THE STATE MORE DEFINITIVELY FOR TUESDAY. GIVEN THE BETTER MODEL AGREEMENT HAVE FAVORED A GENERALLY BLEND THROUGH THE PERIOD. SENSIBLE WEATHER WILL FEATURE A BOUT OF SEASONABLY MILD TEMPERATURES AND MOSTLY DRY WEATHER FOR THE EXTENDED PORTION OF THE FORECAST. EARLY ON...A FEW SHOWERS MAY SNEAK INTO FAR SOUTHWEST PARTS OF THE CWA ON FRIDAY AS A WEAK SFC LOW FADES OUT. HIGH PRESSURE OFF TO THE NORTHEAST WILL THEN CONTROL THE WEATHER FOR EASTERN KENTUCKY THROUGH THE WEEKEND AND INTO THE START OF THE NEW WORK WEEK. A SMALL THREAT OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL POTENTIALLY DEVELOP AND MOVE INTO THE AREA MONDAY NIGHT/TUESDAY AS A BACKDOOR COLD FRONT PUSHES THROUGH THE CENTRAL APPALACHIANS... IN CONJUNCTION WITH MORE ENERGY MOVING INTO THE REGION ALOFT. AGAIN ADJUSTED THE GRIDS FROM THE CR INIT MAINLY TO JUST ACCOUNT FOR A SMALL TO MODERATE RIDGE/VALLEY TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE EACH NIGHT. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY MORNING) ISSUED AT 701 AM EDT WED APR 13 2016 A STRONG AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE IS LOCATED NE OF THE REGION...AND WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH FARTHER AWAY FROM EASTERN KY THROUGHOUT THE DAY. HOWEVER...NE WINDS ON THE SW SIDE OF THIS SYSTEM WILL KEEP COOL AND DRY CONDITIONS ACROSS EASTERN KY THROUGH MUCH OF THE TAF PERIOD. WINDS WILL REMAIN GENERALLY 5 KNOTS OR LESS...WITH A FEW GUSTS BETWEEN 15 AND 20 POSSIBLE IN THE AFTERNOON. A NEAR 180 DEGREE WIND SHIFT FROM ERLY TO WRLY IS EXPECTED AROUND 2K TO 4K FT AGL THIS MORNING...BUT MAGNITUDE SHOULD REMAIN AT 10 KNOTS OR LESS. SCT CU AT AROUND 3 OR 5K FEET AGL MAY ALSO BE SEEN NEAR THE TN BORDER DURING THE DAY...MAINLY AFFECTING KSME AND KLOZ...DUE TO AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE APPROACHING FROM OUR SE. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ UPDATE...JP SHORT TERM...JMW LONG TERM...GREIF AVIATION...JMW
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MARQUETTE MI
414 AM EDT WED APR 13 2016 .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY) ISSUED AT 358 PM EDT TUE APR 12 2016 12Z RAOBS/LATEST RAP ANALYSIS AND WV IMAGERY SHOWS NW FLOW ALF BTWN UP RDG OVER THE ROCKIES AND PERSISTENT UPR TROF OVER ERN NAMERICA. A SHRTWV RDG ACCOMPANIED BY 12HR H5 HGT RISES UP TO 130M/SFC HI PRES IS MOVING INTO THE NW GREAT LKS. WITH DRY LLVL AIR SHOWN ON THE 12Z INL RAOB AND MORE ACYC LLVL FLOW...SC THAT PREVAILED ACRS THE CWA EARLIER IS BREAKING UP W-E AND GIVING WAY TO MOSUNNY SKIES DESPITE SOME LINGERING H85 THERMAL TROFFING. LOOKING UPSTREAM...A SHRTWV IS DIGGING THRU SCENTRAL CANADA AND BRINGING MORE MID/HI CLDS INTO MN. MAIN FCST CONCERNS TNGT INTO WED FOCUS ON POPS/SN AMOUNTS ASSOCIATED WITH SHRTWV NOW MOVING THRU THE NRN PLAINS. SHRTWV OVEF SCENTRAL CANADA IS PROGGED TO SLIDE SE TNGT AND REACH WRN UPR MI/WRN WI BY 12Z WED. DPVA/WAA IN ADVANCE OF THIS DISTURBANCE ARE FCST TO OVERSPREAD THE AREA WNW-ESE TNGT. SINCE THE SHORTER TERM GUIDANCE SHOW SHARPER H85 THERMAL GRADIENT REMAINING OVER WI... SHARPEST ISENTROPIC ASCENT BEST SHOWN ON THE 290K SFC AND H65-7 FGEN ARE FCST TO IMPACT THE WI BORDER COUNTIES OF UPR MI CLOSER TO THE WARM FNT. ALTHOUGH NEARLY 3G/KG SPECIFIC HUMIDITY IS FCST AT H75 ALONG THE WI BORDER...MODEL QPF IS NO MORE THAN ABOUT 0.10-0.15 INCH EVEN ALONG THE BORDER AS DYNAMIC FORCING MUST OVERCOME DRY LLVL AIR MOVING INTO THE CWA THIS AFTN. EVEN IF SN/WATER RATIO REACHES 15:1 WITH RATHER HI DGZ CENTERED BTWN 10-13K FT AGL...EXPECT NO MORE THAN 1-2 INCHES OF SN ACCUM ALONG THE WI BORDER IN THE 06-12Z PERIOD WHEN THE MOST SGNFT FORCING IS FCST. EXPECT THE LOWEST MIN TEMPS TNGT OVER THE E...WHERE CLDS WL BE ABSENT/THINNER FOR A LONGER TIME FARTHER FM THE WARM FNT TO THE SW. FCST POPS WL BE NO HIER THAN SCHC OVER THE FAR NE DEEPER INTO DRY AIR/FARTHER FM WARM FNT. AS THE SHRTWV PASSES TO THE SE ON WED...MID LVL SUBSIDENCE/DRYING IN ITS WAKE WL DIMINISH/END LINGERING PCPN BY THE AFTN...WHICH MAY TEND TO MIX WITH/CHANGE TO RA BEFORE ENDING WITH THE ONSET OF DIURNAL HEATING. BUT MODEL FCST SDNGS SUG A GOOD DEAL OF SC WL LINGER IN PERSISTENT WEAKER WAA PATTERN. BEST CHC FOR MORE CLRG WL BE OVER THE W...WHERE THE LLVL SLY FLOW WL DOWNSLOPE. DESPITE THE LINGERING CLDS...INCRSG SUN ANGLE/DAYTIME HEATING WL LIFT TEMPS INTO THE 40S AND EVEN THE LO 50S OVER THE W AT IWD...WHERE MORE BREAKS ARE LIKELY. .LONG TERM...(THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY) ISSUED AT 414 AM EDT WED APR 13 2016 WITH THE WRN N AMERICA RIDGE/POSITIVE ANOMALY THAT HAS DOMINATED APR SO FAR BREAKING DOWN...THE ERN N AMERICA TROF THAT HAS LED TO AN UNUSUALLY COLD/SNOWY BEGINNING TO APR FOR UPPER MI IS LIFTING OUT/WEAKENING. FOR THE FIRST 12 DAYS OF APR...THE AVG TEMP IS RUNNING AN IMPRESSIVE 12.3F BLO NORMAL HERE AT NWS MQT WITH SNOWFALL 32.2 INCHES ABOVE NORMAL. LIFTING OUT OF THE ERN TROF WILL ALSO BE AIDED BY THE DEMISE OF WHAT IS CURRENTLY A VERY STRONG POSITIVE HEIGHT ANOMALY OVER GREENLAND (3.5 STANDARD DEVIATIONS ABOVE CLIMATOLOGY). IN FACT...RIDGING WILL DEVELOP OVER THE GREAT LAKES BY FRI...AND POSITIVE HEIGHT ANOMALIES WILL REACH 2+ STANDARD DEVIATIONS ABOVE CLIMATOLOGY OVER THE UPPER LAKES ON SAT. HEADING INTO NEXT WEEK...RIDGING/POSITIVE HEIGHT ANOMALIES WILL SHIFT BACK TOWARD WRN CANADA. THIS WILL FORCE REDEVELOPMENT OF MODEST TROFFING IN ERN CANADA...LIKELY ALLOWING FOR PERIODIC SHOTS OF COOLER AIR OUT TO 2 WEEKS. LAST FEW NAEFS 8-14 DAY OUTLOOKS HAVE SHOWN A LARGE AREA OF ABOVE NORMAL TEMPS BEING FAVORED OVER FAR WRN CANADA AND MOST OF THE CONUS AND AN AREA OF NEAR TO BLO NORMAL TEMPS BEING FAVORED IN CNTRL/ERN CANADA INTO THE GREAT LAKES. SO...A GENERAL WRN CANADA RIDGE/ERN CANADA TROF CONFIGURATION. WITH THE RIDGE BUILDING INTO THE GREAT LAKES OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS...THE LONG ADVERTISED SIGNIFICANT WARMUP IS ON TRACK THRU THE END OF THE WEEK. WITH RIDGING SHIFTING BACK TOWARD WRN CANADA EARLY NEXT WEEK...REDEVELOPMENT OF MODEST ERN CANADA TROFFING WILL SPELL COOLER WEATHER FOR THE AREA...BUT LIKELY STILL ABOVE NORMAL. IN TYPICAL SPRING-TIME FASHION...COOLING WILL BE MOST NOTABLE NEAR LAKE SUPERIOR. AS FOR PCPN...LOOKS LIKE A MOSTLY DRY PERIOD IS SHAPING UP DURING THE LONG TERM AND OUT THRU AT LEAST 10 DAYS AS WELL. FOR A NUMBER OF DAYS...THERE HAS BEEN CONSIDERABLE UNCERTAINTY IN THE PCPN FCST EARLY NEXT WEEK DUE TO THE UNCERTAIN EVOLUTION OF A MID LEVEL LOW THAT WILL BE OVER THE CNTRL/SRN ROCKIES OVER THE WEEKEND. IN RECENT DAYS...THERE WERE INDICATIONS THAT THE SYSTEM WOULD LIFT NE AND BRING A POTENTIALLY WET PERIOD HERE EARLY NEXT WEEK. MORE RECENTLY...MEDIUM RANGE GUIDANCE IS TRENDING TOWARD THE IDEA THAT REDEVELOPMENT OF WRN CANADA RIDGING/ERN CANADA TROFFING EARLY NEXT WEEK WILL SUPPRESS ANY REMNANTS OF THE MID LEVEL LOW FROM AFFECTING UPPER MI. THIS WOULD RESULT IN PCPN CHANCES BEING TIED ONLY TO A COLD FROPA SOMETIME SUN IN ASSOCIATION WITH A SHORTWAVE PASSING THRU NRN ONTARIO. WITH THE UPCOMING WARM WEATHER...SNOWMELT WILL LEAD TO RISING RIVER LEVELS. FORTUNATELY...NO MEANINGFUL RAINFALL WILL OCCUR DURING THE SNOWMELT. A NICE STRETCH OF SPRING WEATHER IS EXPECTED THU THRU SAT. WHILE THERE WILL BE SOME MID CLOUDS AROUND ON THU...FRI AND SAT SHOULD FEATURE ABUNDANT SUNSHINE UNDER A DRY COLUMN. 850MB TEMPS AT 12Z THU WILL RANGE FROM 0C E TO 5C W. BY 12Z FRI...850MB TEMPS WILL RANGE FROM AROUND 5C E TO 9C W. BASED ON MIXING HEIGHTS ON NAM/GFS FCST SOUNDINGS...MAX TEMPS SHOULD REACH THE MID 50S TO LWR 60S ON THU AND UPPER 50S TO UPPER 60S ON FRI...PERHAPS REACHING 70F AT SOME LOCATIONS OVER THE W. HIGHS SAT SHOULD BE SIMILAR TO FRI. ALL 3 DAYS...HIGHEST TEMPS WILL BE OVER THE W. OBVIOUSLY...WHERE THE WIND HAS A COMPONENT OFF LAKE MICHIGAN OR LAKE SUPERIOR...TEMPS WILL BE CONSIDERABLY COOLER. WITH S TO SE GRADIENT WINDS...THAT COOLING WILL BE MOST NOTABLE NEAR LAKE MI AND ON THE E SIDE OF THE KEWEENAW. MEDIUM RANGE GUIDANCE IS MOVING TOWARD BETTER AGREEMENT ON DROPPING A COLD FRONT ACROSS THE AREA AT SOME POINT SUN AS A SHORTWAVE MOVES ACROSS NRN ONTARIO. AHEAD OF THE FRONT...GFS FCST SOUNDINGS SHOW MOISTURE LACKING...SO INSTABILITY IS ALMOST NONEXISTENT WITH PARCELS NOT ABLE TO GET PASSED A MORE STABLE LAYER ALOFT. AS A RESULT... FROPA WILL LIKELY BE DRY AS SUPPORTED BY THE ECMWF AND GLOBAL CANADIAN MODELS. BETTER CHC OF PCPN WILL OCCUR AFTER FROPA MAINLY SUN NIGHT AS MID LEVEL FRONTOGENESIS AND RIGHT ENTRANCE OF UPPER JET WORK TO GENERATE PCPN. GFS/ECMWF/CANADIAN ALL AGREE ON THIS POINT. SOMEWHAT OF A FASTER TREND IS NOTED WITH THE 00Z MODEL RUNS...SO PCPN CHC MAY MATERIALIZE ON SUN RATHER THAN SUN NIGHT IF NEXT SET OF MODEL RUNS BACK UP THE FASTER TREND. DRY WEATHER RETURNS MON...AND IT WILL BE MUCH COOLER (AT LEAST 10-15F LOWER THAN SUN) AS HIGH PRES BUILDING FROM THE NRN PLAINS INTO NRN ONTARIO RESULTS IN A GRADIENT NRLY WIND ACROSS LAKE SUPERIOR. DRY WEATHER WILL CONTINUE INTO TUE WITH TEMPS MODERATING A BIT. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z WEDNESDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 1222 AM EDT WED APR 13 2016 AN APPROACHING DISTURBANCE SHOULD BRING SOME LIGHT SNOW TO MAINLY THE SW HALF OF UPPER MI OVERNIGHT. MVFR CIGS ARE EXPECTED AT SAW AND CMX MAINLY AFTER 12Z/WED. HOWEVER...DOWNSLOPE FLOW AT IWD WILL FAVOR CONTINUED VFR CONDITIONS. MVFR CIGS SHOULD PERSIST AT CMX AND SAW TIL LATE WED WITH LINGERING LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND S TO SE FLOW. CIGS MAY LIFT TO VFR BY EVENING AS SLIGHTLY DRIER AIR MOVES IN. && .MARINE...(FOR THE 4 PM LAKE SUPERIOR FORECAST ISSUANCE) ISSUED AT 358 PM EDT TUE APR 12 2016 WITH HI PRES DOMINATING INTO THIS EVENING...EXPECT LIGHT WINDS. AS THE GRADIENT TIGHTENS OVER THE AREA TONIGHT INTO WED ON THE NORTHERN FLANK OF A LO PRES TRACKING THRU THE UPPER MIDWEST...SSE WINDS WILL INCREASE UP TO 20 TO PERHAPS 25 KTS. S WINDS 15-25 KTS WIL THEN DOMINATE THE FORECAST ON THU INTO THE WEEKEND ON THE WESTERN FLANK OF HI PRES SHIFTING INTO THEMID ATLANTIC STATES. AS A COLD FRONT DRIFTS SLOWLY INTO THE UPPER LAKES LATE IN THE WEEKEND...WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE NE ON SUN. && .MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... UPPER MICHIGAN... NONE. LAKE SUPERIOR... NONE. LAKE MICHIGAN... NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...KC LONG TERM...ROLFSON AVIATION...JLB MARINE...KC
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MARQUETTE MI
1226 AM EDT WED APR 13 2016 .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY) ISSUED AT 358 PM EDT TUE APR 12 2016 12Z RAOBS/LATEST RAP ANALYSIS AND WV IMAGERY SHOWS NW FLOW ALF BTWN UP RDG OVER THE ROCKIES AND PERSISTENT UPR TROF OVER ERN NAMERICA. A SHRTWV RDG ACCOMPANIED BY 12HR H5 HGT RISES UP TO 130M/SFC HI PRES IS MOVING INTO THE NW GREAT LKS. WITH DRY LLVL AIR SHOWN ON THE 12Z INL RAOB AND MORE ACYC LLVL FLOW...SC THAT PREVAILED ACRS THE CWA EARLIER IS BREAKING UP W-E AND GIVING WAY TO MOSUNNY SKIES DESPITE SOME LINGERING H85 THERMAL TROFFING. LOOKING UPSTREAM...A SHRTWV IS DIGGING THRU SCENTRAL CANADA AND BRINGING MORE MID/HI CLDS INTO MN. MAIN FCST CONCERNS TNGT INTO WED FOCUS ON POPS/SN AMOUNTS ASSOCIATED WITH SHRTWV NOW MOVING THRU THE NRN PLAINS. SHRTWV OVEF SCENTRAL CANADA IS PROGGED TO SLIDE SE TNGT AND REACH WRN UPR MI/WRN WI BY 12Z WED. DPVA/WAA IN ADVANCE OF THIS DISTURBANCE ARE FCST TO OVERSPREAD THE AREA WNW-ESE TNGT. SINCE THE SHORTER TERM GUIDANCE SHOW SHARPER H85 THERMAL GRADIENT REMAINING OVER WI... SHARPEST ISENTROPIC ASCENT BEST SHOWN ON THE 290K SFC AND H65-7 FGEN ARE FCST TO IMPACT THE WI BORDER COUNTIES OF UPR MI CLOSER TO THE WARM FNT. ALTHOUGH NEARLY 3G/KG SPECIFIC HUMIDITY IS FCST AT H75 ALONG THE WI BORDER...MODEL QPF IS NO MORE THAN ABOUT 0.10-0.15 INCH EVEN ALONG THE BORDER AS DYNAMIC FORCING MUST OVERCOME DRY LLVL AIR MOVING INTO THE CWA THIS AFTN. EVEN IF SN/WATER RATIO REACHES 15:1 WITH RATHER HI DGZ CENTERED BTWN 10-13K FT AGL...EXPECT NO MORE THAN 1-2 INCHES OF SN ACCUM ALONG THE WI BORDER IN THE 06-12Z PERIOD WHEN THE MOST SGNFT FORCING IS FCST. EXPECT THE LOWEST MIN TEMPS TNGT OVER THE E...WHERE CLDS WL BE ABSENT/THINNER FOR A LONGER TIME FARTHER FM THE WARM FNT TO THE SW. FCST POPS WL BE NO HIER THAN SCHC OVER THE FAR NE DEEPER INTO DRY AIR/FARTHER FM WARM FNT. AS THE SHRTWV PASSES TO THE SE ON WED...MID LVL SUBSIDENCE/DRYING IN ITS WAKE WL DIMINISH/END LINGERING PCPN BY THE AFTN...WHICH MAY TEND TO MIX WITH/CHANGE TO RA BEFORE ENDING WITH THE ONSET OF DIURNAL HEATING. BUT MODEL FCST SDNGS SUG A GOOD DEAL OF SC WL LINGER IN PERSISTENT WEAKER WAA PATTERN. BEST CHC FOR MORE CLRG WL BE OVER THE W...WHERE THE LLVL SLY FLOW WL DOWNSLOPE. DESPITE THE LINGERING CLDS...INCRSG SUN ANGLE/DAYTIME HEATING WL LIFT TEMPS INTO THE 40S AND EVEN THE LO 50S OVER THE W AT IWD...WHERE MORE BREAKS ARE LIKELY. .LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY) ISSUED AT 354 PM EDT TUE APR 12 2016 REALLY QUIET IN THE LONG TERM...WHICH STARTS 00Z THU. UPPER RIDGING BUILDS INTO THE AREA INTO THE WEEKEND BEFORE A SHORTWAVE POSSIBLY MOVES THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK. NOT LOOKING FOR ANY PRECIP WED NIGHT THROUGH SAT NIGHT...BUT MAY SEE SOME PRECIP SOMETIME SUN INTO EARLY MON AS THE SHORTWAVE PASSES...THEN DRY TUE. MAIN STORY IN THE LONG TERM IS CERTAINLY WARM TEMPS. AWAY FROM THE COOLING INFLUENCE N-NE OF LAKE MICHIGAN...EXPECT HIGHS IN THE MID 50S TO MID 60S THU...THEN 60-70 FRI/SAT/SUN. HIGHS IN THE 40S AND 50S ARE IN THE FORECAST FOR MON AND TUE. WILL BE WATCHING RIVER LEVELS OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. RFC ENSEMBLE GUIDANCE SUGGESTS POTENTIAL FOR SOME STREAMS TO RISE TO NEAR ACTION STAGE LATE THIS WEEKEND OR EARLY NEXT WEEK. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z WEDNESDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 1222 AM EDT WED APR 13 2016 AN APPROACHING DISTURBANCE SHOULD BRING SOME LIGHT SNOW TO MAINLY THE SW HALF OF UPPER MI OVERNIGHT. MVFR CIGS ARE EXPECTED AT SAW AND CMX MAINLY AFTER 12Z/WED. HOWEVER...DOWNSLOPE FLOW AT IWD WILL FAVOR CONTINUED VFR CONDITIONS. MVFR CIGS SHOULD PERSIST AT CMX AND SAW TIL LATE WED WITH LINGERING LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND S TO SE FLOW. CIGS MAY LIFT TO VFR BY EVENING AS SLIGHTLY DRIER AIR MOVES IN. && .MARINE...(FOR THE 4 PM LAKE SUPERIOR FORECAST ISSUANCE) ISSUED AT 358 PM EDT TUE APR 12 2016 WITH HI PRES DOMINATING INTO THIS EVENING...EXPECT LIGHT WINDS. AS THE GRADIENT TIGHTENS OVER THE AREA TONIGHT INTO WED ON THE NORTHERN FLANK OF A LO PRES TRACKING THRU THE UPPER MIDWEST...SSE WINDS WILL INCREASE UP TO 20 TO PERHAPS 25 KTS. S WINDS 15-25 KTS WIL THEN DOMINATE THE FORECAST ON THU INTO THE WEEKEND ON THE WESTERN FLANK OF HI PRES SHIFTING INTO THEMID ATLANTIC STATES. AS A COLD FRONT DRIFTS SLOWLY INTO THE UPPER LAKES LATE IN THE WEEKEND...WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE NE ON SUN. && .MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... UPPER MICHIGAN... NONE. LAKE SUPERIOR... NONE. LAKE MICHIGAN... NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...KC LONG TERM...TITUS AVIATION...JLB MARINE...KC
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
554 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016 .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 440 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016 A WEAK SFC LOW CAN BE FOUND THIS MORNING OUT BY CANBY...WITH A FAIRLY WELL PRONOUNCED WARM FRONT EXTENDING EAST TO THE SOUTHERN TWIN CITIES METRO AND OFF TO THE SOUTH OF EAU CLAIRE IN WI. SOUTH OF THIS BOUNDARY TEMPERATURES HAVE REMAINED IN THE MID/UPPER 40S ACROSS SOUTHERN MN...WHILE CENTRAL MN IS STILL DOWN AROUND THE FREEZING MARK. OVER THE TOP OF THIS BOUNDARY...A NW FLOW SHORTWAVE OVER LAKE SUPERIOR WITH A TAIL EXTENDING SOUTHWEST TO NORTH CENTRAL IOWA WAS QUICKLY DIVING SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE AREA. A 40-50KT LLJ DEVELOPED OUT AHEAD OF THE SHORTWAVE...AND WITHIN THIS LLJ WE HAVE SEEN SCATTERED SHOWERS THROUGH THE NIGHT. HOWEVER...DEWPOINT DEPRESSIONS HAVE REMAINED UP IN THE BALL PARK OF 20 DEGREES ALONG/SOUTH OF THE WARM FRONT...WHICH MEANS MUCH OF THIS ACTIVITY HAS FAILED TO REACH THE GROUND. TODAY...UPPER RIDGE AXIS CURRENTLY ACROSS THE NRN HIGH PLAINS WILL MOVE EAST OVER MN...WITH ASSOCIATED HEIGHT RISES CLEARING SKIES OUT BY THE AFTERNOON. THE WARM FRONT WILL DRIFT NORTH A LITTLE... CLEARING THE TWIN CITIES AND EAU CLAIRE. LOOKING DOWN IN THE WARM SECTOR EARLY THIS MORNING...THERE IS A LARGE POOL OF AIR ACROSS NE NEB INTO FAR SW MN THAT HAS REMAINED IN THE 50S OVERNIGHT...AND THIS AIRMASS WILL BE DRAWN NE INTO SW/SC MN THIS AFTERNOON. TEMPERATURES HAVE BEEN OVERACHIEVING A BIT RECENTLY AND WITH SUNNY SKIES AND DRY CONDITIONS EXPECTED...DID BOOST HIGHS A FEW DEGREES SOUTH OF I- 94...CLOSE TO WHAT THE MAV GUIDANCE HAS. FOR DEWPOINTS...THEY ARE MAINLY IN THE 20S SOUTH OF THE WARM FRONT. NAM/RAP BUFKIT SOUNDINGS SHOW THE BOUNDARY LAYER MOISTURE PROFILE SEEN ON LAST NIGHTS KMPX SOUNDING CHANGING VERY LITTLE TODAY...SO UNDERCUT DEWPOINTS THROUGH THE AFTERNOON CONSIDERABLY...TRENDING DEWPOINT FORECASTS TOWARD THE RAP. THIS RESULTED AFTERNOON HUMIDITIES BOTTOMING OUT IN THE 20S SOUTH OF THE WARM FRONT. HOWEVER...AS THE UPPER WAVE PUSHES FARTHER INTO THE GREAT LAKES THIS MORNING...THE LLJ WILL WEAKEN. BESIDE SPELLING THE END OF PRECIP CHANCES UNTIL THE WEEKEND...THE WEAKENING OF THE LLJ WILL ALSO RESULT IN MIXED LAYER WINDS DECREASING AS WELL...WHICH WILL HELP KEEP WIND SPEEDS BELOW THE 20 MPH NEEDED FOR A RED FLAG WARNING. STILL WITH AFTERNOON HUMIDITIES FORECAST TO GET DOWN AROUND 25% WITH SUSTAINED SOUTH WINDS UP IN THE 15-20 MPH RANGE...WILL INCLUDE A HEADLINE IN THE FWF AND A MENTION IN THE HWO FOR THE INCREASED FIRE WEATHER THREAT IN SOUTH CENTRAL MN TODAY. TONIGHT...THE WARM FRONT WILL SHIFT INTO NRN MN...WITH PERSISTENT SOUTH WINDS REMAINING ACROSS THE AREA. THIS WILL SPELL A VERY MILD EVENING...WITH LOWS STRUGGLING TO GET BELOW 50 WHERE WE SEE HIGHS TODAY IN THE UPPER 60S/LOWER 70S...WITH LOWS TONIGHT REMAINING 10 TO ALMOST 20 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. .LONG TERM...(THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY) ISSUED AT 440 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016 A DRY AND MILD PATTERN IS SETTING UP THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK AND POSSIBLY EVEN THROUGH THE WEEKEND. RIDGING WILL BE IN PLACE ACROSS THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY ON THURSDAY...SETTING THE STAGE FOR TEMPERATURES IN THE 70S ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA. FAR WESTERN MN WILL MAKE A RUN AT 80 DEGREES...WHILE WESTERN WI SHOULD REMAIN A BIT COOLER WITH TEMPERATURES BETWEEN 65-70. WITH A SURFACE HIGH OVER THE GREAT LAKES AND DEVELOPING LOW PRESSURE ACROSS THE PLAINS...THE SOUTHERLY FLOW SHOULD INCREASE AND MAKE FOR A COUPLE BREEZY DAYS THU-FRI...HOWEVER...UNLIKE MANY PREVIOUS DAYS THIS MONTH...WE WILL NOT BE DEALING WITH WIND CHILLS IN THE 20S OR 30S. THOSE SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL ADVECT A BIT OF MOISTURE IN THE AREA...BUT THE BOUNDARY LAYER WILL REMAIN DRY OVERALL AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL BE LOW DURING THE AFTERNOONS. A TROUGH MOVES INLAND OVER THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST ON THURSDAY...BUT DROPS ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST CONUS AND BECOMES CUTOFF FROM THE MAIN FLOW - THE 00Z GFS AND ECMWF HAVE THAT UPPER LOW SPINNING AWAY DOWN THERE FOR THE NEXT WEEK BEFORE EVENTUALLY FILLING AND SHEARING OUT. THE NEXT POTENTIAL CHANCE FOR RAIN COMES LATE IN THE DAY ON SUNDAY WHEN A COLD FRONT PASSES THROUGH THE AREA...HOWEVER...TOTAL RAINFALL LOOKS QUITE MINOR LOCALLY - PERHAPS NOTHING AT ALL. THE BETTER MOISTURE AND LIFT REMAINS WITH THE SURFACE TROUGH OUT OVER THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PLAINS. THE COLD FRONT WILL BRING TEMPERATURES BACK DOWN CLOSER TO NORMAL AFTER THE 70S THIS WEEK. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY MORNING) ISSUED AT 554 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016 ONLY CONCERN TODAY IS THE EVOLUTION OF A WARM FRONT CURRENTLY SPLAYED OUT ALONG ROUGHLY A RWF/MSP/EAU LINE. THIS BOUNDARY AND EVEN A HINT OF A WEAK SFC LOW WILL REMAIN ANCHORED NEAR RWF MUCH OF THE DAY...WITH THE WARM FRONT LIFTING NORTH OF MSP/EAU. FOLLOWED MORE OF A HRRR IDEA FOR WIND DIRECTION AT MSP/EAU...WITH DIRECTIONS HERE GETTING MORE SOUTHERLY THAN THE LAMP GUIDANCE INDICATES AS THE WARM FRONT MOVES NORTH. OTHERWISE...HIGH CONFIDENCE IN A VFR TAF THAT WILL SEE WINDS BECOME SOUTHEAST EVERYWHERE OVERNIGHT. KMSP...WARM FRONT IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING THROUGH MSP RIGHT NOW. AS A RESULT...FAVORED WIND DIRECTION TOWARD THE NAM/HRRR...WITH DIRECTION BY LATE MORNING BECOME SOUTH...POSSIBLY EVEN DRIFTING A LITTLE WEST OF SOUTH AS WELL. NO OTHER CONCERNS THIS TAF PERIOD. /OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/ THU...VFR. WINDS S 10-20G25 KTS. FRI...VFR. WINDS SSE 10-15 KTS. SAT...VFR. WINDS S 10-15 KTS. && .MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WI...NONE. MN...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...MPG LONG TERM...CLF AVIATION...MPG
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS BISMARCK ND
957 PM CDT THU APR 14 2016 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 943 PM CDT THU APR 14 2016 RAIN SHOWER ACTIVITY HAS CONTINUED TO INCREASE ACROSS NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA THROUGH 0245 UTC AS LOW LEVEL WARM AIR ADVECTION STRENGTHENS IN ASSOCIATION WITH CYCLOGENESIS ACROSS FAR SOUTHEAST MONTANA. EXPECT MODERATE TO AT TIMES HEAVY RAIN TO REMAIN FOCUSED ACROSS THESE AREAS THROUGH 09-10 UTC AS LOW LEVEL WARM ADVECTION CONTINUES TO INCREASE UNDER STRONG DIFFLUENCE ALOFT WITH PWATS CLIMBING TO AROUND 1.10 INCHES. FOR THE SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL...A MARGINAL SEVERE THREAT WILL REMAIN THROUGH THE NIGHT IN THE VICINITY OF THE SURFACE COLD FRONT ARCHING SOUTH OF THE AFOREMENTIONED LOW. DEEP LAYER EFFECTIVE SHEAR IS STRONG...AROUND 50 KTS...WITH MOST UNSTABLE CAPE VALUES SLOWLY INCREASING TO AROUND 500 J/KG OVERNIGHT WITH INCREASING MOISTURE. THUS...A LOW END DAMAGING WIND AND HAIL THREAT WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE NIGHT. UPDATE ISSUED AT 801 PM CDT THU APR 14 2016 SHOWERS WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO PUSH NORTHEASTWARD INTO WESTERN AND CENTRAL ND THROUGH TONIGHT. SOME THUNDERSTORMS MAY BECOME STRONG WITH GUSTY WINDS AND SMALL HAIL...AS STRONG DEEP LAYER SHEAR IN EXCESS OF 50 KTS COUPLES WITH WEAK INSTABILITY THIS EVENING. PROGRESSING INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS...CHANCES FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MODESTLY INCREASES AS INSTABILITY AND ATMOSPHERIC MOISTURE INCREASES IN ASSOCIATION WITH CYCLOGENESIS. THE HRRR HAS BEEN CONSTANTLY PERFORMING WELL WITH THE CURRENT CONVECTION...SO THE FORECAST WAS UPDATED WITH THE LATEST CONVECTIVE TRENDS FROM THE HRRR. CURRENT RADAR AND SURFACE OBSERVATIONS WERE ALSO INGESTED INTO THE FORECAST. && .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 258 PM CDT THU APR 14 2016 THE MAIN FORECAST ISSUE IN THE SHORT TERM PERIOD WILL BE SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. A POTENT UPPER LEVEL LOW IS CURRENTLY MOVING ONTO THE NORTHERN WASHINGTON COAST. UPPER LEVEL FLOW AROUND THE CLOSED LOW EXTENDS SOUTHWARD INTO CALIFORNIA THEN EXPANDS INTO A BROAD SOUTHWEST FLOW OVER THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL ROCKIES AND INTO THE NORTHERN PLAINS. LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT...SHORTWAVE ENERGY TRANSLATING THROUGH THE SOUTHWEST UPPER FLOW WILL INDUCE SURFACE CYCLOGENESIS OVER THE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN ROCKIES WITH SURFACE LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPING AND MOVING INTO THE MONDAK AREA AROUND 00 UTC FRIDAY. IT APPEARS THERE MAY BE A FEW HOURS THIS EVENING WHERE THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY...POSSIBLY SEVERE...OVER SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA CENTERED AROUND 00 UTC IF WE DEVELOP THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE NORTHERN HIGH PLAINS. THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE INTO A FAVORABLE SHEAR ENVIRONMENT...BUT CONVECTIVE INHIBITION REMAINS HIGH. THEN FROM 00 UTC THROUGH 06 UTC STRONG SHORTWAVE ENERGY LIFTS THROUGH EASTERN MONTANA WITH INCREASING UPPER LEVEL DIVERGENCE AS UPPER FLOW BECOMES NEARLY MERIDIONAL. RAP CONTINUES TO INDICATE SIGNIFICANT DIRECTIONAL SHEAR OVER WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA WITH INCREASING BULK SHEAR. BUT LOW LEVEL INSTABILITY WILL DISSIPATE AS WE HEAD INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS AND AS CONVECTION LIFTS FARTHER NORTH. LOOKS LIKE A HIGHLY SHEARED ENVIRONMENT WITH LITTLE CAPE...BUT WITH SUCH STRONG DIRECTIONAL SHEAR WE COULD POSSIBLY SEE SOME STRONG WINDS WITH ANY ORGANIZED CONVECTION THAT WOULD MOVE FROM EASTERN MONTANA INTO SOUTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA THIS EVENING. AFTER THIS EVENING THE FOCUS FOR PRECIPITATION WILL REMAIN RIGHT AHEAD AND TO THE NORTH OF THE SURFACE LOW...WHICH TRACKS TO NEAR BISMARCK BY AROUND 15 UTC FRIDAY. AFTER 15 UTC FRIDAY THE FOCUS FOR THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY REMAINS MAINLY ALONG AND EAST OF THE HIGHWAY 83 CORRIDOR AS THE SURFACE LOW AND ASSOCIATED BOUNDARY SHIFTS SLOWLY EAST DURING THE DAY...INTO APPROXIMATELY THE SOUTHERN JAMES RIVER VALLEY BY 00 UTC SATURDAY. THUS AREAS WEST OF BISMARCK AND ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE INTERSTATE COULD SEE MAINLY DRY CONDITIONS FRIDAY. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL REMAIN EAST OF BISMARCK INTO THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY...WITH RAIN AND MUCH COLDER TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST FROM THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS INTO CROSBY AND WILLISTON. FRIDAY NIGHT THE SURFACE TROUGH MOVES INTO THE RED RIVER VALLEY...KEEPING BEST CHANCES OVER THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA...WITH DRYING NORTHERLY FLOW OVER THE REST CENTRAL AND WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA. WILL LIKELY KEEP AT LEAST SOME SLIGHT CHANCES OF SHOWERS THOUGH AS THE NORTHERN PORTION OF THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH REMAINS OVER EASTERN MONTANA. .LONG TERM...(SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY) ISSUED AT 258 PM CDT THU APR 14 2016 GOOD AGREEMENT SATURDAY...THEN A TOUGH CALL SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. TWO SCENARIOS REMAIN POSSIBLE BEYOND SATURDAY...EITHER IT REMAINS WET AND COOL THROUGH TUESDAY PER GFS...OR PER ECMWF THE PRECIPITATION ENDS SATURDAY NIGHT AND WE BEGIN A DRYING AND MODERATING TREND SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. MAIN ISSUE IS THE FORMATION OF A REX BLOCK PATTERN...WITH AN UPPER HIGH ACROSS SOUTHERN CANADA/NORTHERN NORTH DAKOTA SITUATED OVER A CLOSED UPPER LOW TUCKED AWAY IN THE FOUR CORNERS THIS WEEKEND. THE OPERATIONAL GFS 500MB HEIGHT FIELD CLOSELY FOLLOWS THE GFS ENSEMBLE MEAN. THIS SOLUTION ALLOWS FOR MORE OF AN INFLUENCE OF THE CLOSED LOW AS IT MEANDERS INTO CENTRAL PLAINS SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY WITH A WEAKER UPPER HIGH. A DEFORMATION ZONE BECOMES ESTABLISHED ESPECIALLY OVER CENTRAL/SOUTHERN NORTH DAKOTA WHICH CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN A POOLED MOISTURE FIELD AND RESULTANT SHOWERS. THE FAR NORTH LOOKS DRY DURING THIS PERIOD. THE OPERATIONAL ECMWF IS STRONGER WITH THE REX BLOCK FORMATION AND SUPPRESSES THE UPPER LOW MUCH FARTHER SOUTH THAN THE GFS. THE RESULT IS A DRY PATTERN AS THE UPPER HIGH SETS UP OVER NORTH DAKOTA. A SLOW MODERATING TREND COMMENCES DURING THIS TIME. FOR SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...THE GRIDDED DATA MORE OR LESS TAKES A BLEND OF THE WET GFS AND DRY ECMWF AND ARRIVES AT A CHANCE OF SHOWERS SUNDAY FOR ALL BUT THE NORTHWEST...THEN GRADUALLY SHUNTS THE CHANCE OF SHOWERS FARTHER SOUTH SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT BEFORE TRANSITIONING TO A DRY FORECAST TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. THIS SEEMS PLAUSIBLE GIVEN THE SCENARIO ABOVE AND NO CHANGES NEEDED. HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE COOLEST SATURDAY WITH HIGHS IN THE 40S...THEN 50S SUNDAY...RISING TO THE 60S MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY WILL HAVE POCKETS OF LOWER 70S ACROSS THE WEST FOR HIGHS. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY EVENING) ISSUED AT 943 PM CDT THU APR 14 2016 SHOWERS WITH SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE PUSHING NORTHEASTWARD...FROM WEST TO EAST...ACROSS THE STATE THROUGH THE 00Z TAF PERIOD. MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS IN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE. CEILINGS WILL LOWER TO MVFR/IFR AT KISN/KMOT/KDIK BY LATE TONIGHT OR EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR IS ALSO POSSIBLE AT MOST TERMINALS TONIGHT. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ UPDATE...AYD SHORT TERM...TWH LONG TERM...KS AVIATION...AYD
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS BISMARCK ND
801 PM CDT THU APR 14 2016 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 801 PM CDT THU APR 14 2016 SHOWERS WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO PUSH NORTHEASTWARD INTO WESTERN AND CENTRAL ND THROUGH TONIGHT. SOME THUNDERSTORMS MAY BECOME STRONG WITH GUSTY WINDS AND SMALL HAIL...AS STRONG DEEP LAYER SHEAR IN EXCESS OF 50 KTS COUPLES WITH WEAK INSTABILITY THIS EVENING. PROGRESSING INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS...CHANCES FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MODESTLY INCREASES AS INSTABILITY AND ATMOSPHERIC MOISTURE INCREASES IN ASSOCIATION WITH CYCLOGENESIS. THE HRRR HAS BEEN CONSTANTLY PERFORMING WELL WITH THE CURRENT CONVECTION...SO THE FORECAST WAS UPDATED WITH THE LATEST CONVECTIVE TRENDS FROM THE HRRR. CURRENT RADAR AND SURFACE OBSERVATIONS WERE ALSO INGESTED INTO THE FORECAST. && .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 258 PM CDT THU APR 14 2016 THE MAIN FORECAST ISSUE IN THE SHORT TERM PERIOD WILL BE SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. A POTENT UPPER LEVEL LOW IS CURRENTLY MOVING ONTO THE NORTHERN WASHINGTON COAST. UPPER LEVEL FLOW AROUND THE CLOSED LOW EXTENDS SOUTHWARD INTO CALIFORNIA THEN EXPANDS INTO A BROAD SOUTHWEST FLOW OVER THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL ROCKIES AND INTO THE NORTHERN PLAINS. LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT...SHORTWAVE ENERGY TRANSLATING THROUGH THE SOUTHWEST UPPER FLOW WILL INDUCE SURFACE CYCLOGENESIS OVER THE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN ROCKIES WITH SURFACE LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPING AND MOVING INTO THE MONDAK AREA AROUND 00 UTC FRIDAY. IT APPEARS THERE MAY BE A FEW HOURS THIS EVENING WHERE THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY...POSSIBLY SEVERE...OVER SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA CENTERED AROUND 00 UTC IF WE DEVELOP THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE NORTHERN HIGH PLAINS. THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE INTO A FAVORABLE SHEAR ENVIRONMENT...BUT CONVECTIVE INHIBITION REMAINS HIGH. THEN FROM 00 UTC THROUGH 06 UTC STRONG SHORTWAVE ENERGY LIFTS THROUGH EASTERN MONTANA WITH INCREASING UPPER LEVEL DIVERGENCE AS UPPER FLOW BECOMES NEARLY MERIDIONAL. RAP CONTINUES TO INDICATE SIGNIFICANT DIRECTIONAL SHEAR OVER WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA WITH INCREASING BULK SHEAR. BUT LOW LEVEL INSTABILITY WILL DISSIPATE AS WE HEAD INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS AND AS CONVECTION LIFTS FARTHER NORTH. LOOKS LIKE A HIGHLY SHEARED ENVIRONMENT WITH LITTLE CAPE...BUT WITH SUCH STRONG DIRECTIONAL SHEAR WE COULD POSSIBLY SEE SOME STRONG WINDS WITH ANY ORGANIZED CONVECTION THAT WOULD MOVE FROM EASTERN MONTANA INTO SOUTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA THIS EVENING. AFTER THIS EVENING THE FOCUS FOR PRECIPITATION WILL REMAIN RIGHT AHEAD AND TO THE NORTH OF THE SURFACE LOW...WHICH TRACKS TO NEAR BISMARCK BY AROUND 15 UTC FRIDAY. AFTER 15 UTC FRIDAY THE FOCUS FOR THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY REMAINS MAINLY ALONG AND EAST OF THE HIGHWAY 83 CORRIDOR AS THE SURFACE LOW AND ASSOCIATED BOUNDARY SHIFTS SLOWLY EAST DURING THE DAY...INTO APPROXIMATELY THE SOUTHERN JAMES RIVER VALLEY BY 00 UTC SATURDAY. THUS AREAS WEST OF BISMARCK AND ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE INTERSTATE COULD SEE MAINLY DRY CONDITIONS FRIDAY. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL REMAIN EAST OF BISMARCK INTO THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY...WITH RAIN AND MUCH COLDER TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST FROM THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS INTO CROSBY AND WILLISTON. FRIDAY NIGHT THE SURFACE TROUGH MOVES INTO THE RED RIVER VALLEY...KEEPING BEST CHANCES OVER THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA...WITH DRYING NORTHERLY FLOW OVER THE REST CENTRAL AND WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA. WILL LIKELY KEEP AT LEAST SOME SLIGHT CHANCES OF SHOWERS THOUGH AS THE NORTHERN PORTION OF THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH REMAINS OVER EASTERN MONTANA. .LONG TERM...(SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY) ISSUED AT 258 PM CDT THU APR 14 2016 GOOD AGREEMENT SATURDAY...THEN A TOUGH CALL SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. TWO SCENARIOS REMAIN POSSIBLE BEYOND SATURDAY...EITHER IT REMAINS WET AND COOL THROUGH TUESDAY PER GFS...OR PER ECMWF THE PRECIPITATION ENDS SATURDAY NIGHT AND WE BEGIN A DRYING AND MODERATING TREND SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. MAIN ISSUE IS THE FORMATION OF A REX BLOCK PATTERN...WITH AN UPPER HIGH ACROSS SOUTHERN CANADA/NORTHERN NORTH DAKOTA SITUATED OVER A CLOSED UPPER LOW TUCKED AWAY IN THE FOUR CORNERS THIS WEEKEND. THE OPERATIONAL GFS 500MB HEIGHT FIELD CLOSELY FOLLOWS THE GFS ENSEMBLE MEAN. THIS SOLUTION ALLOWS FOR MORE OF AN INFLUENCE OF THE CLOSED LOW AS IT MEANDERS INTO CENTRAL PLAINS SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY WITH A WEAKER UPPER HIGH. A DEFORMATION ZONE BECOMES ESTABLISHED ESPECIALLY OVER CENTRAL/SOUTHERN NORTH DAKOTA WHICH CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN A POOLED MOISTURE FIELD AND RESULTANT SHOWERS. THE FAR NORTH LOOKS DRY DURING THIS PERIOD. THE OPERATIONAL ECMWF IS STRONGER WITH THE REX BLOCK FORMATION AND SUPPRESSES THE UPPER LOW MUCH FARTHER SOUTH THAN THE GFS. THE RESULT IS A DRY PATTERN AS THE UPPER HIGH SETS UP OVER NORTH DAKOTA. A SLOW MODERATING TREND COMMENCES DURING THIS TIME. FOR SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...THE GRIDDED DATA MORE OR LESS TAKES A BLEND OF THE WET GFS AND DRY ECMWF AND ARRIVES AT A CHANCE OF SHOWERS SUNDAY FOR ALL BUT THE NORTHWEST...THEN GRADUALLY SHUNTS THE CHANCE OF SHOWERS FARTHER SOUTH SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT BEFORE TRANSITIONING TO A DRY FORECAST TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. THIS SEEMS PLAUSIBLE GIVEN THE SCENARIO ABOVE AND NO CHANGES NEEDED. HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE COOLEST SATURDAY WITH HIGHS IN THE 40S...THEN 50S SUNDAY...RISING TO THE 60S MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY WILL HAVE POCKETS OF LOWER 70S ACROSS THE WEST FOR HIGHS. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY EVENING) ISSUED AT 801 PM CDT THU APR 14 2016 SHOWERS WITH ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE PUSHING NORTHEASTWARD...FROM WEST TO EAST...ACROSS THE STATE THROUGH THE 00Z TAF PERIOD. SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED TO CREATE MVFR CEILINGS AT KJMS/KDIK...WHILE CEILINGS AT KISN/KMOT ARE FORECAST TO SHIFT FROM MVFR TO IFR/LIFR CONDITIONS IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ UPDATE...AC SHORT TERM...TWH LONG TERM...KS AVIATION...AC
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS BISMARCK ND
532 PM CDT WED APR 13 2016 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 529 PM CDT WED APR 13 2016 QUICK UPDATE TO BLEND TO OBSERVED RADAR TRENDS THROUGH 2215 UTC AND A TIME LAGGED ENSEMBLE OF THE 19-21 UTC HRRR ITERATIONS WHICH HAS A GOOD HANDLE ON THE ON GOING CONVECTION. WIND GUSTS OF 45 TO 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS GIVEN INVERTED V SOUNDINGS. && .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY) ISSUED AT 348 PM CDT WED APR 13 2016 THE LATEST WATER VAPOR IMAGERY SHOWS A DEEP CLOSED LOW APPROACHING THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. THIS CLOSED LOW WILL SLOWLY SHIFT SOUTHEAST INTO THE GREAT BASIN AND FOUR CORNERS NOW THROUGH SUNDAY. IN DOING SO...A FAVORABLE SOUTHWEST FLOW INTO NORTH DAKOTA WITH A SERIES OF SURFACE LOW PRESSURES AND ASSOCIATED SHORTWAVES PEELING OFF/EJECTING FROM THE MAIN UPPER LOW MENTIONED ABOVE...WILL TRACK ACROSS SOUTHERN AND EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA. APPROXIMATELY THREE SURFACE LOWS AND ASSOCIATED SHORTWAVES WILL PASS ACROSS WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA BETWEEN WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY. THIS WILL RESULT IN A WET/UNSETTLED PERIOD THROUGH THE WEEKEND. HIGHLIGHT IN THE NEAR TERM (NOW THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON) IS THE ONGOING RED FLAG WARNING. VERIFICATION IS UNDERWAY WITH FORECAST AND OBSERVATIONAL DATA SHOWING SUSTAINED WINDS BETWEEN 20 MPH AND 25 MPH ...WITH RELATIVE HUMDITIES BETWEEN 20 AND 25 PERCENT AT THIS TIME. ONE CONCERN IN THE WEST IS INCREASING HIGH/MIDDLE CLOUDS COMING IN FROM EASTERN MONTANA. THIS COULD/MAY DISRUPT THE THREE CONSECUTIVE HOUR VERIFICATION IN SOME SPOTS...AS ADDITIONAL CLOUDS/SHADING MIGHT BE ENOUGH TO HALT OR LIMIT SOLAR INSOLATION AND MIXING NEEDED TO SUSTAIN THE WIND/LOW HUMIDITIES FOR THE TIME NEEDED. HOWEVER WILL KEEP THE WARNING IN TACT UNTIL THIS BECOMES EVIDENT. ALSO MONITORING AREAS JUST EAST OF THE CURRENT RED FLAG WARNING. BELIEVE THIS WILL BE A MARGINAL AREA...BOTH IN TIME AND AREAL COVERAGE INTO THE LATE AFTERNOON...AND THUS WILL HOLD OFF FROM EXPANDING THE CURRENT RED FLAG WARNING AT THIS TIME. FOR THE SHORT TERM PERIOD...TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY...FOCUS WILL BE THE PASSAGE OF A COLD FRONT TONIGHT...RESULTING IN A PERIOD OF RAIN SHOWERS AND SOME THUNDERSTORMS. A SURFACE LOW PRESSURE IN WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA WILL RIDE UP ALONG THE COLD FRONT OVERNIGHT REACHING THE SOUTHERN JAMES RIVER VALLEY BY 12Z THURSDAY AND THEN STALLING OUT DURING THE DAY. THUNDERSTORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO REACH SEVERE CRITERIA TONIGHT. BUT EXPECT SOME SHOWERS AND RUMBLING OVERNIGHT ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT. WITH THE FRONT STALLING OUT THURSDAY IN THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY...CHANCES OF SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE HERE WITH A BREAK/DRY PERIOD ELSEWHERE FOR MOST OF THE AFTERNOON. .LONG TERM...(THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY) ISSUED AT 348 PM CDT WED APR 13 2016 HIGHLIGHTS IN THE LONG TERM INCLUDE PERIODS OF RAINSHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH WIDESPREAD RAINFALL OF BETWEEN THUNDERSTORMS. RAINFALL TOTALS BETWEEN A HALF INCH TO ONE AND A HALF INCHES LOOKS TO BE A GOOD RANGE ACROSS WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY. THURSDAY NIGHT...THE BRIEF BREAK MENTIONED ABOVE WILL COME TO AN END LATE THURSDAY AFTERNOON/EVENING...AS THE NEXT STRONGER SURFACE LOW FOLLOW A NEARLY IDENTICAL PATH...ALBEIT SLOWER. THIS WILL RESULT IN WIDESPREAD RAIN SHOWERS AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY. ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THURSDAY EVENING/NIGHT AS STRONGER INSTABILITY WILL EXIST WITH THIS NEXT SURFACE LOW AND ASSOCIATED SHORTWAVE TROUGH ALOFT. THUNDERSTORMS ARE FORECAST TO INITIATE IN EASTERN MONTANA LATE THURSDAY AFTERNOON INTO THE EARLY EVENING...THEN SHIFT INTO SOUTHWESTERN NORTH DAKOTA. ANY SURFACED BASE CONVECTION WILL LIKELY TRANSITION TO ELEVATED CONVECTION ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL AND INTO THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY 06Z-12Z FRIDAY. FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY...A WET DAY FRIDAY AS THE AFOREMENTIONED SURFACE LOW RIDES UP ALONG A COLD FRONT ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL AND INTO THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY. SHOWERS AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS MOSTLY ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA WHICH WILL BE LOCATED NEAREST THE COLD FRONT AND SURFACE LOW. LESS SHOWER ACTIVITY IS FORECAST IN THE WEST. ANOTHER SURFACE IS FORECAST TO PASS ACROSS NORTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA AND INTO MINNESOTA SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY RESULTING IN A CHANCE OF SHOWERS MAINLY FAR SOUTH CENTRAL INTO THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY...WITH DRIER CONDITIONS FARTHER WEST AND NORTH. MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...AS THE CLOSED UPPER LOW WILL SIT AND SPIN ACROSS THE FOUR CORNERS MONDAY THEN BECOME AN OPEN WAVE TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY BUT REMAIN SOUTH OF NORTH DAKOTA. A REX BLOCK FORMATION DEVELOPS WITH AN UPPER HIGH SITUATED OVER THE UPPER LOW MENTIONED ABOVE. THIS IS FORECAST TO PRODUCE A DRY PERIOD WITH MODERATING TEMPERATURES THROUGH THE PERIOD. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z THURSDAY EVENING) ISSUED AT 529 PM CDT WED APR 13 2016 A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH AND PASS THROUGH WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA BETWEEN 00Z THURSDAY AND 12Z THURSDAY. THROUGH 00Z THURSDAY...CLOUDS AND WINDS WILL INCREASE AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT WITH SOUTHEASTERLY WINDS BECOMING SOUTHWESTERLY BETWEEN 15KT AND 25KT. AN AREA OF RAIN SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ALONG AND JUST BEHIND THE FRONT. A WIND SHIFT BEHIND THE FRONT TO THE NORTHWEST WITH SCT/BKN LOW VFR CIGS ANTICIPATED. HOWEVER AT THIS TIME CIGS SHOULD NOT GET ANY LOWER THAN 3500FT. && .FIRE WEATHER... ISSUED AT 348 PM CDT WED APR 13 2016 A RED FLAG WARNING CONTINUES THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING OVER THE WESTERN THIRD OF NORTH DAKOTA. THE COMBINATION OF SUSTAINED SOUTHERLY WINDS OF 25 MPH...MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY AROUND 20 PERCENT AND MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES IN THE MIDDLE 70S WILL CREATE THE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. WINDS WILL ALSO SHIFT TO THE WEST LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY EVENING AS A COLD FRONT APPROACHES AND SHIFTS THROUGH. DRY LIGHTNING REMAINS A POSSIBILITY EARLY THIS EVENING. INCREASING MOISTURE AND THE CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BEGIN WEDNESDAY EVENING AND CONTINUE THROUGH THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. COOLER TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED SATURDAY AS THE PRECIPITATION ENDS WITH A MIX OF RAIN AND SNOW ACROSS THE NORTH. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 7 PM CDT /6 PM MDT/ THIS EVENING FOR NDZ001-009-017-018-031>033-040-041-043-044. && $$ UPDATE...AYD SHORT TERM...KS LONG TERM...KS AVIATION...AYD FIRE WEATHER...KS
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS BISMARCK ND
1232 PM CDT WED APR 13 2016 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 1223 PM CDT WED APR 13 2016 LATEST SATELLITE AND SURFACE OBSERVATIONS SHOW LOW PRESSURE OVER EASTERN MONTANA WITH STRONG PRESSURE FALLS OVER FAR EASTERN MONTANA INTO WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA. WINDS ARE INCREASING OVER WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA WITH MANY OBSERVATIONS SUSTAINED BETWEEN 15 AND 20 MPH. SATELLITE INDICATES MID AND HIGH LEVEL CLOUDS NEARING THE ND BORDER OVER THE SOUTHWEST AND JUST CROSSING THE BORDER IN THE NORTHEAST. AS FAR AS THE RED FLAG WARNING...WILL CONTINUE TO LET IT RIDE. DO THINK WINDS WILL BE SUFFICIENT THIS AFTERNOON. INCREASING CLOUDS MAY HINDER MAX HEATING THIS AFTERNOON. THIS IS INDICATED IN LATEST CONSENSUS OF SHORT TERM MODELS WITH AFTERNOON HIGHS A BIT LOWER THAN FORECAST. WILL STICK WITH OUR FORECAST HIGHS AT THIS TIME AS THESE MODELS QUITE OFTEN UNDER PERFORM WITH AFTERNOON HEATING. AS FOR POPS...UTILIZED A CONSENSUS OF SHORT TERM MODELS FROM 21 UTC THROUGH 03 UTC AND THEN A BLEND OF THIS CONSENSUS WITH PERSISTENCE THROUGH 06 UTC. THIS CONTINUED THE TREND OF SLOWING THINGS DOWN JUST A BIT THROUGH MIDNIGHT. UPDATE ISSUED AT 941 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016 SURFACE LOW PRESSURE OVER EASTERN MONTANA AND HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE DEVILS LATE BASIN IS PRODUCING A MODERATE PRESSURE GRADIENT ACROSS WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA. EXPECT SOUTHEAST WINDS TO PICK UP BY MID TO LATE MORNING AS SURFACE INVERSION BREAKS. VARIOUS HRRR POINT SOUNDINGS INDICATE A GOOD SUSTAINED SOUTHEAST FLOW THIS AFTERNOON AROUND 20 MPH WITH GUST POTENTIAL OF 30 TO 35 MPH. THUS IF WE REALIZE OUR FORECAST HIGH TEMPERATURE POTENTIAL OUR RED FLAG WARNING LOOKS GOOD. WILL CONTINUE THE WARNING AND UPDATE THE HAZARD SHORTLY. LATEST FEW ITERATIONS OF THE RAP/HRRR BRING CONVECTION INTO WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA AROUND 21 UTC AND ARE A LITTLE SLOWER SPREADING CONVECTION TO THE EAST DURING THE EVENING HOURS. MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO SLOW THE EASTWARD EXTENT OF CONVECTION THROUGH 06 UTC. UPDATE ISSUED AT 627 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016 LATEST SATELLITE LOOPS SHOW CLEAR SKIES ACROSS THE REGION AT 6 AM CDT. A COLD FRONT ACROSS EASTERN MONTANA WILL EVENTUALLY MOVE EAST AND WILL BE THE FOCUS FOR SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA THIS AFTERNOON. INCREASING SOUTHERLY WINDS AHEAD OF THIS FRONT WILL BRING WARM AND DRY AIR INTO THE REGION. FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS THIS AFTERNOON WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE FOCUS FOR THIS FORECAST. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 415 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016 CRITICAL TO NEAR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE THE HIGHLIGHT FOR TODAY...WITH A RED FLAG WARNING ISSUED. SEE THE FIRE WEATHER DISCUSSION BELOW. ATTENTION THEN TURNS TO THUNDERSTORM CHANCES FOR THIS AFTERNOON IN THE FAR WEST...THEN EXPANDING EAST ACROSS WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA. CURRENTLY...SURFACE LOW PRESSURE IN THE LEE OF THE ROCKIES WITH A SURFACE TROUGH/FRONT FROM THE SOUTHERN ALBERTA/SASKATCHEWAN BORDER THROUGH CENTRAL MONTANA AND WYOMING. A COOL DRY SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM CENTERED OVER THE GREAT LAKES EXTENDED WESTWARD INTO THE WESTERN DAKOTAS. TEMPERATURES AND DEWPOINTS DROPPED A BIT MORE THAN FORECAST...WHICH IS TELLING OF HOW DRY THIS AIRMASS IS. THE LEE-SIDE TROUGH IS PROGGED TO MOVE EAST TODAY AS A COLD FRONT...REACHING THE WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA BORDER AROUND MID- AFTERNOON. THERE IS ENOUGH MU CAPE FOR THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP ALONG THE TROUGH IN THE AFTERNOON. AT UPPER LEVELS...A RIDGE AXIS MOVES TO WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA THIS MORNING...AND INTO THE EASTERN PORTION OF THE STATE BY THE AFTERNOON. THIS WILL BRING A BROAD SOUTHWEST FETCH INTO THE AREA. THE LEADING EDGE OF THE SHORTWAVE ENERGY MOVING THROUGH THE SOUTHWEST FLOW WILL COINCIDE WITH THE SURFACE COLD FRONT. THERMAL RIDGING AHEAD OF THE FRONT WILL HELP SUPPORT TEMPERATURES INTO THE 70S ACROSS MUCH OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA. THE INSTABILITY ALONG THE FRONT INCREASES ENOUGH THAT WE SHOULD SEE A LITTLE THUNDER WITH ANY CELLS THAT DEVELOP ALONG THE COLD FRONT. THE FRONT MOVES INTO CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA AROUND MIDNIGHT AND THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY TO NORTHWEST MINNESOTA BY 12 UTC THURSDAY...THUS BRINGING SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA TONIGHT. .LONG TERM...(THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY) ISSUED AT 415 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016 A WIDESPREAD WET PERIOD...ESPECIALLY THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY. THURSDAY WILL SEE ONE SURFACE LOW EXITING THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY DURING THE MORNING HOURS. WILL KEEP A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THERE IN THE MORNING. THURSDAY EVENING IS WHEN THE NEXT POTENT SURFACE LOW SHIFTS INTO WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA. THIS WILL RESULT IN PERIODS OF SHOWERS AND CHANCES OF THUNDERSTORMS FOR ALL OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. MOST UNSTABLE CAPE OF 500-1000 J/KG AND STRONG LOW LEVEL SOUTHERLY WINDS AND ADEQUATE 0-6KM SHEAR ACROSS THE SOUTH SHOULD SUPPORT A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS. THESE MAY BE MORE ON THE ELEVATED SIDE GIVEN THE STRONG 850MB WINDS...AND SIGNIFICANT CLOUD COVER LIMITING SURFACE BASED CAPE. AS THE SURFACE LOW SLIDES INTO MINNESOTA FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY...COLDER AIR WILL BE ENTRAINED ACROSS NORTHERN NORTH DAKOTA FOR A POSSIBLE RAIN/SNOW MIX. ANOTHER SURFACE LOW TRACKS FROM EASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA INTO MINNESOTA SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY. TOTAL PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS BETWEEN 0.75 AND 2 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE FROM THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON. MAIN RAINFALL IMPACTS INCLUDE...TEMPORARILY REDUCING THE FIRE DANGER...SIGNIFICANTLY LIMITING OR CANCELLING PRESCRIBED BURNS...LIMITING SPRING FIELD PREPARATIONS...AND POSSIBLE RANCHING/CALVING IMPACTS. BY SUNDAY NIGHT A REX BLOCK HAS DEVELOPED WITH A CUTOFF LOW OVER THE 4-CORNERS AREA AND AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE OVER THE CANADIAN ROCKIES. THIS RESULTS IN DRY SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE NORTHERN PLAINS THAT ESSENTIALLY CUTS OFF ANY APPRECIABLE MOISTURE AND THUS TOOK PRECIPITATION MENTION OUT BEGINNING SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MID-WEEK. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 1223 PM CDT WED APR 13 2016 A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH AND PASS THROUGH WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA BETWEEN 00Z THURSDAY AND 12Z THURSDAY. THROUGH 00Z THURSDAY...CLOUDS AND WINDS WILL INCREASE AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT WITH SOUTHEASTERLY WINDS BECOMING SOUTHWESTERLY BETWEEN 15KT AND 25KT. AN AREA OF RAIN SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ALONG AND JUST BEHIND THE FRONT. A WIND SHIFT BEHIND THE FRONT TO THE NORTHWEST WITH SCT/BKN LOW VFR CIGS ANTICIPATED. HOWEVER AT THIS TIME CIGS SHOULD NOT GET ANY LOWER THAN 3500FT. && .FIRE WEATHER... ISSUED AT 415 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016 RED FLAG WARNING ISSUED FOR TODAY FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA...ALONG AND WEST OF A LINE FROM CROSBY AND TIOGA...TO HALLIDAY...TO MOTT AND HETTINGER. A COLD FRONT IS FORECAST TO MOVE EAST OUT OF MONTANA...REACHING THE WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA BORDER AROUND MID-AFTERNOON. SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL BECOME NORTHWESTERLY BEHIND THE FRONT IN THE MID TO LATE AFTERNOON IN FAR WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA. FORECAST H850 CONDITIONS INCLUDE STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS OF AROUND 30 KNOTS WITH A DRY INTRUSION. THIS IS A GOOD SET UP FOR A MIX-OUT DAY...MEANING INCREASING SOUTHERLY WINDS OF 20-25 MPH FOR MUCH OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA. THE HRRR EXPERIMENTAL AND BCCONSMOS RELATIVE HUMIDITY WAS USED...AS THEY SEEM TO CAPTURE BETTER THE MIX-OUT CONDITIONS WITH THE WARM AND DRY AIR ALOFT. THIS WILL RESULT IN A LARGE AREA OF MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES OF 15 TO 20 PERCENT - MAINLY WEST OF A BISMARCK TO MINOT LINE. THE QUESTION BECOMES HOW LONG WILL THESE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS OF 20 PERCENT RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND AT LEAST 20 MPH WINDS LAST. MOST CONFIDENT IN THE WESTERN COUNTIES RATHER THAN THOSE TOWARDS THE CENTRAL. IN ADDITION...THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE FAR WEST THIS AFTERNOON. GIVEN THE VERY DRY CONDITIONS IN THE LOWER ATMOSPHERE...WOULD EXPECT HIGH-BASED DRY THUNDERSTORMS WITH POTENTIAL FOR DRY LIGHTNING AND GUSTY SURFACE WINDS AROUND ANY THUNDERSTORMS THAT DEVELOP. THEREFORE WILL ISSUE A RED FLAG WARNING ALONG AND WEST OF A LINE FROM CROSBY AND TIOGA...TO HALLIDAY...TO MOTT AND HETTINGER FOR THE AFTERNOON HOURS. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 7 PM CDT /6 PM MDT/ THIS EVENING FOR NDZ001-009-017-018-031>033-040-041-043-044. && $$ UPDATE...TWH SHORT TERM...JV LONG TERM...JV AVIATION...TWH FIRE WEATHER...WAA/JV
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS BISMARCK ND
948 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 941 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016 SURFACE LOW PRESSURE OVER EASTERN MONTANA AND HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE DEVILS LATE BASIN IS PRODUCING A MODERATE PRESSURE GRADIENT ACROSS WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA. EXPECT SOUTHEAST WINDS TO PICK UP BY MID TO LATE MORNING AS SURFACE INVERSION BREAKS. VARIOUS HRRR POINT SOUNDINGS INDICATE A GOOD SUSTAINED SOUTHEAST FLOW THIS AFTERNOON AROUND 20 MPH WITH GUST POTENTIAL OF 30 TO 35 MPH. THUS IF WE REALIZE OUR FORECAST HIGH TEMPERATURE POTENTIAL OUR RED FLAG WARNING LOOKS GOOD. WILL CONTINUE THE WARNING AND UPDATE THE HAZARD SHORTLY. LATEST FEW ITERATIONS OF THE RAP/HRRR BRING CONVECTION INTO WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA AROUND 21 UTC AND ARE A LITTLE SLOWER SPREADING CONVECTION TO THE EAST DURING THE EVENING HOURS. MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO SLOW THE EASTWARD EXTENT OF CONVECTION THROUGH 06 UTC. UPDATE ISSUED AT 627 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016 LATEST SATELLITE LOOPS SHOW CLEAR SKIES ACROSS THE REGION AT 6 AM CDT. A COLD FRONT ACROSS EASTERN MONTANA WILL EVENTUALLY MOVE EAST AND WILL BE THE FOCUS FOR SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA THIS AFTERNOON. INCREASING SOUTHERLY WINDS AHEAD OF THIS FRONT WILL BRING WARM AND DRY AIR INTO THE REGION. FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS THIS AFTERNOON WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE FOCUS FOR THIS FORECAST. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 415 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016 CRITICAL TO NEAR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE THE HIGHLIGHT FOR TODAY...WITH A RED FLAG WARNING ISSUED. SEE THE FIRE WEATHER DISCUSSION BELOW. ATTENTION THEN TURNS TO THUNDERSTORM CHANCES FOR THIS AFTERNOON IN THE FAR WEST...THEN EXPANDING EAST ACROSS WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA. CURRENTLY...SURFACE LOW PRESSURE IN THE LEE OF THE ROCKIES WITH A SURFACE TROUGH/FRONT FROM THE SOUTHERN ALBERTA/SASKATCHEWAN BORDER THROUGH CENTRAL MONTANA AND WYOMING. A COOL DRY SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM CENTERED OVER THE GREAT LAKES EXTENDED WESTWARD INTO THE WESTERN DAKOTAS. TEMPERATURES AND DEWPOINTS DROPPED A BIT MORE THAN FORECAST...WHICH IS TELLING OF HOW DRY THIS AIRMASS IS. THE LEE-SIDE TROUGH IS PROGGED TO MOVE EAST TODAY AS A COLD FRONT...REACHING THE WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA BORDER AROUND MID- AFTERNOON. THERE IS ENOUGH MU CAPE FOR THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP ALONG THE TROUGH IN THE AFTERNOON. AT UPPER LEVELS...A RIDGE AXIS MOVES TO WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA THIS MORNING...AND INTO THE EASTERN PORTION OF THE STATE BY THE AFTERNOON. THIS WILL BRING A BROAD SOUTHWEST FETCH INTO THE AREA. THE LEADING EDGE OF THE SHORTWAVE ENERGY MOVING THROUGH THE SOUTHWEST FLOW WILL COINCIDE WITH THE SURFACE COLD FRONT. THERMAL RIDGING AHEAD OF THE FRONT WILL HELP SUPPORT TEMPERATURES INTO THE 70S ACROSS MUCH OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA. THE INSTABILITY ALONG THE FRONT INCREASES ENOUGH THAT WE SHOULD SEE A LITTLE THUNDER WITH ANY CELLS THAT DEVELOP ALONG THE COLD FRONT. THE FRONT MOVES INTO CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA AROUND MIDNIGHT AND THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY TO NORTHWEST MINNESOTA BY 12 UTC THURSDAY...THUS BRINGING SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA TONIGHT. .LONG TERM...(THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY) ISSUED AT 415 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016 A WIDESPREAD WET PERIOD...ESPECIALLY THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY. THURSDAY WILL SEE ONE SURFACE LOW EXITING THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY DURING THE MORNING HOURS. WILL KEEP A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THERE IN THE MORNING. THURSDAY EVENING IS WHEN THE NEXT POTENT SURFACE LOW SHIFTS INTO WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA. THIS WILL RESULT IN PERIODS OF SHOWERS AND CHANCES OF THUNDERSTORMS FOR ALL OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. MOST UNSTABLE CAPE OF 500-1000 J/KG AND STRONG LOW LEVEL SOUTHERLY WINDS AND ADEQUATE 0-6KM SHEAR ACROSS THE SOUTH SHOULD SUPPORT A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS. THESE MAY BE MORE ON THE ELEVATED SIDE GIVEN THE STRONG 850MB WINDS...AND SIGNIFICANT CLOUD COVER LIMITING SURFACE BASED CAPE. AS THE SURFACE LOW SLIDES INTO MINNESOTA FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY...COLDER AIR WILL BE ENTRAINED ACROSS NORTHERN NORTH DAKOTA FOR A POSSIBLE RAIN/SNOW MIX. ANOTHER SURFACE LOW TRACKS FROM EASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA INTO MINNESOTA SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY. TOTAL PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS BETWEEN 0.75 AND 2 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE FROM THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON. MAIN RAINFALL IMPACTS INCLUDE...TEMPORARILY REDUCING THE FIRE DANGER...SIGNIFICANTLY LIMITING OR CANCELLING PRESCRIBED BURNS...LIMITING SPRING FIELD PREPARATIONS...AND POSSIBLE RANCHING/CALVING IMPACTS. BY SUNDAY NIGHT A REX BLOCK HAS DEVELOPED WITH A CUTOFF LOW OVER THE 4-CORNERS AREA AND AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE OVER THE CANADIAN ROCKIES. THIS RESULTS IN DRY SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE NORTHERN PLAINS THAT ESSENTIALLY CUTS OFF ANY APPRECIABLE MOISTURE AND THUS TOOK PRECIPITATION MENTION OUT BEGINNING SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MID-WEEK. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY MORNING) ISSUED AT 941 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016 HAZARDS TO AVIATION TODAY INCLUDE ISOLATED LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA ALONG WITH GUSTY SOUTHERLY WINDS AROUND 27KTS FROM KISN-KDIK-KBIS. AT 9 AM CDT...A COLD FRONT EXTENDED ACROSS EASTERN MONTANA. AS THE FRONT MOVES EAST TODAY IT WILL BE THE FOCUS FOR SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ACROSS WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA. VFR AT ALL TAF SITES. && .FIRE WEATHER... ISSUED AT 415 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016 RED FLAG WARNING ISSUED FOR TODAY FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA...ALONG AND WEST OF A LINE FROM CROSBY AND TIOGA...TO HALLIDAY...TO MOTT AND HETTINGER. A COLD FRONT IS FORECAST TO MOVE EAST OUT OF MONTANA...REACHING THE WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA BORDER AROUND MID-AFTERNOON. SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL BECOME NORTHWESTERLY BEHIND THE FRONT IN THE MID TO LATE AFTERNOON IN FAR WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA. FORECAST H850 CONDITIONS INCLUDE STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS OF AROUND 30 KNOTS WITH A DRY INTRUSION. THIS IS A GOOD SET UP FOR A MIX-OUT DAY...MEANING INCREASING SOUTHERLY WINDS OF 20-25 MPH FOR MUCH OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA. THE HRRR EXPERIMENTAL AND BCCONSMOS RELATIVE HUMIDITY WAS USED...AS THEY SEEM TO CAPTURE BETTER THE MIX-OUT CONDITIONS WITH THE WARM AND DRY AIR ALOFT. THIS WILL RESULT IN A LARGE AREA OF MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES OF 15 TO 20 PERCENT - MAINLY WEST OF A BISMARCK TO MINOT LINE. THE QUESTION BECOMES HOW LONG WILL THESE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS OF 20 PERCENT RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND AT LEAST 20 MPH WINDS LAST. MOST CONFIDENT IN THE WESTERN COUNTIES RATHER THAN THOSE TOWARDS THE CENTRAL. IN ADDITION...THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE FAR WEST THIS AFTERNOON. GIVEN THE VERY DRY CONDITIONS IN THE LOWER ATMOSPHERE...WOULD EXPECT HIGH-BASED DRY THUNDERSTORMS WITH POTENTIAL FOR DRY LIGHTNING AND GUSTY SURFACE WINDS AROUND ANY THUNDERSTORMS THAT DEVELOP. THEREFORE WILL ISSUE A RED FLAG WARNING ALONG AND WEST OF A LINE FROM CROSBY AND TIOGA...TO HALLIDAY...TO MOTT AND HETTINGER FOR THE AFTERNOON HOURS. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... RED FLAG WARNING FROM 1 PM CDT /NOON MDT/ THIS AFTERNOON TO 7 PM CDT /6 PM MDT/ THIS EVENING FOR NDZ001-009-017-018-031>033-040- 041-043-044. && $$ UPDATE...TWH SHORT TERM...JV LONG TERM...JV AVIATION...TWH FIRE WEATHER...WAA/JV
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS BISMARCK ND
638 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 627 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016 LATEST SATELLITE LOOPS SHOW CLEAR SKIES ACROSS THE REGION AT 6 AM CDT. A COLD FRONT ACROSS EASTERN MONTANA WILL EVENTUALLY MOVE EAST AND WILL BE THE FOCUS FOR SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA THIS AFTERNOON. INCREASING SOUTHERLY WINDS AHEAD OF THIS FRONT WILL BRING WARM AND DRY AIR INTO THE REGION. FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS THIS AFTERNOON WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE FOCUS FOR THIS FORECAST. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 415 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016 CRITICAL TO NEAR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE THE HIGHLIGHT FOR TODAY...WITH A RED FLAG WARNING ISSUED. SEE THE FIRE WEATHER DISCUSSION BELOW. ATTENTION THEN TURNS TO THUNDERSTORM CHANCES FOR THIS AFTERNOON IN THE FAR WEST...THEN EXPANDING EAST ACROSS WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA. CURRENTLY...SURFACE LOW PRESSURE IN THE LEE OF THE ROCKIES WITH A SURFACE TROUGH/FRONT FROM THE SOUTHERN ALBERTA/SASKATCHEWAN BORDER THROUGH CENTRAL MONTANA AND WYOMING. A COOL DRY SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM CENTERED OVER THE GREAT LAKES EXTENDED WESTWARD INTO THE WESTERN DAKOTAS. TEMPERATURES AND DEWPOINTS DROPPED A BIT MORE THAN FORECAST...WHICH IS TELLING OF HOW DRY THIS AIRMASS IS. THE LEE-SIDE TROUGH IS PROGGED TO MOVE EAST TODAY AS A COLD FRONT...REACHING THE WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA BORDER AROUND MID- AFTERNOON. THERE IS ENOUGH MU CAPE FOR THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP ALONG THE TROUGH IN THE AFTERNOON. AT UPPER LEVELS...A RIDGE AXIS MOVES TO WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA THIS MORNING...AND INTO THE EASTERN PORTION OF THE STATE BY THE AFTERNOON. THIS WILL BRING A BROAD SOUTHWEST FETCH INTO THE AREA. THE LEADING EDGE OF THE SHORTWAVE ENERGY MOVING THROUGH THE SOUTHWEST FLOW WILL COINCIDE WITH THE SURFACE COLD FRONT. THERMAL RIDGING AHEAD OF THE FRONT WILL HELP SUPPORT TEMPERATURES INTO THE 70S ACROSS MUCH OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA. THE INSTABILITY ALONG THE FRONT INCREASES ENOUGH THAT WE SHOULD SEE A LITTLE THUNDER WITH ANY CELLS THAT DEVELOP ALONG THE COLD FRONT. THE FRONT MOVES INTO CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA AROUND MIDNIGHT AND THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY TO NORTHWEST MINNESOTA BY 12 UTC THURSDAY...THUS BRINGING SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA TONIGHT. .LONG TERM...(THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY) ISSUED AT 415 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016 A WIDESPREAD WET PERIOD...ESPECIALLY THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY. THURSDAY WILL SEE ONE SURFACE LOW EXITING THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY DURING THE MORNING HOURS. WILL KEEP A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THERE IN THE MORNING. THURSDAY EVENING IS WHEN THE NEXT POTENT SURFACE LOW SHIFTS INTO WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA. THIS WILL RESULT IN PERIODS OF SHOWERS AND CHANCES OF THUNDERSTORMS FOR ALL OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. MOST UNSTABLE CAPE OF 500-1000 J/KG AND STRONG LOW LEVEL SOUTHERLY WINDS AND ADEQUATE 0-6KM SHEAR ACROSS THE SOUTH SHOULD SUPPORT A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS. THESE MAY BE MORE ON THE ELEVATED SIDE GIVEN THE STRONG 850MB WINDS...AND SIGNIFICANT CLOUD COVER LIMITING SURFACE BASED CAPE. AS THE SURFACE LOW SLIDES INTO MINNESOTA FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY...COLDER AIR WILL BE ENTRAINED ACROSS NORTHERN NORTH DAKOTA FOR A POSSIBLE RAIN/SNOW MIX. ANOTHER SURFACE LOW TRACKS FROM EASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA INTO MINNESOTA SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY. TOTAL PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS BETWEEN 0.75 AND 2 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE FROM THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON. MAIN RAINFALL IMPACTS INCLUDE...TEMPORARILY REDUCING THE FIRE DANGER...SIGNIFICANTLY LIMITING OR CANCELLING PRESCRIBED BURNS...LIMITING SPRING FIELD PREPARATIONS...AND POSSIBLE RANCHING/CALVING IMPACTS. BY SUNDAY NIGHT A REX BLOCK HAS DEVELOPED WITH A CUTOFF LOW OVER THE 4-CORNERS AREA AND AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE OVER THE CANADIAN ROCKIES. THIS RESULTS IN DRY SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE NORTHERN PLAINS THAT ESSENTIALLY CUTS OFF ANY APPRECIABLE MOISTURE AND THUS TOOK PRECIPITATION MENTION OUT BEGINNING SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MID-WEEK. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY MORNING) ISSUED AT 627 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016 HAZARDS TO AVIATION TODAY INCLUDE ISOLATED AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA ALONG WITH GUSTY SOUTHERLY WINDS 27KTS FROM KISN-KDIK-KBIS. AT 6 AM CDT...A COLD FRONT EXTENDED ACROSS EASTERN MONTANA. AS THE FRONT MOVES EAST TODAY IT WILL BE THE FOCUS FOR SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ACROSS WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA. VFR AT ALL TAF SITES. && .FIRE WEATHER... ISSUED AT 415 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016 RED FLAG WARNING ISSUED FOR TODAY FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA...ALONG AND WEST OF A LINE FROM CROSBY AND TIOGA...TO HALLIDAY...TO MOTT AND HETTINGER. A COLD FRONT IS FORECAST TO MOVE EAST OUT OF MONTANA...REACHING THE WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA BORDER AROUND MID-AFTERNOON. SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL BECOME NORTHWESTERLY BEHIND THE FRONT IN THE MID TO LATE AFTERNOON IN FAR WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA. FORECAST H850 CONDITIONS INCLUDE STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS OF AROUND 30 KNOTS WITH A DRY INTRUSION. THIS IS A GOOD SET UP FOR A MIX-OUT DAY...MEANING INCREASING SOUTHERLY WINDS OF 20-25 MPH FOR MUCH OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA. THE HRRR EXPERIMENTAL AND BCCONSMOS RELATIVE HUMIDITY WAS USED...AS THEY SEEM TO CAPTURE BETTER THE MIX-OUT CONDITIONS WITH THE WARM AND DRY AIR ALOFT. THIS WILL RESULT IN A LARGE AREA OF MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES OF 15 TO 20 PERCENT - MAINLY WEST OF A BISMARCK TO MINOT LINE. THE QUESTION BECOMES HOW LONG WILL THESE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS OF 20 PERCENT RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND AT LEAST 20 MPH WINDS LAST. MOST CONFIDENT IN THE WESTERN COUNTIES RATHER THAN THOSE TOWARDS THE CENTRAL. IN ADDITION...THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE FAR WEST THIS AFTERNOON. GIVEN THE VERY DRY CONDITIONS IN THE LOWER ATMOSPHERE...WOULD EXPECT HIGH-BASED DRY THUNDERSTORMS WITH POTENTIAL FOR DRY LIGHTNING AND GUSTY SURFACE WINDS AROUND ANY THUNDERSTORMS THAT DEVELOP. THEREFORE WILL ISSUE A RED FLAG WARNING ALONG AND WEST OF A LINE FROM CROSBY AND TIOGA...TO HALLIDAY...TO MOTT AND HETTINGER FOR THE AFTERNOON HOURS. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... RED FLAG WARNING FROM 1 PM CDT /NOON MDT/ THIS AFTERNOON TO 7 PM CDT /6 PM MDT/ THIS EVENING FOR NDZ001-009-017-018-031>033-040- 041-043-044. && $$ UPDATE...WAA SHORT TERM...JV LONG TERM...JV AVIATION...WAA FIRE WEATHER...WAA/JV
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS BISMARCK ND
415 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016 .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 415 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016 CRITICAL TO NEAR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE THE HIGHLIGHT FOR TODAY...WITH A RED FLAG WARNING ISSUED. SEE THE FIRE WEATHER DISCUSSION BELOW. ATTENTION THEN TURNS TO THUNDERSTORM CHANCES FOR THIS AFTERNOON IN THE FAR WEST...THEN EXPANDING EAST ACROSS WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA. CURRENTLY...SURFACE LOW PRESSURE IN THE LEE OF THE ROCKIES WITH A SURFACE TROUGH/FRONT FROM THE SOUTHERN ALBERTA/SASKATCHEWAN BORDER THROUGH CENTRAL MONTANA AND WYOMING. A COOL DRY SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM CENTERED OVER THE GREAT LAKES EXTENDED WESTWARD INTO THE WESTERN DAKOTAS. TEMPERATURES AND DEWPOINTS DROPPED A BIT MORE THAN FORECAST...WHICH IS TELLING OF HOW DRY THIS AIRMASS IS. THE LEE-SIDE TROUGH IS PROGGED TO MOVE EAST TODAY AS A COLD FRONT...REACHING THE WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA BORDER AROUND MID- AFTERNOON. THERE IS ENOUGH MU CAPE FOR THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP ALONG THE TROUGH IN THE AFTERNOON. AT UPPER LEVELS...A RIDGE AXIS MOVES TO WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA THIS MORNING...AND INTO THE EASTERN PORTION OF THE STATE BY THE AFTERNOON. THIS WILL BRING A BROAD SOUTHWEST FETCH INTO THE AREA. THE LEADING EDGE OF THE SHORTWAVE ENERGY MOVING THROUGH THE SOUTHWEST FLOW WILL COINCIDE WITH THE SURFACE COLD FRONT. THERMAL RIDGING AHEAD OF THE FRONT WILL HELP SUPPORT TEMPERATURES INTO THE 70S ACROSS MUCH OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA. THE INSTABILITY ALONG THE FRONT INCREASES ENOUGH THAT WE SHOULD SEE A LITTLE THUNDER WITH ANY CELLS THAT DEVELOP ALONG THE COLD FRONT. THE FRONT MOVES INTO CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA AROUND MIDNIGHT AND THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY TO NORTHWEST MINNESOTA BY 12 UTC THURSDAY...THUS BRINGING SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA TONIGHT. .LONG TERM...(THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY) ISSUED AT 415 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016 A WIDESPREAD WET PERIOD...ESPECIALLY THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY. THURSDAY WILL SEE ONE SURFACE LOW EXITING THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY DURING THE MORNING HOURS. WILL KEEP A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THERE IN THE MORNING. THURSDAY EVENING IS WHEN THE NEXT POTENT SURFACE LOW SHIFTS INTO WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA. THIS WILL RESULT IN PERIODS OF SHOWERS AND CHANCES OF THUNDERSTORMS FOR ALL OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. MOST UNSTABLE CAPE OF 500-1000 J/KG AND STRONG LOW LEVEL SOUTHERLY WINDS AND ADEQUATE 0-6KM SHEAR ACROSS THE SOUTH SHOULD SUPPORT A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS. THESE MAY BE MORE ON THE ELEVATED SIDE GIVEN THE STRONG 850MB WINDS...AND SIGNIFICANT CLOUD COVER LIMITING SURFACE BASED CAPE. AS THE SURFACE LOW SLIDES INTO MINNESOTA FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY...COLDER AIR WILL BE ENTRAINED ACROSS NORTHERN NORTH DAKOTA FOR A POSSIBLE RAIN/SNOW MIX. ANOTHER SURFACE LOW TRACKS FROM EASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA INTO MINNESOTA SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY. TOTAL PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS BETWEEN 0.75 AND 2 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE FROM THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON. MAIN RAINFALL IMPACTS INCLUDE...TEMPORARILY REDUCING THE FIRE DANGER...SIGNIFICANTLY LIMITING OR CANCELLING PRESCRIBED BURNS...LIMITING SPRING FIELD PREPARATIONS...AND POSSIBLE RANCHING/CALVING IMPACTS. BY SUNDAY NIGHT A REX BLOCK HAS DEVELOPED WITH A CUTOFF LOW OVER THE 4-CORNERS AREA AND AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE OVER THE CANADIAN ROCKIES. THIS RESULTS IN DRY SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE NORTHERN PLAINS THAT ESSENTIALLY CUTS OFF ANY APPRECIABLE MOISTURE AND THUS TOOK PRECIPITATION MENTION OUT BEGINNING SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MID-WEEK. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY MORNING) ISSUED AT 415 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016 AT 4 AM CDT...A COLD FRONT EXTENDED ACROSS CENTRAL MONTANA AND IS FORECAST TO MOVE EAST TO CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA BY WEDNESDAY EVENING. THE FRONT WILL BE THE FOCUS FOR SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA LATE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. GUSTY SOUTHERLY WINDS AROUND 25KTS EXPECTED TO PRECEDE THE FRONTAL PASSAGE ACROSS KDIK-KMOT-KISN AFTER 18Z. VFR ALL TAF SITES. && .FIRE WEATHER... ISSUED AT 415 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016 RED FLAG WARNING ISSUED FOR TODAY FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA...ALONG AND WEST OF A LINE FROM CROSBY AND TIOGA...TO HALLIDAY...TO MOTT AND HETTINGER. A COLD FRONT IS FORECAST TO MOVE EAST OUT OF MONTANA...REACHING THE WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA BORDER AROUND MID-AFTERNOON. SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL BECOME NORTHWESTERLY BEHIND THE FRONT IN THE MID TO LATE AFTERNOON IN FAR WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA. FORECAST H850 CONDITIONS INCLUDE STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS OF AROUND 30 KNOTS WITH A DRY INTRUSION. THIS IS A GOOD SET UP FOR A MIX-OUT DAY...MEANING INCREASING SOUTHERLY WINDS OF 20-25 MPH FOR MUCH OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA. THE HRRR EXPERIMENTAL AND BCCONSMOS RELATIVE HUMIDITY WAS USED...AS THEY SEEM TO CAPTURE BETTER THE MIX-OUT CONDITIONS WITH THE WARM AND DRY AIR ALOFT. THIS WILL RESULT IN A LARGE AREA OF MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES OF 15 TO 20 PERCENT - MAINLY WEST OF A BISMARCK TO MINOT LINE. THE QUESTION BECOMES HOW LONG WILL THESE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS OF 20 PERCENT RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND AT LEAST 20 MPH WINDS LAST. MOST CONFIDENT IN THE WESTERN COUNTIES RATHER THAN THOSE TOWARDS THE CENTRAL. IN ADDITION...THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE FAR WEST THIS AFTERNOON. GIVEN THE VERY DRY CONDITIONS IN THE LOWER ATMOSPHERE...WOULD EXPECT HIGH-BASED DRY THUNDERSTORMS WITH POTENTIAL FOR DRY LIGHTNING AND GUSTY SURFACE WINDS AROUND ANY THUNDERSTORMS THAT DEVELOP. THEREFORE WILL ISSUE A RED FLAG WARNING ALONG AND WEST OF A LINE FROM CROSBY AND TIOGA...TO HALLIDAY...TO MOTT AND HETTINGER FOR THE AFTERNOON HOURS. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... RED FLAG WARNING FROM 1 PM CDT /NOON MDT/ THIS AFTERNOON TO 7 PM CDT /6 PM MDT/ THIS EVENING FOR NDZ001-009-017-018-031>033-040- 041-043-044. && $$ SHORT TERM...JV LONG TERM...JV AVIATION...WAA FIRE WEATHER...WAA/JV
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS NORMAN OK
1234 PM CDT WED APR 13 2016 .DISCUSSION... THE 18Z AVIATION DISCUSSION FOLLOWS.... && .AVIATION... A MESSY CLOUD PATTERN WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE RULE THROUGH THE PERIOD ACROSS OK/N TX. MULTIPLE SCT/BKN LAYERS WILL RESULT IN FREQUENT SIGNIFICANT VARIATIONS IN CEILING HEIGHTS...ALTHOUGH THE GENERAL TREND THIS AFTERNOON WILL BE SLOWLY TOWARD IMPROVEMENT. LIGHT WINDS...RECENT RAINFALL...AND LOTS OF LOW-LEVEL MOISTURE SUGGEST EITHER BR/FG OR LOW CEILINGS...OR BOTH...OVERNIGHT AT ALMOST ALL SITES. VISIBILITIES MAY DROP BELOW 1/2 MI AT SOME SITES...BUT THERE IS NOT YET SUFFICIENT CONFIDENCE IN SUCH A FORECAST TO INCLUDE IT IN ANY TAFS. IMPROVEMENT WILL BEGIN WITHIN A COUPLE OF HOURS AFTER SUNRISE. CMS && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1206 PM CDT WED APR 13 2016/ UPDATE... LOWERED AFTERNOON HIGHS IN MANY LOCATIONS...ESPECIALLY SOUTHEAST OF I-44. ADJUSTED RAIN CHANCES THIS AFTERNOON. ADDED PATCHY FOG MENTION TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY MORNING. DISCUSSION... LIGHT RAIN WILL SLOWLY END ACROSS THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON WITH THE HIGHEST CHANCES SOUTHEAST OF I-44. LATEST RADARS INDICATED LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN SHOWERS SOUTHEAST OF A WICHITA FALLS TO NORMAN TO CHANDLER LINE. THESE SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE EAST THIS AFTERNOON. A FEW SLOW MOVING SHOWERS HAVE FORMED FROM NEAR HOBART TO WATONGA. THUS...ADJUSTED RAIN CHANCES TO ACCOUNT FOR THIS. MOST LOCATIONS NORTHWEST OF I-44 WILL REMAIN DRY THIS AFTERNOON. CLOUDS AND RAIN HAVE LIMITED HEATING SO FAR ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA. THUS...HIGHS WERE ADJUSTED SLIGHTLY. STILL...ANY SUNSHINE COULD QUICKLY WARM THE AIR UP THIS AFTERNOON. WITH ABUNDANT LOW LEVEL MOISTURE IN THE AREA FROM RAIN TODAY...THINK FOG FORMATION TONIGHT WILL OCCUR ACROSS THE AREA. SOME OF WHICH...COULD BECOME LOCALLY DENSE. THUS...ADDED MENTION TO THE FORECAST LATE TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY MORNING. PRODUCTS HAVE BEEN UPDATED. MBS PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 904 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016/ UPDATE... ADJUSTED RAIN CHANCES THIS MORNING...MAINLY TO LOWER THEM WEST OF A ENID TO OKLAHOMA CITY TO WICHITA FALLS LINE...AND THEN TO INCREASE THEM EAST OF THIS LINE. OTHER ELEMENTS INCLUDING SKY COVER WERE TWEAKED AS WELL. DISCUSSION... LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN WILL CONTINUE FOR THE REST OF THIS MORNING EAST OF THE LINE MENTIONED ABOVE. MADE THE CHANGES ABOVE BASED ON LATEST RADARS AND HRRR MODEL GUIDANCE. MOST...IF NOT ALL...RAIN HAS ENDED NEAR THE ENID...OKLAHOMA CITY...AND WICHITA FALLS AREAS...AND POINTS WEST THE THE DEEPER MOISTURE AND STRONGER LIFT HAVE PUSHED FARTHER EAST. THE NEXT FEW HOURS WILL BE WET NEAR DUNCAN... ARDMORE...ADA...PAULS VALLEY...ATOKA...AND DURANT. CANNOT COMPLETELY RULE OUT THUNDER IN THESE AREAS WITH LATEST RAP13 MUCAPE DEPICTING 100-250 J/KG. NO STRONG OR SEVERE STORMS ARE EXPECTED. COVER COVER SHOULD DECREASE THROUGH THE DAY IN MANY AREAS...SO WENT A BIT MORE OPTIMISTIC WITH MORE SUN THIS AFTERNOON. DID NOT ALTER FORECAST HIGHS TODAY...THOUGH WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF THEY ARE A BIT TOO COOL...ESPECIALLY IN WESTERN AND NORTHERN OKLAHOMA. PRODUCTS HAVE BEEN UPDATED. MBS PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 635 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016/ AVIATION... SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS WILL IMPACT OKC/OUN/LAW/SPS SITES WITH IFR TO MVFR CEILINGS THIS MORNING. MOST OF THE PRECIPITATION ACROSS WESTERN OKLAHOMA WILL END BY 14Z BUT WILL LINGER IN CENTRAL OK (OKC/OUN) THROUGH 16Z. SHOWERS MAY ALSO REACH PNC WITH MVFR CEILINGS POSSIBLE. CEILINGS WILL IMPROVE FROM LATE MORNING THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. LATE THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT... AREAS OF FOG OR LOW CLOUDS WILL REFORM. PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 345 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016/ DISCUSSION... SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS LIGHT SHOWERS ARE REDEVELOPING EARLY THIS MORNING ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA AND WESTERN NORTH TEXAS. BY SUNRISE...EXPECT THIS AREA OF PRECIPITATION TO MOVE INTO CENTRAL PARTS OF OKLAHOMA AS A MID-LEVEL LOW OVER THE TEXAS PANHANDLE MOVES SLOWLY EASTWARD. MOST OF THE RAIN WILL END BY EVENING...HOWEVER... SCATTERED SHOWERS SHOULD LINGER ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA DURING THE AFTERNOON. SHORTWAVE RIDGING TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY WILL BRING MAINLY DRY WEATHER. A TROUGH WILL MOVE FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST INTO THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN ROCKIES FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY. RIDGING DOWNSTREAM WILL RESULT IN A CLOSED/CUTOFF LOW BY THE WEEKEND. FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO FORM OVER THE HIGH PLAINS WITHIN A MODERATELY UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE. DRY MID-LEVEL AIR AND A SOUTHWESTERLY COMPONENT SHOULD RESULT IN SOME STORMS MOVING INTO WESTERN OKLAHOMA MAINLY DURING THE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. OVER THE WEEKEND...THE FLOW WILL BECOME MERIDIONAL WITH INCREASING LOW AND MID-LEVEL MOISTURE. THIS MAY RESULT IN THE BULK OF THE RAIN AND STORMS REMAINING OVER THE WESTERN THIRD OF THE FORECAST AREA ON SATURDAY. BETTER RAIN AND STORM CHANCES WILL SHIFT EASTWARD INTO CENTRAL AND EASTERN OKLAHOMA SUNDAY INTO MONDAY. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... OKLAHOMA CITY OK 64 48 73 52 / 30 0 0 0 HOBART OK 66 49 74 53 / 20 10 10 0 WICHITA FALLS TX 65 49 76 53 / 40 10 0 0 GAGE OK 73 47 74 53 / 10 0 0 10 PONCA CITY OK 67 44 74 50 / 20 0 0 0 DURANT OK 64 51 74 53 / 100 10 0 0 && .OUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OK...NONE. TX...NONE. && $$ 17/23/23
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NWS NORMAN OK
1206 PM CDT WED APR 13 2016 .UPDATE... LOWERED AFTERNOON HIGHS IN MANY LOCATIONS...ESPECIALLY SOUTHEAST OF I-44. ADJUSTED RAIN CHANCES THIS AFTERNOON. ADDED PATCHY FOG MENTION TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY MORNING. && .DISCUSSION... LIGHT RAIN WILL SLOWLY END ACROSS THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON WITH THE HIGHEST CHANCES SOUTHEAST OF I-44. LATEST RADARS INDICATED LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN SHOWERS SOUTHEAST OF A WICHITA FALLS TO NORMAN TO CHANDLER LINE. THESE SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE EAST THIS AFTERNOON. A FEW SLOW MOVING SHOWERS HAVE FORMED FROM NEAR HOBART TO WATONGA. THUS...ADJUSTED RAIN CHANCES TO ACCOUNT FOR THIS. MOST LOCATIONS NORTHWEST OF I-44 WILL REMAIN DRY THIS AFTERNOON. CLOUDS AND RAIN HAVE LIMITED HEATING SO FAR ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA. THUS...HIGHS WERE ADJUSTED SLIGHTLY. STILL...ANY SUNSHINE COULD QUICKLY WARM THE AIR UP THIS AFTERNOON. WITH ABUNDANT LOW LEVEL MOISTURE IN THE AREA FROM RAIN TODAY...THINK FOG FORMATION TONIGHT WILL OCCUR ACROSS THE AREA. SOME OF WHICH...COULD BECOME LOCALLY DENSE. THUS...ADDED MENTION TO THE FORECAST LATE TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY MORNING. PRODUCTS HAVE BEEN UPDATED. MBS && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 904 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016/ UPDATE... ADJUSTED RAIN CHANCES THIS MORNING...MAINLY TO LOWER THEM WEST OF A ENID TO OKLAHOMA CITY TO WICHITA FALLS LINE...AND THEN TO INCREASE THEM EAST OF THIS LINE. OTHER ELEMENTS INCLUDING SKY COVER WERE TWEAKED AS WELL. DISCUSSION... LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN WILL CONTINUE FOR THE REST OF THIS MORNING EAST OF THE LINE MENTIONED ABOVE. MADE THE CHANGES ABOVE BASED ON LATEST RADARS AND HRRR MODEL GUIDANCE. MOST...IF NOT ALL...RAIN HAS ENDED NEAR THE ENID...OKLAHOMA CITY...AND WICHITA FALLS AREAS...AND POINTS WEST THE THE DEEPER MOISTURE AND STRONGER LIFT HAVE PUSHED FARTHER EAST. THE NEXT FEW HOURS WILL BE WET NEAR DUNCAN... ARDMORE...ADA...PAULS VALLEY...ATOKA...AND DURANT. CANNOT COMPLETELY RULE OUT THUNDER IN THESE AREAS WITH LATEST RAP13 MUCAPE DEPICTING 100-250 J/KG. NO STRONG OR SEVERE STORMS ARE EXPECTED. COVER COVER SHOULD DECREASE THROUGH THE DAY IN MANY AREAS...SO WENT A BIT MORE OPTIMISTIC WITH MORE SUN THIS AFTERNOON. DID NOT ALTER FORECAST HIGHS TODAY...THOUGH WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF THEY ARE A BIT TOO COOL...ESPECIALLY IN WESTERN AND NORTHERN OKLAHOMA. PRODUCTS HAVE BEEN UPDATED. MBS PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 635 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016/ AVIATION... SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS WILL IMPACT OKC/OUN/LAW/SPS SITES WITH IFR TO MVFR CEILINGS THIS MORNING. MOST OF THE PRECIPITATION ACROSS WESTERN OKLAHOMA WILL END BY 14Z BUT WILL LINGER IN CENTRAL OK (OKC/OUN) THROUGH 16Z. SHOWERS MAY ALSO REACH PNC WITH MVFR CEILINGS POSSIBLE. CEILINGS WILL IMPROVE FROM LATE MORNING THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. LATE THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT... AREAS OF FOG OR LOW CLOUDS WILL REFORM. PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 345 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016/ DISCUSSION... SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS LIGHT SHOWERS ARE REDEVELOPING EARLY THIS MORNING ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA AND WESTERN NORTH TEXAS. BY SUNRISE...EXPECT THIS AREA OF PRECIPITATION TO MOVE INTO CENTRAL PARTS OF OKLAHOMA AS A MID-LEVEL LOW OVER THE TEXAS PANHANDLE MOVES SLOWLY EASTWARD. MOST OF THE RAIN WILL END BY EVENING...HOWEVER... SCATTERED SHOWERS SHOULD LINGER ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA DURING THE AFTERNOON. SHORTWAVE RIDGING TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY WILL BRING MAINLY DRY WEATHER. A TROUGH WILL MOVE FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST INTO THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN ROCKIES FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY. RIDGING DOWNSTREAM WILL RESULT IN A CLOSED/CUTOFF LOW BY THE WEEKEND. FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO FORM OVER THE HIGH PLAINS WITHIN A MODERATELY UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE. DRY MID-LEVEL AIR AND A SOUTHWESTERLY COMPONENT SHOULD RESULT IN SOME STORMS MOVING INTO WESTERN OKLAHOMA MAINLY DURING THE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. OVER THE WEEKEND...THE FLOW WILL BECOME MERIDIONAL WITH INCREASING LOW AND MID-LEVEL MOISTURE. THIS MAY RESULT IN THE BULK OF THE RAIN AND STORMS REMAINING OVER THE WESTERN THIRD OF THE FORECAST AREA ON SATURDAY. BETTER RAIN AND STORM CHANCES WILL SHIFT EASTWARD INTO CENTRAL AND EASTERN OKLAHOMA SUNDAY INTO MONDAY. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... OKLAHOMA CITY OK 66 48 73 52 / 20 0 0 0 HOBART OK 66 49 74 53 / 20 10 10 0 WICHITA FALLS TX 65 49 76 53 / 20 10 0 0 GAGE OK 73 47 74 53 / 10 0 0 10 PONCA CITY OK 67 44 74 50 / 20 0 0 0 DURANT OK 64 51 74 53 / 100 10 0 0 && .OUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OK...NONE. TX...NONE. && $$ 17/23
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NWS NORMAN OK
904 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016 .UPDATE... ADJUSTED RAIN CHANCES THIS MORNING...MAINLY TO LOWER THEM WEST OF A ENID TO OKLAHOMA CITY TO WICHITA FALLS LINE...AND THEN TO INCREASE THEM EAST OF THIS LINE. OTHER ELEMENTS INCLUDING SKY COVER WERE TWEAKED AS WELL. && .DISCUSSION... LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN WILL CONTINUE FOR THE REST OF THIS MORNING EAST OF THE LINE MENTIONED ABOVE. MADE THE CHANGES ABOVE BASED ON LATEST RADARS AND HRRR MODEL GUIDANCE. MOST...IF NOT ALL...RAIN HAS ENDED NEAR THE ENID...OKLAHOMA CITY...AND WICHITA FALLS AREAS...AND POINTS WEST THE THE DEEPER MOISTURE AND STRONGER LIFT HAVE PUSHED FARTHER EAST. THE NEXT FEW HOURS WILL BE WET NEAR DUNCAN... ARDMORE...ADA...PAULS VALLEY...ATOKA...AND DURANT. CANNOT COMPLETELY RULE OUT THUNDER IN THESE AREAS WITH LATEST RAP13 MUCAPE DEPICTING 100-250 J/KG. NO STRONG OR SEVERE STORMS ARE EXPECTED. COVER COVER SHOULD DECREASE THROUGH THE DAY IN MANY AREAS...SO WENT A BIT MORE OPTIMISTIC WITH MORE SUN THIS AFTERNOON. DID NOT ALTER FORECAST HIGHS TODAY...THOUGH WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF THEY ARE A BIT TOO COOL...ESPECIALLY IN WESTERN AND NORTHERN OKLAHOMA. PRODUCTS HAVE BEEN UPDATED. MBS && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 635 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016/ AVIATION... SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS WILL IMPACT OKC/OUN/LAW/SPS SITES WITH IFR TO MVFR CEILINGS THIS MORNING. MOST OF THE PRECIPITATION ACROSS WESTERN OKLAHOMA WILL END BY 14Z BUT WILL LINGER IN CENTRAL OK (OKC/OUN) THROUGH 16Z. SHOWERS MAY ALSO REACH PNC WITH MVFR CEILINGS POSSIBLE. CEILINGS WILL IMPROVE FROM LATE MORNING THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. LATE THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT... AREAS OF FOG OR LOW CLOUDS WILL REFORM. PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 345 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016/ DISCUSSION... SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS LIGHT SHOWERS ARE REDEVELOPING EARLY THIS MORNING ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA AND WESTERN NORTH TEXAS. BY SUNRISE...EXPECT THIS AREA OF PRECIPITATION TO MOVE INTO CENTRAL PARTS OF OKLAHOMA AS A MID-LEVEL LOW OVER THE TEXAS PANHANDLE MOVES SLOWLY EASTWARD. MOST OF THE RAIN WILL END BY EVENING...HOWEVER... SCATTERED SHOWERS SHOULD LINGER ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA DURING THE AFTERNOON. SHORTWAVE RIDGING TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY WILL BRING MAINLY DRY WEATHER. A TROUGH WILL MOVE FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST INTO THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN ROCKIES FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY. RIDGING DOWNSTREAM WILL RESULT IN A CLOSED/CUTOFF LOW BY THE WEEKEND. FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO FORM OVER THE HIGH PLAINS WITHIN A MODERATELY UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE. DRY MID-LEVEL AIR AND A SOUTHWESTERLY COMPONENT SHOULD RESULT IN SOME STORMS MOVING INTO WESTERN OKLAHOMA MAINLY DURING THE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. OVER THE WEEKEND...THE FLOW WILL BECOME MERIDIONAL WITH INCREASING LOW AND MID-LEVEL MOISTURE. THIS MAY RESULT IN THE BULK OF THE RAIN AND STORMS REMAINING OVER THE WESTERN THIRD OF THE FORECAST AREA ON SATURDAY. BETTER RAIN AND STORM CHANCES WILL SHIFT EASTWARD INTO CENTRAL AND EASTERN OKLAHOMA SUNDAY INTO MONDAY. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... OKLAHOMA CITY OK 65 48 73 52 / 30 0 0 0 HOBART OK 67 49 74 53 / 10 10 10 0 WICHITA FALLS TX 68 49 76 53 / 40 10 0 0 GAGE OK 72 47 74 53 / 10 0 0 10 PONCA CITY OK 68 44 74 50 / 20 0 0 0 DURANT OK 67 51 74 53 / 80 10 0 0 && .OUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OK...NONE. TX...NONE. && $$ 17/23
SEE BELOW FOR AN UPDATED AVIATION FORECAST DISCUSSION.

&& .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 257 PM CDT THU APR 14 2016 SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT SUPPORTING ELEVATED CONVECTION ATOP A VERY WARM AIR MASS. WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE 70S/80S AND DEW POINTS ONLY IN THE 40S...AND BASES AROUND 10KFT...SUCH A DEEP EVAPORATION LAYER LEADS ME TO BELIEVE WE WILL ONLY SEE THE ODD SPRINKLE AT THE SURFACE. THAT SAID...THE NAMDNG AND HRRR SIMULATE DEEPER CONVECTION DEVELOPING IN NORTH CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA/SOUTHERN NORTH DAKOTA LATER THIS AFTERNOON AS THE FIRST SUBTLE WAVE EJECTS OUT OF NORTHERN WYOMING IN SOUTHWEST FLOW. ANY CONVECTION WILL REMAIN ELEVATED...LIMITING MOISTURE POTENTIAL. THE REST OF THE FORECAST WILL BE DOMINATED BY THE BROAD UPPER LOW THAT SITS AND SPINS OVER THE INTERMOUNTAIN WEST. THIS FEATURE WILL EJECT A SECOND WAVE NORTHWARDS OVERNIGHT. WHILE THERE IS LITTLE UPPER SUPPORT...A STALLED FRONT/INVERTED SURFACE TROF WILL PROVIDE THE FOCUS FOR CONVECTION AS A 50KT LOW LEVEL JET FORMS OVER THE PLAINS.CAPE VALUES WILL RANGE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 400 AND 1000 J/KG...WITH PWATS EXCEEDING 1 INCH. CONVECTION WILL LIKELY MOVE NORTH/NORTHEAST...SO THE MAIN REGION RECEIVING MOISTURE OVERNIGHT IS WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA. THE NEXT WEAK WAVE DRIFTS ACROSS CENTRAL AND EASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA LATE FRIDAY. NOT MUCH LIFT WITH THIS FEATURE...A LOCAL BULLSEYE OF AROUND 15 MICROBARS...SO SOME SPOTTY LIGHT PRECIPITATION COULD ADVECT INTO EASTERN COUNTIES BUT WITH LITTLE IF ANY MUCAPE CONVECTION WILL BE RATHER WEAK. A MORE IMPRESSIVE WAVE TO THE SOUTH WILL PROBABLY BE THE DOMINANT FEATURE THANKS TO DIFFLUENT FLOW ALOFT. PROFILES REMAIN MOIST ADIABATIC BUT WITH SOME ELEVATED CAPE...AND PWATS NEARING 3 STANDARD DEVIATIONS ABOVE CLIMO. SREF PROBABILITIES FOR A HALF TO 1 INCH ARE BETWEEN 70 AND 30 PERCENT RESPECTIVELY...WITH THE FOCUS REMAINING ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA AND EXTENDING NORTH/NORTHEAST WHILE VALUES DROP. THE FINAL SURGE IN MOISTURE AHEAD OF THE LAST WAVE IS EXPECTED FOR LATE SATURDAY. WHILE PROFILES ARE COOLER...MUCH OF THE CWA WILL REMAIN MILD ENOUGH FOR RAIN...WHICH SHOULD BE BECOMING LESS INTENSE AS IT HEADS INTO THE CWA AS THE WAVE IS EXPECTED TO WEAKEN. .LONG TERM...(SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY) ISSUED AT 257 PM CDT THU APR 14 2016 A DEEP UPPER LEVEL TROUGH OVER THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION WILL TRANSITION TO A CUTOFF LOW OVER THE FOUR CORNERS AREA ON SUNDAY...WITH WEAK RIDGING SETTING UP OVER THE NORTHERN PLAINS. AT THE SURFACE...AN INVERTED TROUGH WILL EXTEND FROM TEXAS TO NORTHWESTERN WISCONSIN SUNDAY MORNING...WITH PRECIPITATION BEHIND IT LINGERING OVER PARTS OF THE CWA. THE BIG QUESTION BECOMES HOW QUICKLY THE PRECIPITATION EXITS THE AREA AS HIGH PRESSURE DROPS IN FROM THE NORTH. THE GFS IS SLOWER WITH THIS THAN THE ECMWF...SO WILL STICK WITH GENERAL BLEND AND KEEP A CHANCE GOING SUNDAY AND MONDAY BEFORE PUSHING THE PRECIPITATION SOUTH ON TUESDAY AND OUT OF THE AREA TUESDAY NIGHT. THE REMAINDER OF THE PERIOD WILL BE DRY UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE SURFACE HIGH. WITH ABUNDANT CLOUD COVER AND POTENTIAL PRECIPITATION...TEMPERATURES WILL BE A BIT COOL EARLY IN THE PERIOD...WITH HIGHS MAINLY IN THE 50S SUNDAY AND MONDAY. WILL THEN SEE A GRADUAL WARMING TREND WITH HIGHS IN THE 60S TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY...AND IN THE UPPER 60S TO LOWER 70S ON THURSDAY. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY EVENING) ISSUED AT 621 PM CDT THU APR 14 2016 VFR FLYING WEATHER SHOULD PREVAIL FOR MUCH OF THE TAF VALID PERIOD. MEANWHILE...ONE ROUND OF DISSIPATING SHOWERS IS WORKING THROUGH THE KMBG REGION...WITH A SECOND DECENT BATCH OF SHOWERS AND EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AND LIFT NORTH THROUGH AT LEAST THE KPIR TERMINAL LATER TONIGHT...PROBABLY THE KMBG TERMINAL AS WELL. PLENTY OF LOW LEVEL MOISTURE ADVECTION ONGOING TONIGHT WITHIN A STRONG SOUTHERLY LOW LEVEL JET. SO...CONVECTION MAY BE ABLE TO EXTEND AS FAR EAST AS THE KABR TERMINAL BY FRIDAY MORNING. KATY WILL PROBABLY BE DRY THROUGH THE ENTIRE TAF VALID PERIOD. CAN`T RULE OUT SOME MVFR STRATUS DEVELOPMENT BEHIND ANY SHOWERS THAT DEVELOP OVERNIGHT IN THE RAIN-COOLED BOUNDARY LAYER AIR. SOMETHING THAT WILL BE MONITORED FOR. && .ABR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...NONE. MN...NONE. && $$ UPDATE...DORN SHORT TERM...CONNELLY LONG TERM...PARKIN AVIATION...DORN
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MEMPHIS TN
1248 PM CDT WED APR 13 2016 .UPDATE... UPDATED TO ADD 18Z AVIATION DISCUSSION. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1125 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016/ DISCUSSION... THICK MID AND HIGH CLOUDS HAVE SPREAD ACROSS THE AS AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE MOVES ALONG THE GULF COAST AND A WEAK UPPER LOW TRACKS EAST ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PLAINS. 88D PICKING UP A FEW ECHOES OVER THE DELTA SW OF MEMPHIS BUT PRECIP IS PROBABLY NOT REACHING THE GROUND YET. GIVEN THE LATEST DATA THE CURRENT LOW POP FORECAST ACROSS NORTH MISSISSIPPI...THE MEMPHIS METRO AND EAST ARKANSAS THIS AFTERNOON LOOKS FINE. WILL TRIM TEMPS A BIT ACROSS WEST TN AND NORTH MS GIVEN CLOUDS AND COOL NE SURFACE FLOW. SJM PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 245 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016/ CURRENT SFC ANALYSIS SHOWS A STALLED FRONT STRETCHING FROM SOUTH TEXAS ALONG THE GULF COAST WHILE SFC HIGH PRESSURE IS LOCATED ACROSS THE OHIO VALLEY. LIGHT NORTHERLY WINDS ARE OCCURRING ACROSS THE MIDSOUTH WITH CURRENT TEMPERATURES RANGING FROM THE MID 40S TO THE MID 50S. A SFC LOW IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ALONG THE STALLED FRONT TODAY. HOWEVER...MODELS ARE ABOUT 24 HOURS SLOWER AND FURTHER SOUTH WITH THE PROGRESSION OF THE SFC LOW THAN LAST NIGHTS RUNS. AS A RESULT...HAVE TRIMMED POPS ACROSS NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI TO SLIGHT CHANCE. HOWEVER...HAVE INTRODUCED 20 POPS ACROSS EASTERN ARKANSAS AS AN UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE INTO NORTHWEST ARKANSAS THIS AFTERNOON. THE LATEST HRRR SHOWS SOME LIGHT SHOWERS COULD AFFECT PORTIONS OF EASTERN ARKANSAS LATER TODAY. BETWEEN THE UPPER LEVEL LOW AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SFC LOW ALONG THE STALLED FRONT...ABUNDANT CLOUD COVER WILL MOVE INTO THE MIDSOUTH BY THIS AFTERNOON. HIGHS WILL BE IN THE MID TO UPPER 60S. TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY... THE SFC LOW TRACKING ALONG THE STALLED FRONT WILL BRING CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS TO NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI AND AREAS OF WEST TENNESSEE NEAR THE TENNESSEE RIVER. WILL CARRY LIKELY POPS FOR THESE AREAS WITH CHANCE POPS ELSEWHERE AS THE UPPER LEVEL LOW BEGINS TO MOVE INTO THE MIDSOUTH. THE UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL MEANDER OVER THE MIDSOUTH THURSDAY NIGHT AS THE LOW BECOMES TRAPPED UNDERNEATH A BUILDING UPPER RIDGE. CHANCES FOR SHOWERS WILL OCCUR ACROSS THE ENTIRE MIDSOUTH. HOWEVER...PINPOINTING WHAT AREA HAS THE BEST CHANCE IS DIFFICULT AT THIS POINT. WILL CARRY 40 POPS ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA FOR NOW. SOME AREAS WILL SEE RAIN WHILE OTHERS MAY SEE NOTHING. BY FRIDAY...THE UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL BEGIN DRIFTING TO THE SOUTHEAST DIMINISHING RAIN CHANCES ACROSS THE AREA. WILL KEEP 20S FOR SOUTHEASTERN AREAS ON FRIDAY BUT BY FRIDAY NIGHT EXPECT THE LOW TO BE FAR ENOUGH TO THE SOUTHEAST THAT RAIN FREE CONDITIONS SHOULD PREVAIL ACROSS THE ENTIRE CWA. HIGHS WILL RANGE FROM THE MID 60S TO LOWER 70S THURSDAY AND FRIDAY WITH LOWS IN THE LOWER TO MID 50S. OVER THE WEEKEND...A STRONG UPPER RIDGE SETS UP OVER THE EASTERN HALF OF THE UNITED STATES. TEMPERATURES WILL WARM BACK INTO THE 70S FOR HIGHS. RAIN FREE CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL AND CLOUD COVER ACROSS THE AREA SHOULD GRADUALLY DIMINISH OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEKEND. MODELS ARE STILL IN DISAGREEMENT WITH EARLY NEXT WEEK AS NOW THE GFS IS A LITTLE FASTER WITH THE BREAK DOWN OF THE UPPER RIDGE THAN THE ECMWF. LAST NIGHT THE MODEL SOLUTIONS WERE REVERSED. HAVE TRIMMED POPS FOR MONDAY AS DON/T REALLY SEE THE RIDGE BREAKING DOWN AS FAST AS THE GFS IS INDICATING. REALLY THINK THE EARLIEST RAIN CHANCES WOULD START WOULD BE MONDAY NIGHT BUT IT MIGHT REALLY BE TUESDAY. KRM && .AVIATION... 18Z TAF CYCLE UPPER LEVEL LOW OVER THE SOUTHERN PLAINS WILL MOVE INTO THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY MORNING. VFR CONDITIONS ARE ANTICIPATED TO DETERIORATE TO MVFR CONDITIONS LATE TONIGHT TOWARDS SUNRISE THURSDAY...AND PERHAPS DOWN TO IFR CONDITIONS AT TUP THURSDAY MORNING. BEST CHANCES FOR SHRA ARE ANTICIPATED TO BE AFTER 14/12Z. CJC && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...NONE. MO...NONE. MS...NONE. TN...NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MEMPHIS TN
1125 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016 .DISCUSSION... THICK MID AND HIGH CLOUDS HAVE SPREAD ACROSS THE AS AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE MOVES ALONG THE GULF COAST AND A WEAK UPPER LOW TRACKS EAST ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PLAINS. 88D PICKING UP A FEW ECHOES OVER THE DELTA SW OF MEMPHIS BUT PRECIP IS PROBABLY NOT REACHING THE GROUND YET. GIVEN THE LATEST DATA THE CURRENT LOW POP FORECAST ACROSS NORTH MISSISSIPPI...THE MEMPHIS METRO AND EAST ARKANSAS THIS AFTERNOON LOOKS FINE. WILL TRIM TEMPS A BIT ACROSS WEST TN AND NORTH MS GIVEN CLOUDS AND COOL NE SURFACE FLOW. SJM && PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 245 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016/ CURRENT SFC ANALYSIS SHOWS A STALLED FRONT STRETCHING FROM SOUTH TEXAS ALONG THE GULF COAST WHILE SFC HIGH PRESSURE IS LOCATED ACROSS THE OHIO VALLEY. LIGHT NORTHERLY WINDS ARE OCCURRING ACROSS THE MIDSOUTH WITH CURRENT TEMPERATURES RANGING FROM THE MID 40S TO THE MID 50S. A SFC LOW IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ALONG THE STALLED FRONT TODAY. HOWEVER...MODELS ARE ABOUT 24 HOURS SLOWER AND FURTHER SOUTH WITH THE PROGRESSION OF THE SFC LOW THAN LAST NIGHTS RUNS. AS A RESULT...HAVE TRIMMED POPS ACROSS NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI TO SLIGHT CHANCE. HOWEVER...HAVE INTRODUCED 20 POPS ACROSS EASTERN ARKANSAS AS AN UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE INTO NORTHWEST ARKANSAS THIS AFTERNOON. THE LATEST HRRR SHOWS SOME LIGHT SHOWERS COULD AFFECT PORTIONS OF EASTERN ARKANSAS LATER TODAY. BETWEEN THE UPPER LEVEL LOW AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SFC LOW ALONG THE STALLED FRONT...ABUNDANT CLOUD COVER WILL MOVE INTO THE MIDSOUTH BY THIS AFTERNOON. HIGHS WILL BE IN THE MID TO UPPER 60S. TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY... THE SFC LOW TRACKING ALONG THE STALLED FRONT WILL BRING CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS TO NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI AND AREAS OF WEST TENNESSEE NEAR THE TENNESSEE RIVER. WILL CARRY LIKELY POPS FOR THESE AREAS WITH CHANCE POPS ELSEWHERE AS THE UPPER LEVEL LOW BEGINS TO MOVE INTO THE MIDSOUTH. THE UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL MEANDER OVER THE MIDSOUTH THURSDAY NIGHT AS THE LOW BECOMES TRAPPED UNDERNEATH A BUILDING UPPER RIDGE. CHANCES FOR SHOWERS WILL OCCUR ACROSS THE ENTIRE MIDSOUTH. HOWEVER...PINPOINTING WHAT AREA HAS THE BEST CHANCE IS DIFFICULT AT THIS POINT. WILL CARRY 40 POPS ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA FOR NOW. SOME AREAS WILL SEE RAIN WHILE OTHERS MAY SEE NOTHING. BY FRIDAY...THE UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL BEGIN DRIFTING TO THE SOUTHEAST DIMINISHING RAIN CHANCES ACROSS THE AREA. WILL KEEP 20S FOR SOUTHEASTERN AREAS ON FRIDAY BUT BY FRIDAY NIGHT EXPECT THE LOW TO BE FAR ENOUGH TO THE SOUTHEAST THAT RAIN FREE CONDITIONS SHOULD PREVAIL ACROSS THE ENTIRE CWA. HIGHS WILL RANGE FROM THE MID 60S TO LOWER 70S THURSDAY AND FRIDAY WITH LOWS IN THE LOWER TO MID 50S. OVER THE WEEKEND...A STRONG UPPER RIDGE SETS UP OVER THE EASTERN HALF OF THE UNITED STATES. TEMPERATURES WILL WARM BACK INTO THE 70S FOR HIGHS. RAIN FREE CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL AND CLOUD COVER ACROSS THE AREA SHOULD GRADUALLY DIMINISH OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEKEND. MODELS ARE STILL IN DISAGREEMENT WITH EARLY NEXT WEEK AS NOW THE GFS IS A LITTLE FASTER WITH THE BREAK DOWN OF THE UPPER RIDGE THAN THE ECMWF. LAST NIGHT THE MODEL SOLUTIONS WERE REVERSED. HAVE TRIMMED POPS FOR MONDAY AS DON/T REALLY SEE THE RIDGE BREAKING DOWN AS FAST AS THE GFS IS INDICATING. REALLY THINK THE EARLIEST RAIN CHANCES WOULD START WOULD BE MONDAY NIGHT BUT IT MIGHT REALLY BE TUESDAY. KRM && .AVIATION... 12Z TAF CYCLE VFR CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE FOR MOST SITES THROUGHOUT THE 24 HOUR FORECAST PERIOD. HOWEVER...CLOUDS HAVE BEGUN TO MOVE INTO THE MID-SOUTH AND WILL CONTINUE TO LOWER. CEILINGS HAD TUPELO WILL APPROACH MVFR CONDITIONS BY THURSDAY MORNING. THERE IS A CHANCE OF RAIN FOR ALL SITES LATER ON TODAY...YET NOT CONFIDENT TO PLACE INTO FORECAST. TLSJR && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...NONE. MO...NONE. MS...NONE. TN...NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MEMPHIS TN
636 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016 .DISCUSSION... UPDATED FOR AVIATION DISCUSSION. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 245 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016/ DISCUSSION... CURRENT SFC ANALYSIS SHOWS A STALLED FRONT STRETCHING FROM SOUTH TEXAS ALONG THE GULF COAST WHILE SFC HIGH PRESSURE IS LOCATED ACROSS THE OHIO VALLEY. LIGHT NORTHERLY WINDS ARE OCCURRING ACROSS THE MIDSOUTH WITH CURRENT TEMPERATURES RANGING FROM THE MID 40S TO THE MID 50S. A SFC LOW IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ALONG THE STALLED FRONT TODAY. HOWEVER...MODELS ARE ABOUT 24 HOURS SLOWER AND FURTHER SOUTH WITH THE PROGRESSION OF THE SFC LOW THAN LAST NIGHTS RUNS. AS A RESULT...HAVE TRIMMED POPS ACROSS NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI TO SLIGHT CHANCE. HOWEVER...HAVE INTRODUCED 20 POPS ACROSS EASTERN ARKANSAS AS AN UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE INTO NORTHWEST ARKANSAS THIS AFTERNOON. THE LATEST HRRR SHOWS SOME LIGHT SHOWERS COULD AFFECT PORTIONS OF EASTERN ARKANSAS LATER TODAY. BETWEEN THE UPPER LEVEL LOW AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SFC LOW ALONG THE STALLED FRONT...ABUNDANT CLOUD COVER WILL MOVE INTO THE MIDSOUTH BY THIS AFTERNOON. HIGHS WILL BE IN THE MID TO UPPER 60S. TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY... THE SFC LOW TRACKING ALONG THE STALLED FRONT WILL BRING CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS TO NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI AND AREAS OF WEST TENNESSEE NEAR THE TENNESSEE RIVER. WILL CARRY LIKELY POPS FOR THESE AREAS WITH CHANCE POPS ELSEWHERE AS THE UPPER LEVEL LOW BEGINS TO MOVE INTO THE MIDSOUTH. THE UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL MEANDER OVER THE MIDSOUTH THURSDAY NIGHT AS THE LOW BECOMES TRAPPED UNDERNEATH A BUILDING UPPER RIDGE. CHANCES FOR SHOWERS WILL OCCUR ACROSS THE ENTIRE MIDSOUTH. HOWEVER...PINPOINTING WHAT AREA HAS THE BEST CHANCE IS DIFFICULT AT THIS POINT. WILL CARRY 40 POPS ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA FOR NOW. SOME AREAS WILL SEE RAIN WHILE OTHERS MAY SEE NOTHING. BY FRIDAY...THE UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL BEGIN DRIFTING TO THE SOUTHEAST DIMINISHING RAIN CHANCES ACROSS THE AREA. WILL KEEP 20S FOR SOUTHEASTERN AREAS ON FRIDAY BUT BY FRIDAY NIGHT EXPECT THE LOW TO BE FAR ENOUGH TO THE SOUTHEAST THAT RAIN FREE CONDITIONS SHOULD PREVAIL ACROSS THE ENTIRE CWA. HIGHS WILL RANGE FROM THE MID 60S TO LOWER 70S THURSDAY AND FRIDAY WITH LOWS IN THE LOWER TO MID 50S. OVER THE WEEKEND...A STRONG UPPER RIDGE SETS UP OVER THE EASTERN HALF OF THE UNITED STATES. TEMPERATURES WILL WARM BACK INTO THE 70S FOR HIGHS. RAIN FREE CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL AND CLOUD COVER ACROSS THE AREA SHOULD GRADUALLY DIMINISH OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEKEND. MODELS ARE STILL IN DISAGREEMENT WITH EARLY NEXT WEEK AS NOW THE GFS IS A LITTLE FASTER WITH THE BREAK DOWN OF THE UPPER RIDGE THAN THE ECMWF. LAST NIGHT THE MODEL SOLUTIONS WERE REVERSED. HAVE TRIMMED POPS FOR MONDAY AS DON/T REALLY SEE THE RIDGE BREAKING DOWN AS FAST AS THE GFS IS INDICATING. REALLY THINK THE EARLIEST RAIN CHANCES WOULD START WOULD BE MONDAY NIGHT BUT IT MIGHT REALLY BE TUESDAY. KRM && .AVIATION... 12Z TAF CYCLE VFR CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE FOR MOST SITES THROUGHOUT THE 24 HOUR FORECAST PERIOD. HOWEVER...CLOUDS HAVE BEGUN TO MOVE INTO THE MID-SOUTH AND WILL CONTINUE TO LOWER. CEILINGS HAD TUPELO WILL APPROACH MVFR CONDITIONS BY THURSDAY MORNING. THERE IS A CHANCE OF RAIN FOR ALL SITES LATER ON TODAY...YET NOT CONFIDENT TO PLACE INTO FORECAST. TLSJR && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...NONE. MO...NONE. MS...NONE. TN...NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MEMPHIS TN
245 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016 .DISCUSSION... CURRENT SFC ANALYSIS SHOWS A STALLED FRONT STRETCHING FROM SOUTH TEXAS ALONG THE GULF COAST WHILE SFC HIGH PRESSURE IS LOCATED ACROSS THE OHIO VALLEY. LIGHT NORTHERLY WINDS ARE OCCURRING ACROSS THE MIDSOUTH WITH CURRENT TEMPERATURES RANGING FROM THE MID 40S TO THE MID 50S. A SFC LOW IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ALONG THE STALLED FRONT TODAY. HOWEVER...MODELS ARE ABOUT 24 HOURS SLOWER AND FURTHER SOUTH WITH THE PROGRESSION OF THE SFC LOW THAN LAST NIGHTS RUNS. AS A RESULT...HAVE TRIMMED POPS ACROSS NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI TO SLIGHT CHANCE. HOWEVER...HAVE INTRODUCED 20 POPS ACROSS EASTERN ARKANSAS AS AN UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE INTO NORTHWEST ARKANSAS THIS AFTERNOON. THE LATEST HRRR SHOWS SOME LIGHT SHOWERS COULD AFFECT PORTIONS OF EASTERN ARKANSAS LATER TODAY. BETWEEN THE UPPER LEVEL LOW AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SFC LOW ALONG THE STALLED FRONT...ABUNDANT CLOUD COVER WILL MOVE INTO THE MIDSOUTH BY THIS AFTERNOON. HIGHS WILL BE IN THE MID TO UPPER 60S. TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY... THE SFC LOW TRACKING ALONG THE STALLED FRONT WILL BRING CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS TO NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI AND AREAS OF WEST TENNESSEE NEAR THE TENNESSEE RIVER. WILL CARRY LIKELY POPS FOR THESE AREAS WITH CHANCE POPS ELSEWHERE AS THE UPPER LEVEL LOW BEGINS TO MOVE INTO THE MIDSOUTH. THE UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL MEANDER OVER THE MIDSOUTH THURSDAY NIGHT AS THE LOW BECOMES TRAPPED UNDERNEATH A BUILDING UPPER RIDGE. CHANCES FOR SHOWERS WILL OCCUR ACROSS THE ENTIRE MIDSOUTH. HOWEVER...PINPOINTING WHAT AREA HAS THE BEST CHANCE IS DIFFICULT AT THIS POINT. WILL CARRY 40 POPS ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA FOR NOW. SOME AREAS WILL SEE RAIN WHILE OTHERS MAY SEE NOTHING. BY FRIDAY...THE UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL BEGIN DRIFTING TO THE SOUTHEAST DIMINISHING RAIN CHANCES ACROSS THE AREA. WILL KEEP 20S FOR SOUTHEASTERN AREAS ON FRIDAY BUT BY FRIDAY NIGHT EXPECT THE LOW TO BE FAR ENOUGH TO THE SOUTHEAST THAT RAIN FREE CONDITIONS SHOULD PREVAIL ACROSS THE ENTIRE CWA. HIGHS WILL RANGE FROM THE MID 60S TO LOWER 70S THURSDAY AND FRIDAY WITH LOWS IN THE LOWER TO MID 50S. OVER THE WEEKEND...A STRONG UPPER RIDGE SETS UP OVER THE EASTERN HALF OF THE UNITED STATES. TEMPERATURES WILL WARM BACK INTO THE 70S FOR HIGHS. RAIN FREE CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL AND CLOUD COVER ACROSS THE AREA SHOULD GRADUALLY DIMINISH OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEKEND. MODELS ARE STILL IN DISAGREEMENT WITH EARLY NEXT WEEK AS NOW THE GFS IS A LITTLE FASTER WITH THE BREAK DOWN OF THE UPPER RIDGE THAN THE ECMWF. LAST NIGHT THE MODEL SOLUTIONS WERE REVERSED. HAVE TRIMMED POPS FOR MONDAY AS DON/T REALLY SEE THE RIDGE BREAKING DOWN AS FAST AS THE GFS IS INDICATING. REALLY THINK THE EARLIEST RAIN CHANCES WOULD START WOULD BE MONDAY NIGHT BUT IT MIGHT REALLY BE TUESDAY. KRM && .AVIATION... 06Z TAF CYCLE VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL FOR MOST OF THE FORECAST PERIOD. LOW CLOUDS AND LIGHT RAIN WILL MOVE INTO PORTIONS OF NORTH MISSISSIPPI WEDNESDAY EVENING PRODUCING IFR CEILINGS. WINDS WILL BE MAINLY FROM THE NORTHEAST AT 5 TO 10 KNOTS FOR MUCH OF THE FORECAST PERIOD. ARS && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...NONE. MO...NONE. MS...NONE. TN...NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NWS FORT WORTH TX
1208 PM CDT WED APR 13 2016 .UPDATE... QUICK UPDATE TO LOWER HIGH TEMPERATURES MORE. SOME EVAPORATIVE COOLING HAS TAKEN PLACE AND HAVE USED COOLER RUC NUMBERS FOR TODAY. POPS AND RAINFALL ADJUSTMENTS FROM EARLIER STILL LOOK GOOD. 05/ && .AVIATION... /ISSUED 725 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016/ INTERESTING NIGHT ON THE AVIATION DESK...AS LOW CLOUDS WERE SLOW TO MATERIALIZE FOR MUCH OF THE NIGHT. MVFR CEILINGS NOW FIRMLY IN PLACE ACROSS THE METROPLEX AIRPORTS...AND IFR CEILINGS AND VISIBILITY IN PLACE IN WACO. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE NOW NEAR THE BOWIE CORNERPOST...BUT THE TERMINALS THEMSELVES WILL LIKELY REMAIN FREE OF THUNDERSTORMS. CAN NOT RULE OUT A STRAY SHOWER OR DRIZZLE AT ANY OF THE TERMINAL SITES...AND SHORT TERM TRENDS WILL BE MONITORED CLOSELY FOR ANY NECESSARY UPDATES. UPPER LEVEL FEATURES OF NOTE SHOW UP NICELY ON WATER VAPOR IMAGERY...WITH THE UPPER LOW IN OKLAHOMA SLOWLY MAKING ITS WAY TO TO THE EAST AND NORTHEAST. ONCE THIS FEATURE MOVES AWAY...WE WILL SEE CEILINGS BEGIN TO INCREASE...AT LEAST UNTIL THE OVERNIGHT HOURS...WHEN MVFR CEILINGS COME BACK. FOX && .UPDATE... A WELL-DEFINED SHORTWAVE THROUGH IS TRACKING EAST THIS MORNING ACROSS SOUTHWEST OK AND SHOULD CONTINUE A DUE EAST TRACK ACROSS SOUTHERN OK THROUGH THE DAY. H5 TEMPS -17 TO -19 C SHOULD CONTINUE TRACKING EAST ACROSS THOSE AREAS MAINLY NORTH OF I-20 THROUGH THE AFTERNOON...HELPING TO MAINTAIN MID LVL LASPE RATES 6-7 DEG C/KM ACROSS THESE AREAS. FORCING FURTHER SOUTH WILL BE LESS. THOUGH NOT IMPRESSIVE ON REGIONAL RADAR...ANY SMALL ELEVATED REFLECTIVITY VALUES 25-40 DBZ HAVE SHOWN TO BE EFFICIENT WITH HEAVIER RAIN RATES WITH SATURATION ABOVE THE LOW LEVEL FRONTAL INVERSION AND BELOW THE STEEPER LAPSE RATES. HAVE SEEN JUST UNDER 1/4 OF AN INCH IN 10-15 MINS RESULTING IN BRIEF STREET-FLOODING. THAT SAID...MEAN MOTION TO THE NNE IS FAST AND THUS NO HEAVY RAIN WILL OCCUR OVER ANY ONE LOCATION FOR ANY DURATION TO CAUSE SERIOUS SHORT-FUSE FLOODING ISSUES. WENT AHEAD AND RAISED POPS TO BETWEEN 40-80 PERCENT ACROSS THE NORTHERN TIER COUNTIES CLOSER TO THE BETTER FORCING AND SHOWER ACTIVITY. ISOLATED THUNDER ALSO MORE PREVALENT ACROSS THE NORTH NEAR THE COOLER H5 TEMPERATURES. WILL MAINTAIN ONLY SLIGHT CHANCES SOUTH OF I-20 INTO CENTRAL TEXAS WHERE SUBSIDENCE FROM AN EARLIER QLCS ACROSS SOUTH-CENTRAL TEXAS IS EXPECTED TO SUPPRESS SHOWER DEVELOPMENT MUCH OF THE DAY. FINALLY...CLOUDY SKIES AND SPOTTY RAINFALL WILL COMBINE WITH NNE LOW LEVEL FLOW TO KEEP HIGHS IN THE 60S FOR MUCH OF THE AREA. THE ONE EXCEPTION MAY BE THE FAR WESTERN COUNTIES WHERE A FEW BREAKS IN THE CLOUDS MAY OCCUR THIS AFTERNOON IN BEHIND THE SLOW-MOVING SHORTWAVE TROUGH WITH HIGHS AROUND 70 OR IN THE LOWER 70S POSSIBLE. 05/ && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 315 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016/ THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS...ACTIVE CONVECTION OVER SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS APPEARS TO HAVE INTERCEPTED THE MAJORITY OF AVAILABLE GULF MOISTURE FOR ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY OVER NORTH AND CENTRAL TEXAS. AN UPPER LOW OVER THE TEXAS PANHANDLE HAS STILL LED TO SHOWERS AND A FEW ISOLATED STORMS OVER THE AREA OVERNIGHT. THIS SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE LIFT ACROSS THE REGION AS IT MOVES EAST ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PLAINS TODAY. OUR CWA WILL REMAIN IN THE COOLER AIR ON THE NORTH SIDE OF A STATIONARY FRONT SITUATED SOUTH OF THE REGION. STILL...IT APPEARS THAT SURFACE HEATING WILL LEAD TO SOME LOW-END INSTABILITY AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS SOME OF THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON. THE BEST POTENTIAL WILL LIKELY BE OVER THE EASTERN HALF OF THE REGION WHERE MODELS ARE GENERATING BETWEEN 500 AND 1000 J/KG OF CAPE DURING THE PEAK HEATING HOURS. FOR THE TIME BEING...WE WILL STICK WITH 20S AND 30S FOR POPS THROUGH THIS EVENING...WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT ACTIVITY WILL COME TO AN END TONIGHT AS THE SYSTEM EXITS TO THE EAST. A COUPLE OF RAIN-FREE DAYS ARE EXPECTED TOMORROW AND FRIDAY IN ADVANCE OF OUR NEXT SYSTEM...WHICH CAN CURRENTLY BE SEEN ON WATER VAPOR SATELLITE IMAGERY APPROACHING THE COASTAL AREAS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. THIS UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL DROP SOUTHEASTWARD ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN THROUGH FRIDAY BEFORE PARKING ITSELF OVER THE FOUR-CORNERS AREA THIS WEEKEND. THE ABRUPT HALT IN ITS FORWARD PROGRESS IS AT LEAST PARTIALLY DUE TO A HIGH-AMPLITUDE RIDGE OVER THE EASTERN CONUS. THE POSITION OF THE UPPER LOW SHOULD BRING A COUPLE OF DAYS OF GOOD RAIN CHANCES ACROSS THE AREA. AT THIS TIME IT APPEARS THAT THE HIGHEST RAINFALL TOTALS WILL OCCUR OVER THE WESTERN-MOST COUNTIES...BUT THE EXACT POSITION OF THE UPPER LOW ALONG WITH MESOSCALE FEATURES WHICH MAY COME INTO PLAY WILL DETERMINE WHERE THE HIGHER TOTALS OCCUR. AT THIS TIME WE ARE INDICATING THE HIGHEST POPS TO BE ON SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT...THIS COINCIDING WITH THE TIMING OF A PACIFIC- TYPE FRONT WHICH IS PROGGED TO PUSH EAST THROUGH THE AREA. THERE SHOULD BE AT LEAST A LOW-END POTENTIAL FOR SOME SEVERE STORMS BASED ON A MODERATELY UNSTABLE AIRMASS IN PLACE AHEAD OF THE SURFACE FRONT. THE UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM WILL WEAKEN CONSIDERABLY MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY AS IT INTERACTS WITH THE STRONG RIDGE. THE RIDGE WILL BE BUILDING WEST WHILE THE LOW ATTEMPTS TO PUSH EAST. THE RESULT APPEARS TO BE A WEAKENING UPPER LOW WHICH MOVES SLOWLY EAST ACROSS THE PLAINS BENEATH AN INTENSIFYING CENTRAL U.S. RIDGE. EVEN AS THE UPPER LOW WEAKENS...IT WILL STILL PROVIDE AT LEAST A CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND STORMS THROUGH THE MID PART OF NEXT WEEK BEFORE DAMPENING OUT AND HEADING EAST OF THE PLAINS. 30 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DALLAS-FT. WORTH 62 56 76 57 79 / 30 10 5 0 5 WACO 69 55 77 56 80 / 20 10 5 0 5 PARIS 65 52 73 54 75 / 60 20 5 0 5 DENTON 63 53 75 55 78 / 60 10 5 0 5 MCKINNEY 63 52 74 54 77 / 50 10 5 0 5 DALLAS 63 56 76 58 79 / 40 10 5 0 5 TERRELL 65 55 75 55 78 / 40 20 5 0 5 CORSICANA 70 56 76 56 79 / 20 20 5 0 5 TEMPLE 68 55 77 56 80 / 20 10 5 0 5 MINERAL WELLS 63 52 77 55 79 / 30 5 5 0 5 && .FWD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$
FORECAST DISCUSSION FOR ROUTINE AFTERNOON FORECAST ISSUANCE

.SHORT TERM...TONIGHT AND THURSDAY ISSUED AT 333 PM CDT WED APR 13 2016 LIGHT RAIN AND/OR SNOW ASSOCIATED WITH A MID LEVEL SHORT WAVE PAIRED WITH SOME INSTABILITY...700-500MB LAPSE RATES WERE AT LEAST 6 C/KM FOR MUCH OF THE MORNING...WAS MAINLY EAST OF THE FOX VALLEY AT 1930Z. THIS PRECIPITATION SHOULD EXIT THE FORECAST AREA LATE THIS AFTERNOON...THOUGH IT WOULD NOT BE SURPRISING IF IT LINGERED UNTIL SHORTLY AFTER SUNSET. BOTH THE 19Z HRRR AND 19Z RAP INDICATED SOME REDEVELOPMENT LATE THIS AFTERNOON/EARLY THIS EVENING. NOT CONFIDENT ENOUGH THAT THAT IS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN SO HAVE NOT INCLUDED IT IN THE GRIDS. THERE WAS AT LEAST PARTIAL CLEARING ACROSS PARTS OF CENTRAL WISCONSIN THIS AFTERNOON BUT LITTLE OR NO SUNSHINE FOR THE REST OF THE AREA. THE GENERAL TREND IS FOR QUIET AND WARMER WEATHER AS A MID LEVEL RIDGE OVER THE PLAINS AMPLIFIES AS IT MOVES INTO THE GREAT LAKES REGION ON THURSDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL BE A LITTLE TRICKY IN THE SHORT TERM. WARM ADVECTION IS FORECAST TO CONTINUE ACROSS WISCONSIN OVERNIGHT...BUT IF WINDS DECREASE AND CLOUDS DEPART OR DISSIPATE TEMPERATURES...WHICH DID NOT GET ALL THAT WARM IN THE FIRST PLACE...COULD DROP LIKE A ROCK TONIGHT. BUFKIT TIME SECTIONS KEPT MOISTURE IN A LAYER BETWEEN 5-10KFT OVERNIGHT SO THERE MAY BE ENOUGH CLOUDS AROUND TO KEEP TEMPERATURES FROM GETTING TOO COLD. HAVE INCLUDED PATCHY FOG ACROSS PARTS OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN DUE TO ABUNDANT LOW LEVEL MOISTURE DEPICTED ON THE RHI TIME SECTION. EXPECT FEW CLOUDS DURING THE DAY ON THURSDAY SO TEMPERATURES SHOULD WARM UP NICELY...EXCEPT AT LOCATIONS NEAR LAKE MICHIGAN. HAVE GENERALLY GONE WITH A BLEND OF MOS FROM THE 12Z GFS AND 12Z NAM FOR HIGHS. .LONG TERM...THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY ISSUED AT 333 PM CDT WED APR 13 2016 MAIN FCST CONCERNS ARE MILD TEMPERATURES...AND THE TIMING AND ASSOCIATED PCPN TRENDS WITH A COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE LATE NEXT WEEKEND. A LARGE SFC HIGH WILL BE SITUATED ACROSS EASTERN CANADA AND THE NORTHEAST UNITED STATES DURING THE BEGINNING OF THE PERIOD. IN ADDITION...A STRONG UPPER RIDGE WILL RESIDE OVER THE GREAT LAKES REGION. THIS WILL RESULT IN DRY CONDITIONS AND PLENTY OF SUNSHINE FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY. FCST H8 TEMPS SUPPORT HIGHS REACHING INTO THE MIDDLE 60S TO LOWER 70S AWAY FROM LAKE MICHIGAN FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY...ROUGHLY 10 TO 15 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE REVOLVES AROUND THE TIMING OF A CANADIAN COLD FRONT LATE IN THE WEEKEND. LATEST MEDIUM RANGE MODELS AND THEIR ENSEMBLE MEANS SUPPORT A FASTER FRONTAL PASSAGE...WITH ASSOCIATED RAIN CHANCES CONFINED TO SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT...AND DRY CONDITIONS RETURNING BY MONDAY. WILL NEED TO SPEED UP THE PCPN TIMING A BIT. DRY CONDITIONS SHOULD PREVAIL FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE NEXT WORK WEEK...WITH CANADIAN HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE REGION. TEMPERATURE FCSTS WILL NOT BE EASY DUE TO LARGE DIFFERENCES IN H8 TEMPS BETWEEN THE WARMER ECMWF AND COOLER GFS ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY. ENSEMBLE MEANS SUGGEST H8 TEMPS SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN...WHICH SHOULD STILL SUPPORT ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES. && .AVIATION...FOR 18Z TAF ISSUANCE ISSUED AT 1257 PM CDT WED APR 13 2016 CIGS ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA RANGED FROM IFR TO VFR AT MIDDAY. THE VFR CIGS WERE MAINLY CONFINED TO PARTS OF CENTRAL WISCONSIN...WITH IFR CIGS FARTHER TO THE NORTH AND EAST. AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WAS PRODUCING PRECIPITATION...MAINLY SOUTHEAST OF A LINE FROM CRIVITZ TO WAUTOMA AS OF 1745Z. THERE WERE ISOLATED MVFR VSBYS IN THE RAIN AND/OR SNOW. PRECIPITATION SHOULD SLOWLY EXIT THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON...AND COULD LINGER INTO THE EARLY EVENING IN THE FAR EASTERN PART OF THE STATE...THOUGH ANYTHING AT THAT POINT SHOULD BE RATHER LIGHT. CIGS SHOULD BECOME VFR ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA BY EARLY EVENING...AND REMAIN THAT WAY OVERNIGHT. THERE COULD BE SOME MVFR FOG...ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTH. EXPECT VFR CONDITIONS TO PREVAIL DURING THE DAY ON THURSDAY. && .GRB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM.....MG LONG TERM......KIECKBUSCH AVIATION.......MG
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
328 PM CDT WED APR 13 2016 .SHORT TERM... TONIGHT AND THURSDAY...FORECAST CONFIDENCE HIGH A MID-LEVEL SHORTWAVE TROUGH WITH ASSOCIATED POSITIVE VORTICITY ADVECTION HAS MOVED OFF TO THE EAST AND SOUTHEAST...AND SLOWLY WILL BE REPLACED WITH MID-LEVEL RIDGING AND SUBSIDENCE DUE TO NEGATIVE VORTICITY ADVECTION. BUFKIT MODEL SOUNDINGS OF THE RAP AND NAM ARE INDICATING MOSTLY DRY PROFILES ACROSS S WI TONIGHT...SAVE FOR SOME LINGERING MOISTURE IN THE 700 TO 750 MB LAYER. SO...SOME CLOUDS MAY LINGER TONIGHT...BUT SLOWLY DISSIPATE THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING. DRY AIR WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE INTO THE REGION THURSDAY...WHICH SHOULD SUPPORT MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES ACROSS S WI THURSDAY AFTERNOON. THE AXIS OF THE MID-LEVEL RIDGE WILL SLOWLY MAKE ITS WAY INTO THE REGION DURING THE DAY THURSDAY ALONG WITH THE DRY AIR. SOUTHEAST WINDS WITH GUSTS BETWEEN 10 TO 20 KTS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA AS SFC PRESSURE GRADIENT TIGHTENS. TEMPERATURES CONTINUE TO GRADUALLY INCREASE AS HIGHS ON THURSDAY ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN THE 60 TO 65 F RANGE THANKS TO ENHANCED LOW-LEVEL WARM AIR ADVECTION AND ABUNDANT SUNSHINE. 13.12Z GFS AND NAM 925 MB TEMPS INCREASE TO THE 6 TO 10 DEGREE C RANGE FROM NORTHEAST TO SOUTHWEST RESPECTIVELY ACROSS OUR FORECAST AREA BY 21Z THURSDAY. EAST TO SOUTHEASTERLY WINDS WILL KEEP TEMPERATURES COOLER ALONG LAKE MICHIGAN...WITH HIGHS ALONG THE LAKE FRONT IN THE UPPER 40S TO MID 50S FURTHER INLAND. THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY...FORECAST CONFIDENCE HIGH. A LARGE OMEGA BLOCK WILL FORM OVER THE CONUS AND WRN ATLANTIC OCEAN DURING THIS PERIOD. THE HIGH AMPLITUDE UPPER RIDGE WILL CENTER OVER THE GREAT LAKES WITH A SELY SFC FLOW EACH DAY. MO SUNNY DAYS AND MO CLEAR NIGHTS WITH A GRADUAL WARMING TREND IS EXPECTED THROUGH THE WEEKEND. HIGH TEMPS WILL WARM INTO THE LOWER 70S WELL INLAND FROM LAKE MI FOR THE WEEKEND. TEMPS WILL REMAIN ABOVE THE FREEZING MARK AT NIGHT WITH LOWS RANGING FROM THE MID-UPPER 30S TO MID-UPPER 40S. .LONG TERM...MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...FORECAST CONFIDENCE MEDIUM. A SHORTWAVE TROUGH IN FAST WNWLY FLOW ALOFT WILL BREAK DOWN THE UPPER RIDGE BY LATE SUN AS IT MOVES ACROSS THE NRN GREAT LAKES. A TRAILING COLD FRONT WILL PASS ACROSS SRN WI SUN NT INTO MON WITH ONLY SLIGHT CHANCES OF SHOWERS. THE SHORTWAVE TROUGH ALONG WITH ANOTHER UPPER TROUGH OVER ERN CANADA WILL THEN DIG A LARGE SCALE UPPER TROUGH OVER ERN CANADA INTO NEW ENGLAND AND THE MID ATLANTIC STATES. MEANWHILE THE UPPER LOW THAT WAS IN THE FOUR CORNERS REGION WILL BE KEPT FARTHER SOUTH DUE TO THE STRONGER NLY WINDS ALOFT OVER THE GREAT LAKES. THUS SFC HIGH PRESSURE WILL BE IN THE VICINITY OF WI FOR TUE AND WED. MILD TEMPS WILL CONTINUE FOR NEXT WEEK. && .AVIATION/00Z TAFS/... VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED AS A MID-LEVEL RIDGE WITH DRY AIR MAKES ITS WAY INTO THE REGION. BKN TO SCT MID TO HIGH LEVEL CLOUDS ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT...BUT SKIES LOOK TO SLOWLY CLEAR OUT OVERNIGHT INTO THE DAY THURSDAY...WITH SUNNY SKIES EXPECTED. WINDS WILL REMAIN FROM THE SOUTHEASTERLY DIRECTION...WITH GUSTS BETWEEN 15 TO 20 KTS POSSIBLE THURSDAY. .MARINE... SOUTHEAST WINDS LOOK TO EASE A LITTLE TONIGHT...BEFORE INTENSIFYING DURING THE DAY THURSDAY. WAVES ARE FORECAST TO BE BETWEEN 1 TO 3 FEET OVER THE NEARSHORE WATERS...AND LOOK TO REMAIN BELOW SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY LEVELS THROUGH THE WEEKEND. POTENTIAL ALSO EXISTS FOR SOME LIGHT MARINE FOG TONIGHT DUE TO THE COOLER LAKE TEMPERATURES AND GRADUALLY INCREASING WARM AIRMASS OVERHEAD. CONFIDENCE IS NOT HIGH ON THIS AT THIS TIME...BUT SOME MODEL GUIDANCE IS SHOWING SIGNS OF THIS LIGHT MARINE AREA FOG TONIGHT. && .MKX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WI...NONE. LM...NONE. && $$ TONIGHT/THURSDAY AND AVIATION/MARINE...JTS THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY...GEHRING
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NWS MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
1038 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016 .UPDATE... LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS AND LIGHT SNOW...ASSOCIATED WITH WARM AIR ADVECTION AND HIGHER MOISTURE CONTENT AT THE 700 MB LEVEL...CONTINUES TO FALL OVER OUR NORTHERN COUNTIES. REDUCED VISIBILITIES ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE HEAVIER PRECIPITATION AREAS. OTHERWISE...NOT EXPECTING MUCH ELSE IN THE WAY OF IMPACTS AND ACCUMULATION WITH THIS LIGHT PRECIPITATION ACTIVITY AS RAP SOUNDINGS ARE INDICATING PLENTY OF DRY AIR AND HIGH DEWPOINT DEPRESSIONS BETWEEN THE SFC AND 800 MB LEVEL LATER THIS MORNING AND INTO THE AFTERNOON. THIS SHOWER ACTIVITY MAY LINGER INTO THE AFTERNOON...BUT DISSIPATE ENTIRELY BY THE EVENING. ADJUSTED HIGH TEMPERATURES FOR TODAY DUE TO ABUNDANT CLOUD COVER AND EAST TO SOUTHEASTERLY WINDS OFF OF LAKE MICHIGAN. ADJUSTED FORECAST HIGHS IN THE MID 50S FOR OUR SOUTHWESTERN COUNTIES TO THE LOWER 40S IN OUR NORTHEAST NEAR THE SHEBOYGAN AREA. && .AVIATION/18Z TAFS/... LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS AND LIGHT SNOW CONTINUE TO FALL ACROSS THE NORTHERN HALF OF OUR FORECAST AREA. BEST POTENTIAL FOR ANY OF THESE SHOWERS OVER THE TAF SITES WOULD BE FOR MSN. INTRODUCED VCSH FOR THE MSN TAF THROUGH 18Z TO ACCOUNT FOR THIS SHOWER ACTIVITY. NOT AS CONFIDENT THIS ACTIVITY WILL AFFECT THE EASTERN TAF SITES...SO LEFT THEM DRY FOR NOW. RAP MODEL SOUNDINGS INDICATING PLENTY OF DRY AIR NEAR THE SURFACE...SO NOT EXPECTING MUCH IN THE WAY OF ACCUMULATIONS OR IMPACTS FOR THE TAF SITES. THE HEAVIEST PRECIPITATION ACTIVITY SHOULD STAY TO THE NORTH NEAR THE FOND DU LAC AND SHEBOYGAN AREAS THIS MORNING. THIS SHOWER ACTIVITY SHOULD DIMINISH BY THIS AFTERNOON AND SWEEP OUT OF THE AREA BY THE EVENING. EXPECT VFR CIGS TO CONTINUE AS CLOUD COVER WILL DIMINISH SOME LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. SOUTH TO SOUTHEAST WINDS LOOK TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 329 AM CDT WED APR 13 2016/ TODAY...FORECAST CONFIDENCE IS MEDIUM. DRY AIR PROVING DIFFICULT TO OVERCOME AS EXPECTED...WITH RADAR RETURNS MORE EXPANSIVE THAN AREAL COVERAGE OF PCPN ACTUALLY HITTING THE GROUND...WITH WARM ADVECTION DRIVEN PCPN AHEAD OF SHORT WAVE TROUGH. CLOSEST GROUND TRUTH REPORTS JUST TO THE NORTH OF THE CWA ONLY DRIZZLE/SPRINKLES/FLURRIES. AREAS ON THE NOSE OF THE MORE FOCUSED WAA WITH THE STRONGEST ISENTROPIC ADIABATIC OMEGA AND LOWER CONDENSATION PRESSURE DEFICITS IN FAR NRN WI HAVE VSBY-REDUCING PRECIPITATION REPORTS...MAINLY IN THE FORM OF SNOW. MODEL QPF IN LINE WITH DIFFERENTIAL CVA AHEAD OF MID-LEVEL SHORT WAVE THAT IS CENTERED OVER N CENTRAL WI AT 12Z...WITH A LOBE EXTENDING BACK TO THE SW...THAT DOES NOT EXIT ERN WI UNTIL 18Z. HOWEVER...BEST OMEGA WITH WEAKENING WARM ADVECTION AND FRONTOGENETIC RESPONSE REMAINS N AND NW OF CWA...WITH EASING FLOW OVER A SLACKENING TEMPERATURE GRADIENT DURING THE DAY. 285K ISENTROPIC FORECASTS KEEP CONDENSATION PRESSURE DEFICITS AT/ABOVE 100 MB EXCEPT IN THE FAR NE. HOWEVER...RADAR SUGGESTS FOLLOWING THE TREND OF SHORT RANGE MODELS AND WILL BRING SPRINKLES/VERY LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS A BIT FARTHER SOUTH...FOR THE BAND OF ISOLATED SCATTERED LIGHT SHOWERS APPROACHING FROM NE IOWA AND SE MINNESOTA. THIS BAND SHOULD WEAKEN AS IT MOVES AWAY FROM BETTER LOW-LEVEL FLOW. KEPT SLIGHT CHANCE POPS LIMITED TO THE FAR NE CWA UNTIL MID-MORNING...WHERE LOWER CONDENSATION PRESSURE DEFICITS WILL BE FOUND. HAVE SLOWED CLEARING...WITH NE CWA POTENTIALLY STAYING MOSTLY CLOUDY WELL INTO THE AFTERNOON. THIS WILL IMPACT HIGH TEMPERATURES...WITH THE SW CWA GETTING INTO THE UPPER 50S TO AROUND 60 WITH CLOUDS SCATTERING OUT...ALLOWING MIXING UP TO +7C TO +8C 925 MB TEMPS. EASTERN AREAS COOLER WITH COMBINATION OF ONSHORE SE WINDS AND CLOUDS LINGERING LATE INTO THE AFTERNOON. TONIGHT...FORECAST CONFIDENCE IS HIGH. SECOND WEAKER WAVE CROSSES FAR NRN WI/UP OF MICHIGAN TONIGHT...BUT NO PCPN. HOWEVER ALL MODELS KEEPING A POCKET OF MID- LEVEL MOISTURE LINGERING OVER SRN WI THAT BECOMES REMOVED FROM THE STRONGER MID LEVEL FLOW WITH THE DEVELOPING RIDGE AXIS. THE NAM AND GFS ARE THE MOST EXPANSIVE THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY...WHILE THE ECMWF AND CANADIAN GEM DRY THE MID LEVELS OUT WITH A BIT MORE FLOW IN A LESS-AMPLIFIED RIDGE. WILL FOLLOW A CONSENSUS BLEND THAT GRADUALLY REDUCES CLOUD COVER THROUGH THE NIGHT. SURFACE GRADIENT WILL KEEP SOME WIND AND MIXING OVERNIGHT...THAT WILL HOLD LOWS IN THE MID TO UPPER 30S. THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...FORECAST CONFIDENCE IS HIGH. MODELS ARE IN PRETTY GOOD AGREEMENT WITH HIGH PRESSURE REMAINING TO THE EAST OF THE REGION. THEY ALSO SHOW A 500 MB RIDGE DEVELOPING OVER THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE COUNTRY...WITH A DEEP 500 MB LOW OVER THE SOUTHWEST. THESE FEATURES KEEP ANY PRECIPITATION WELL TO THE WEST OF THE REGION DURING THIS TIME. THUS...CONTINUED THE DRY FORECAST FOR THIS PERIOD. ONSHORE WINDS DURING THIS TIME WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP AREAS NEAR LAKE MICHIGAN COLDER THAN WELL INLAND. TEMPERATURES SHOULD SLOWLY CONTINUE TO WARM DURING THIS TIME. HIGHS THURSDAY SHOULD BE IN THE UPPER 40S LAKESIDE...TO THE LOWER TO MID 60S WELL INLAND. HIGHS FRIDAY WILL BE IN THE MID TO UPPER 60S WELL INLAND...WITH LOWER TO MID 50S NEAR THE LAKE. SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...FORECAST CONFIDENCE IS MEDIUM. ECMWF/GFS MODELS ARE SHOWING THE 500 MB RIDGE OVER THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE COUNTRY SATURDAY GETTING PUSHED SOUTHWARD LATER SUNDAY INTO MONDAY...AS A SHORT WAVE TROUGH SLIDES SOUTHEAST THROUGH THE REGION. THERE ARE TIMING AND PLACEMENT DIFFERENCES WITH THIS FEATURE BETWEEN THE ECMWF/GFS. AT THE SURFACE...HIGH PRESSURE WELL TO THE EAST OF THE REGION SATURDAY WEAKENS. THIS ALLOWS FOR A COLD FRONT TO SLIDE SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE REGION SUNDAY INTO EARLY MONDAY. AGAIN...TIMING AND PLACEMENT DIFFERENCES HERE BETWEEN THE GFS/ECMWF. WILL CONTINUE WITH POPS DURING THE SUNDAY INTO MONDAY NIGHT PERIOD. WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE INLAND...WITH UPPER 60S TO AROUND 70 FOR HIGHS OVER THE WEEKEND. ONSHORE WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO BRING COOLER TEMPERATURES NEAR LAKE MICHIGAN. COOLER TEMPERATURES THEN MAY OCCUR EARLY NEXT WEEK...BEHIND THE FRONT. KEPT CONSENSUS POPS GOING INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK FOR NOW...THOUGH THERE MAY BE SOME DRY PERIODS IF DRIER TREND IN MODELS CONTINUES. AVIATION/12Z TAFS/... WILL KEEP ANY LIGHT SPRINKLES/VERY LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS/FLURRIES ASSOCIATED WITH A PASSING SHORT WAVE LIMITED TO NORTH OF A MILWAUKEE...MADISON TO LONE ROCK LINE. CLOUDS NO LOWER THAN 5K TO 7K FEET. OTHERWISE...VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH THE FORECAST PERIOD WITH PERSISTENT SOUTHEAST WINDS AS BROAD HIGH PRESSURE REMAINS ANCHORED OVER THE EASTERN U.S. MARINE... EXPECT STEADY SOUTHEAST WINDS TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY...AS HIGH PRESSURE REMAINS ANCHORED OVER THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES. WINDS AND WAVES ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN BELOW SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY LEVELS THROUGH THE WEEKEND. && .MKX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WI...NONE. LM...NONE. && $$ UPDATE...JTS TODAY/TONIGHT AND AVIATION/MARINE...REM THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...WOOD
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS CHARLESTON SC
133 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 .SYNOPSIS... A STRONG HIGH PRESSURE WEDGE WILL PREVAIL ACROSS THE AREA INTO THE WEEKEND...WHILE AN UPPER LEVEL LOW SLOWLY MOVES ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST. NEXT WEEK...THE UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL MOVE AWAY...AND HIGH PRESSURE WILL SHIFT OVER THE REGION. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM THIS MORNING/... THE MOST RECENT UPDATE INCLUDED ADJUSTMENTS TO THE COVERAGE OF SHOWERS OVERNIGHT...WHICH SEEM TO NOW BE FOCUSED IN TWO SEPARATE REGIONS. THE FIRST ALONG THE NW ZONES IN CLOSER PROXIMITY TO THE UPPER LOW AND THE SECOND ALONG THE COASTAL ZONES IN RESPONSE TO STRONGER LOW LEVEL FORCING DUE TO WEAK LOW PRESSURE OFF THE FLORIDA SPACE COAST AND ROBUST HIGH PRESSURE INLAND. AS A RESULT WE HAVE 50-60 POPS IN THE TWO AFOREMENTIONED SECTIONS WITH 20-40 POPS ELSEWHERE. HIGH TIDE IS AROUND 3-4 AM AND THIS WILL BE WATCHED VERY CLOSELY FOR POSSIBLE MINOR FLOODING CONCERNS IN CHARLESTON SINCE TIDE DEPARTURES ARE RUNNING SOME 1-1.5 FT MLLW ABOVE PREDICTED LEVELS. WE ALSO RAISED TEMPS DUE TO THE THICK OVERCAST SKIES AND ONSHORE FETCH. MODELS SHOW THE GRADIENT TIGHTENING LATER TONIGHT AS THE SURFACE LOW STRENGTHENS OFF THE GA/FL COAST. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL BE ALONG THE EXPOSED BEACHES...REACHING AS HIGH AS 30 OR 35 MPH. NOT ENOUGH FOR A WIND ADVISORY...BUT ENOUGH TO MAINTAIN WINDY WORDING IN THE FORECAST. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM THIS MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY/... FRIDAY...A STRONG SURFACE WEDGE PATTERN REMAINS ENTRENCHED FROM THE NORTH WHILE A WEAK MID LEVEL LOW PRES AREA OVER THE MID SOUTH REGION SLIDES SE AND FILLS. THE BLOCKING RIDGE OVER THE OHIO VALLEY DOES NOT BUDGE KEEPING THE PATTERN STATIC. IMPRESSIVE MOISTURE GRADIENTS ARE EXPECTED TO EXTEND ACROSS EASTERN SOUTH CAROLINA. MODELS SHOWING HIGHEST 850-500 MB RH VALUES FROM THE SAVANNAH RIVER SOUTHWARD WHERE WE HAVE RETAINED LIKELY POPS. POCKETS OF UPPER FORCING LACK FOCUS AND WE EXPECT PERIODIC RAINS TO BE LIGHT TO MODERATE ACROSS SOUTH GEORGIA. SHOWERS WILL BE MORE ISOLATED/SPORADIC MOVING UP TOWARD THE SANTEE COOPER LAKES REGION EAST TO CENTRAL COASTAL SOUTH CAROLINA...WHERE THE LOWER LEVELS WILL BE DRIER. IT WILL BE BREEZY TO WINDY ON FRIDAY WITH 20-30 MPH WINDS AND HIGHER GUSTS ALONG IMMEDIATE COASTAL ZONES AND FROM SAVANNAH TO THE ALTAMAHA RIVER ENTRANCE. CLOUDS AND SHOWERS SHOULD KEEP TEMPS IN THE 60S DURING THE DAY. FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY...THE UPPER RIDGE TO THE NORTH BEGINS TO SUPPRESS DEEPER MOISTURE SOUTH OF THE FORECAST AREA WHILE THE STRONG SURFACE HIGH TO THE NORTH REMAINS THE MAIN SYNOPTIC FEATURE. WE CONTINUE TO TAPER POPS OFF ACROSS SE GEORGIA THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS ON SATURDAY AS SUBSIDENCE BUILDS OVER THE REGION. REMNANT LIGHT SHOWERS MAY REMAIN ALONG THE COAST THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. NE WINDS AND BREEZY CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE ON SATURDAY WITH CLEARING INTO THE AFTERNOON. SUNDAY...THE INFLUENCE OF THE RIDGE WILL TAKE FULL HOLD WITH SUNSHINE RETURNING FOR ALL AREAS. EXPECT LIGHTER NE WINDS...AND WARMER TEMPS IN THE MID 70S. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... AN UPPER RIDGE WILL CONTINUE OVER THE REGION EARLY NEXT WEEK THEN GRADUALLY FLATTEN BY MID WEEK AS THE LARGE MID LEVEL CUT-OFF LOW PRES OVER THE WESTERN ATLC FINALLY GETS KICKED OUT BY A DIGGING UPPER TROUGH OVER THE NE U.S. AND SE CANADA. SURFACE HIGH PRES WILL REMAIN THE DOMINATE WEATHER FEATURE FOR THE AREA WITH MAINLY DRY WEATHER EXPECTED THE FIRST HALF OF THE UPCOMING WEEK. TEMPS WILL GENERALLY BE AT OR ABOVE CLIMO WITH HIGHS WARMING TO AT LEAST THE LOWER 80S BY TUESDAY. THESE WARMER READINGS MAY BE TEMPERED BY A POTENTIAL BACK DOOR COLD FRONT DURING MID WEEK TIME PERIOD. && .AVIATION /06Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... KCHS...MOISTURE WILL CONTINUE TO ADVECT IN FROM THE ATLANTIC IN RESPONSE TO STRONG LOW LEVEL EASTERLY FLOW BETWEEN WEAK LOW PRESSURE TO THE SOUTH AND ROBUST HIGH PRESSURE TO THE NORTH. THIS WILL RESULT IN LIGHT TO PERHAPS MODERATE RAINS INTO FRIDAY EVENING...ALONG WITH GRADUALLY LOWERING OF VFR CONDITIONS INTO THE MVFR RANGE STARTING AROUND 10Z. IFR IS CERTAINLY POSSIBLE BUT WILL DEFER THIS POTENTIAL TO LATER TAF ISSUANCES. IN ADDITION...MODERATE TO STRONG NE WINDS WILL PREVAIL WITHIN A TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT...AS WINDS CLIMB TO 15-20 KT SUSTAINED AND GUSTS REACH AROUND 25 KT. KSAV...MOISTURE WILL CONTINUE TO ADVECT FROM OFF THE OCEAN AND ALLOWS FOR A STEADY LOWERING OF VFR CONDITIONS INTO THE MVFR CATEGORY LATE TONIGHT OR EARLY FRIDAY...WHICH THEN PREVAILS THROUGH THE REST OF THE VALID 06Z CYCLE. LIGHT TO PERHAPS MODERATE RAINS WILL EVENTUALLY DEVELOP DURING THIS TIME AND PERSIST INTO FRIDAY NIGHT. SURFACE WINDS WILL STEADILY INCREASE OVERNIGHT AND MORE SO FRIDAY...BUT UNTIL THEN WE HAVE LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR DUE TO AN IMPRESSIVE LOW LEVEL JET AROUND 40 KT. SURFACE WINDS WILL FINALLY CLIMB UP NEAR 15-20 KT SUSTAINED WITH GUSTS AROUND 25 KT DURING MOST OF THE VALID 06Z TAF PERIOD. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...AN UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL IMPACT THE REGION THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY. FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS ARE EXPECTED AT KSAV THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT WHILE PERIODS OF FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS ARE POSSIBLE AT KCHS DURING THIS PERIOD. && .MARINE... TONIGHT...THE GRADIENT REMAINS FAIRLY TIGHT ACROSS THE WATERS ESPECIALLY SOUTH OF EDISTO BEACH SC. AS LOW PRESSURE STRENGTHENS OFF THE GA/FL COAST OVERNIGHT...THE TIGHTEST GRADIENT WILL EXIST WITHIN 20 NM. WITHOUT THE DATA FROM BUOY 41008 WHICH REMAINS OUT OF SERVICE...IT IS HARD TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER GALE CONDITIONS ARE OCCURRING IN THE AREAS WHERE THE GALE WARNINGS EXIST. AT PRESENT THE GUSTS ARE PROBABLY JUST BELOW 34 KT BASED ON OBS FARTHER NORTH AND THE LATEST HIGH-RES DATA. HOWEVER...THE HRRR AND RUC INDICATE WINDS INCREASING OVERNIGHT SO WE MAINTAINED THE GALES FOR THE WATERS SOUTH OF EDISTO FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHT PERIOD. IN CHARLESTON HARBOR THE WINDS WILL AVERAGE A SOLID 20 KT...BUT WITH GUSTS OF 25 OR 30 KT AT THE HARBOR ENTRANCE WHERE THE BETTER GRADIENT EXISTS. SATURDAY...THIS PERIOD WILL FEATURE HAZARDOUS WINDS/SEAS DUE TO A TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT BETWEEN A STRONG WEDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE AND A SURFACE LOW/TROUGH OVER THE GULF STREAM EAST OF FLORIDA. SOLID SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CONDITIONS ARE CERTAIN INTO THIS WEEKEND. GALES COULD ALSO DEVELOP IN SOME AREAS THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING...BUT FORECAST CONFIDENCE IN THE TIMING AND LOCATION REMAINS TOO LOW TO JUSTIFY ANY WATCHES AT THIS TIME. ON SUNDAY...GRADUAL IMPROVEMENT IS EXPECTED AS HIGH PRESSURE SHIFTS SOUTH TOWARD THE WATERS AND ADVISORIES OVER NEAR SHORE WATERS SHOULD EVENTUALLY COME DOWN LATE IN THE WEEKEND BUT MAY EVENTUALLY NEED TO BE EXTENDED A BIT LONG DURING THE DAY ON SUNDAY...ESPECIALLY ALONG THE GEORGIA COAST. MONDAY AND TUESDAY...MUCH LIGHTER WINDS BUT THERE COULD SOME RESIDUAL ELEVATED SWELL FROM THE LONG FETCH/LONG DURING NE FETCH. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES FOR SEAS FOR GEORGIA WATERS 20-60 NM OFFSHORE COULD LINGER INTO EARLY TUESDAY MORNING. RIP CURRENTS..MODERATE RISK FOR ALL BEACHES FRIDAY. AN ENHANCED RISK OF RIP CURRENTS WILL PERSIST INTO THE WEEKEND...RESULTING FROM MODERATE TO STRONG ONSHORE WINDS AND MAYBE EVENTUALLY SOME SWELL ENERGY ARRIVING AT THE BEACHES. && .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... MODERATE TO STRONG AND PERSISTENT NORTHEAST/EAST WINDS WILL CONTRIBUTE TO ELEVATED TIDES AND INCREASED PROBABILITIES OF BEACH EROSION INTO THE WEEKEND. DESPITE DEPARTURES AS GREAT AS 1.0-2.0 FT MLLW ABOVE THE PREDICTED ASTRONOMICAL TIDES...HIGH TIDE LEVELS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN BELOW COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY THRESHOLDS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO ASSESS TIDAL DEPARTURE TRENDS. && .CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...NONE. SC...NONE. MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 5 PM EDT SATURDAY FOR AMZ330. GALE WARNING UNTIL 8 AM EDT THIS MORNING FOR AMZ352-354-374. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 5 AM EDT SUNDAY FOR AMZ350. && $$ SYNOPSIS... NEAR TERM... SHORT TERM... LONG TERM... AVIATION... MARINE... TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS CHARLESTON SC
1255 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 .SYNOPSIS... A STRONG HIGH PRESSURE WEDGE WILL PREVAIL ACROSS THE AREA INTO THE WEEKEND...WHILE AN UPPER LEVEL LOW SLOWLY MOVES ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST. NEXT WEEK...THE UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL MOVE AWAY...AND HIGH PRESSURE WILL SHIFT OVER THE REGION. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM THIS MORNING/... THE MOST RECENT UPDATE INCLUDED ADJUSTMENTS TO THE COVERAGE OF SHOWERS OVERNIGHT...WHICH SEEM TO NOW BE FOCUSED IN TWO SEPARATE REGIONS. THE FIRST ALONG THE NW ZONES IN CLOSER PROXIMITY TO THE UPPER LOW AND THE SECOND ALONG THE COASTAL ZONES IN RESPONSE TO STRONGER LOW LEVEL FORCING DUE TO WEAK LOW PRESSURE OFF THE FLORIDA SPACE COAST AND ROBUST HIGH PRESSURE INLAND. AS A RESULT WE HAVE 50-60 POPS IN THE TWO AFOREMENTIONED SECTIONS WITH 20-40 POPS ELSEWHERE. HIGH TIDE IS AROUND 3-4 AM AND THIS WILL BE WATCHED VERY CLOSELY FOR POSSIBLE MINOR FLOODING CONCERNS IN CHARLESTON SINCE TIDE DEPARTURES ARE RUNNING SOME 1-1.5 FT MLLW ABOVE PREDICTED LEVELS. WE ALSO RAISED TEMPS DUE TO THE THICK OVERCAST SKIES AND ONSHORE FETCH. MODELS SHOW THE GRADIENT TIGHTENING LATER TONIGHT AS THE SURFACE LOW STRENGTHENS OFF THE GA/FL COAST. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL BE ALONG THE EXPOSED BEACHES...REACHING AS HIGH AS 30 OR 35 MPH. NOT ENOUGH FOR A WIND ADVISORY...BUT ENOUGH TO MAINTAIN WINDY WORDING IN THE FORECAST. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM THIS MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY/... FRIDAY...A STRONG SURFACE WEDGE PATTERN REMAINS ENTRENCHED FROM THE NORTH WHILE A WEAK MID LEVEL LOW PRES AREA OVER THE MID SOUTH REGION SLIDES SE AND FILLS. THE BLOCKING RIDGE OVER THE OHIO VALLEY DOES NOT BUDGE KEEPING THE PATTERN STATIC. IMPRESSIVE MOISTURE GRADIENTS ARE EXPECTED TO EXTEND ACROSS EASTERN SOUTH CAROLINA. MODELS SHOWING HIGHEST 850-500 MB RH VALUES FROM THE SAVANNAH RIVER SOUTHWARD WHERE WE HAVE RETAINED LIKELY POPS. POCKETS OF UPPER FORCING LACK FOCUS AND WE EXPECT PERIODIC RAINS TO BE LIGHT TO MODERATE ACROSS SOUTH GEORGIA. SHOWERS WILL BE MORE ISOLATED/SPORADIC MOVING UP TOWARD THE SANTEE COOPER LAKES REGION EAST TO CENTRAL COASTAL SOUTH CAROLINA...WHERE THE LOWER LEVELS WILL BE DRIER. IT WILL BE BREEZY TO WINDY ON FRIDAY WITH 20-30 MPH WINDS AND HIGHER GUSTS ALONG IMMEDIATE COASTAL ZONES AND FROM SAVANNAH TO THE ALTAMAHA RIVER ENTRANCE. CLOUDS AND SHOWERS SHOULD KEEP TEMPS IN THE 60S DURING THE DAY. FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY...THE UPPER RIDGE TO THE NORTH BEGINS TO SUPPRESS DEEPER MOISTURE SOUTH OF THE FORECAST AREA WHILE THE STRONG SURFACE HIGH TO THE NORTH REMAINS THE MAIN SYNOPTIC FEATURE. WE CONTINUE TO TAPER POPS OFF ACROSS SE GEORGIA THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS ON SATURDAY AS SUBSIDENCE BUILDS OVER THE REGION. REMNANT LIGHT SHOWERS MAY REMAIN ALONG THE COAST THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. NE WINDS AND BREEZY CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE ON SATURDAY WITH CLEARING INTO THE AFTERNOON. SUNDAY...THE INFLUENCE OF THE RIDGE WILL TAKE FULL HOLD WITH SUNSHINE RETURNING FOR ALL AREAS. EXPECT LIGHTER NE WINDS...AND WARMER TEMPS IN THE MID 70S. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... AN UPPER RIDGE WILL CONTINUE OVER THE REGION EARLY NEXT WEEK THEN GRADUALLY FLATTEN BY MID WEEK AS THE LARGE MID LEVEL CUT-OFF LOW PRES OVER THE WESTERN ATLC FINALLY GETS KICKED OUT BY A DIGGING UPPER TROUGH OVER THE NE U.S. AND SE CANADA. SURFACE HIGH PRES WILL REMAIN THE DOMINATE WEATHER FEATURE FOR THE AREA WITH MAINLY DRY WEATHER EXPECTED THE FIRST HALF OF THE UPCOMING WEEK. TEMPS WILL GENERALLY BE AT OR ABOVE CLIMO WITH HIGHS WARMING TO AT LEAST THE LOWER 80S BY TUESDAY. THESE WARMER READINGS MAY BE TEMPERED BY A POTENTIAL BACK DOOR COLD FRONT DURING MID WEEK TIME PERIOD. && .AVIATION /05Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... KCHS...EXPECT VFR FOR THE BRUNT OF THE 00Z TAF PERIOD. FAIRLY DRY AIR FROM PARENT HIGH PRESSURE WILL SUPPRESS MOST OF THE PRECIPITATION AND LOW CLOUDS TO AREAS JUST SOUTH OF THE TERMINAL. CANNOT RULE OUT A FEW PATCHES OF LIGHT RAIN OVERNIGHT BUT NOT WORTH MENTIONING AT THIS TIME. STRONG NORTHEAST WINDS WILL DEVELOP ON FRIDAY WITH SOME GUSTS APPROACHING 25 KT AS THE PRESSURE GRADIENT TIGHTENS. KSAV...LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN WILL SPREAD IN FROM THE SOUTHWEST OVERNIGHT...ALONG WITH MVFR CEILINGS. GIVEN THAT DEEPER MOISTURE EXISTS ACROSS SOUTHEAST GA AND THE BEST ASCENT WILL BE FOUND IN THIS AREA...A FAIRLY EXTENSIVE PERIOD OF MVFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED. WE MAINTAINED VFR VSBYS THOUGH THE PRECIPITATION COULD OCCASIONALLY DROP VSBYS TO 5 SM OR LOWER. NUMERICAL MODELS ARE SHOWING POTENTIAL FOR IFR CEILINGS OVERNIGHT. MODEL SOUNDINGS LESS SUPPORTIVE AND THE NUMERICAL GUIDANCE HAS BEEN TOO AGGRESSIVE WITH IFR CEILINGS AS OF LATE SO WE SHOW NO LOWER THAN MVFR. SIMILAR TO KCHS...GUSTY NE WINDS DEVELOP ON FRIDAY WITH SUSTAINED SPEEDS APPROACHING 20 KT. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...AN UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL IMPACT THE REGION THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY. FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS ARE EXPECTED AT KSAV THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT WHILE PERIODS OF FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS ARE POSSIBLE AT KCHS DURING THIS PERIOD. && .MARINE... TONIGHT...THE GRADIENT REMAINS FAIRLY TIGHT ACROSS THE WATERS ESPECIALLY SOUTH OF EDISTO BEACH SC. AS LOW PRESSURE STRENGTHENS OFF THE GA/FL COAST OVERNIGHT...THE TIGHTEST GRADIENT WILL EXIST WITHIN 20 NM. WITHOUT THE DATA FROM BUOY 41008 WHICH REMAINS OUT OF SERVICE...IT IS HARD TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER GALE CONDITIONS ARE OCCURRING IN THE AREAS WHERE THE GALE WARNINGS EXIST. AT PRESENT THE GUSTS ARE PROBABLY JUST BELOW 34 KT BASED ON OBS FARTHER NORTH AND THE LATEST HIGH-RES DATA. HOWEVER...THE HRRR AND RUC INDICATE WINDS INCREASING OVERNIGHT SO WE MAINTAINED THE GALES FOR THE WATERS SOUTH OF EDISTO FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHT PERIOD. IN CHARLESTON HARBOR THE WINDS WILL AVERAGE A SOLID 20 KT...BUT WITH GUSTS OF 25 OR 30 KT AT THE HARBOR ENTRANCE WHERE THE BETTER GRADIENT EXISTS. SATURDAY...THIS PERIOD WILL FEATURE HAZARDOUS WINDS/SEAS DUE TO A TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT BETWEEN A STRONG WEDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE AND A SURFACE LOW/TROUGH OVER THE GULF STREAM EAST OF FLORIDA. SOLID SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CONDITIONS ARE CERTAIN INTO THIS WEEKEND. GALES COULD ALSO DEVELOP IN SOME AREAS THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING...BUT FORECAST CONFIDENCE IN THE TIMING AND LOCATION REMAINS TOO LOW TO JUSTIFY ANY WATCHES AT THIS TIME. ON SUNDAY...GRADUAL IMPROVEMENT IS EXPECTED AS HIGH PRESSURE SHIFTS SOUTH TOWARD THE WATERS AND ADVISORIES OVER NEAR SHORE WATERS SHOULD EVENTUALLY COME DOWN LATE IN THE WEEKEND BUT MAY EVENTUALLY NEED TO BE EXTENDED A BIT LONG DURING THE DAY ON SUNDAY...ESPECIALLY ALONG THE GEORGIA COAST. MONDAY AND TUESDAY...MUCH LIGHTER WINDS BUT THERE COULD SOME RESIDUAL ELEVATED SWELL FROM THE LONG FETCH/LONG DURING NE FETCH. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES FOR SEAS FOR GEORGIA WATERS 20-60 NM OFFSHORE COULD LINGER INTO EARLY TUESDAY MORNING. RIP CURRENTS..MODERATE RISK FOR ALL BEACHES FRIDAY. AN ENHANCED RISK OF RIP CURRENTS WILL PERSIST INTO THE WEEKEND...RESULTING FROM MODERATE TO STRONG ONSHORE WINDS AND MAYBE EVENTUALLY SOME SWELL ENERGY ARRIVING AT THE BEACHES. && .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... MODERATE TO STRONG AND PERSISTENT NORTHEAST/EAST WINDS WILL CONTRIBUTE TO ELEVATED TIDES AND INCREASED PROBABILITIES OF BEACH EROSION INTO THE WEEKEND. DESPITE DEPARTURES AS GREAT AS 1.0-2.0 FT MLLW ABOVE THE PREDICTED ASTRONOMICAL TIDES...HIGH TIDE LEVELS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN BELOW COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY THRESHOLDS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO ASSESS TIDAL DEPARTURE TRENDS. && .CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...NONE. SC...NONE. MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 5 PM EDT SATURDAY FOR AMZ330. GALE WARNING UNTIL 8 AM EDT THIS MORNING FOR AMZ352-354-374. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 5 AM EDT SUNDAY FOR AMZ350. && $$ SYNOPSIS... NEAR TERM... SHORT TERM... LONG TERM... AVIATION...JRL MARINE... TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE, IL
256 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 .SHORT TERM... 243 AM CDT THROUGH SUNDAY... GREAT WEATHER IS ON TAP FOR MOST OF THE AREA FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS...ESPECIALLY AREAS INLAND FROM LAKE MICHIGAN. OVERALL...A BLOCKED UPPER LEVEL FLOW PATTERN ACROSS THE CENTRAL CONUS WILL ESSENTIALLY KEEP ALL OF THE INCLEMENT WEATHER WELL WEST OF THE REGION THROUGH THE WEEKEND AS AN UPPER LOW SETS UP OVER THE SOUTHWESTERN CONUS. MEANWHILE...AT THE SURFACE...A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE...EXTENDING SOUTHWESTWARD FROM EASTERN QUEBEC...WILL BE DOMINATE ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES REGION THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THIS FEATURE WILL ACT TO KEEP THE SURFACE FLOW OUT OF A SOUTHEASTERLY DIRECTION...AND THIS WILL BE IDEAL FOR LAKE BREEZE DEVELOPMENT EACH DAY...ESPECIALLY ACROSS FAR NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS. AS A RESULT...ALTHOUGH CONDITIONS INLAND FROM THE LAKE WILL LIKELY WARM INTO THE LOW 70S TODAY...AND INTO THE MID 70S OVER THE WEEKEND...TEMPERATURES WILL LIKELY REMAIN A GOOD 13 TO 16 DEGREES COOLER NEAR THE LAKE. IN ADDITION TO THE WARMER CONDITIONS...DEW POINTS WILL AGAIN LIKELY MIX OUT INTO THE LOWER TO MIDDLE 30S INTO THIS AFTERNOON...AND THIS WILL RESULT IN THE MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY FALLING INTO THE 25 TO 30 PERCENT RANGE. BY SATURDAY A BIT MORE LOWER LEVEL MOISTURE IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE AREA...AND THIS SHOULD RESULT IN SLIGHTLY HIGHER DEW POINTS AND ALSO POSSIBLY SOME MORE FAIR WEATHER CUMULUS. KJB && .LONG TERM... 256 AM CDT SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY... A COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO PUSH SOUTHWARD DOWN LAKE MICHIGAN ON MONDAY. THIS COULD ACT LIKE A PNEUMONIA FRONT NEAR THE LAKE...WITH A SHARP DROP IN TEMPERATURES FOLLOWING ITS PASSAGE. IT DOES APPEAR THAT PRECIPITATION CHANCES WITH THE FRONT WILL BE LOW DUE TO THE DRY AIR MASS OVER THE REGION. THEREFORE...WE HAVE REMOVED THE CHANCE OF SHOWERS ON MONDAY. COOLER CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE AREA ON TUESDAY AS NORTHEASTERLY FLOW CONTINUES OFF OF LAKE MICHIGAN. HOWEVER...TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO BOUNCE BACK WELL INTO THE 60S AWAY FROM THE LAKE LATER IN THE WEEK AS THE SURFACE FLOW SHIFTS BACK OUT OF THE SOUTHEAST. THERE WILL ALSO BE SOME INCREASING CHANCES OF RAIN VERY LATE IN THE PERIOD...AROUND THURSDAY NIGHT AS THE UPPER LOW OVER THE SOUTHWESTERN CONUS DURING THE SHORT TERM PERIOD ATTEMPTS TO MOVE TOWARDS THE CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. KJB && .AVIATION... FOR THE 06Z TAFS... CONTINUED QUIET AVIATION WEATHER WITH THE AREA REMAINING BETWEEN HIGH PRESSURE ACROSS THE NORTHEAST U.S. AND A TROUGH ACROSS THE PLAINS. THE PATTERN WILL ALLOW ONCE AGAIN FOR LAKE INDUCED WINDS TO TURN EASTERLY AROUND 10 KT EARLY THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS CHICAGO TAF SITES...WHILE MORE NORTHEAST AT GYY. MTF && .MARINE... 115 AM CDT A TRANQUIL WEATHER PATTERN REMAINS IN PLACE OVER THE LAKE THROUGH THE WEEKEND WITH PRIMARILY A SOUTHEAST WIND. NEARSHORE AREAS ESPECIALLY ALONG THE ILLINOIS...INDIANA...AND WISCONSIN SHORES WILL SEE A MAINLY ONSHORE COMPONENT IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENINGS DUE TO LAKE BREEZES. A COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE DOWN THE LAKE EARLY NEXT WEEK THOUGH THE TIMING IS UNCERTAIN...WITH SOMETIME MONDAY PRESENTLY FAVORED. BEHIND THIS FRONT THE WINDS WILL TURN NORTHERLY WITH POSSIBLY A SHORT-LIVED PERIOD OF SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CONDITIONS INTO THE ILLINOIS AND INDIANA NEAR SHORES. MTF && .LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...NONE. IN...NONE. LM...NONE. && $$ VISIT US AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/CHICAGO (ALL LOWERCASE) FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK...TWITTER...AND YOUTUBE AT: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/NWSCHICAGO WWW.TWITTER.COM/NWSCHICAGO WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/NWSCHICAGO
  [top] Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 253 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 .SHORT TERM...(Today) ISSUED AT 253 AM CDT Fri Apr 15 2016 Upper low evident on 07z/2am water vapor imagery over northeast Arkansas will remain nearly stationary today. Cloud cover associated with this feature will pivot N/NW across south-central Illinois into eastern Missouri and southern Iowa this afternoon. Some of the high-res models such as the HRRR are even trying to develop isolated showers along/southwest of a Galesburg to Effingham line after 19z/20z. While forecast soundings show steepening lapse rates, a pronounced dry layer remains in place below 850mb thanks to continued dry SE flow around prevailing surface ridge. As a result, will go with a mostly sunny and dry forecast today. High temperatures will be a couple of degrees warmer than yesterday, reaching the lower 70s across the board. && .LONG TERM...(Tonight through Thursday) ISSUED AT 253 AM CDT Fri Apr 15 2016 A warm and dry weekend is on tap across central Illinois, as an upper-level blocking pattern across the CONUS keeps a strong ridge locked in place over the Great Lakes/Midwest. Temperatures will warm a degree or two each day, with highs reaching the middle to perhaps upper 70s by Sunday and Monday. The big question in the extended is how quickly the blocking pattern will break down. Models have been struggling with this for the past several runs, with each successive solution seemingly slower than the last. The 00z Apr 15 run of the GFS/ECMWF is actually in fairly good agreement, featuring a deep upper low over the Rockies/western Plains slowly meandering eastward into Illinois by Thursday. Meanwhile, the upper ridge further east is flattened by a northern- stream wave tracking across southern Canada. This feature will push a weak cold front into central Illinois late Monday into Tuesday: however, it will have very little moisture to work with, so have only carried slight chance PoPs for showers with its passage. Will have to wait until stronger lift/deeper moisture arrive with the Rockies upper low for better rain chances later in the week. At this time, it appears scattered showers and thunderstorms will be a good bet on Thursday as the upper low weakens and tracks eastward into the area. Given falling upper heights, the much above normal temperatures this weekend will be replaced by readings closer to normal in the upper 60s Tuesday through Thursday. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Friday night) Issued at 1149 PM CDT Thu Apr 14 2016 Quiet/VFR aviation weather conditions expected across the central Illinois terminals through the 06Z TAF valid time. East to southeast winds around 10 KTS will persist, and cloud cover will be minimal. && .ILX Watches/Warnings/Advisories... NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...Barnes LONG TERM...Barnes AVIATION...BAK
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS JACKSON KY
303 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 .SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY) ISSUED AT 300 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 06Z SFC ANALYSIS SHOWS HIGH PRESSURE OFF TO THE NORTHEAST OF KENTUCKY WITH WEAK LOW PRESSURE TO THE SOUTHWEST. THE MOST DRAMATIC GRADIENT ON THE CHART IS ONE OF DEWPOINT VARYING BY OVER 30 DEGREES ACROSS EASTERN KENTUCKY. DEWPOINTS ARE NEAR 50 DEGREES IN THE FAR SOUTH ALONG THE TENNESSEE BORDER AND ONLY IN THE UPPER TEENS AND LOW 20S TO THE MORE OPEN AREAS IN THE NORTHEAST. THIS SEEMS FITTING GIVEN THAT OUR LACK OF SIGNIFICANT RAINS THE PAST MONTH AND A HALF HAS BROUGHT PARTS OF THE CWA TO D0 DROUGHT STATUS. THE CLOUDS OVERNIGHT ARE MAINLY FOUND TO THE SOUTH SO THAT THEY ARE NOT INTERFERING WITH THE GOOD INVERSION SET UP OVER THE EASTERN VALLEYS AND RESULTANT RADIATIONAL COOLING. ACCORDINGLY...A DECENT RIDGE TO VALLEY TEMPERATURE SPLIT EXIST FOR THAT PART OF THE CWA...RANGING FROM THE MIDDLE AND UPPER 50S ON THE HILLS TO THE LOWER 40S IN THE SHELTERED VALLEYS. THE SOUTHERN AND WESTERN EXTENT OF THE CUMBERLAND VALLEY IS MISSING OUT ON THIS SPLIT DUE TO THE MID LEVEL CLOUDS AND HIGHER DEWPOINTS SO THAT READINGS ARE FAIRLY UNIFORM IN THE LOW TO MID 50S MOST SPOTS... ALONG WITH A BALMY LOW 60S AT LOZ AND THE HARLAN AIRPORT. THE SFC CHART DID ALSO SHOW A GRADIENT OF PRESSURE THROUGH NORTHEAST PARTS OF THE STATE AND THIS IS KEEPING A LIGHT NORTHEAST WIND BLOWING FOR THE MORE EXPOSED AREAS THERE...ELSEWHERE WINDS ARE NEARLY CALM. THE MODELS ARE IN GOOD ENOUGH AGREEMENT ALOFT THROUGH THE SHORT TERM. THEY ALL DEPICT A WEAK AREA OF LOWER HEIGHTS OVER THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. THIS IS FOUND IN THE MIDST OF A BUILDING RIDGE ACROSS THE OHIO AND TENNESSEE VALLEYS. THIS WEAKNESS CONTAINS SOME LOOSE PACKETS OF ENERGY FLOATING AROUND OVER THE REGION. HOWEVER...IT ALL WILL FADE OUT WITH TIME AS THE RIDGE BUILDS MORE COMPLETELY LATER TODAY AND THROUGHOUT THE DAY SATURDAY. THE RIDGE IS PUMPED UP OVERHEAD THROUGH THE FIRST PART OF THE WEEKEND IN RESPONSE TO A DEEPENING AND CLOSING OFF TROUGH SETTLING INTO THE FOUR CORNERS REGION. GIVEN THE MODEL AGREEMENT WITH THE BROAD PICTURE AND TYPICAL TROUBLE WITH WEAK FEATURES EMBEDDED WITHIN THE LARGER SCALE PATTERN WILL FAVOR THE A BLENDED SOLUTION WITH EMPHASIS ON THE HIGHER RESOLUTION HRRR AND NAM12 IN THE NEAR TERM. SENSIBLE WEATHER WILL FEATURE A CONTINUATION OF THE RELATIVELY DRY PATTERN WE HAVE BEEN IN SINCE MARCH. DRY LOW LEVELS WILL MAKE THE LINGERING MID LEVEL ENERGY INEFFECTUAL AT KICKING UP ANY SHOWERS THROUGH THE PERIOD...EVEN DURING PEAK HEATING...BOTH TODAY AND SATURDAY. THE CLOUDS WILL FADE AS WELL TONIGHT AND MAKE FOR A MOSTLY SUNNY DAY THROUGH EAST KENTUCKY WITH CAPITAL WEATHER ON TAP AS TEMPERATURES CLIMB INTO THE LOWER 70S ALONG WITH LOW HUMIDITY LEVELS. LOOK FOR ANOTHER RIDGE TO VALLEY TEMPERATURE SPLIT TO SET UP TONIGHT UNDER THE MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES...ESPECIALLY OVER THE EASTERN SHELTERED VALLEYS. HOWEVER...EVEN IN THOSE SPOTS THOUGH... TEMPERATURES SHOULD NOT GET COLD ENOUGH TO ALLOW FOR FROST FORMATION. USED THE SHORTBLEND AS THE STARTING POINT FOR THE T/TD/WIND GRIDS INTO THE LATE EVENING AND THE SUPERBLEND THEREAFTER THROUGH SATURDAY WITH SOME ADJUSTMENTS MADE FOR TERRAIN DISTINCTIONS EARLY THIS MORNING AND TONIGHT. KEPT THE POPS NEAR ZERO THROUGHOUT...IN LINE WITH ALL MOS GUIDANCE. .LONG TERM...(SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY) ISSUED AT 257 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 THE EXTENDED PORTION OF THE FORECAST LOOKS TO BE WARMER THAN NORMAL AND MOSTLY DRY ACROSS THE AREA. THE MODELS ALL AGREE ON A LARGE RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE SETTING UP CAMP ACROSS THE OHIO AND TENNESSEE VALLEYS FROM SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE UPCOMING WORK WEEK. THIS RIDGE WILL BRING ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES TO THE AREA...BOTH DAY AND NIGHT...THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. THE RIDGE WILL FINALLY BEGIN TO BREAK DOWN TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY...AS A POTENT TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE ALOFT MOVES OUT OF CANADA...ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES REGION...AND EVENTUALLY OFF THE MID ATLANTIC COAST LINE BY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. AFTER THE RIDGE DETERIORATES A BIT...AND BEGINS TO DRIFT OFF TO THE EAST...A SECOND WEAKER TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE IS PROGGED TO EJECT OUT OF THE CENTRAL PLAINS AND ACROSS THE EASTERN THIRD OF THE CONUS WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. THIS SYSTEM WILL BRING SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS TO THE AREA FROM WEDNESDAY EVENING ONWARD. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z FRIDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 130 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL THROUGH THE PERIOD. COULD SEE SOME CEILINGS BRIEFLY DEVELOP BELOW FL100...BUT NOT ANYTHING TO WARRANT SUB-VFR CRITERIA. WINDS WILL VARY FROM NORTHEAST TO SOUTHEAST AS SPEEDS REMAIN NEAR OR BELOW 5 KNOTS. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...GREIF LONG TERM...AR AVIATION...GREIF
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS JACKSON KY
300 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 .SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY) ISSUED AT 300 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 06Z SFC ANALYSIS SHOWS HIGH PRESSURE OFF TO THE NORTHEAST OF KENTUCKY WITH WEAK LOW PRESSURE TO THE SOUTHWEST. THE MOST DRAMATIC GRADIENT ON THE CHART IS ONE OF DEWPOINT VARYING BY OVER 30 DEGREES ACROSS EASTERN KENTUCKY. DEWPOINTS ARE NEAR 50 DEGREES IN THE FAR SOUTH ALONG THE TENNESSEE BORDER AND ONLY IN THE UPPER TEENS AND LOW 20S TO THE MORE OPEN AREAS IN THE NORTHEAST. THIS SEEMS FITTING GIVEN THAT OUR LACK OF SIGNIFICANT RAINS THE PAST MONTH AND A HALF HAS BROUGHT PARTS OF THE CWA TO D0 DROUGHT STATUS. THE CLOUDS OVERNIGHT ARE MAINLY FOUND TO THE SOUTH SO THAT THEY ARE NOT INTERFERING WITH THE GOOD INVERSION SET UP OVER THE EASTERN VALLEYS AND RESULTANT RADIATIONAL COOLING. ACCORDINGLY...A DECENT RIDGE TO VALLEY TEMPERATURE SPLIT EXIST FOR THAT PART OF THE CWA...RANGING FROM THE MIDDLE AND UPPER 50S ON THE HILLS TO THE LOWER 40S IN THE SHELTERED VALLEYS. THE SOUTHERN AND WESTERN EXTENT OF THE CUMBERLAND VALLEY IS MISSING OUT ON THIS SPLIT DUE TO THE MID LEVEL CLOUDS AND HIGHER DEWPOINTS SO THAT READINGS ARE FAIRLY UNIFORM IN THE LOW TO MID 50S MOST SPOTS... ALONG WITH A BALMY LOW 60S AT LOZ AND THE HARLAN AIRPORT. THE SFC CHART DID ALSO SHOW A GRADIENT OF PRESSURE THROUGH NORTHEAST PARTS OF THE STATE AND THIS IS KEEPING A LIGHT NORTHEAST WIND BLOWING FOR THE MORE EXPOSED AREAS THERE...ELSEWHERE WINDS ARE NEARLY CALM. THE MODELS ARE IN GOOD ENOUGH AGREEMENT ALOFT THROUGH THE SHORT TERM. THEY ALL DEPICT A WEAK AREA OF LOWER HEIGHTS OVER THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. THIS IS FOUND IN THE MIDST OF A BUILDING RIDGE ACROSS THE OHIO AND TENNESSEE VALLEYS. THIS WEAKNESS CONTAINS SOME LOOSE PACKETS OF ENERGY FLOATING AROUND OVER THE REGION. HOWEVER...IT ALL WILL FADE OUT WITH TIME AS THE RIDGE BUILDS MORE COMPLETELY LATER TODAY AND THROUGHOUT THE DAY SATURDAY. THE RIDGE IS PUMPED UP OVERHEAD THROUGH THE FIRST PART OF THE WEEKEND IN RESPONSE TO A DEEPENING AND CLOSING OFF TROUGH SETTLING INTO THE FOUR CORNERS REGION. GIVEN THE MODEL AGREEMENT WITH THE BROAD PICTURE AND TYPICAL TROUBLE WITH WEAK FEATURES EMBEDDED WITHIN THE LARGER SCALE PATTERN WILL FAVOR THE A BLENDED SOLUTION WITH EMPHASIS ON THE HIGHER RESOLUTION HRRR AND NAM12 IN THE NEAR TERM. SENSIBLE WEATHER WILL FEATURE A CONTINUATION OF THE RELATIVELY DRY PATTERN WE HAVE BEEN IN SINCE MARCH. DRY LOW LEVELS WILL MAKE THE LINGERING MID LEVEL ENERGY INEFFECTUAL AT KICKING UP ANY SHOWERS THROUGH THE PERIOD...EVEN DURING PEAK HEATING...BOTH TODAY AND SATURDAY. THE CLOUDS WILL FADE AS WELL TONIGHT AND MAKE FOR A MOSTLY SUNNY DAY THROUGH EAST KENTUCKY WITH CAPITAL WEATHER ON TAP AS TEMPERATURES CLIMB INTO THE LOWER 70S ALONG WITH LOW HUMIDITY LEVELS. LOOK FOR ANOTHER RIDGE TO VALLEY TEMPERATURE SPLIT TO SET UP TONIGHT UNDER THE MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES...ESPECIALLY OVER THE EASTERN SHELTERED VALLEYS. HOWEVER...EVEN IN THOSE SPOTS THOUGH... TEMPERATURES SHOULD NOT GET COLD ENOUGH TO ALLOW FOR FROST FORMATION. USED THE SHORTBLEND AS THE STARTING POINT FOR THE T/TD/WIND GRIDS INTO THE LATE EVENING AND THE SUPERBLEND THEREAFTER THROUGH SATURDAY WITH SOME ADJUSTMENTS MADE FOR TERRAIN DISTINCTIONS EARLY THIS MORNING AND TONIGHT. KEPT THE POPS NEAR ZERO THROUGHOUT...IN LINE WITH ALL MOS GUIDANCE. .LONG TERM...(SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY) ISSUED AT 252 PM EDT THU APR 14 2016 THE EXTENDED PERIOD IS CONTINUING TO TREND DRIER AS A LARGE CLOSED LOW OVER THE FOUR CORNERS REGION BATTLES AGAINST A HIGH BLOCK OVER THE EASTERN CONUS THROUGH THE START OF THE NEW WORK WEEK. THE KICKER WILL BE A NORTHERN STREAM TROF DROPPING SOUTHEASTWARD FROM EASTERN CANADA MONDAY AFTERNOON...BRINGING A MOISTURE STARVED COLD FRONT THROUGH THE REGION BY TUESDAY MORNING. THIS FRONT SHOULD BE ABLE TO TAP INTO SOME OF THE ENERGY FROM THE FOUR CORNERS LOW AS IT OPENS UP BUT STILL MAY NOT BE ENOUGH TO PRODUCE ANY SUBSTANTIAL RAINFALL. AS THE NORTHERN STREAM TROF PUSHES OFF TO THE EAST...THE FOUR CORNERS LOW WILL FINALLY BE ABLE TO SHIFT EAST. THOUGH...THIS LOW IS PROGGED TO WEAKEN AND FADE AS IT FIGHTS AGAINST SFC HIGH PRESSURE IN PLACE. THE WEATHER THROUGH THE PERIOD WILL REMAIN MOSTLY DRY AND SEASONABLY MILD. WEAK LOW PRESSURE WILL MAINLY STAY TO OUR SOUTH WHILE HIGH PRESSURE HOLDS STEADY OVER THE REGION INTO NEXT WEEK. A MOISTURE STARVED COLD FRONT WILL PASS THROUGH EASTERN KENTUCKY TUESDAY EVENING INTO WEDNESDAY AS A DEVELOPING LOW MOVES THROUGH NEW ENGLAND. MORE SUBSTANTIAL RAINFALL LOOKS TO FINALLY RETURN BY THURSDAY AS THE REMNANTS OF THE FOUR CORNERS LOW SHIFTS INTO KENTUCKY. MODELS DIFFER ON HOW THIS LOW EVOLVES AND MOVES EASTWARD BUT STILL LOOKS TO BRING AT LEAST SOME RAIN BACK INTO THE FORECAST...ALONG WITH A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDER THURSDAY AFTERNOON. GIVEN THE MODEL UNCERTAINTIES...DECIDED TO STICK CLOSE TO THE CR SUPERBLEND. GIVEN THE LACK OF RAIN RECENTLY ALONG WITH A MOSTLY DRY FORECAST...IT CERTAINLY APPEARS EASTERN KENTUCKY WILL BE MOVING DEEPER TOWARD OR INTO A DROUGHT...AS WE ARE RUNNING TWO AND A HALF INCHES BELOW NORMAL FOR RAIN SINCE THE BEGINNING OF MARCH. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z FRIDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 130 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL THROUGH THE PERIOD. COULD SEE SOME CEILINGS BRIEFLY DEVELOP BELOW FL100...BUT NOT ANYTHING TO WARRANT SUB-VFR CRITERIA. WINDS WILL VARY FROM NORTHEAST TO SOUTHEAST AS SPEEDS REMAIN NEAR OR BELOW 5 KNOTS. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...GREIF LONG TERM...JVM AVIATION...GREIF
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS HASTINGS NE
453 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 453 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 MAIN ISSUES INCLUDE CHANCES OF PRECIPITATION ALONG WITH SEVERE WEATHER POSSIBILITIES IN OUR FAR WEST LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. SHOWERS AND ISOLATED STORMS WILL CONTINUE TO FORM NEAR THE LOW-LEVEL JET AXIS THAT IS TRAVERSING THE CWA TO THE EAST. I EXPECT PRETTY DECENT COVERAGE IN OUR NORTH AND TO SOME EXTENT OUR CENTRAL CWA INCLUDING THE TRI-CITIES. SHORT TERM NUMERICAL MODELS APPEAR TO BE SUPERIOR WITH THE COVERAGE OF THESE SHOWERS AND HAVE GRAVITATED TOWARD HRRR THIS MORNING. NOT ENOUGH INSTABILITY TO CONCERN ME ABOUT SEVERE WEATHER DURING THE OVERNIGHT AND THIS MORNING. RAIN AMOUNTS SHOULD NOT BE SPECTACULAR. A CLOSED LOW WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP WITHIN A DEEPENING TROUGH AND WILL SETTLE INTO THE FOUR CORNERS AREA OF THE UNITED STATES. A MID- LEVEL WAVE WILL KICK OUT OF THE BASE OF THE TROUGH AND WILL KICK UP CONVECTION NEAR A COLD FRONT IN THE HIGH PLAINS TO THE WEST OF THE AREA TODAY. BY LATE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING THIS CONVECTION COULD MAKE IT JUST FAR ENOUGH EAST TO BE IN OUR WESTERN CWA. IN OUR FAR WEST...WITH CAPE IN THE 500 TO 1000 J/KG RANGE AND BULK WIND SHEAR BETWEEN THE SURFACE AND 6 KM IN THE 30 TO 35 KTS RANGE...I WILL NEED TO INCLUDE SEVERE WEATHER IN THE HWO FOR AREAS ALONG AND WEST OF HIGHWAY 183 IN OUR FAR WESTERN CWA...ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT WE ARE IN EARLY SEVERE SEASON. FOR HIGH TEMPERATURES...I REALLY LIKE THE BIAS CORRECTED RAWBLEND GRIDS SINCE THEY HAVE DONE THE BEST FOR TEMPERATURES IN SIMILAR SCENARIOS. I ALSO INCREASED WIND GUSTS 3 TO 5 KNOTS COMPARED TO THE WIND GUST ALGORITHM THAT IS NORMALLY RUN...AS CONSRAW SEEMS TO BE FAR SUPERIOR. I ALSO USED MOSGUIDE FOR SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS AND DIRECTION FOR TODAY AND TONIGHT. TONIGHT THE BEST RAIN CHANCES WILL BE IN THE WEST...BUT WILL CONTINUE TO NUDGE EAST WITH TIME. I GENERALLY LIKE WHAT SREF HAS DONE AND HAVE FOLLOWED CLOSELY...BUT TAMPED DOWN A BIT. MOST OF ANY HEAVY RAIN WILL BE WEST OF THE CWA AND I BELIEVE OUR FAR WEST WOULD BE ABLE TO TOLERATE A FEW INCHES OF RAIN BEFORE WE WOULD EVER BEGIN TO HAVE ANY WATER PROBLEMS. WENT WITH CONSRAW FOR LOWS FOR TONIGHT AS THIS IS USUALLY SUPERIOR IN SITUATION WHERE WE WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY ABOVE AVERAGE. LOWS MAINLY IN THE 50S...BUT SOME SPOTS IN OUR SOUTH MIGHT NOT DROP BELOW 60. SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED PAST 10 PM AS INSTABILITY WANES AND BULK SHEAR WILL BE MARGINAL. WITH A 50 KT LOW-LEVEL JET EXPECTED TONIGHT ALONG WITH PLENTY OF MOISTURE TRANSPORT...WE STAND A GOOD CHANCE OF RAIN FOR MOST OF THE CWA...ESPECIALLY WEST. OUR FAR EAST MAY STRUGGLE TO GET A WHOLE LOT AS THE LOW-LEVEL JET AXIS WILL LIKELY REMAIN FAR ENOUGH WEST TO SHORT-CHANGE THE EAST. AS FAR AS HEAVY RAIN IS CONCERNED...THE MAIN AXIS OF LOW-LEVEL MOISTURE TRANSPORT WILL REMAIN WEST OF THE CWA DURING THE SHORT TERM. ALTHOUGH OUR FAR WEST IS IN THE MOST FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR HEAVIER RAIN...EVEN THIS IS A BIT TO FAR EAST TO CONCERN ME THROUGH TONIGHT. .LONG TERM...(SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY) ISSUED AT 453 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 INITIAL IMPRESSIONS FROM A FORECASTER COVERING MOST OF THIS LONG TERM TIME FRAME FOR THE FIRST TIME: 1) WOW...WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THAT LITERALLY EVERY ONE OF THE DAY/NIGHT FORECAST PERIODS IN OUR 7-DAY FORECAST FEATURED RAIN CHANCES?! 2) ALTHOUGH CONSIDERABLE UNCERTAINTY REMAINS IN THE FINER DETAILS...CONFIDENCE CONTINUES GROWING THAT THE CWA WILL SEE A VERY WELCOMED SOAKING OF CUMULATIVE RAINS DURING THIS UPCOMING WEEK...AND QUITE POSSIBLY A BIT TOO MUCH ESPECIALLY NEAR/WEST OF HIGHWAY 183. ALTHOUGH WE ONLY OFFICIALLY FORECAST QPF/RAINFALL TOTALS OUT THROUGH 72 HOURS...A BLEND OF OUR CURRENT FORECAST ALONG WITH NATIONAL WPC GUIDANCE SUGGESTS THAT THE EASTERN HALF OF THE CWA CAN GENERALLY EXPECT MULTI-DAY TOTALS OF 1.5-3"...WITH THE WESTERN HALF GENERALLY 3-5". OF COURSE...AS IS ALMOST ALWAYS THE CASE IN THIS BUSINESS...AT LEAST LOCALIZED HIGHER/LOWER EXCEPTIONS ARE LIKELY. 3) CHANCES FOR SEVERE STORMS FROM SATURDAY ONWARD CONTINUE TO LOOK PRETTY LOW (ESPECIALLY BY MID-APRIL STANDARDS). ALTHOUGH "SURPRISES" CAN AND SOMETIMES DO HAPPEN IN THE PROXIMITY OF THESE LARGE/LUMBERING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEMS...THE EXPECTED PRESENCE OF APPRECIABLE CLOUD COVER AND ASSOCIATED LIMITED INSTABILITY ARGUES IN FAVOR OF THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER (SPC) KEEPING THE CURRENT DAY 2 MARGINAL RISK AT LEAST SLIGHTLY SOUTHWEST OF THE CWA...WITH EVEN LESS OF A STRONG STORM THREAT FOR SUNDAY (DAY 3). STICKING WITH THE BIG PICTURE STORY OF ALL THESE RAIN CHANCES: ALTHOUGH AT LEAST "SOME" CHANCE OF RAIN EXISTS ALL THE WAY THROUGH NEXT THURSDAY...BY FAR THE HIGHEST CHANCES FOR APPRECIABLE AMOUNTS ARE FOCUSED DURING THE FRIDAY NIGHT-MONDAY TIME FRAME. AS ALREADY MENTIONED...OUR LATEST OFFICIAL QPF/RAINFALL FORECAST CURRENTLY ONLY GOES OUT 72 HOURS (THROUGH MONDAY MORNING)...AND THUS DOESN`T QUITE CAPTURE THE ENTIRE MAIN EVENT. ALTHOUGH OUR CURRENT/UPCOMING WEB-BASED GRAPHICS DO A BETTER JOB OF "VISUALIZING" EXPECTED RAIN TOTALS THAN THIS WRITTEN PRODUCT...THE 48-HOUR PERIOD FROM SATURDAY MORNING-MONDAY MORNING IS EXPECTED TO FEATURE A RATHER SHARP GRADIENT FROM LESS THAN 1" IN THE FAR EASTERN CWA NEAR HIGHWAY 81...TO GENERALLY 3-4" IN COUNTIES ALONG AND ESPECIALLY WEST OF HIGHWAY 183. IN BETWEEN...MIDDLE AREAS SUCH AS THE TRI-CITIES ARE GENERALLY IN THE 1.50-2.50" POTENTIAL FOR THESE 48 HOURS. DESPITE HOW DRY IT HAS BEEN LATELY...IF PARTS OF OUR WESTERN CWA DO IN FACT REALIZE AT LEAST 3-4" OF RAIN DURING THESE NEXT 72 HOURS AND POSSIBLY A BIT MORE THEREAFTER...IT`S LIKELY NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION THAT A FEW MAINLY MINOR/NUISANCE SHORT-TERM FLOODING ISSUES COULD RESULT...ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT LIMITED VEGETATIVE GROWTH WILL DO LITTLE TO COUNTERACT RUNOFF. THAT BEING SAID...DO NOT CURRENTLY FORESEE THE NEED FOR A FORMAL FLOOD WATCH GIVEN THAT RAINFALL "SHOULD" BE REASONABLY SPACED-OUT OVER MULTIPLE "WAVES". OFFICIAL 6-HOUR FLASH FLOOD GUIDANCE (FFG) IS CURRENTLY RUNNING AROUND 3"...SO UNLESS A LOT OF RAIN ENDS UP FALLING IN A SHORT TIME...TRULY IMPACTFUL/WIDESPREAD FLOODING ISSUES SHOULD BE HELD AT BAY. AS A RESULT...AT LEAST FOR NOW WILL CONTINUE HIGHLIGHTING A CUMULATIVE/PROLONGED HEAVY RAIN POTENTIAL FOR OUR WESTERN CWA IN PRODUCTS SUCH AS THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK (HWOGID) AND WEB-BASED/SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS...BUT STILL FOREGOING A FORMAL FLOOD WATCH. HOWEVER...THESE TRENDS WILL BE MONITORED CLOSELY FOR POSSIBLE CHANGES OF HEART OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. FOR THOSE WONDERING WHEN THIS SUDDENLY-WET WEATHER PATTERN WILL COME TO AN END: ALTHOUGH IT`S JUST BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THE CURRENT 7-DAY FORECAST...IT APPEARS THAT THE THURSDAY NIGHT/FRIDAY TIME FRAME NEXT WEEK WILL "PROBABLY" FEATURE NO RAIN CHANCES ANYWHERE IN THE CWA FOR A CHANGE. TEMPERATURE-WISE: VERY LITTLE NOTICEABLE CHANGE VERSUS PREVIOUS FORECAST. BECAUSE OF THE MULTITUDE OF RAIN CHANCES AND EXPECTED PREVAILING MOSTLY CLOUDY/CLOUDY SKIES...DIURNAL RANGES SHOULD BE HELD DOWN. IN GENERAL...HIGHS ON MOST OF THESE 6 DAYS ARE AIMED INTO THE UPPER 50S-UPPER 60S RANGE...ALTHOUGH PARTS OF THE FAR WESTERN CWA MAY ACTUALLY STRUGGLE TO REACH 55 ESPECIALLY SUNDAY- MONDAY. OVERNIGHT LOWS ARE CURRENTLY AIMED INTO EITHER THE 40S/50S ON ALL NIGHTS...WITH NO HINTS OF A THREAT FOR SUB-FREEZING READINGS EVEN IN FAR NORTHERN/WESTERN ZONES. OTHER POSSIBLE HAZARDS BEYOND THUNDERSTORMS/HEAVY RAIN: ALTHOUGH THIS WETTER TYPE OF PATTERN COULD EASILY YIELD ONE OR MORE ROUNDS OF IMPACTFUL FOG...THERE ARE NONE "OBVIOUS" AT THIS TIME. IN A WELCOME CHANGE FROM THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS...THE PERSISTENCE OF HIGHER DEWPOINTS/LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND OBVIOUSLY THE EXPECTED RAINFALL SHOULD GREATLY MITIGATE FIRE WEATHER ISSUES. WITH THE MAIN POINTS/THEMES COVERED...WILL FINISH UP WITH SOME FAIRLY BRIEF DAY-TO-DAY DETAILS IN 12-36 HOUR BLOCKS: SATURDAY DAYTIME: A DEFINITE WEST-TO-EAST DISPARITY IN RAINFALL POTENTIAL IS EVIDENT...WITH MEASURABLE CHANCES/POPS RANGING FROM ONLY 30-40 PERCENT IN FAR EASTERN ZONES TO 80 PERCENT IN FAR WESTERN AREAS. IN FACT...ESPECIALLY THE WESTERN 1/3 OF THE CWA MAY STRUGGLE TO SEE HARDLY ANY RAIN. VARIOUS MODELS ARE IN DECENT AGREEMENT THAT THE CENTER OF THE EXPANSIVE MID LEVEL LOW WILL BE CENTERED OVER THE NM AREA. SATURDAY NIGHT: A WEAK FRONT/INVERTED TROUGH WILL START MAKING ITS WAY INTO ESPECIALLY THE NORTHWESTERN CWA...BUT HOW FAR IS STILL IN QUESTION. VARIOUS LOBES OF SHORTWAVE ENERGY/LIFT CONTINUE STREAMING NORTHWARD INTO THE CWA OUT AHEAD OF THE MAIN UPPER SYSTEM...AGAIN STILL FAVORING WESTERN AREAS FOR RAIN MORE THAN THE EAST. SUNDAY/SUNDAY NIGHT: WHILE GOOD RAIN CHANCES CONTINUE IN THE WESTERN CWA...FOR CENTRAL/EASTERN COUNTIES THIS 24 HOURS MIGHT END UP BEING THE "MAIN EVENT" AS THE LARGE-SCALE UPPER LOW STARTS TO OPEN UP A BIT AND SENDS A LOBE OF ENERGY A BIT FARTHER EAST INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS. MONDAY/MONDAY NIGHT: THE STALLED OUT/WEAKENING UPPER LOW SPRAWLED ACROSS THE CENTRAL ROCKIES AND SURROUNDING STATES STARTS TAKES ON MORE OF A WEST-EAST ORIENTATION AS LARGE-SCALE FORCING WEAKENS SOMEWHAT. NONETHELESS...PRETTY HIGH RAIN CHANCES CONTINUE ESPECIALLY FOR THE DAYTIME HOURS. TUESDAY/TUESDAY NIGHT: BY THIS TIME...THE "MAIN EVENT" SHOULD BE OVER WITH...BUT WILL MAINTAIN LESS-THAN-LIKELY RAIN CHANCES FOR THE ENTIRE CWA GIVEN THAT THE CENTER OF THE REMNANT MID LEVEL LOW STILL JUST FINALLY START PASSING OVER THE HEART OF THE LOCAL AREA. WEDNESDAY DAYTIME-THURSDAY: ALTHOUGH AT LEAST SMALL 20-30 POPS LINGER ON FOR MOST OF THE CWA...IN ALL REALITY MOST AREAS SHOULD BE DRY THE MAJORITY OF THIS TIME. UNLESS THINGS SLOW DOWN NOTICEABLY...THE MAIN MID LEVEL LOW SHOULD START DEPARTING THE LOCAL AREA AROUND WED NIGHT...SETTING THE STAGE FOR RIDGING TO BUILD IN ESPECIALLY JUST BEYOND THIS TIME FRAME. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 06Z KGRI/KEAR TAFS THROUGH 06Z FRIDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 1258 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 THREW IN LLWS OVERNIGHT AND HIT CONVECTION HARDER THAN PREVIOUS FORECAST. ALSO...CEILINGS MAY BE LOWER...ESPECIALLY AT KEAR...AND WENT MVFR FOR NOW. && .GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...NONE. KS...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...HEINLEIN LONG TERM...PFANNKUCH AVIATION...HEINLEIN
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS BISMARCK ND
1251 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 1219 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 DEEPENING UPPER LOW WITH ASSOCIATED H850 LOW LEVEL JET OF 50-60KTS WILL PLAY IMPORTANT ROLE IN LOW LEVEL WARM MOIST ADVECTION AND INCREASE SHOWERS/TSTMS ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA NEXT 3 TO 6 HOURS. AS THE SHOWERS MIX DOWN H850 WINDS HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN 40-50 MPH WIND GUSTS AT PLACES LIKE DICKINSON...HETTINGER AND GARRISON. AS A RESULT RAISED WIND SPEEDS AND GUSTS FOR SHOWERS TONIGHT SOUTH CENTRAL. THEN FOCUSED ON THE SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORM BAND AND REFOCUSED POPS SOUTH CENTRAL WHERE THIS BAND WILL MOVE NORTH INTO SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA DURING THE NEXT 1 TO 6 HOURS. UPDATE ISSUED AT 943 PM CDT THU APR 14 2016 RAIN SHOWER ACTIVITY HAS CONTINUED TO INCREASE ACROSS NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA THROUGH 0245 UTC AS LOW LEVEL WARM AIR ADVECTION STRENGTHENS IN ASSOCIATION WITH CYCLOGENESIS ACROSS FAR SOUTHEAST MONTANA. EXPECT MODERATE TO AT TIMES HEAVY RAIN TO REMAIN FOCUSED ACROSS THESE AREAS THROUGH 09-10 UTC AS LOW LEVEL WARM ADVECTION CONTINUES TO INCREASE UNDER STRONG DIFFLUENCE ALOFT WITH PWATS CLIMBING TO AROUND 1.10 INCHES. FOR THE SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL...A MARGINAL SEVERE THREAT WILL REMAIN THROUGH THE NIGHT IN THE VICINITY OF THE SURFACE COLD FRONT ARCHING SOUTH OF THE AFOREMENTIONED LOW. DEEP LAYER EFFECTIVE SHEAR IS STRONG...AROUND 50 KTS...WITH MOST UNSTABLE CAPE VALUES SLOWLY INCREASING TO AROUND 500 J/KG OVERNIGHT WITH INCREASING MOISTURE. THUS...A LOW END DAMAGING WIND AND HAIL THREAT WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE NIGHT. UPDATE ISSUED AT 801 PM CDT THU APR 14 2016 SHOWERS WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO PUSH NORTHEASTWARD INTO WESTERN AND CENTRAL ND THROUGH TONIGHT. SOME THUNDERSTORMS MAY BECOME STRONG WITH GUSTY WINDS AND SMALL HAIL...AS STRONG DEEP LAYER SHEAR IN EXCESS OF 50 KTS COUPLES WITH WEAK INSTABILITY THIS EVENING. PROGRESSING INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS...CHANCES FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MODESTLY INCREASES AS INSTABILITY AND ATMOSPHERIC MOISTURE INCREASES IN ASSOCIATION WITH CYCLOGENESIS. THE HRRR HAS BEEN CONSTANTLY PERFORMING WELL WITH THE CURRENT CONVECTION...SO THE FORECAST WAS UPDATED WITH THE LATEST CONVECTIVE TRENDS FROM THE HRRR. CURRENT RADAR AND SURFACE OBSERVATIONS WERE ALSO INGESTED INTO THE FORECAST. && .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 258 PM CDT THU APR 14 2016 THE MAIN FORECAST ISSUE IN THE SHORT TERM PERIOD WILL BE SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. A POTENT UPPER LEVEL LOW IS CURRENTLY MOVING ONTO THE NORTHERN WASHINGTON COAST. UPPER LEVEL FLOW AROUND THE CLOSED LOW EXTENDS SOUTHWARD INTO CALIFORNIA THEN EXPANDS INTO A BROAD SOUTHWEST FLOW OVER THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL ROCKIES AND INTO THE NORTHERN PLAINS. LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT...SHORTWAVE ENERGY TRANSLATING THROUGH THE SOUTHWEST UPPER FLOW WILL INDUCE SURFACE CYCLOGENESIS OVER THE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN ROCKIES WITH SURFACE LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPING AND MOVING INTO THE MONDAK AREA AROUND 00 UTC FRIDAY. IT APPEARS THERE MAY BE A FEW HOURS THIS EVENING WHERE THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY...POSSIBLY SEVERE...OVER SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA CENTERED AROUND 00 UTC IF WE DEVELOP THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE NORTHERN HIGH PLAINS. THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE INTO A FAVORABLE SHEAR ENVIRONMENT...BUT CONVECTIVE INHIBITION REMAINS HIGH. THEN FROM 00 UTC THROUGH 06 UTC STRONG SHORTWAVE ENERGY LIFTS THROUGH EASTERN MONTANA WITH INCREASING UPPER LEVEL DIVERGENCE AS UPPER FLOW BECOMES NEARLY MERIDIONAL. RAP CONTINUES TO INDICATE SIGNIFICANT DIRECTIONAL SHEAR OVER WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA WITH INCREASING BULK SHEAR. BUT LOW LEVEL INSTABILITY WILL DISSIPATE AS WE HEAD INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS AND AS CONVECTION LIFTS FARTHER NORTH. LOOKS LIKE A HIGHLY SHEARED ENVIRONMENT WITH LITTLE CAPE...BUT WITH SUCH STRONG DIRECTIONAL SHEAR WE COULD POSSIBLY SEE SOME STRONG WINDS WITH ANY ORGANIZED CONVECTION THAT WOULD MOVE FROM EASTERN MONTANA INTO SOUTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA THIS EVENING. AFTER THIS EVENING THE FOCUS FOR PRECIPITATION WILL REMAIN RIGHT AHEAD AND TO THE NORTH OF THE SURFACE LOW...WHICH TRACKS TO NEAR BISMARCK BY AROUND 15 UTC FRIDAY. AFTER 15 UTC FRIDAY THE FOCUS FOR THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY REMAINS MAINLY ALONG AND EAST OF THE HIGHWAY 83 CORRIDOR AS THE SURFACE LOW AND ASSOCIATED BOUNDARY SHIFTS SLOWLY EAST DURING THE DAY...INTO APPROXIMATELY THE SOUTHERN JAMES RIVER VALLEY BY 00 UTC SATURDAY. THUS AREAS WEST OF BISMARCK AND ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE INTERSTATE COULD SEE MAINLY DRY CONDITIONS FRIDAY. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL REMAIN EAST OF BISMARCK INTO THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY...WITH RAIN AND MUCH COLDER TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST FROM THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS INTO CROSBY AND WILLISTON. FRIDAY NIGHT THE SURFACE TROUGH MOVES INTO THE RED RIVER VALLEY...KEEPING BEST CHANCES OVER THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA...WITH DRYING NORTHERLY FLOW OVER THE REST CENTRAL AND WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA. WILL LIKELY KEEP AT LEAST SOME SLIGHT CHANCES OF SHOWERS THOUGH AS THE NORTHERN PORTION OF THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH REMAINS OVER EASTERN MONTANA. .LONG TERM...(SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY) ISSUED AT 258 PM CDT THU APR 14 2016 GOOD AGREEMENT SATURDAY...THEN A TOUGH CALL SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. TWO SCENARIOS REMAIN POSSIBLE BEYOND SATURDAY...EITHER IT REMAINS WET AND COOL THROUGH TUESDAY PER GFS...OR PER ECMWF THE PRECIPITATION ENDS SATURDAY NIGHT AND WE BEGIN A DRYING AND MODERATING TREND SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. MAIN ISSUE IS THE FORMATION OF A REX BLOCK PATTERN...WITH AN UPPER HIGH ACROSS SOUTHERN CANADA/NORTHERN NORTH DAKOTA SITUATED OVER A CLOSED UPPER LOW TUCKED AWAY IN THE FOUR CORNERS THIS WEEKEND. THE OPERATIONAL GFS 500MB HEIGHT FIELD CLOSELY FOLLOWS THE GFS ENSEMBLE MEAN. THIS SOLUTION ALLOWS FOR MORE OF AN INFLUENCE OF THE CLOSED LOW AS IT MEANDERS INTO CENTRAL PLAINS SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY WITH A WEAKER UPPER HIGH. A DEFORMATION ZONE BECOMES ESTABLISHED ESPECIALLY OVER CENTRAL/SOUTHERN NORTH DAKOTA WHICH CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN A POOLED MOISTURE FIELD AND RESULTANT SHOWERS. THE FAR NORTH LOOKS DRY DURING THIS PERIOD. THE OPERATIONAL ECMWF IS STRONGER WITH THE REX BLOCK FORMATION AND SUPPRESSES THE UPPER LOW MUCH FARTHER SOUTH THAN THE GFS. THE RESULT IS A DRY PATTERN AS THE UPPER HIGH SETS UP OVER NORTH DAKOTA. A SLOW MODERATING TREND COMMENCES DURING THIS TIME. FOR SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...THE GRIDDED DATA MORE OR LESS TAKES A BLEND OF THE WET GFS AND DRY ECMWF AND ARRIVES AT A CHANCE OF SHOWERS SUNDAY FOR ALL BUT THE NORTHWEST...THEN GRADUALLY SHUNTS THE CHANCE OF SHOWERS FARTHER SOUTH SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT BEFORE TRANSITIONING TO A DRY FORECAST TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. THIS SEEMS PLAUSIBLE GIVEN THE SCENARIO ABOVE AND NO CHANGES NEEDED. HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE COOLEST SATURDAY WITH HIGHS IN THE 40S...THEN 50S SUNDAY...RISING TO THE 60S MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY WILL HAVE POCKETS OF LOWER 70S ACROSS THE WEST FOR HIGHS. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z FRIDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 1219 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 SHOWERS WITH SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE PUSHING NORTHEASTWARD TONIGHT ACROSS WEST AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA. GUSTY WINDS TO 50 MPH POSSIBLE WITHIN THESE SHOWERS AND/OR STORMS. MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS IN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE. CEILINGS WILL LOWER TO MVFR/IFR AT KISN/KMOT/KDIK BY LATE TONIGHT OR EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR IS ALSO POSSIBLE AT MOST TERMINALS TONIGHT. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ UPDATE...WAA SHORT TERM...TWH LONG TERM...KS AVIATION...NH
SEE BELOW FOR AN UPDATED AVIATION FORECAST DISCUSSION.

UPDATE ISSUED AT 935 PM CDT THU APR 14 2016 EVERY SO OFTEN...SOME OF THE SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY OVER IN RAPID CITY`S CWA IS MAKING ITS WAY OVER INTO SOME OF OUR WEST RIVER COUNTIES IN NORTH CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA WHILE WEAKENING/DISSIPATING. STILL THERE IS RATHER STRONG 40 TO 50 KNOT LOW LEVEL JET ALREADY IN PLACE OVER THE CWA...HELPING TO DRAW SOME HIGHER 850HPA DEWPOINT AIR /STILL LESS THAN 10C THOUGH/ UP INTO THE REGION. HIGHER DEWPOINT AIR AND THESE BREEZY/GUSTY WINDS WILL PROMOTE RATHER WARM OVERNIGHT LOWS TONIGHT...SO NO PLANS TO COOL DOWN ANY OF THE CURRENT NIGHT-TIME LOWS. SHORT RANGE CAM SOLUTIONS CONTINUE TO SUGGEST ANOTHER ROUND OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE DEVELOPING WITHIN THE NEXT 3 TO 6 HOURS DOWN ACROSS WESTERN NEBRASKA BEFORE TRACKING NORTHEAST INTO SODAK AND EVENTUALLY THROUGH PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA LATER TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING. UPDATE ISSUED AT 706 PM CDT THU APR 14 2016 NO CHANGES NEEDED TO THE TONIGHT PERIOD FORECAST AT THE MOMENT. JUST UPDATED TO EXPIRE THE RED FLAG WARNING ACROSS THE EXTREME NORTHEASTERN CORNER OF SODAK AND WEST CENTRAL MN. && .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 257 PM CDT THU APR 14 2016 SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT SUPPORTING ELEVATED CONVECTION ATOP A VERY WARM AIR MASS. WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE 70S/80S AND DEW POINTS ONLY IN THE 40S...AND BASES AROUND 10KFT...SUCH A DEEP EVAPORATION LAYER LEADS ME TO BELIEVE WE WILL ONLY SEE THE ODD SPRINKLE AT THE SURFACE. THAT SAID...THE NAMDNG AND HRRR SIMULATE DEEPER CONVECTION DEVELOPING IN NORTH CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA/SOUTHERN NORTH DAKOTA LATER THIS AFTERNOON AS THE FIRST SUBTLE WAVE EJECTS OUT OF NORTHERN WYOMING IN SOUTHWEST FLOW. ANY CONVECTION WILL REMAIN ELEVATED...LIMITING MOISTURE POTENTIAL. THE REST OF THE FORECAST WILL BE DOMINATED BY THE BROAD UPPER LOW THAT SITS AND SPINS OVER THE INTERMOUNTAIN WEST. THIS FEATURE WILL EJECT A SECOND WAVE NORTHWARDS OVERNIGHT. WHILE THERE IS LITTLE UPPER SUPPORT...A STALLED FRONT/INVERTED SURFACE TROF WILL PROVIDE THE FOCUS FOR CONVECTION AS A 50KT LOW LEVEL JET FORMS OVER THE PLAINS.CAPE VALUES WILL RANGE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 400 AND 1000 J/KG...WITH PWATS EXCEEDING 1 INCH. CONVECTION WILL LIKELY MOVE NORTH/NORTHEAST...SO THE MAIN REGION RECEIVING MOISTURE OVERNIGHT IS WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA. THE NEXT WEAK WAVE DRIFTS ACROSS CENTRAL AND EASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA LATE FRIDAY. NOT MUCH LIFT WITH THIS FEATURE...A LOCAL BULLSEYE OF AROUND 15 MICROBARS...SO SOME SPOTTY LIGHT PRECIPITATION COULD ADVECT INTO EASTERN COUNTIES BUT WITH LITTLE IF ANY MUCAPE CONVECTION WILL BE RATHER WEAK. A MORE IMPRESSIVE WAVE TO THE SOUTH WILL PROBABLY BE THE DOMINANT FEATURE THANKS TO DIFFLUENT FLOW ALOFT. PROFILES REMAIN MOIST ADIABATIC BUT WITH SOME ELEVATED CAPE...AND PWATS NEARING 3 STANDARD DEVIATIONS ABOVE CLIMO. SREF PROBABILITIES FOR A HALF TO 1 INCH ARE BETWEEN 70 AND 30 PERCENT RESPECTIVELY...WITH THE FOCUS REMAINING ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA AND EXTENDING NORTH/NORTHEAST WHILE VALUES DROP. THE FINAL SURGE IN MOISTURE AHEAD OF THE LAST WAVE IS EXPECTED FOR LATE SATURDAY. WHILE PROFILES ARE COOLER...MUCH OF THE CWA WILL REMAIN MILD ENOUGH FOR RAIN...WHICH SHOULD BE BECOMING LESS INTENSE AS IT HEADS INTO THE CWA AS THE WAVE IS EXPECTED TO WEAKEN. .LONG TERM...(SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY) ISSUED AT 257 PM CDT THU APR 14 2016 A DEEP UPPER LEVEL TROUGH OVER THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION WILL TRANSITION TO A CUTOFF LOW OVER THE FOUR CORNERS AREA ON SUNDAY...WITH WEAK RIDGING SETTING UP OVER THE NORTHERN PLAINS. AT THE SURFACE...AN INVERTED TROUGH WILL EXTEND FROM TEXAS TO NORTHWESTERN WISCONSIN SUNDAY MORNING...WITH PRECIPITATION BEHIND IT LINGERING OVER PARTS OF THE CWA. THE BIG QUESTION BECOMES HOW QUICKLY THE PRECIPITATION EXITS THE AREA AS HIGH PRESSURE DROPS IN FROM THE NORTH. THE GFS IS SLOWER WITH THIS THAN THE ECMWF...SO WILL STICK WITH GENERAL BLEND AND KEEP A CHANCE GOING SUNDAY AND MONDAY BEFORE PUSHING THE PRECIPITATION SOUTH ON TUESDAY AND OUT OF THE AREA TUESDAY NIGHT. THE REMAINDER OF THE PERIOD WILL BE DRY UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE SURFACE HIGH. WITH ABUNDANT CLOUD COVER AND POTENTIAL PRECIPITATION...TEMPERATURES WILL BE A BIT COOL EARLY IN THE PERIOD...WITH HIGHS MAINLY IN THE 50S SUNDAY AND MONDAY. WILL THEN SEE A GRADUAL WARMING TREND WITH HIGHS IN THE 60S TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY...AND IN THE UPPER 60S TO LOWER 70S ON THURSDAY. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z FRIDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 1228 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 VFR FLYING WEATHER SHOULD PREVAIL FOR AT LEAST SOME OF THE TAF VALID PERIOD. THE NEXT ROUND OF SHOWERS AND EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS IS DEVELOPING ACROSS THE NEBRASKA PANHANDLE AND WILL LIFT NORTH THROUGH AT LEAST THE KPIR TERMINAL THROUGH EARLY MORNING...PROBABLY THE KMBG TERMINAL AS WELL. PLENTY OF LOW LEVEL MOISTURE ADVECTION ONGOING TONIGHT WITHIN A STRONG SOUTHERLY LOW LEVEL JET. SO...CONVECTION MAY BE ABLE TO EXTEND AS FAR EAST AS THE KABR AND KATY TERMINALS BY MID MORNING ON FRIDAY. CAN`T RULE OUT SOME MVFR STRATUS DEVELOPMENT IN/BEHIND ANY SHOWERS THAT DEVELOP THROUGH MORNING IN THE RAIN-COOLED BOUNDARY LAYER AIR. SOMETHING THAT WILL BE MONITORED FOR. && .ABR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...NONE. MN...NONE. && $$ UPDATE...DORN SHORT TERM...CONNELLY LONG TERM...PARKIN AVIATION...DORN
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MEMPHIS TN
329 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 .DISCUSSION... MODELS IN GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT THE UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL SLOWLY MOVE OUT OF THE AREA. ALONG WITH A REX BLOCK SETTING UP OUT WEST STALLING THE PATTERN UNTIL ABOUT MID-WEEK. AS FOR THE PRECIPITATION...NONE OF THE MODELS SEEM TO HAVE A GOOD HANDLE ON WHAT IS GOING ON. CURRENTLY THERE ARE SHOWERS ACROSS NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI AND SOME SCATTERED LIGHT SHOWERS OVER NORTHERN TENNESSEE. YET...THE GFS INDICATES THAT BOTH THESE AREAS SHOULD BE RECEIVING THE SAME ABOUT OF RAIN...THIS IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. MEANWHILE...THE ECMWF DOESN/T HAVE ANYTHING IN NORTHERN TENNESSEE. THE HRRR SEEMS TO HAVE THE BEST HANDLE ON THE CURRENT SITUATION. THE HRRR KEEPS THE SHOWERS IN NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI MOVING NORTH THROUGH ABOUT MID-DAY AND INTO SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE...YET ALL OTHER MODELS END THE PRECIPITATION. SO RAISED POPS THIS MORNING FOR NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI AND LEFT THE SLIGHT CHANCE POPS FOR REST OF THE MID- SOUTH. NOT COMPLETELY SURE WHAT WILL HAPPEN THIS AFTERNOON SO LEFT WHOLE AREA WITH SLIGHT CHANCE POPS. AS THE UPPER LOW IT WILL MOVE TO THE EAST BY TONIGHT AND DRY WEATHER SHOULD MOVE INTO THE MID-SOUTH, STARTING SATURDAY. YET THERE WILL STILL BE CLOUDS FROM THE UPPER LEVEL LOW ON SATURDAY. SKIES WILL CLEAR ON SUNDAY AS AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE BUILDS OVER THE AREA. THE RIDGE DOESN/T MOVE MUCH IN THE BEGINNING PART OF THE WEEK...THIS IS IN PART TO A REX BLOCK /UPPER HIGH NORTH OF UPPER LOW/ SETTING UP OVER THE WESTERN US WHICH TYPICALLY STALLS THE UPPER LEVELS. SO IT LOOKS LIKE A DRY PATTERN AT LEAST FOR A SHORT TIME. THE UPPER LOW OVER THE ROCKIES MOVES EAST JUST ENOUGH THAT BY MONDAY NIGHT THE FAR WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE AREA MAY SEE SOME PRECIPITATION. THIS HOLDS THROUGH TILL WEDNESDAY. THE REX BLOCK FINALLY BREAKS DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK AND THE UPPER LOW MOVES INTO THE GREAT PLAINS. AS LOW MOVES EAST THE MORE OF THE MID-SOUTH WILL HAVE A CHANCE FOR RAIN. BY WEDNESDAY...IT LOOKS LIKE WE CAN/T RULE OUT ANYWHERE IN THE MID-SOUTH FOR SOME PRECIPITATION AND THE CHANCE FOR RAIN WILL CONTINUE FOR THE REST OF THE FORECAST PERIOD. TEMPERATURES DURING THE FORECAST PERIOD WILL START OUT COOL TODAY...BECAUSE OF THE CLOUDS. HOWEVER...THE REST OF THE FORECAST TEMPERATURES SHOULD BE ABOUT NORMAL WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE 70S AND GETTING CLOSE TO 80. TLSJR && .AVIATION...06Z TAFS NOT MUCH CHANGE FROM EARLIER THINKING. CIGS WILL REMAIN MOSTLY VFR WITH PERIODS OF MVFR THROUGH ROUGHLY 15/18Z TOMORROW. NOT CONFIDENT THAT CIGS WILL FALL TO IFR AS GUIDANCE SUGGESTS. RAIN SHOWERS WILL ALSO LINGER DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THE PERIOD WITH DRIER AIR MOVING IN LATE. WINDS WILL BE EAST AT 3-8KTS INCREASING TO 10-12 KTS BY MIDDAY WITH A FEW HIGHER GUSTS AT MEM AND TUP. JAB && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...NONE. MO...NONE. MS...NONE. TN...NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS FORT WORTH TX
404 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 .DISCUSSION... ...SYNOPSIS... MILD CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE ENTIRE OUTLOOK PERIOD WITH INCREASING CHANCES FOR RAIN THROUGH THE WEEKEND AND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. LOW RAIN CHANCES WILL CONTINUE THEREAFTER INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE WORK WEEK. ...SHORT TERM (TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY)... FOR TODAY...THE MAIN HEADLINE WILL BE MORNING DENSE FOG. CLEAR SKIES AND LIGHT WINDS...COMBINED WITH SUBSIDENCE FROM A DEPARTING SHORTWAVE TROUGH AND WET SOILS HAVE FACILITATED THE DEVELOPMENT OF ANOTHER ROUND OF FOG THIS MORNING. DEWPOINT DEPRESSIONS REMAIN THE LOWEST ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE I-20 CORRIDOR THIS MORNING WITH VISIBILITY GENERALLY ALONG AND SOUTHWEST OF A MINERAL WELLS TO HILLSBORO TO HEARNE LINE FALLING BELOW 1 MILE OVER THE PAST HOUR. THE HRRR SEEMS TO HAVE A FAIRLY GOOD HANDLE ON THIS SITUATION AND AS A RESULT WE WILL GO WITH A DENSE FOG ADVISORY FOR THE AFOREMENTIONED LOCATIONS. WE WILL MONITOR ADDITIONAL TRENDS IN OBSERVATIONS ELSEWHERE TO SEE IF AN EXTENSION IN AREA IS WARRANTED. OTHERWISE...TODAY SHOULD BE MILD AND DRY WITH EAST TO SOUTHEAST WINDS RETURNING IN RESPONSE TO LEE- SIDE CYCLOGENESIS. FRIDAY NIGHT SHOULD SEE AN INCREASE IN CLOUDS ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE NORTHERN AND NORTHEASTERN HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA AS A TONGUE OF MOISTURE LIFTS NORTHWARD AHEAD OF THE APPROACHING UPPER LOW. THE RESULTANT CLOUD COVER ACROSS NORTHERN AND NORTHEASTERN ZONES SHOULD RESULT IN SLIGHTLY WARMER OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURES INTO SATURDAY MORNING HERE. THE FOG POTENTIAL FOR FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING REMAINS TOO LOW TO INCLUDE IN THE FORECAST AT THIS TIME AS BOUNDARY LAYER WINDS SHOULD LIMIT THE OVERALL AREAL EXTENT. FOR SATURDAY...APPRECIABLE RAIN CHANCES RETURN HERE DURING THIS PORTION OF THE OUTLOOK PERIOD AS THE SHORTWAVE RIDGING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DRY FRIDAY DEPARTS THE REGION. WHILE A BULK OF THE LARGE SCALE ASCENT IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN TO THE WEST OF THE AREA...THE LACK OF LARGE SCALE DESCENT COMBINED WITH INCREASING LOW LEVEL WARM/MOIST ADVECTION DOES WARRANT MAINTAINING AT LEAST A 20 POP IN THE OFFICIAL FORECAST AREAWIDE. HAVE TRIMMED BACK THE EARLY MORNING POPS ACROSS THE WEST ON SATURDAY AS THERE APPEARS TO BE A GOOD CONSENSUS AMONGST HI-RESOLUTION MODEL GUIDANCE IN KEEPING A MAJORITY OF THE HEAVIER PRECIPITATION TO THE WEST. THIS ALIGNS WELL WITH THE COARSER SYNOPTIC SCALE MODELS WITH THEIR PLACEMENT OF THE UPPER LOW. THE BETTER RAIN AND THUNDER THREAT WILL BEGIN TO ENCROACH ON OUR FAR WESTERN ZONES SATURDAY EVENING AS THE UPPER LOW STARTS TO PUSH EASTWARD. THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT FOR SATURDAY DOES APPEAR TO BE ON THE LOW SIDE AS INSTABILITY REMAIN FAIRLY LOW. HOWEVER...WITH STEEPENING LAPSE RATES AND SOME DEEP LAYER SHEAR...A SMALL HAIL POTENTIAL MAY EVOLVE FOR MAINLY WESTERN ZONES. ...LONG TERM (SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY)... FOR SUNDAY AND MONDAY...RAIN CHANCES RAMP UP CONSIDERABLY LATE SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY. THE LARGE RIDGE ACROSS THE EASTERN CONUS SHOULD ENSURE THAT THE LARGE UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL MOVE VERY SLOWLY TO THE EAST. AT THE SURFACE...AN ELONGATED INVERTED TROUGH SHOULD STRETCH FROM THE HEARTLAND BACK DOWN INTO THE SOUTHERN PLAINS AND WITH THE SURFACE HIGH PARKED ACROSS THE EASTERN CONUS...LOW LEVEL MOISTURE TRANSPORT TO THE NORTH SHOULD ENSUE. WITH FORCING ALONG THE TROUGH/FRONT COMBINED WITH SUBTLE SHORTWAVE TROUGHS AROUND THE MAIN UPPER LOW...THE POTENTIAL FOR WIDESPREAD RAIN WILL EXIST WITH THIS SETUP. FOR SUNDAY MORNING...IT APPEARS THAT THE BEST THREAT FOR RAIN AND STORMS WILL BE NEAR AND WEST OF THE HIGHWAY 281 CORRIDOR...THOUGH RAIN MAY LIKELY BE ONGOING ACROSS A GOOD CHUNK OF NORTH AND CENTRAL TEXAS. HIGHER RAIN CHANCES WILL GRADUALLY OVERSPREAD THE REST OF NORTH AND CENTRAL TEXAS THROUGHOUT THE DAY ON SUNDAY. INTO THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS ON SUNDAY...INSTABILITY IS EXPECTED TO SLOWLY INCREASE AS THE STRENGTHENING LOW LEVEL FLOW HELPS TO TRANSPORT MORE MOISTURE NORTHWARD. THE INCREASE IN BOTH OF THESE PARAMETERS COMBINED WITH LARGE LOOPING HODOGRAPHS SUGGEST THAT A SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL EXIST. RIGHT NOW...FORECAST PROFILES WOULD MAINLY SUPPORT A DAMAGING WIND AND TORNADO THREAT (AS OPPOSED TO A LARGE HAIL THREAT)...ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE LARGE MAGNITUDE OF LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR. INCREASING PWATS WILL ALSO FOSTER A HEAVY RAIN AND POTENTIAL FLOODING THREAT AS PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES NEAR +2SD FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR. RIGHT NOW...IT APPEARS THAT FLOODING WILL BE THE BIGGEST WEATHER HAZARD WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR TORNADOES AND DAMAGING WINDS THE SECONDARY AND TERTIARY THREATS. WITH REGARDS TO THE LOCATIONS OF SEVERE WEATHER AND FLOODING...IT APPEARS THAT AREAS ALONG AND SOUTH I-20 WILL HAVE THE BEST POTENTIAL. AS HI-RESOLUTION MODEL OUTPUT BECOMES MORE READILY AVAILABLE...REFINEMENTS TO THE FORECAST WILL BE MADE. FOR MONDAY...HEAVY RAIN WILL CONTINUE TO BE POSSIBLE AS THE UPPER AIR PATTERN REMAINS SOMEWHAT STAGNANT. PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES WILL CONTINUE TO REMAIN HIGH AND WITH ADDITIONAL LIFT...THE HEAVY RAIN AND FLOOD POTENTIAL WILL REMAIN. SEVERE WEATHER CHANCES DURING MONDAY DO NOT APPEAR TO BE QUITE AS HIGH AS INSTABILITY REMAINS SOMEWHAT LOW. WITH DEEP LAYER SHEAR INCREASING HOWEVER...THE THREAT IS NON-ZERO. OVERALL STORM TOTAL RAIN AMOUNTS COULD CERTAINLY FALL IN THE 3 TO 6 INCH RANGE WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR ISOLATED HIGHER AMOUNTS FOR TUESDAY AND BEYOND...THE UNSETTLED WEATHER PATTERN WILL CONTINUE WITH ADDITIONAL CHANCES FOR RAIN THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK AS THE UPPER AIR PATTERN REMAINS FAIRLY PROGRESSIVE. BAIN && .AVIATION... /ISSUED 736 PM CDT THU APR 14 2016/ /00Z TAFS/ MVFR CEILINGS FRIDAY MORNING...SOUTH FLOW RETURNS MIDDAY FRIDAY. A STOUT INVERSION HAS KEPT THE STRATOCU DECK FROM EFFECTIVELY SCATTERING OUT TODAY. THE MOISTURE WILL REMAIN...AND THE EASTERLY SURFACE FLOW WILL ALLOW MVFR CEILINGS TO RETURN TONIGHT. THESE CLOUDS MAY BRIEFLY DIP DOWN INTO THE IFR CATEGORY...BUT MVFR CONDITIONS SHOULD DOMINATE THE EVENT. SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL RETURN BY MIDDAY...BUT EVEN THEIR WARMTH MAY NOT BE ENOUGH TO PREVENT VFR CEILINGS FRIDAY AFTERNOON. 25 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DALLAS-FT. WORTH 78 62 76 65 71 / 0 5 30 30 70 WACO 80 61 76 65 71 / 0 5 30 30 70 PARIS 76 62 72 60 72 / 0 10 20 20 40 DENTON 78 62 73 62 70 / 0 10 30 40 70 MCKINNEY 77 62 74 62 71 / 0 10 30 30 60 DALLAS 78 62 76 65 72 / 0 5 30 30 70 TERRELL 78 63 76 63 71 / 0 5 20 20 60 CORSICANA 78 63 77 65 72 / 0 5 20 30 60 TEMPLE 80 60 76 65 71 / 0 5 30 30 70 MINERAL WELLS 80 60 72 61 68 / 0 5 40 50 80 && .FWD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... DENSE FOG ADVISORY UNTIL 10 AM CDT THIS MORNING FOR TXZ115>117- 129>133-141>145-156>160-174. && $$ 30/15
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS GRAND JUNCTION CO
930 AM MDT FRI APR 15 2016 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 930 AM MDT FRI APR 15 2016 MAKING SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO WINTER HIGHLIGHTS ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA THIS MORNING WITH WEB CAMS SHOWING LITTLE TO NO IMPACTS ON AREAL ROADWAYS...EVEN UNDER THE HEAVIER BANDS. SPOTTERS REPORTING SEVERAL INCHES OF NEW SNOW ACROSS NORTHWEST COLORADO WITH UP TO 9 INCHES IN THE STEAMBOAT SPRINGS AREA...ALTHOUGH SNOW HAD ENDED AS OF THE LAST REPORT. ADVISORIES FOR NORTHWEST COLORADO WERE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE WITH HRRR AND RAP13 BOTH INDICATING SHOWERS WILL BE DIMINISHING AROUND MIDDAY WITH DRIER CONDITIONS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON. ENERGY SLIDES SOUTH WITH SFC LOW DEVELOPING NEAR THE FOUR CORNERS THIS AFTERNOON. BEST FORCING WILL BE SHIFTING SOUTH WITH IT AND SHOWERS WILL BE INCREASING IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY ACROSS OUR SOUTHERN ZONES. DURANGO AND PAGOSA SPRINGS WILL SEE A COLD RAIN AND POSSIBLY SOME SNOW LATER TONIGHT NEAR THE 6K LEVEL. THE BIG QUESTION IS HOW COLD CAN WE GET IT IN THOSE AREAS. WILL BE LOOKING AT THAT IN DETAIL LATER THIS MORNING. VALLEY POPS HAVE ALSO BEEN ADJUSTED TO MATCH CURRENT CONDITIONS WITH HRRR FOLLOWED FOR THE NEXT FEW HOURS. SO BOTTOM LINE...ACTIVITY DIMINISHING A BIT ACROSS THE NORTHWEST PORTIONS OF THE OF FORECAST AREA WITH AN INCREASE IN RAIN AND SNOW EXPECTED FOR THE SOUTHERN AND WEST CENTRAL ZONES THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 438 AM MDT FRI APR 15 2016 FIRST PART OF THIS PROLONGED STORM HAS STARTED WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE COLD FRONT LAST EVENING WHICH BROUGHT SOME THUNDER STRONG PRE-FRONTAL WINDS AND GOOD SHOT OF COLD AIR. AS EXPECTED TEMPERATURES QUICKLY DROPPED UP NORTH AND SNOW IS THE PRIMARY PTYPE. RADAR SIGNATURES THE PAST SEVERAL HOURS SUGGEST BANDED PRECIPITATION HAS FORMED BEHIND THE FRONT WHERE SLANT WISE CONVECTION IS BEING RELEASED BY UPGLIDE OR ENHANCEMENT FROM A WEAK COUPLING OF THE UPPER JET. WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED TO SEE SOME HIGH SNOW AMOUNTS COME IN THIS MORNING UNDER THE BANDS. FOR THE MOST PART THINK ADVISORIES WORKED WELL. MSAS/LAPS DATA SUGGESTS THE FRONTAL PUSH SOUTH HAS SLOWED THE PAST FEW HOURS AND IS ALIGNED CLOSE TO WHERE WE THOUGHT YESTERDAY...AND WINDS ALONG THE TERRAIN ROUGHLY FROM VAIL PASS TO NUCLA AND BACK ALONG THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY WEST OF THE 4 CORNERS. THIS FRONTAL FEATURE WILL BE THE FOCUS FOR THE HEAVIER PRECIPITATION THE NEXT 24 HOURS OR SO AS THE MAIN UPPER PORTION OF THE STORM DIGS INTO THE 4 CORNERS REGION. EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE FRONT APPEAR TO BE SLOWER TO PUSH SOUTH DUE TO THE FLOW BACKING TO MORE SOUTHERLY TODAY. THE WESTERN PORTION MAY BE ABLE TO SWING EASTWARD AS THE COOLER AIR AND STRONGER ASCENT MOVE INTO SOUTHERN UTAH THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON. IN GENERAL HEAVIEST PRECIPITATION EXPECTED SHIFT FROM NORTHERN COLORADO AND WEST CENTRAL COLORADO THIS MORNING TO THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS...SOUTHEAST UTAH AND THE SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THE NORTHERN UTAH MOUNTAINS INTO NORTHWEST COLORADO WILL SEE A BIT OF A BREAK AND THIS SHOULD LINE UP WITH EARLIER THINKING AND ALLOWING THE ADVISORIES TO DROP. MODELS STILL CONSISTENT IN DROPPING THE MAIN CIRCULATION ACROSS THE 4 CORNERS TO NORTHWEST NEW MEXICO THROUGH THE EVENING AND EARLY MORNING HOURS. THIS LOW WILL DEEPEN A BIT AS IT BECOMES STACKED VERTICALLY...AND THIS IN TURN WILL BEGIN TO PULL DEEPER MOISTURE ACROSS THE HILLS FROM THE FRONT RANGE. STILL SOME SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS ON HOW THE ENERGY FROM THE STORM WRAPS AROUND THE LOW CIRCULATION...BUT IN GENERAL THE HEAVIER PRECIPITATION IS STILL FAVORED ACROSS THE EASTERN MOUNTAINS NEAR VAIL PASS SOUTHWARD ACROSS THE SAN JUANS. EXPECT THE FRONT SHOULD LEAK INTO THE SOUTHERN COLORADO VALLEYS BY THIS TIME AND THE ACCUMULATING SNOW LEVEL SHOULD APPROACH MOUNTAIN BASES. BEST GUESS IS 7000 FT LEVEL WILL BE WHERE SNOW BEGINS TO STICK SOME ON VEGETATION BY SATURDAY MORNING AND BELOW MAINLY MELT AS IT FALLS...SO HAVE DECIDED NOT TO ADD ANY WINTER HIGHLIGHTS DOWN SOUTH JUST YET. I-70 CORRIDOR FROM RIL TO EGE AND WEST VAIL ALSO APPEAR TO BE JUST OUTSIDE OF CONFIDENCE. WIND AND MAYBE IN ADDITION TO SNOW WILL BECOME A BIGGER ISSUE TO THE NORTH. THE SURFACE LOW DEEPENS UNDER THE UPPER LOW TONIGHT AND THIS WILL CREATE AN INCREASING GRADIENT ACROSS NORTHERN COLORADO AND EASTERN UTAH. NORTHEAST WINDS IN THE 25 TO 35 MPH RANGE WITH GUSTS IN THE 40 TO 50 MPH RANGE NOT OUT OF QUESTION ACCORDING TO SOME OF THE GUIDANCE. ANY SNOW IN THIS SCENARIO WILL CREATE VERY HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS BUT CONFIDENCE AGAIN NOT HIGH ON PTYPE...RATE...AND DURATION SO WILL LET NEXT CREW TAKE A BETTER LOOK. RAW DAY TODAY ACROSS MANY PLACES WITH HIGHS 20 TO 25 DEGREES COLDER THAN YESTERDAY. .LONG TERM...(SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY) ISSUED AT 438 AM MDT FRI APR 15 2016 THE LOW WILL BE OPENING UP LATE SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY MORNING AND BEGIN TO WOBBLE AROUND WITH MANY DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS LATE THIS AFTERNOON. FEEL THE HEAVIER WRAP AROUND MOISTURE WILL BE FORCED NORTHWARD AND SPREADING ANOTHER SHOT OF HEAVIER SNOW RATES ACROSS THE CENTRAL THEN NORTHERN MOUNTAINS THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON...WITH CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY FILLING IN ACROSS THE SOUTH IN THE AFTERNOON. THEREFORE SNOW HEADLINES CONTINUE INTO SUNDAY EVENING ATTM THROUGH SOME BREAKS ARE LIKELY BEFORE THEN. MODELS HAVE SLOWED THE EJECTION OF THIS SYSTEM TO THE EAST AND UNSETTLED WEATHER IS LIKELY TO STICK AROUND WESTERN COLORADO INTO MONDAY EVENING AS THE BACK EDGE ENERGY ROTATES THROUGH. BEYOND THIS WARMING AND DRYING SHOULD TAKE HOLD BY MIDWEEK. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SATURDAY MORNING) ISSUED AT 438 AM MDT FRI APR 15 2016 WIND...SNOW AND LOW CIGS WILL ALL IMPACT FLIGHT OPERATIONS OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS AT AREA FORECAST TERMINALS. THROUGH THE FIRST SIX HOURS OF THE FORECAST CONFIDENCE IS HIGHER OF IMPACTS TO I-70 CORRIDOR AIRPORTS AND INTO KASE WHERE HEAVIER PRECIPITATION WILL BE FOCUSED NEAR A STALLING FRONT. KCNY AND KMTJ MAY BE IMPACTED THROUGH 18Z AS WELL BUT CONFIDENCE NOT AS HIGH. GOING INTO THE AFTERNOON KTEX...KEGE AND KASE SEEM THE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE IMPACTS FROM LOWER FLIGHT CRITERIA WITH WEATHER IN THE VICINITY OF THE AIRFIELDS. THE THREAT DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS AGAIN WILL EXTEND FROM THE CENTRAL COLORADO MOUNTAINS INTO THE SAN JUANS SO THE MOUNTAIN TERMINALS ARE LIKELY TO BE IMPACTED FROM WEATHER. TO THE WEST...WINDS WILL BEGIN TO INCREASE OVERNIGHT AND STRONG NORTHEAST GUSTS ARE LIKELY TO IMPACT KVEL...KCNY AND KGJT. && .GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CO...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 9 PM MDT SUNDAY FOR COZ003-004-009- 010-012-013-017. WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 9 PM MDT SUNDAY FOR COZ018-019. UT...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 9 AM MDT SUNDAY FOR UTZ025-028. && $$ UPDATE...JDC SHORT TERM...15 LONG TERM...15 AVIATION...TGJT
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MIAMI FL
901 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 .UPDATE... A FEW UPDATES TO THE POPS AND WEATHER GRID TO BETTER REFLECT THE TIMING OF ANY CONVECTIVE INITIATION. SHORT RANGE MODELS, ESPECIALLY THE HRRR ARE SHOWING SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS AROUND 18Z IN THE LAKE REGION, AND THEN MORE WIDESPREAD CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT AFTER ABOUT 20Z. && .AVIATION... A WEAK FRONTAL BOUNDARY IN THE AREA AND AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL COMBINE WITH DAYTIME HEATING TO ALLOW SOME CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY TO FORM. IT SHOULD BE MAINLY SHOWERS TO BEGIN WITH, BUT BY 20Z, THUNDERSTORM DEVELOP HAS A CHANCE OF DEVELOPING AS WELL. FOR NOW, A VCSH AFTER 18Z AND SHRA WITH VCTS AFTER 20Z IS IN MOST OF THE TAFS. VFR IS FORECAST AT ALL SITES, BUT ANY SITE MAY SEE BRIEF IFR WITH ANY HEAVY SHOWERS OR STORMS THAT PASS OVER. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 358 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016/ SYNOPSIS... A STATIONARY FRONT NORTH OF SOUTH FLORIDA WILL SERVE AS A FOCUS FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BRING DRIER CONDITIONS FOR MUCH OF NEXT WEEK. SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... AFTER EVENING CONVECTION IMPACTED NRN PALM BEACH COUNTY, REMAINDER OF THE REGION AND NIGHT HAS BEEN DRY. FEW WEST TO EAST MOVING SHOWERS OVER CENTRAL FLORIDA AND ADJACENT WATERS, JUST NORTH OF SFC STATIONARY FRONT THAT IS DRAPED ACROSS LAKE OKEECHOBEE. THESE FEATURE...ASSOCIATED WITH FLATTENING H8-5 TROUGH OVER SERN CONUS, WILL MOVE LITTLE THROUGH THE SHORT TERM, AND WILL BECOME DIFFUSE AND UNRECOGNIZABLE BY SUNDAY AS THE AFORE MENTIONED TROUGH TRANSITIONS INTO ZONAL FLOW REGIME. UNTIL THEN, SOUTH FLORIDA WILL RESIDE IN A WARM, SOMEWHAT MOIST/HUMID ENVIRONMENT. COOL TEMPERATURES ALOFT ASSOCIATED WITH THE TROUGH /AS LOW AS -12C AT 500MB/ COMBINED WITH AMPLE SURFACE HEATING WILL KEEP ENVIRONMENT UNSTABLE WITH DECENT LAPSE RATES, SO CONVECTION SHOULD BE ABLE TO DEVELOP ALONG SEA BREEZES AND REMNANT FRONTAL SYSTEM. MODERATE WESTERLY FLOW ALOFT AND DECENT VEERING WITH HEIGHT WILL LEAD TO MODERATE LEVELS OF SHEAR THIS AFTERNOON, AND TO A LESSER EXTENT SATURDAY AFTERNOON, SO ANY CONVECTION THAT DEVELOPS WILL BE ABLE TO REMAIN SOMEWHAT ORGANIZED. YESTERDAY SAW ISOLATED REPORTS OF SEVERE HAIL ACROSS CENTRAL FLORIDA, AND TODAYS ENVIRONMENT APPEARS SUPPORTIVE OF AT LEAST SOME HAIL IN STRONGEST UPDRAFTS OVER SOUTH FLORIDA, ALTHOUGH WITH DOWNBURST THUNDERSTORM WINDS. SPC HAS PLACED NERN 2/3RDS OF THE REGION IN MARGINAL SEVERE RISK. FLOW WILL PROPAGATE STORMS ENEWD, SO BEST CHANCE FOR ROBUST CONVECTION IS OVER PALM BEACH COUNTY. DYNAMICS FOR SATURDAY ARE LESS FAVORABLE, BUT STILL SUFFICIENTLY IMPRESSIVE TO WARRANT THUNDER IN FORECAST. BY SUNDAY, DRIER ENE FLOW WILL INCREASE ACROSS THE REGION, AND ASIDE FROM A FEW SHOWERS MOVING INLAND FROM THE ATLANTIC, QUIETER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED. LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... MORE TRANQUIL WEATHER WILL RESUME NEXT WEEK. TEMPERATURES WILL BE NEAR NORMAL FOR MID-APRIL, HIGHS GENERALLY IN LOW 80S AND LOWS IN THE 60S TO AROUND 70F. SLIGHT RAIN CHANCES EXIST ALONG ATLANTIC COAST EARLY IN THE WEEK, THEN DRY CONDITIONS PREVAIL. EASTERLY WINDS MAY AT TIMES BE GUSTY AS HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE CENTERS NORTH OF THE REGION, THUS ATLANTIC RIP CURRENTS WILL LIKELY BE A CONCERN. MARINE... SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS, ESPECIALLY OVER LAKE OKEECHOBEE AND ATLANTIC WATERS OFF PALM BEACH COUNTY, ARE LIKELY THROUGH LATE SATURDAY AS A FRONT REMAINS STALLED JUST NORTH OF THE REGION. DRIER WEATHER WILL BEGIN SUNDAY, BUT EASTERLY WINDS OF UP TO 20 KT AND HIGH SEAS MAY LEAD TO HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS FOR MARINERS SUNDAY INTO MONDAY. HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN NEXT WEEK. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... WEST PALM BEACH 85 69 82 70 / 60 50 60 50 FORT LAUDERDALE 85 71 85 71 / 60 50 50 40 MIAMI 86 71 85 70 / 40 40 60 40 NAPLES 85 69 85 65 / 30 40 50 20 && .MFL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...NONE. AM...NONE. GM...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...13/SI LONG TERM....23/SK AVIATION...13/SI Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 1023 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 .UPDATE... Issued at 1020 AM CDT Fri Apr 15 2016 A weak upper level disturbance over northeast Arkansas late this morning continues to edge very slowly east and at the same time was pushing some shallow moisture/clouds (6000-8000 ft) north into parts of central Illinois. These clouds shouldn`t have much, if any affect on afternoon temperatures with the latest forecast soundings suggesting we should easily mix down from 6500 feet which should push afternoon temps up a few degrees from the previous forecast. In addition, as has been the case over the past few days, dew points will be adjusted downward with the deep mixing expected this afternoon. Otherwise, the rest of the forecast looks good. The updated zones should be out by 1045 am. && .SHORT TERM...(Today) ISSUED AT 253 AM CDT Fri Apr 15 2016 Upper low evident on 07z/2am water vapor imagery over northeast Arkansas will remain nearly stationary today. Cloud cover associated with this feature will pivot N/NW across south-central Illinois into eastern Missouri and southern Iowa this afternoon. Some of the high-res models such as the HRRR are even trying to develop isolated showers along/southwest of a Galesburg to Effingham line after 19z/20z. While forecast soundings show steepening lapse rates, a pronounced dry layer remains in place below 850mb thanks to continued dry SE flow around prevailing surface ridge. As a result, will go with a mostly sunny and dry forecast today. High temperatures will be a couple of degrees warmer than yesterday, reaching the lower 70s across the board. .LONG TERM...(Tonight through Thursday) ISSUED AT 253 AM CDT Fri Apr 15 2016 A warm and dry weekend is on tap across central Illinois, as an upper-level blocking pattern across the CONUS keeps a strong ridge locked in place over the Great Lakes/Midwest. Temperatures will warm a degree or two each day, with highs reaching the middle to perhaps upper 70s by Sunday and Monday. The big question in the extended is how quickly the blocking pattern will break down. Models have been struggling with this for the past several runs, with each successive solution seemingly slower than the last. The 00z Apr 15 run of the GFS/ECMWF is actually in fairly good agreement, featuring a deep upper low over the Rockies/western Plains slowly meandering eastward into Illinois by Thursday. Meanwhile, the upper ridge further east is flattened by a northern- stream wave tracking across southern Canada. This feature will push a weak cold front into central Illinois late Monday into Tuesday: however, it will have very little moisture to work with, so have only carried slight chance PoPs for showers with its passage. Will have to wait until stronger lift/deeper moisture arrive with the Rockies upper low for better rain chances later in the week. At this time, it appears scattered showers and thunderstorms will be a good bet on Thursday as the upper low weakens and tracks eastward into the area. Given falling upper heights, the much above normal temperatures this weekend will be replaced by readings closer to normal in the upper 60s Tuesday through Thursday. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Saturday morning) Issued at 625 AM CDT Fri Apr 15 2016 VFR conditions and SE winds 8-12 kts expected for the next 24 hours across central IL terminals. Scattered cloud cover expected to develop for the afternoon/early evening...but precipitation unlikely. && .ILX Watches/Warnings/Advisories... NONE. && $$ UPDATE...Smith SHORT TERM...Barnes LONG TERM...Barnes AVIATION...Onton
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE, IL
1023 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 .UPDATE... 1023 AM CDT FOR MORNING UPDATE... NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO GOING FORECAST...THOUGH DID BUMP MAX TEMPS A BIT INTO THE MID-70S ACROSS SOUTHERN COUNTIES FOR THIS AFTERNOON BASED ON LOW LEVEL MODEL TEMPS. SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE REMAINS ANCHORED ACROSS AND NORTHEAST OF THE GREAT LAKES REGION TODAY...WITH SYNOPTIC SOUTHEAST LOW LEVEL FLOW AND MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES EXPECTED TO ALLOW CONTINUED WARMING OF TEMPS AS SEEN OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS. IN ADDITION...DRY LOW LEVEL AIR WITH DEW POINTS IN THE 20S AND 30S WILL HELP WITH QUICK WARMING AND LARGE DIURNAL SWING. BUMPED TEMPS A COUPLE DEGREES DOWN AROUND PONTIAC...WHERE 925-850MB TEMPS SUGGEST MID-70S ARE ATTAINABLE THIS AFTERNOON. EAST TO NORTHEAST LAKE BREEZE WINDS ALONG THE LAKE MICHIGAN SHORE WILL LIMIT TEMPS THERE TO THE LOW- MID 50S. ALL IN ALL...FORECAST HAS THIS WELL IN HAND AND OTHER THAN AFOREMENTIONED TWEAKS TO AFTERNOON HIGHS DOWN SOUTH WILL LET THINGS RIDE. RATZER && .SHORT TERM... 243 AM CDT THROUGH SUNDAY... GREAT WEATHER IS ON TAP FOR MOST OF THE AREA FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS...ESPECIALLY AREAS INLAND FROM LAKE MICHIGAN. OVERALL...A BLOCKED UPPER LEVEL FLOW PATTERN ACROSS THE CENTRAL CONUS WILL ESSENTIALLY KEEP ALL OF THE INCLEMENT WEATHER WELL WEST OF THE REGION THROUGH THE WEEKEND AS AN UPPER LOW SETS UP OVER THE SOUTHWESTERN CONUS. MEANWHILE...AT THE SURFACE...A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE...EXTENDING SOUTHWESTWARD FROM EASTERN QUEBEC...WILL BE DOMINATE ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES REGION THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THIS FEATURE WILL ACT TO KEEP THE SURFACE FLOW OUT OF A SOUTHEASTERLY DIRECTION...AND THIS WILL BE IDEAL FOR LAKE BREEZE DEVELOPMENT EACH DAY...ESPECIALLY ACROSS FAR NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS. AS A RESULT...ALTHOUGH CONDITIONS INLAND FROM THE LAKE WILL LIKELY WARM INTO THE LOW 70S TODAY...AND INTO THE MID 70S OVER THE WEEKEND...TEMPERATURES WILL LIKELY REMAIN A GOOD 13 TO 16 DEGREES COOLER NEAR THE LAKE. IN ADDITION TO THE WARMER CONDITIONS...DEW POINTS WILL AGAIN LIKELY MIX OUT INTO THE LOWER TO MIDDLE 30S INTO THIS AFTERNOON...AND THIS WILL RESULT IN THE MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY FALLING INTO THE 25 TO 30 PERCENT RANGE. BY SATURDAY A BIT MORE LOWER LEVEL MOISTURE IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE AREA...AND THIS SHOULD RESULT IN SLIGHTLY HIGHER DEW POINTS AND ALSO POSSIBLY SOME MORE FAIR WEATHER CUMULUS. KJB && .LONG TERM... 256 AM CDT SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY... A COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO PUSH SOUTHWARD DOWN LAKE MICHIGAN ON MONDAY. THIS COULD ACT LIKE A PNEUMONIA FRONT NEAR THE LAKE...WITH A SHARP DROP IN TEMPERATURES FOLLOWING ITS PASSAGE. IT DOES APPEAR THAT PRECIPITATION CHANCES WITH THE FRONT WILL BE LOW DUE TO THE DRY AIR MASS OVER THE REGION. THEREFORE...WE HAVE REMOVED THE CHANCE OF SHOWERS ON MONDAY. COOLER CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE AREA ON TUESDAY AS NORTHEASTERLY FLOW CONTINUES OFF OF LAKE MICHIGAN. HOWEVER...TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO BOUNCE BACK WELL INTO THE 60S AWAY FROM THE LAKE LATER IN THE WEEK AS THE SURFACE FLOW SHIFTS BACK OUT OF THE SOUTHEAST. THERE WILL ALSO BE SOME INCREASING CHANCES OF RAIN VERY LATE IN THE PERIOD...AROUND THURSDAY NIGHT AS THE UPPER LOW OVER THE SOUTHWESTERN CONUS DURING THE SHORT TERM PERIOD ATTEMPTS TO MOVE TOWARDS THE CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. KJB && .AVIATION... FOR THE 12Z TAFS... THE ONLY ITEM OF INTEREST IN THE TAFS REMAIN THE WIND. AREA AIRPORTS WILL CONTINUE IN A GENERAL SOUTHEAST WIND PATTERN THROUGH THE WEEKEND...WITH AFTERNOON LAKE BREEZES HELPING TO TURN CHICAGO TAF SITES TO A MORE ONSHORE COMPONENT. BASED ON OBSERVATIONS THE PAST TWO DAYS WITH THE LAKE BREEZE PASSAGE...BOTH ORD AND MDW SHOULD BE AT 10-11 KT REGULARLY FOR AT LEAST SEVERAL HOURS THIS AFTERNOON. MTF && .MARINE... 115 AM CDT A TRANQUIL WEATHER PATTERN REMAINS IN PLACE OVER THE LAKE THROUGH THE WEEKEND WITH PRIMARILY A SOUTHEAST WIND. NEARSHORE AREAS ESPECIALLY ALONG THE ILLINOIS...INDIANA...AND WISCONSIN SHORES WILL SEE A MAINLY ONSHORE COMPONENT IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENINGS DUE TO LAKE BREEZES. A COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE DOWN THE LAKE EARLY NEXT WEEK THOUGH THE TIMING IS UNCERTAIN...WITH SOMETIME MONDAY PRESENTLY FAVORED. BEHIND THIS FRONT THE WINDS WILL TURN NORTHERLY WITH POSSIBLY A SHORT-LIVED PERIOD OF SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CONDITIONS INTO THE ILLINOIS AND INDIANA NEAR SHORES. MTF && .LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...NONE. IN...NONE. LM...NONE. && $$ VISIT US AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/CHICAGO (ALL LOWERCASE) FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK...TWITTER...AND YOUTUBE AT: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/NWSCHICAGO WWW.TWITTER.COM/NWSCHICAGO WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/NWSCHICAGO
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 625 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 .SHORT TERM...(Today) ISSUED AT 253 AM CDT Fri Apr 15 2016 Upper low evident on 07z/2am water vapor imagery over northeast Arkansas will remain nearly stationary today. Cloud cover associated with this feature will pivot N/NW across south-central Illinois into eastern Missouri and southern Iowa this afternoon. Some of the high-res models such as the HRRR are even trying to develop isolated showers along/southwest of a Galesburg to Effingham line after 19z/20z. While forecast soundings show steepening lapse rates, a pronounced dry layer remains in place below 850mb thanks to continued dry SE flow around prevailing surface ridge. As a result, will go with a mostly sunny and dry forecast today. High temperatures will be a couple of degrees warmer than yesterday, reaching the lower 70s across the board. .LONG TERM...(Tonight through Thursday) ISSUED AT 253 AM CDT Fri Apr 15 2016 A warm and dry weekend is on tap across central Illinois, as an upper-level blocking pattern across the CONUS keeps a strong ridge locked in place over the Great Lakes/Midwest. Temperatures will warm a degree or two each day, with highs reaching the middle to perhaps upper 70s by Sunday and Monday. The big question in the extended is how quickly the blocking pattern will break down. Models have been struggling with this for the past several runs, with each successive solution seemingly slower than the last. The 00z Apr 15 run of the GFS/ECMWF is actually in fairly good agreement, featuring a deep upper low over the Rockies/western Plains slowly meandering eastward into Illinois by Thursday. Meanwhile, the upper ridge further east is flattened by a northern- stream wave tracking across southern Canada. This feature will push a weak cold front into central Illinois late Monday into Tuesday: however, it will have very little moisture to work with, so have only carried slight chance PoPs for showers with its passage. Will have to wait until stronger lift/deeper moisture arrive with the Rockies upper low for better rain chances later in the week. At this time, it appears scattered showers and thunderstorms will be a good bet on Thursday as the upper low weakens and tracks eastward into the area. Given falling upper heights, the much above normal temperatures this weekend will be replaced by readings closer to normal in the upper 60s Tuesday through Thursday. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Saturday morning) Issued at 625 AM CDT Fri Apr 15 2016 VFR conditions and SE winds 8-12 kts expected for the next 24 hours across central IL terminals. Scattered cloud cover expected to develop for the afternoon/early evening...but precipitation unlikely. && .ILX Watches/Warnings/Advisories... NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...Barnes LONG TERM...Barnes AVIATION...Onton
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS INDIANAPOLIS IN
1154 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 .UPDATE... THE AVIATION SECTION HAS BEEN UPDATED BELOW. && .SYNOPSIS... ISSUED AT 300 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 HIGH PRESSURE WILL KEEP IT DRY WITH AFTERNOON HIGHS IN THE 70S THROUGH MONDAY. AFTER THAT...A BROAD LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL APPROACH FROM THE PLAINS AND BRING SLIGHTLY COOLER TEMPERATURES ALONG WITH LATE WEEK SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM CHANCES. && .NEAR TERM /TODAY/... ISSUED AT 920 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 A COUPLE OF SPRINKLES DEVELOPED OVER THE SOUTHWESTERN COUNTIES IN THE LAST COUPLE OF HOURS. HRRR AND RAP BOTH SHOW THESE DISSIPATING RAPIDLY SO WILL NOT INCLUDE AFTER 10 AM. ADJUSTED HIGHS UP A COUPLE DEGREES FOR THE AFTERNOON BASED ON HI RES OUTPUT AND TRENDS LAST COUPLE OF DAYS. ALSO DROPPED AFTERNOON DEW POINTS BASED ON MIXING...EASTERLY FLOW AND RECENT VERIFICATION. PREVIOUS DISCUSSION FOLLOWS... MAIN ISSUE TODAY WILL BE THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME CLOUDS ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN PARTS OF CENTRAL INDIANA AS AN UPPER LOW...ACROSS NORTHWESTERN ARKANSAS...GRADUALLY SETTLES SOUTHEAST TO CENTRAL ALABAMA BY 00Z SATURDAY. OTHERWISE...THE UPPER RIDGE WILL KEEP IT DRY WITH NEAR FULL SUNSHINE. BASED ON PLENTY OF SUNSHINE...LOW LEVEL THERMAL PROGS AND MIXING POTENTIAL...HIGHS IN THE LOWER 70S LOOK GOOD TODAY PER THE 00Z MOS BLEND. && .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... ISSUED AT 220 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 GOOD CONFIDENCE THAT THE DRY WEATHER AND ABOVE AVERAGE TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE SHORT TERM AS UPPER RIDGE HOLDS STRONG OVER THE OHIO VALLEY AND LOWER GREAT LAKES. THE UPPER LOW WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE SOUTHEAST TO SOUTH CAROLINA BY SATURDAY MORNING AND TAKE ANY THICKER CLOUDS ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN PARTS OF CENTRAL INDIANA WITH IT. MODELS IN GOOD AGREEMENT...SO A BLEND IS IN ORDER FOR MOST ELEMENTS. MODEL RH TIME SECTIONS AND LAYERED RH PROGS SUGGEST THERE WILL BE VERY LITTLE CLOUD COVER THROUGH THE PERIOD. MEANWHILE...MODEL LOW LEVEL THERMAL PROGS WERE SHOWING VERY LITTLE CHANGE. SO...EXPECT AFTERNOON HIGHS IN THE LOWER TO MID 70S THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THE LOWER MOS DEW POINTS HAVE BEEN VERIFYING BETTER THAN THE MODEL DEW POINTS LATELY. WITH MOS DEW POINTS NO HIGHER THAN THE MID 40S TO UPPER 40S...CLEAR SKIES AND LIGHT TO CALM WIND...OVERNIGHT LOWS IN THE MID TO UPPER 40S PER THE 00Z MOS BLEND LOOK REASONABLE. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH NEXT THURSDAY/... ISSUED AT 212 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 ENSEMBLES IN GOOD AGREEMENT DURING THIS PERIOD. UPPER RIDGING EXPECTED TO HOLD ACROSS THE LOCAL AREA UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK...WHEN A WEAKENING UPPER LOW WILL BEGIN PUSHING INTO THE MIDWEST. ENSEMBLES SUGGEST LITTLE THREAT FOR PRECIPITATION UNTIL THE UPPER LOW APPROACHES. WILL KEEP THE FORECAST DRY THROUGH WEDNESDAY AND GO WITH CHANCE POPS BY NEXT THURSDAY. && .AVIATION /DISCUSSION FOR THE 151800Z TAF ISSUANCE/... ISSUED AT 1154 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED THROUGH THE PERIOD. SOME FEW-SCATTERED CLOUDS AROUND 6000FT WILL PASS BY MOST SITES AT SOME POINT DURING THE PERIOD. WINDS WILL GENERALLY REMAIN LESS THAN 10KT FROM THE SOUTHEAST WITH HIGH PRESSURE IN CONTROL. && .IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ SYNOPSIS...MK NEAR TERM...MK/CP SHORT TERM...MK LONG TERM....JAS AVIATION...50
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS INDIANAPOLIS IN
1022 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 .UPDATE... THE AVIATION SECTION HAS BEEN UPDATED BELOW. && .SYNOPSIS... ISSUED AT 300 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 HIGH PRESSURE WILL KEEP IT DRY WITH AFTERNOON HIGHS IN THE 70S THROUGH MONDAY. AFTER THAT...A BROAD LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL APPROACH FROM THE PLAINS AND BRING SLIGHTLY COOLER TEMPERATURES ALONG WITH LATE WEEK SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM CHANCES. && .NEAR TERM /TODAY/... ISSUED AT 920 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 A COUPLE OF SPRINKLES DEVELOPED OVER THE SOUTHWESTERN COUNTIES IN THE LAST COUPLE OF HOURS. HRRR AND RAP BOTH SHOW THESE DISSIPATING RAPIDLY SO WILL NOT INCLUDE AFTER 10 AM. ADJUSTED HIGHS UP A COUPLE DEGREES FOR THE AFTERNOON BASED ON HI RES OUTPUT AND TRENDS LAST COUPLE OF DAYS. ALSO DROPPED AFTERNOON DEW POINTS BASED ON MIXING...EASTERLY FLOW AND RECENT VERIFICATION. PREVIOUS DISCUSSION FOLLOWS... MAIN ISSUE TODAY WILL BE THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME CLOUDS ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN PARTS OF CENTRAL INDIANA AS AN UPPER LOW...ACROSS NORTHWESTERN ARKANSAS...GRADUALLY SETTLES SOUTHEAST TO CENTRAL ALABAMA BY 00Z SATURDAY. OTHERWISE...THE UPPER RIDGE WILL KEEP IT DRY WITH NEAR FULL SUNSHINE. BASED ON PLENTY OF SUNSHINE...LOW LEVEL THERMAL PROGS AND MIXING POTENTIAL...HIGHS IN THE LOWER 70S LOOK GOOD TODAY PER THE 00Z MOS BLEND. && .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... ISSUED AT 220 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 GOOD CONFIDENCE THAT THE DRY WEATHER AND ABOVE AVERAGE TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE SHORT TERM AS UPPER RIDGE HOLDS STRONG OVER THE OHIO VALLEY AND LOWER GREAT LAKES. THE UPPER LOW WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE SOUTHEAST TO SOUTH CAROLINA BY SATURDAY MORNING AND TAKE ANY THICKER CLOUDS ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN PARTS OF CENTRAL INDIANA WITH IT. MODELS IN GOOD AGREEMENT...SO A BLEND IS IN ORDER FOR MOST ELEMENTS. MODEL RH TIME SECTIONS AND LAYERED RH PROGS SUGGEST THERE WILL BE VERY LITTLE CLOUD COVER THROUGH THE PERIOD. MEANWHILE...MODEL LOW LEVEL THERMAL PROGS WERE SHOWING VERY LITTLE CHANGE. SO...EXPECT AFTERNOON HIGHS IN THE LOWER TO MID 70S THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THE LOWER MOS DEW POINTS HAVE BEEN VERIFYING BETTER THAN THE MODEL DEW POINTS LATELY. WITH MOS DEW POINTS NO HIGHER THAN THE MID 40S TO UPPER 40S...CLEAR SKIES AND LIGHT TO CALM WIND...OVERNIGHT LOWS IN THE MID TO UPPER 40S PER THE 00Z MOS BLEND LOOK REASONABLE. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH NEXT THURSDAY/... ISSUED AT 212 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 ENSEMBLES IN GOOD AGREEMENT DURING THIS PERIOD. UPPER RIDGING EXPECTED TO HOLD ACROSS THE LOCAL AREA UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK...WHEN A WEAKENING UPPER LOW WILL BEGIN PUSHING INTO THE MIDWEST. ENSEMBLES SUGGEST LITTLE THREAT FOR PRECIPITATION UNTIL THE UPPER LOW APPROACHES. WILL KEEP THE FORECAST DRY THROUGH WEDNESDAY AND GO WITH CHANCE POPS BY NEXT THURSDAY. && .AVIATION /DISCUSSION FOR THE 151500Z TAF UPDATE/... ISSUED AT 1022 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 MINOR TWEAKS MADE TO WIND AT KIND. BROUGHT IN SCATTERED CLOUDS EARLIER AT KHUF/KBMG. PREVIOUS DISCUSSION FOLLOWS... NO SIGNIFICANT CLOUD COVER...UNRESTRICTED VISIBILITY EXPECTED AT THE TERMINALS TODAY. SURFACE WINDS 080-110 DEGREES AT 6-9 KTS. && .IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ SYNOPSIS...MK NEAR TERM...MK/CP SHORT TERM...MK LONG TERM....JAS AVIATION...JAS/50
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS INDIANAPOLIS IN
920 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 .UPDATE... THE NEAR TERM SECTION HAS BEEN UPDATED BELOW. && .SYNOPSIS... ISSUED AT 300 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 HIGH PRESSURE WILL KEEP IT DRY WITH AFTERNOON HIGHS IN THE 70S THROUGH MONDAY. AFTER THAT...A BROAD LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL APPROACH FROM THE PLAINS AND BRING SLIGHTLY COOLER TEMPERATURES ALONG WITH LATE WEEK SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM CHANCES. && .NEAR TERM /TODAY/... ISSUED AT 920 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 A COUPLE OF SPRINKLES DEVELOPED OVER THE SOUTHWESTERN COUNTIES IN THE LAST COUPLE OF HOURS. HRRR AND RAP BOTH SHOW THESE DISSIPATING RAPIDLY SO WILL NOT INCLUDE AFTER 10 AM. ADJUSTED HIGHS UP A COUPLE DEGREES FOR THE AFTERNOON BASED ON HI RES OUTPUT AND TRENDS LAST COUPLE OF DAYS. ALSO DROPPED AFTERNOON DEW POINTS BASED ON MIXING...EASTERLY FLOW AND RECENT VERIFICATION. PREVIOUS DISCUSSION FOLLOWS... MAIN ISSUE TODAY WILL BE THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME CLOUDS ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN PARTS OF CENTRAL INDIANA AS AN UPPER LOW...ACROSS NORTHWESTERN ARKANSAS...GRADUALLY SETTLES SOUTHEAST TO CENTRAL ALABAMA BY 00Z SATURDAY. OTHERWISE...THE UPPER RIDGE WILL KEEP IT DRY WITH NEAR FULL SUNSHINE. BASED ON PLENTY OF SUNSHINE...LOW LEVEL THERMAL PROGS AND MIXING POTENTIAL...HIGHS IN THE LOWER 70S LOOK GOOD TODAY PER THE 00Z MOS BLEND. && .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... ISSUED AT 220 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 GOOD CONFIDENCE THAT THE DRY WEATHER AND ABOVE AVERAGE TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE SHORT TERM AS UPPER RIDGE HOLDS STRONG OVER THE OHIO VALLEY AND LOWER GREAT LAKES. THE UPPER LOW WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE SOUTHEAST TO SOUTH CAROLINA BY SATURDAY MORNING AND TAKE ANY THICKER CLOUDS ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN PARTS OF CENTRAL INDIANA WITH IT. MODELS IN GOOD AGREEMENT...SO A BLEND IS IN ORDER FOR MOST ELEMENTS. MODEL RH TIME SECTIONS AND LAYERED RH PROGS SUGGEST THERE WILL BE VERY LITTLE CLOUD COVER THROUGH THE PERIOD. MEANWHILE...MODEL LOW LEVEL THERMAL PROGS WERE SHOWING VERY LITTLE CHANGE. SO...EXPECT AFTERNOON HIGHS IN THE LOWER TO MID 70S THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THE LOWER MOS DEW POINTS HAVE BEEN VERIFYING BETTER THAN THE MODEL DEW POINTS LATELY. WITH MOS DEW POINTS NO HIGHER THAN THE MID 40S TO UPPER 40S...CLEAR SKIES AND LIGHT TO CALM WIND...OVERNIGHT LOWS IN THE MID TO UPPER 40S PER THE 00Z MOS BLEND LOOK REASONABLE. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH NEXT THURSDAY/... ISSUED AT 212 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 ENSEMBLES IN GOOD AGREEMENT DURING THIS PERIOD. UPPER RIDGING EXPECTED TO HOLD ACROSS THE LOCAL AREA UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK...WHEN A WEAKENING UPPER LOW WILL BEGIN PUSHING INTO THE MIDWEST. ENSEMBLES SUGGEST LITTLE THREAT FOR PRECIPITATION UNTIL THE UPPER LOW APPROACHES. WILL KEEP THE FORECAST DRY THROUGH WEDNESDAY AND GO WITH CHANCE POPS BY NEXT THURSDAY. && .AVIATION /DISCUSSION FOR THE 151200Z TAFS/... ISSUED AT 634 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 NO SIGNIFICANT CLOUD COVER...UNRESTRICTED VISIBILITY EXPECTED AT THE TERMINALS TODAY. SURFACE WINDS 080-110 DEGREES AT 6-9 KTS. && .IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ SYNOPSIS...MK NEAR TERM...MK/CP SHORT TERM...MK LONG TERM....JAS AVIATION...JAS
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NWS JACKSON KY
710 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 710 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 DID A QUICK UPDATE TO TOUCH UP THE SKY/T/TD GRIDS PER THE LATEST OBS AND TRENDS. STILL CANNOT RULE OUT A STRAY SHOWER TODAY PER THE LATEST HRRR...THOUGH GIVEN THE DRY CONDITIONS AND RECENT RUNS BACKING OFF WITH EACH UPDATE WILL KEEP THE POPS SUB 10 PERCENT. THESE UPDATED GRIDS HAVE BEEN SENT TO THE NDFD AND WEB SERVERS. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY) ISSUED AT 300 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 06Z SFC ANALYSIS SHOWS HIGH PRESSURE OFF TO THE NORTHEAST OF KENTUCKY WITH WEAK LOW PRESSURE TO THE SOUTHWEST. THE MOST DRAMATIC GRADIENT ON THE CHART IS ONE OF DEWPOINT VARYING BY OVER 30 DEGREES ACROSS EASTERN KENTUCKY. DEWPOINTS ARE NEAR 50 DEGREES IN THE FAR SOUTH ALONG THE TENNESSEE BORDER AND ONLY IN THE UPPER TEENS AND LOW 20S TO THE MORE OPEN AREAS IN THE NORTHEAST. THIS SEEMS FITTING GIVEN THAT OUR LACK OF SIGNIFICANT RAINS THE PAST MONTH AND A HALF HAS BROUGHT PARTS OF THE CWA TO D0 DROUGHT STATUS. THE CLOUDS OVERNIGHT ARE MAINLY FOUND TO THE SOUTH SO THAT THEY ARE NOT INTERFERING WITH THE GOOD INVERSION SET UP OVER THE EASTERN VALLEYS AND RESULTANT RADIATIONAL COOLING. ACCORDINGLY...A DECENT RIDGE TO VALLEY TEMPERATURE SPLIT EXIST FOR THAT PART OF THE CWA...RANGING FROM THE MIDDLE AND UPPER 50S ON THE HILLS TO THE LOWER 40S IN THE SHELTERED VALLEYS. THE SOUTHERN AND WESTERN EXTENT OF THE CUMBERLAND VALLEY IS MISSING OUT ON THIS SPLIT DUE TO THE MID LEVEL CLOUDS AND HIGHER DEWPOINTS SO THAT READINGS ARE FAIRLY UNIFORM IN THE LOW TO MID 50S MOST SPOTS... ALONG WITH A BALMY LOW 60S AT LOZ AND THE HARLAN AIRPORT. THE SFC CHART DID ALSO SHOW A GRADIENT OF PRESSURE THROUGH NORTHEAST PARTS OF THE STATE AND THIS IS KEEPING A LIGHT NORTHEAST WIND BLOWING FOR THE MORE EXPOSED AREAS THERE...ELSEWHERE WINDS ARE NEARLY CALM. THE MODELS ARE IN GOOD ENOUGH AGREEMENT ALOFT THROUGH THE SHORT TERM. THEY ALL DEPICT A WEAK AREA OF LOWER HEIGHTS OVER THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. THIS IS FOUND IN THE MIDST OF A BUILDING RIDGE ACROSS THE OHIO AND TENNESSEE VALLEYS. THIS WEAKNESS CONTAINS SOME LOOSE PACKETS OF ENERGY FLOATING AROUND OVER THE REGION. HOWEVER...IT ALL WILL FADE OUT WITH TIME AS THE RIDGE BUILDS MORE COMPLETELY LATER TODAY AND THROUGHOUT THE DAY SATURDAY. THE RIDGE IS PUMPED UP OVERHEAD THROUGH THE FIRST PART OF THE WEEKEND IN RESPONSE TO A DEEPENING AND CLOSING OFF TROUGH SETTLING INTO THE FOUR CORNERS REGION. GIVEN THE MODEL AGREEMENT WITH THE BROAD PICTURE AND TYPICAL TROUBLE WITH WEAK FEATURES EMBEDDED WITHIN THE LARGER SCALE PATTERN WILL FAVOR THE A BLENDED SOLUTION WITH EMPHASIS ON THE HIGHER RESOLUTION HRRR AND NAM12 IN THE NEAR TERM. SENSIBLE WEATHER WILL FEATURE A CONTINUATION OF THE RELATIVELY DRY PATTERN WE HAVE BEEN IN SINCE MARCH. DRY LOW LEVELS WILL MAKE THE LINGERING MID LEVEL ENERGY INEFFECTUAL AT KICKING UP ANY SHOWERS THROUGH THE PERIOD...EVEN DURING PEAK HEATING...BOTH TODAY AND SATURDAY. THE CLOUDS WILL FADE AS WELL TONIGHT AND MAKE FOR A MOSTLY SUNNY DAY THROUGH EAST KENTUCKY WITH CAPITAL WEATHER ON TAP AS TEMPERATURES CLIMB INTO THE LOWER 70S ALONG WITH LOW HUMIDITY LEVELS. LOOK FOR ANOTHER RIDGE TO VALLEY TEMPERATURE SPLIT TO SET UP TONIGHT UNDER THE MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES...ESPECIALLY OVER THE EASTERN SHELTERED VALLEYS. HOWEVER...EVEN IN THOSE SPOTS THOUGH... TEMPERATURES SHOULD NOT GET COLD ENOUGH TO ALLOW FOR FROST FORMATION. USED THE SHORTBLEND AS THE STARTING POINT FOR THE T/TD/WIND GRIDS INTO THE LATE EVENING AND THE SUPERBLEND THEREAFTER THROUGH SATURDAY WITH SOME ADJUSTMENTS MADE FOR TERRAIN DISTINCTIONS EARLY THIS MORNING AND TONIGHT. KEPT THE POPS NEAR ZERO THROUGHOUT...IN LINE WITH ALL MOS GUIDANCE. .LONG TERM...(SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY) ISSUED AT 257 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 THE EXTENDED PORTION OF THE FORECAST LOOKS TO BE WARMER THAN NORMAL AND MOSTLY DRY ACROSS THE AREA. THE MODELS ALL AGREE ON A LARGE RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE SETTING UP CAMP ACROSS THE OHIO AND TENNESSEE VALLEYS FROM SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE UPCOMING WORK WEEK. THIS RIDGE WILL BRING ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES TO THE AREA...BOTH DAY AND NIGHT...THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. THE RIDGE WILL FINALLY BEGIN TO BREAK DOWN TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY...AS A POTENT TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE ALOFT MOVES OUT OF CANADA...ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES REGION...AND EVENTUALLY OFF THE MID ATLANTIC COAST LINE BY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. AFTER THE RIDGE DETERIORATES A BIT...AND BEGINS TO DRIFT OFF TO THE EAST...A SECOND WEAKER TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE IS PROGGED TO EJECT OUT OF THE CENTRAL PLAINS AND ACROSS THE EASTERN THIRD OF THE CONUS WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. THIS SYSTEM WILL BRING SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS TO THE AREA FROM WEDNESDAY EVENING ONWARD. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SATURDAY MORNING) ISSUED AT 645 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL THROUGH THE PERIOD. COULD SEE SOME CEILINGS BRIEFLY DEVELOP BELOW FL100...BUT NOT ANYTHING TO WARRANT SUB-VFR CRITERIA. WHILE SOME OF THE NEAR TERM MODELS SUGGEST A POTENTIAL FOR A STRAY SHOWER OR TWO...BELIEVE THE DRY LOW LEVELS WILL PREVENT ANYTHING FROM REACHING THE GROUND AND LIKELY PRECLUDE ANY SUCH DEVELOPMENT. THEREFORE HAVE KEPT THE TAFS DRY. WINDS WILL VARY FROM NORTHEAST TO SOUTHEAST THROUGH THE PERIOD AS SPEEDS REMAIN NEAR OR BELOW 5 KNOTS. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ UPDATE...GREIF SHORT TERM...GREIF LONG TERM...AR AVIATION...GREIF
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS HASTINGS NE
556 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 453 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 MAIN ISSUES INCLUDE CHANCES OF PRECIPITATION ALONG WITH SEVERE WEATHER POSSIBILITIES IN OUR FAR WEST LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. SHOWERS AND ISOLATED STORMS WILL CONTINUE TO FORM NEAR THE LOW-LEVEL JET AXIS THAT IS TRAVERSING THE CWA TO THE EAST. I EXPECT PRETTY DECENT COVERAGE IN OUR NORTH AND TO SOME EXTENT OUR CENTRAL CWA INCLUDING THE TRI-CITIES. SHORT TERM NUMERICAL MODELS APPEAR TO BE SUPERIOR WITH THE COVERAGE OF THESE SHOWERS AND HAVE GRAVITATED TOWARD HRRR THIS MORNING. NOT ENOUGH INSTABILITY TO CONCERN ME ABOUT SEVERE WEATHER DURING THE OVERNIGHT AND THIS MORNING. RAIN AMOUNTS SHOULD NOT BE SPECTACULAR. A CLOSED LOW WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP WITHIN A DEEPENING TROUGH AND WILL SETTLE INTO THE FOUR CORNERS AREA OF THE UNITED STATES. A MID- LEVEL WAVE WILL KICK OUT OF THE BASE OF THE TROUGH AND WILL KICK UP CONVECTION NEAR A COLD FRONT IN THE HIGH PLAINS TO THE WEST OF THE AREA TODAY. BY LATE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING THIS CONVECTION COULD MAKE IT JUST FAR ENOUGH EAST TO BE IN OUR WESTERN CWA. IN OUR FAR WEST...WITH CAPE IN THE 500 TO 1000 J/KG RANGE AND BULK WIND SHEAR BETWEEN THE SURFACE AND 6 KM IN THE 30 TO 35 KTS RANGE...I WILL NEED TO INCLUDE SEVERE WEATHER IN THE HWO FOR AREAS ALONG AND WEST OF HIGHWAY 183 IN OUR FAR WESTERN CWA...ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT WE ARE IN EARLY SEVERE SEASON. FOR HIGH TEMPERATURES...I REALLY LIKE THE BIAS CORRECTED RAWBLEND GRIDS SINCE THEY HAVE DONE THE BEST FOR TEMPERATURES IN SIMILAR SCENARIOS. I ALSO INCREASED WIND GUSTS 3 TO 5 KNOTS COMPARED TO THE WIND GUST ALGORITHM THAT IS NORMALLY RUN...AS CONSRAW SEEMS TO BE FAR SUPERIOR. I ALSO USED MOSGUIDE FOR SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS AND DIRECTION FOR TODAY AND TONIGHT. TONIGHT THE BEST RAIN CHANCES WILL BE IN THE WEST...BUT WILL CONTINUE TO NUDGE EAST WITH TIME. I GENERALLY LIKE WHAT SREF HAS DONE AND HAVE FOLLOWED CLOSELY...BUT TAMPED DOWN A BIT. MOST OF ANY HEAVY RAIN WILL BE WEST OF THE CWA AND I BELIEVE OUR FAR WEST WOULD BE ABLE TO TOLERATE A FEW INCHES OF RAIN BEFORE WE WOULD EVER BEGIN TO HAVE ANY WATER PROBLEMS. WENT WITH CONSRAW FOR LOWS FOR TONIGHT AS THIS IS USUALLY SUPERIOR IN SITUATION WHERE WE WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY ABOVE AVERAGE. LOWS MAINLY IN THE 50S...BUT SOME SPOTS IN OUR SOUTH MIGHT NOT DROP BELOW 60. SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED PAST 10 PM AS INSTABILITY WANES AND BULK SHEAR WILL BE MARGINAL. WITH A 50 KT LOW-LEVEL JET EXPECTED TONIGHT ALONG WITH PLENTY OF MOISTURE TRANSPORT...WE STAND A GOOD CHANCE OF RAIN FOR MOST OF THE CWA...ESPECIALLY WEST. OUR FAR EAST MAY STRUGGLE TO GET A WHOLE LOT AS THE LOW-LEVEL JET AXIS WILL LIKELY REMAIN FAR ENOUGH WEST TO SHORT-CHANGE THE EAST. AS FAR AS HEAVY RAIN IS CONCERNED...THE MAIN AXIS OF LOW-LEVEL MOISTURE TRANSPORT WILL REMAIN WEST OF THE CWA DURING THE SHORT TERM. ALTHOUGH OUR FAR WEST IS IN THE MOST FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR HEAVIER RAIN...EVEN THIS IS A BIT TO FAR EAST TO CONCERN ME THROUGH TONIGHT. .LONG TERM...(SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY) ISSUED AT 453 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 INITIAL IMPRESSIONS FROM A FORECASTER COVERING MOST OF THIS LONG TERM TIME FRAME FOR THE FIRST TIME: 1) WOW...WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THAT LITERALLY EVERY ONE OF THE DAY/NIGHT FORECAST PERIODS IN OUR 7-DAY FORECAST FEATURED RAIN CHANCES?! 2) ALTHOUGH CONSIDERABLE UNCERTAINTY REMAINS IN THE FINER DETAILS...CONFIDENCE CONTINUES GROWING THAT THE CWA WILL SEE A VERY WELCOMED SOAKING OF CUMULATIVE RAINS DURING THIS UPCOMING WEEK...AND QUITE POSSIBLY A BIT TOO MUCH ESPECIALLY NEAR/WEST OF HIGHWAY 183. ALTHOUGH WE ONLY OFFICIALLY FORECAST QPF/RAINFALL TOTALS OUT THROUGH 72 HOURS...A BLEND OF OUR CURRENT FORECAST ALONG WITH NATIONAL WPC GUIDANCE SUGGESTS THAT THE EASTERN HALF OF THE CWA CAN GENERALLY EXPECT MULTI-DAY TOTALS OF 1.5-3"...WITH THE WESTERN HALF GENERALLY 3-5". OF COURSE...AS IS ALMOST ALWAYS THE CASE IN THIS BUSINESS...AT LEAST LOCALIZED HIGHER/LOWER EXCEPTIONS ARE LIKELY. 3) CHANCES FOR SEVERE STORMS FROM SATURDAY ONWARD CONTINUE TO LOOK PRETTY LOW (ESPECIALLY BY MID-APRIL STANDARDS). ALTHOUGH "SURPRISES" CAN AND SOMETIMES DO HAPPEN IN THE PROXIMITY OF THESE LARGE/LUMBERING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEMS...THE EXPECTED PRESENCE OF APPRECIABLE CLOUD COVER AND ASSOCIATED LIMITED INSTABILITY ARGUES IN FAVOR OF THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER (SPC) KEEPING THE CURRENT DAY 2 MARGINAL RISK AT LEAST SLIGHTLY SOUTHWEST OF THE CWA...WITH EVEN LESS OF A STRONG STORM THREAT FOR SUNDAY (DAY 3). STICKING WITH THE BIG PICTURE STORY OF ALL THESE RAIN CHANCES: ALTHOUGH AT LEAST "SOME" CHANCE OF RAIN EXISTS ALL THE WAY THROUGH NEXT THURSDAY...BY FAR THE HIGHEST CHANCES FOR APPRECIABLE AMOUNTS ARE FOCUSED DURING THE FRIDAY NIGHT-MONDAY TIME FRAME. AS ALREADY MENTIONED...OUR LATEST OFFICIAL QPF/RAINFALL FORECAST CURRENTLY ONLY GOES OUT 72 HOURS (THROUGH MONDAY MORNING)...AND THUS DOESN`T QUITE CAPTURE THE ENTIRE MAIN EVENT. ALTHOUGH OUR CURRENT/UPCOMING WEB-BASED GRAPHICS DO A BETTER JOB OF "VISUALIZING" EXPECTED RAIN TOTALS THAN THIS WRITTEN PRODUCT...THE 48-HOUR PERIOD FROM SATURDAY MORNING-MONDAY MORNING IS EXPECTED TO FEATURE A RATHER SHARP GRADIENT FROM LESS THAN 1" IN THE FAR EASTERN CWA NEAR HIGHWAY 81...TO GENERALLY 3-4" IN COUNTIES ALONG AND ESPECIALLY WEST OF HIGHWAY 183. IN BETWEEN...MIDDLE AREAS SUCH AS THE TRI-CITIES ARE GENERALLY IN THE 1.50-2.50" POTENTIAL FOR THESE 48 HOURS. DESPITE HOW DRY IT HAS BEEN LATELY...IF PARTS OF OUR WESTERN CWA DO IN FACT REALIZE AT LEAST 3-4" OF RAIN DURING THESE NEXT 72 HOURS AND POSSIBLY A BIT MORE THEREAFTER...IT`S LIKELY NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION THAT A FEW MAINLY MINOR/NUISANCE SHORT-TERM FLOODING ISSUES COULD RESULT...ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT LIMITED VEGETATIVE GROWTH WILL DO LITTLE TO COUNTERACT RUNOFF. THAT BEING SAID...DO NOT CURRENTLY FORESEE THE NEED FOR A FORMAL FLOOD WATCH GIVEN THAT RAINFALL "SHOULD" BE REASONABLY SPACED-OUT OVER MULTIPLE "WAVES". OFFICIAL 6-HOUR FLASH FLOOD GUIDANCE (FFG) IS CURRENTLY RUNNING AROUND 3"...SO UNLESS A LOT OF RAIN ENDS UP FALLING IN A SHORT TIME...TRULY IMPACTFUL/WIDESPREAD FLOODING ISSUES SHOULD BE HELD AT BAY. AS A RESULT...AT LEAST FOR NOW WILL CONTINUE HIGHLIGHTING A CUMULATIVE/PROLONGED HEAVY RAIN POTENTIAL FOR OUR WESTERN CWA IN PRODUCTS SUCH AS THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK (HWOGID) AND WEB-BASED/SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS...BUT STILL FOREGOING A FORMAL FLOOD WATCH. HOWEVER...THESE TRENDS WILL BE MONITORED CLOSELY FOR POSSIBLE CHANGES OF HEART OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. FOR THOSE WONDERING WHEN THIS SUDDENLY-WET WEATHER PATTERN WILL COME TO AN END: ALTHOUGH IT`S JUST BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THE CURRENT 7-DAY FORECAST...IT APPEARS THAT THE THURSDAY NIGHT/FRIDAY TIME FRAME NEXT WEEK WILL "PROBABLY" FEATURE NO RAIN CHANCES ANYWHERE IN THE CWA FOR A CHANGE. TEMPERATURE-WISE: VERY LITTLE NOTICEABLE CHANGE VERSUS PREVIOUS FORECAST. BECAUSE OF THE MULTITUDE OF RAIN CHANCES AND EXPECTED PREVAILING MOSTLY CLOUDY/CLOUDY SKIES...DIURNAL RANGES SHOULD BE HELD DOWN. IN GENERAL...HIGHS ON MOST OF THESE 6 DAYS ARE AIMED INTO THE UPPER 50S-UPPER 60S RANGE...ALTHOUGH PARTS OF THE FAR WESTERN CWA MAY ACTUALLY STRUGGLE TO REACH 55 ESPECIALLY SUNDAY- MONDAY. OVERNIGHT LOWS ARE CURRENTLY AIMED INTO EITHER THE 40S/50S ON ALL NIGHTS...WITH NO HINTS OF A THREAT FOR SUB-FREEZING READINGS EVEN IN FAR NORTHERN/WESTERN ZONES. OTHER POSSIBLE HAZARDS BEYOND THUNDERSTORMS/HEAVY RAIN: ALTHOUGH THIS WETTER TYPE OF PATTERN COULD EASILY YIELD ONE OR MORE ROUNDS OF IMPACTFUL FOG...THERE ARE NONE "OBVIOUS" AT THIS TIME. IN A WELCOME CHANGE FROM THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS...THE PERSISTENCE OF HIGHER DEWPOINTS/LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND OBVIOUSLY THE EXPECTED RAINFALL SHOULD GREATLY MITIGATE FIRE WEATHER ISSUES. WITH THE MAIN POINTS/THEMES COVERED...WILL FINISH UP WITH SOME FAIRLY BRIEF DAY-TO-DAY DETAILS IN 12-36 HOUR BLOCKS: SATURDAY DAYTIME: A DEFINITE WEST-TO-EAST DISPARITY IN RAINFALL POTENTIAL IS EVIDENT...WITH MEASURABLE CHANCES/POPS RANGING FROM ONLY 30-40 PERCENT IN FAR EASTERN ZONES TO 80 PERCENT IN FAR WESTERN AREAS. IN FACT...ESPECIALLY THE WESTERN 1/3 OF THE CWA MAY STRUGGLE TO SEE HARDLY ANY RAIN. VARIOUS MODELS ARE IN DECENT AGREEMENT THAT THE CENTER OF THE EXPANSIVE MID LEVEL LOW WILL BE CENTERED OVER THE NM AREA. SATURDAY NIGHT: A WEAK FRONT/INVERTED TROUGH WILL START MAKING ITS WAY INTO ESPECIALLY THE NORTHWESTERN CWA...BUT HOW FAR IS STILL IN QUESTION. VARIOUS LOBES OF SHORTWAVE ENERGY/LIFT CONTINUE STREAMING NORTHWARD INTO THE CWA OUT AHEAD OF THE MAIN UPPER SYSTEM...AGAIN STILL FAVORING WESTERN AREAS FOR RAIN MORE THAN THE EAST. SUNDAY/SUNDAY NIGHT: WHILE GOOD RAIN CHANCES CONTINUE IN THE WESTERN CWA...FOR CENTRAL/EASTERN COUNTIES THIS 24 HOURS MIGHT END UP BEING THE "MAIN EVENT" AS THE LARGE-SCALE UPPER LOW STARTS TO OPEN UP A BIT AND SENDS A LOBE OF ENERGY A BIT FARTHER EAST INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS. MONDAY/MONDAY NIGHT: THE STALLED OUT/WEAKENING UPPER LOW SPRAWLED ACROSS THE CENTRAL ROCKIES AND SURROUNDING STATES STARTS TAKES ON MORE OF A WEST-EAST ORIENTATION AS LARGE-SCALE FORCING WEAKENS SOMEWHAT. NONETHELESS...PRETTY HIGH RAIN CHANCES CONTINUE ESPECIALLY FOR THE DAYTIME HOURS. TUESDAY/TUESDAY NIGHT: BY THIS TIME...THE "MAIN EVENT" SHOULD BE OVER WITH...BUT WILL MAINTAIN LESS-THAN-LIKELY RAIN CHANCES FOR THE ENTIRE CWA GIVEN THAT THE CENTER OF THE REMNANT MID LEVEL LOW STILL JUST FINALLY START PASSING OVER THE HEART OF THE LOCAL AREA. WEDNESDAY DAYTIME-THURSDAY: ALTHOUGH AT LEAST SMALL 20-30 POPS LINGER ON FOR MOST OF THE CWA...IN ALL REALITY MOST AREAS SHOULD BE DRY THE MAJORITY OF THIS TIME. UNLESS THINGS SLOW DOWN NOTICEABLY...THE MAIN MID LEVEL LOW SHOULD START DEPARTING THE LOCAL AREA AROUND WED NIGHT...SETTING THE STAGE FOR RIDGING TO BUILD IN ESPECIALLY JUST BEYOND THIS TIME FRAME. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 12Z KGRI/KEAR TAFS THROUGH 12Z SATURDAY MORNING) ISSUED AT 553 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 MVFR CEILINGS TO THE WEST SHOULD EVENTUALLY MAKE IT INTO KEAR THIS MORNING...BUT MAY HAVE A HARD TIME MAKING IT FAR ENOUGH EAST TO AFFECT KGRI. SOME SHOWERS AROUND THIS MORNING WITH EMBEDDED ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS. BETTER CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS COMES TONIGHT. LOW-LEVEL WIND SHEAR MAY AGAIN BE AN ISSUE TONIGHT AS A 50 KT LOW-LEVEL JET AXIS WILL BE OVER THE AREA. && .GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...NONE. KS...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...HEINLEIN LONG TERM...PFANNKUCH AVIATION...HEINLEIN
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS BISMARCK ND
954 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 954 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 SHORT RANGE GUIDANCE EXPECTS THE SURFACE LOW THAT IS NEAR GARRISON AT MID MORNING TO SHIFT EAST-NORTHEAST TOWARD DEVILS LAKE BY LATE AFTERNOON. THIS WILL GRADUALLY SHIFT A SURFACE FRONTAL ZONE TO THE SOUTH AND EAST...WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY SLOW AND THEN SERVE AS THE FOCUS FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF PRECIPITATION TONIGHT. MEANWHILE...WE UPDATED THE FORECAST TO REFLECT RADAR AND RECENT HRRR TRENDS /AS THAT GUIDANCE APPEARS TO BE CAPTURING RADAR TRENDS WELL/...BUT DID HANG ONTO SOMEWHAT HIGHER POPS IN THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY A BIT LONGER THAN THE HRRR ALONE WOULD SUGGEST BASED ON UPSTREAM SHOWERS IN SD AS OF 1445 UTC. THAT SAID...WEAK 500-MB HEIGHT RISES MODELED IN GUIDANCE THIS AFTERNOON IMPLY BRIEF SHORTWAVE RIDGING THAT VERY WELL COULD PRODUCE A LULL IN PRECIPITATION CHANCES 17-23 UTC. UPDATE ISSUED AT 615 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 MAIN CONCERN IS A NARROW BAND OF STRONG SURFACE WINDS FROM CROSBY TO TIOGA IN FAR NORTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA WHICH HAVE BEEN MIXING DOWN FROM THE STRONG 850MB LEVEL DUE TO SHOWERS. BUFKIT SOUNDINGS SHOW THIS WILL BE DIMINISHING AFTER 7 AM. WILL HANDLE THIS SMALL AREA WITH SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENTS THIS MORNING. OTHERWISE BAND OF SHOWERS AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUES TO MOVE SLOWLY EAST THIS MORNING AND COVERS CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA. CURRENT FORECAST REFLECTS THIS TREND. UPDATED LATEST OBS. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 327 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 MAIN CONCERNS IN THE SHORT TERM WILL BE WINDS IN THE VICINITY OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AS WELL AS QPF AMOUNTS. HAVE HAD SEVERAL REPORTS OF 45 TO 60 MPH WINDS IN SHOWERS AS THE INITIAL SURGE OF MOISTURE ARRIVED EARLIER THIS NIGHT. THIS SEEMS TO HAVE SETTLED DOWN BUT STILL EXPECT THE POSSIBILITY OF 35 TO 50 MPH WINDS IN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. WILL CONTINUE TO HANDLE THESE ISOLATED REPORTS WITH SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENTS...BUT DID ADD AN AREA OF 30 TO 45 MPH WINS FOR A FEW HOURS THIS MORNING IN THE ADVANCING SHOWERS/TSTMS SOUTH CENTRAL. THE INITIAL SURGE OF MOISTURE SEEMS TO BE IMPACTING THE WEST RIVER AREA...WEST OF THE MISSOURI AND ACROSS TEH NORTHWEST. WITH TIME THIS WILL SHIFT EAST TO TEH JAMES RIVER VALLEY WHERE THE MAIN PRECIPIATION IS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. THE THREAT FOR SEVER WEATHER WILL BE LOW TODAY BUT GUSTY WINDS AGAIN COULD BE AN OCCASIONAL ISSUE SOUTH CENTRAL WHERE THE H850 LOW LEVEL WINDS REMAINS STRONG ABOVE 40 KTS FOR THE MORNING. TEH THREAT OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CONFINES TO TEH EAST TONIGHT WITH A BIT IF SNOW MIXING INTO TEH PICTURE NORTHWEST TONIGHT. .LONG TERM...(SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY) ISSUED AT 327 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 THE MAIN ISSUE FOR THE EXTENDED PERIOD WILL BE SOME SNOW SATURDAY AS THE COLDER AIR CONTINUES TO MIX INTO THE WEST SATURDAY MORNING. SOME ACCUMULATIONS ON GRASSY AREAS MAY BE POSSIBLE BUT SHOULD DISAPPEAR BY AFTERNOON. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL FOLLOW THE BAROCLINIC ZONE ACROSS THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY SATURDAY/SATURDAY NIGHT. GFS/ECMWF SUPPORT ANOTHER SURGE OF MOISTURE INTO THE SOUTH CENTRAL...EAST OF THE MISSOURI SATURDAY NIGHT. THIS WILL BE ASSOCIATED WITH SHORTWAVE ENERGY MOVING NORTH BEFORE THE UPPER LOW CLOSES OFF AND FORMS A REX BLOCK BY SUNDAY NIGHT/MONDAY. THE BLOCK WILL BRING DRY WEATHER NORTH WITH SMALL CHANCES OF SHOWERS ACROSS THE SOUTHERN BORDER MONDAY AND TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY LOOK MILDER UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE NORTHERN BRANCH OF THE REX BLOCK. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SATURDAY MORNING) ISSUED AT 954 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS MAY CONTINUE FROM NORTHWEST INTO NORTH CENTRAL ND AND THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY THROUGH THE EARLY AFTERNOON...BUT THEN A BREAK MAY OCCUR BEFORE ANOTHER SURGE OF SHOWERS AND STORMS IMPACTS MAINLY EASTERN ND TONIGHT /INCLUDING KJMS/. MVFR AND IFR CEILINGS OVER MUCH OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL ND AT MID MORNING COULD LIFT IN THE SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL FOR A TIME TODAY...BUT WILL LIKELY RETURN AREA-WIDE BY TONIGHT. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ UPDATE...CJS SHORT TERM...WAA LONG TERM...WAA AVIATION...CJS/WAA
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MEMPHIS TN
1000 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 .UPDATE... AT 10 AM CDT AROUND THE REGION SHOWERS ARE ONGOING PRIMARILY ACROSS NORTH MISSISSIPPI AS AN UPPER LOW CURRENTLY RESIDES ALOFT OVER EASTERN ARKANSAS. TEMPERATURES HAVE ALREADY CLIMBED INTO THE UPPER 50S TO MID 60S...RISING QUICKER THAN ANTICIPATED AND AS SUCH HAVE INCREASED AFTERNOON HIGHS BY A DEGREE OR TWO. ESPECIALLY SINCE MODEL GUIDANCE UNDER PERFORMED ON HIGHS YESTERDAY. POPS ALSO REQUIRED ADJUSTMENTS UPWARD AT SOME LOCALES FOR BOTH THE REST OF THE MORNING AND THE AFTERNOON...WITH LOWER POPS AFTER NOON. THE UPPER LOW HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO GET A HANDLE ON THE PAST FEW DAYS BUT FEEL LIKE SHOWER ACTIVITY WILL SLOWLY DIMINISH THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND COME TO AN END TOWARD SATURDAY MORNING AS THE FEATURE FINALLY CLEARS THE REGION TO THE EAST. TEMPERATURES WILL REACH THE UPPER 60S TO LOWER 70S TODAY WITH SFC WINDS FROM THE EAST SOUTHEAST GENERALLY AT 10 KTS OR LESS. ZDM && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 329 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016/ DISCUSSION... MODELS IN GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT THE UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL SLOWLY MOVE OUT OF THE AREA. ALONG WITH A REX BLOCK SETTING UP OUT WEST STALLING THE PATTERN UNTIL ABOUT MID-WEEK. AS FOR THE PRECIPITATION...NONE OF THE MODELS SEEM TO HAVE A GOOD HANDLE ON WHAT IS GOING ON. CURRENTLY THERE ARE SHOWERS ACROSS NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI AND SOME SCATTERED LIGHT SHOWERS OVER NORTHERN TENNESSEE. YET...THE GFS INDICATES THAT BOTH THESE AREAS SHOULD BE RECEIVING THE SAME ABOUT OF RAIN...THIS IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. MEANWHILE...THE ECMWF DOESN/T HAVE ANYTHING IN NORTHERN TENNESSEE. THE HRRR SEEMS TO HAVE THE BEST HANDLE ON THE CURRENT SITUATION. THE HRRR KEEPS THE SHOWERS IN NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI MOVING NORTH THROUGH ABOUT MID-DAY AND INTO SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE...YET ALL OTHER MODELS END THE PRECIPITATION. SO RAISED POPS THIS MORNING FOR NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI AND LEFT THE SLIGHT CHANCE POPS FOR REST OF THE MID- SOUTH. NOT COMPLETELY SURE WHAT WILL HAPPEN THIS AFTERNOON SO LEFT WHOLE AREA WITH SLIGHT CHANCE POPS. AS THE UPPER LOW IT WILL MOVE TO THE EAST BY TONIGHT AND DRY WEATHER SHOULD MOVE INTO THE MID-SOUTH, STARTING SATURDAY. YET THERE WILL STILL BE CLOUDS FROM THE UPPER LEVEL LOW ON SATURDAY. SKIES WILL CLEAR ON SUNDAY AS AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE BUILDS OVER THE AREA. THE RIDGE DOESN/T MOVE MUCH IN THE BEGINNING PART OF THE WEEK...THIS IS IN PART TO A REX BLOCK /UPPER HIGH NORTH OF UPPER LOW/ SETTING UP OVER THE WESTERN US WHICH TYPICALLY STALLS THE UPPER LEVELS. SO IT LOOKS LIKE A DRY PATTERN AT LEAST FOR A SHORT TIME. THE UPPER LOW OVER THE ROCKIES MOVES EAST JUST ENOUGH THAT BY MONDAY NIGHT THE FAR WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE AREA MAY SEE SOME PRECIPITATION. THIS HOLDS THROUGH TILL WEDNESDAY. THE REX BLOCK FINALLY BREAKS DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK AND THE UPPER LOW MOVES INTO THE GREAT PLAINS. AS LOW MOVES EAST THE MORE OF THE MID-SOUTH WILL HAVE A CHANCE FOR RAIN. BY WEDNESDAY...IT LOOKS LIKE WE CAN/T RULE OUT ANYWHERE IN THE MID-SOUTH FOR SOME PRECIPITATION AND THE CHANCE FOR RAIN WILL CONTINUE FOR THE REST OF THE FORECAST PERIOD. TEMPERATURES DURING THE FORECAST PERIOD WILL START OUT COOL TODAY...BECAUSE OF THE CLOUDS. HOWEVER...THE REST OF THE FORECAST TEMPERATURES SHOULD BE ABOUT NORMAL WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE 70S AND GETTING CLOSE TO 80. TLSJR && .AVIATION... 12Z TAF CYCLE LOW CLOUDS AND RAIN SHOWERS WILL PERSIST OVER MOST OF THE FORECAST AREA TODAY WITH PERIODS OF IFR OR MVFR CEILINGS. VFR CONDITIONS SHOULD RETURN THIS EVENING AS THE RAIN MOVES OUT OF THE REGION. WINDS WILL BE FROM THE SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS TODAY THEN DIMINISHING TO AROUND 5 KNOTS TONIGHT. ARS && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...NONE. MO...NONE. MS...NONE. TN...NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MEMPHIS TN
626 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 .UPDATE... UPDATED FOR THE 12Z AVIATION DISCUSSION && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 329 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016/ DISCUSSION... MODELS IN GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT THE UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL SLOWLY MOVE OUT OF THE AREA. ALONG WITH A REX BLOCK SETTING UP OUT WEST STALLING THE PATTERN UNTIL ABOUT MID-WEEK. AS FOR THE PRECIPITATION...NONE OF THE MODELS SEEM TO HAVE A GOOD HANDLE ON WHAT IS GOING ON. CURRENTLY THERE ARE SHOWERS ACROSS NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI AND SOME SCATTERED LIGHT SHOWERS OVER NORTHERN TENNESSEE. YET...THE GFS INDICATES THAT BOTH THESE AREAS SHOULD BE RECEIVING THE SAME ABOUT OF RAIN...THIS IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. MEANWHILE...THE ECMWF DOESN/T HAVE ANYTHING IN NORTHERN TENNESSEE. THE HRRR SEEMS TO HAVE THE BEST HANDLE ON THE CURRENT SITUATION. THE HRRR KEEPS THE SHOWERS IN NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI MOVING NORTH THROUGH ABOUT MID-DAY AND INTO SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE...YET ALL OTHER MODELS END THE PRECIPITATION. SO RAISED POPS THIS MORNING FOR NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI AND LEFT THE SLIGHT CHANCE POPS FOR REST OF THE MID- SOUTH. NOT COMPLETELY SURE WHAT WILL HAPPEN THIS AFTERNOON SO LEFT WHOLE AREA WITH SLIGHT CHANCE POPS. AS THE UPPER LOW IT WILL MOVE TO THE EAST BY TONIGHT AND DRY WEATHER SHOULD MOVE INTO THE MID-SOUTH, STARTING SATURDAY. YET THERE WILL STILL BE CLOUDS FROM THE UPPER LEVEL LOW ON SATURDAY. SKIES WILL CLEAR ON SUNDAY AS AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE BUILDS OVER THE AREA. THE RIDGE DOESN/T MOVE MUCH IN THE BEGINNING PART OF THE WEEK...THIS IS IN PART TO A REX BLOCK /UPPER HIGH NORTH OF UPPER LOW/ SETTING UP OVER THE WESTERN US WHICH TYPICALLY STALLS THE UPPER LEVELS. SO IT LOOKS LIKE A DRY PATTERN AT LEAST FOR A SHORT TIME. THE UPPER LOW OVER THE ROCKIES MOVES EAST JUST ENOUGH THAT BY MONDAY NIGHT THE FAR WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE AREA MAY SEE SOME PRECIPITATION. THIS HOLDS THROUGH TILL WEDNESDAY. THE REX BLOCK FINALLY BREAKS DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK AND THE UPPER LOW MOVES INTO THE GREAT PLAINS. AS LOW MOVES EAST THE MORE OF THE MID-SOUTH WILL HAVE A CHANCE FOR RAIN. BY WEDNESDAY...IT LOOKS LIKE WE CAN/T RULE OUT ANYWHERE IN THE MID-SOUTH FOR SOME PRECIPITATION AND THE CHANCE FOR RAIN WILL CONTINUE FOR THE REST OF THE FORECAST PERIOD. TEMPERATURES DURING THE FORECAST PERIOD WILL START OUT COOL TODAY...BECAUSE OF THE CLOUDS. HOWEVER...THE REST OF THE FORECAST TEMPERATURES SHOULD BE ABOUT NORMAL WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE 70S AND GETTING CLOSE TO 80. TLSJR && .AVIATION... 12Z TAF CYCLE LOW CLOUDS AND RAIN SHOWERS WILL PERSIST OVER MOST OF THE FORECAST AREA TODAY WITH PERIODS OF IFR OR MVFR CEILINGS. VFR CONDITIONS SHOULD RETURN THIS EVENING AS THE RAIN MOVES OUT OF THE REGION. WINDS WILL BE FROM THE SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS TODAY THEN DIMINISHING TO AROUND 5 KNOTS TONIGHT. ARS && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...NONE. MO...NONE. MS...NONE. TN...NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NWS FORT WORTH TX
1013 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 .UPDATE... THE AREAS OF DENSE FOG THAT DEVELOPED OVERNIGHT HAVE BEEN DISPERSING. AS OF 10 AM...THE ONLY SITES STILL REPORTING VISIBILITIES OF LESS THAN 1/2 MILE WERE HAMILTON AND GATESVILLE. THE REMAINING FOG WILL DISPERSE IN THE NEXT HOUR OR SO...THUS WE HAVE ALLOWED THE DENSE FOG ADVISORY TO EXPIRE. THERE REMAINS A DECENT AMOUNT OF LOW CLOUDS BUT THIS MOISTURE SHOULD MIX OUT DURING THE NEXT FEW HOURS. HAVE INCREASED THE CLOUD COVER OVER MUCH OF THE FORECAST AREA THROUGH MIDDAY. SKIES WILL BECOME MOSTLY SUNNY ACROSS MOST OF THE FORECAST AREA DURING THE AFTERNOON. THE MORNING FOG AND CLOUD COVER HAS ALSO LED US TO LOWER DIURNAL TEMPERATURE TREND FOR THROUGH LATE MORNING ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE WEST. UPDATES HAVE ALREADY BEEN SENT. 58 && .AVIATION... /ISSUED 620 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016/ LIGHT WINDS AND CLEAR SKIES HAVE LED TO FOG FORMATION ACROSS MUCH OF NORTH TEXAS. DENSE FOG HAS BEEN WIDESPREAD OVER SOUTHERN LOCATIONS INCLUDING THE KACT AREA...AND ALSO IN RURAL LOCALES SUCH AS KGKY. THE MORE URBAN AIRPORTS IN THE DFW AREA HAVE BEEN SPARED THE DENSE FOG FORMATION...BUT MVFR VISIBILITIES CAN STILL BE EXPECTED THROUGH 15Z. SURFACE WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 10KT AFTER 15Z AND VISIBILITIES SHOULD SUBSEQUENTLY IMPROVE AT ALL LOCATIONS. VFR CONDITIONS ARE THEN EXPECTED FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. FOR TONIGHT...LOW LEVEL WINDS WILL REMAIN UP AROUND 10 KT OR SO WHICH SHOULD LOWER THE PROBABILITY OF A REPEAT OCCURRENCE OF LIFR VISIBILITIES. IFR CIGS WILL BE A MORE LIKELY SCENARIO OVERNIGHT...WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF MVFR VISIBILITIES IN LIGHT FOG OR BR. OTHERWISE...PRECIPITATION ASSOCIATED WITH AN APPROACHING UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM WILL HOLD OFF UNTIL LATER IN THE WEEKEND. 30 && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 404 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016/ ...SYNOPSIS... MILD CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE ENTIRE OUTLOOK PERIOD WITH INCREASING CHANCES FOR RAIN THROUGH THE WEEKEND AND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. LOW RAIN CHANCES WILL CONTINUE THEREAFTER INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE WORK WEEK. ...SHORT TERM (TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY)... FOR TODAY...THE MAIN HEADLINE WILL BE MORNING DENSE FOG. CLEAR SKIES AND LIGHT WINDS...COMBINED WITH SUBSIDENCE FROM A DEPARTING SHORTWAVE TROUGH AND WET SOILS HAVE FACILITATED THE DEVELOPMENT OF ANOTHER ROUND OF FOG THIS MORNING. DEWPOINT DEPRESSIONS REMAIN THE LOWEST ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE I-20 CORRIDOR THIS MORNING WITH VISIBILITY GENERALLY ALONG AND SOUTHWEST OF A MINERAL WELLS TO HILLSBORO TO HEARNE LINE FALLING BELOW 1 MILE OVER THE PAST HOUR. THE HRRR SEEMS TO HAVE A FAIRLY GOOD HANDLE ON THIS SITUATION AND AS A RESULT WE WILL GO WITH A DENSE FOG ADVISORY FOR THE AFOREMENTIONED LOCATIONS. WE WILL MONITOR ADDITIONAL TRENDS IN OBSERVATIONS ELSEWHERE TO SEE IF AN EXTENSION IN AREA IS WARRANTED. OTHERWISE...TODAY SHOULD BE MILD AND DRY WITH EAST TO SOUTHEAST WINDS RETURNING IN RESPONSE TO LEE- SIDE CYCLOGENESIS. FRIDAY NIGHT SHOULD SEE AN INCREASE IN CLOUDS ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE NORTHERN AND NORTHEASTERN HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA AS A TONGUE OF MOISTURE LIFTS NORTHWARD AHEAD OF THE APPROACHING UPPER LOW. THE RESULTANT CLOUD COVER ACROSS NORTHERN AND NORTHEASTERN ZONES SHOULD RESULT IN SLIGHTLY WARMER OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURES INTO SATURDAY MORNING HERE. THE FOG POTENTIAL FOR FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING REMAINS TOO LOW TO INCLUDE IN THE FORECAST AT THIS TIME AS BOUNDARY LAYER WINDS SHOULD LIMIT THE OVERALL AREAL EXTENT. FOR SATURDAY...APPRECIABLE RAIN CHANCES RETURN HERE DURING THIS PORTION OF THE OUTLOOK PERIOD AS THE SHORTWAVE RIDGING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DRY FRIDAY DEPARTS THE REGION. WHILE A BULK OF THE LARGE SCALE ASCENT IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN TO THE WEST OF THE AREA...THE LACK OF LARGE SCALE DESCENT COMBINED WITH INCREASING LOW LEVEL WARM/MOIST ADVECTION DOES WARRANT MAINTAINING AT LEAST A 20 POP IN THE OFFICIAL FORECAST AREAWIDE. HAVE TRIMMED BACK THE EARLY MORNING POPS ACROSS THE WEST ON SATURDAY AS THERE APPEARS TO BE A GOOD CONSENSUS AMONGST HI-RESOLUTION MODEL GUIDANCE IN KEEPING A MAJORITY OF THE HEAVIER PRECIPITATION TO THE WEST. THIS ALIGNS WELL WITH THE COARSER SYNOPTIC SCALE MODELS WITH THEIR PLACEMENT OF THE UPPER LOW. THE BETTER RAIN AND THUNDER THREAT WILL BEGIN TO ENCROACH ON OUR FAR WESTERN ZONES SATURDAY EVENING AS THE UPPER LOW STARTS TO PUSH EASTWARD. THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT FOR SATURDAY DOES APPEAR TO BE ON THE LOW SIDE AS INSTABILITY REMAIN FAIRLY LOW. HOWEVER...WITH STEEPENING LAPSE RATES AND SOME DEEP LAYER SHEAR...A SMALL HAIL POTENTIAL MAY EVOLVE FOR MAINLY WESTERN ZONES. ...LONG TERM (SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY)... FOR SUNDAY AND MONDAY...RAIN CHANCES RAMP UP CONSIDERABLY LATE SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY. THE LARGE RIDGE ACROSS THE EASTERN CONUS SHOULD ENSURE THAT THE LARGE UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL MOVE VERY SLOWLY TO THE EAST. AT THE SURFACE...AN ELONGATED INVERTED TROUGH SHOULD STRETCH FROM THE HEARTLAND BACK DOWN INTO THE SOUTHERN PLAINS AND WITH THE SURFACE HIGH PARKED ACROSS THE EASTERN CONUS...LOW LEVEL MOISTURE TRANSPORT TO THE NORTH SHOULD ENSUE. WITH FORCING ALONG THE TROUGH/FRONT COMBINED WITH SUBTLE SHORTWAVE TROUGHS AROUND THE MAIN UPPER LOW...THE POTENTIAL FOR WIDESPREAD RAIN WILL EXIST WITH THIS SETUP. FOR SUNDAY MORNING...IT APPEARS THAT THE BEST THREAT FOR RAIN AND STORMS WILL BE NEAR AND WEST OF THE HIGHWAY 281 CORRIDOR...THOUGH RAIN MAY LIKELY BE ONGOING ACROSS A GOOD CHUNK OF NORTH AND CENTRAL TEXAS. HIGHER RAIN CHANCES WILL GRADUALLY OVERSPREAD THE REST OF NORTH AND CENTRAL TEXAS THROUGHOUT THE DAY ON SUNDAY. INTO THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS ON SUNDAY...INSTABILITY IS EXPECTED TO SLOWLY INCREASE AS THE STRENGTHENING LOW LEVEL FLOW HELPS TO TRANSPORT MORE MOISTURE NORTHWARD. THE INCREASE IN BOTH OF THESE PARAMETERS COMBINED WITH LARGE LOOPING HODOGRAPHS SUGGEST THAT A SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL EXIST. RIGHT NOW...FORECAST PROFILES WOULD MAINLY SUPPORT A DAMAGING WIND AND TORNADO THREAT (AS OPPOSED TO A LARGE HAIL THREAT)...ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE LARGE MAGNITUDE OF LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR. INCREASING PWATS WILL ALSO FOSTER A HEAVY RAIN AND POTENTIAL FLOODING THREAT AS PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES NEAR +2SD FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR. RIGHT NOW...IT APPEARS THAT FLOODING WILL BE THE BIGGEST WEATHER HAZARD WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR TORNADOES AND DAMAGING WINDS THE SECONDARY AND TERTIARY THREATS. WITH REGARDS TO THE LOCATIONS OF SEVERE WEATHER AND FLOODING...IT APPEARS THAT AREAS ALONG AND SOUTH I-20 WILL HAVE THE BEST POTENTIAL. AS HI-RESOLUTION MODEL OUTPUT BECOMES MORE READILY AVAILABLE...REFINEMENTS TO THE FORECAST WILL BE MADE. FOR MONDAY...HEAVY RAIN WILL CONTINUE TO BE POSSIBLE AS THE UPPER AIR PATTERN REMAINS SOMEWHAT STAGNANT. PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES WILL CONTINUE TO REMAIN HIGH AND WITH ADDITIONAL LIFT...THE HEAVY RAIN AND FLOOD POTENTIAL WILL REMAIN. SEVERE WEATHER CHANCES DURING MONDAY DO NOT APPEAR TO BE QUITE AS HIGH AS INSTABILITY REMAINS SOMEWHAT LOW. WITH DEEP LAYER SHEAR INCREASING HOWEVER...THE THREAT IS NON-ZERO. OVERALL STORM TOTAL RAIN AMOUNTS COULD CERTAINLY FALL IN THE 3 TO 6 INCH RANGE WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR ISOLATED HIGHER AMOUNTS FOR TUESDAY AND BEYOND...THE UNSETTLED WEATHER PATTERN WILL CONTINUE WITH ADDITIONAL CHANCES FOR RAIN THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK AS THE UPPER AIR PATTERN REMAINS FAIRLY PROGRESSIVE. BAIN && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DALLAS-FT. WORTH 78 62 76 65 71 / 0 5 30 30 70 WACO 80 61 76 65 71 / 0 5 30 30 70 PARIS 76 62 72 60 72 / 0 10 20 20 40 DENTON 78 62 73 62 70 / 0 10 30 40 70 MCKINNEY 77 62 74 62 71 / 0 10 30 30 60 DALLAS 78 62 76 65 72 / 0 5 30 30 70 TERRELL 78 63 76 63 71 / 0 5 20 20 60 CORSICANA 78 63 77 65 72 / 0 5 20 30 60 TEMPLE 80 60 76 65 71 / 0 5 30 30 70 MINERAL WELLS 80 60 72 61 68 / 0 5 40 50 80 && .FWD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ 91/58
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS FORT WORTH TX
620 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 .AVIATION... LIGHT WINDS AND CLEAR SKIES HAVE LED TO FOG FORMATION ACROSS MUCH OF NORTH TEXAS. DENSE FOG HAS BEEN WIDESPREAD OVER SOUTHERN LOCATIONS INCLUDING THE KACT AREA...AND ALSO IN RURAL LOCALES SUCH AS KGKY. THE MORE URBAN AIRPORTS IN THE DFW AREA HAVE BEEN SPARED THE DENSE FOG FORMATION...BUT MVFR VISIBILITIES CAN STILL BE EXPECTED THROUGH 15Z. SURFACE WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 10KT AFTER 15Z AND VISIBILITIES SHOULD SUBSEQUENTLY IMPROVE AT ALL LOCATIONS. VFR CONDITIONS ARE THEN EXPECTED FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. FOR TONIGHT...LOW LEVEL WINDS WILL REMAIN UP AROUND 10 KT OR SO WHICH SHOULD LOWER THE PROBABILITY OF A REPEAT OCCURRENCE OF LIFR VISIBILITIES. IFR CIGS WILL BE A MORE LIKELY SCENARIO OVERNIGHT...WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF MVFR VISIBILITIES IN LIGHT FOG OR BR. OTHERWISE...PRECIPITATION ASSOCIATED WITH AN APPROACHING UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM WILL HOLD OFF UNTIL LATER IN THE WEEKEND. 30 && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 404 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016/ ...SYNOPSIS... MILD CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE ENTIRE OUTLOOK PERIOD WITH INCREASING CHANCES FOR RAIN THROUGH THE WEEKEND AND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. LOW RAIN CHANCES WILL CONTINUE THEREAFTER INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE WORK WEEK. ...SHORT TERM (TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY)... FOR TODAY...THE MAIN HEADLINE WILL BE MORNING DENSE FOG. CLEAR SKIES AND LIGHT WINDS...COMBINED WITH SUBSIDENCE FROM A DEPARTING SHORTWAVE TROUGH AND WET SOILS HAVE FACILITATED THE DEVELOPMENT OF ANOTHER ROUND OF FOG THIS MORNING. DEWPOINT DEPRESSIONS REMAIN THE LOWEST ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE I-20 CORRIDOR THIS MORNING WITH VISIBILITY GENERALLY ALONG AND SOUTHWEST OF A MINERAL WELLS TO HILLSBORO TO HEARNE LINE FALLING BELOW 1 MILE OVER THE PAST HOUR. THE HRRR SEEMS TO HAVE A FAIRLY GOOD HANDLE ON THIS SITUATION AND AS A RESULT WE WILL GO WITH A DENSE FOG ADVISORY FOR THE AFOREMENTIONED LOCATIONS. WE WILL MONITOR ADDITIONAL TRENDS IN OBSERVATIONS ELSEWHERE TO SEE IF AN EXTENSION IN AREA IS WARRANTED. OTHERWISE...TODAY SHOULD BE MILD AND DRY WITH EAST TO SOUTHEAST WINDS RETURNING IN RESPONSE TO LEE- SIDE CYCLOGENESIS. FRIDAY NIGHT SHOULD SEE AN INCREASE IN CLOUDS ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE NORTHERN AND NORTHEASTERN HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA AS A TONGUE OF MOISTURE LIFTS NORTHWARD AHEAD OF THE APPROACHING UPPER LOW. THE RESULTANT CLOUD COVER ACROSS NORTHERN AND NORTHEASTERN ZONES SHOULD RESULT IN SLIGHTLY WARMER OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURES INTO SATURDAY MORNING HERE. THE FOG POTENTIAL FOR FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING REMAINS TOO LOW TO INCLUDE IN THE FORECAST AT THIS TIME AS BOUNDARY LAYER WINDS SHOULD LIMIT THE OVERALL AREAL EXTENT. FOR SATURDAY...APPRECIABLE RAIN CHANCES RETURN HERE DURING THIS PORTION OF THE OUTLOOK PERIOD AS THE SHORTWAVE RIDGING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DRY FRIDAY DEPARTS THE REGION. WHILE A BULK OF THE LARGE SCALE ASCENT IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN TO THE WEST OF THE AREA...THE LACK OF LARGE SCALE DESCENT COMBINED WITH INCREASING LOW LEVEL WARM/MOIST ADVECTION DOES WARRANT MAINTAINING AT LEAST A 20 POP IN THE OFFICIAL FORECAST AREAWIDE. HAVE TRIMMED BACK THE EARLY MORNING POPS ACROSS THE WEST ON SATURDAY AS THERE APPEARS TO BE A GOOD CONSENSUS AMONGST HI-RESOLUTION MODEL GUIDANCE IN KEEPING A MAJORITY OF THE HEAVIER PRECIPITATION TO THE WEST. THIS ALIGNS WELL WITH THE COARSER SYNOPTIC SCALE MODELS WITH THEIR PLACEMENT OF THE UPPER LOW. THE BETTER RAIN AND THUNDER THREAT WILL BEGIN TO ENCROACH ON OUR FAR WESTERN ZONES SATURDAY EVENING AS THE UPPER LOW STARTS TO PUSH EASTWARD. THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT FOR SATURDAY DOES APPEAR TO BE ON THE LOW SIDE AS INSTABILITY REMAIN FAIRLY LOW. HOWEVER...WITH STEEPENING LAPSE RATES AND SOME DEEP LAYER SHEAR...A SMALL HAIL POTENTIAL MAY EVOLVE FOR MAINLY WESTERN ZONES. ...LONG TERM (SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY)... FOR SUNDAY AND MONDAY...RAIN CHANCES RAMP UP CONSIDERABLY LATE SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY. THE LARGE RIDGE ACROSS THE EASTERN CONUS SHOULD ENSURE THAT THE LARGE UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL MOVE VERY SLOWLY TO THE EAST. AT THE SURFACE...AN ELONGATED INVERTED TROUGH SHOULD STRETCH FROM THE HEARTLAND BACK DOWN INTO THE SOUTHERN PLAINS AND WITH THE SURFACE HIGH PARKED ACROSS THE EASTERN CONUS...LOW LEVEL MOISTURE TRANSPORT TO THE NORTH SHOULD ENSUE. WITH FORCING ALONG THE TROUGH/FRONT COMBINED WITH SUBTLE SHORTWAVE TROUGHS AROUND THE MAIN UPPER LOW...THE POTENTIAL FOR WIDESPREAD RAIN WILL EXIST WITH THIS SETUP. FOR SUNDAY MORNING...IT APPEARS THAT THE BEST THREAT FOR RAIN AND STORMS WILL BE NEAR AND WEST OF THE HIGHWAY 281 CORRIDOR...THOUGH RAIN MAY LIKELY BE ONGOING ACROSS A GOOD CHUNK OF NORTH AND CENTRAL TEXAS. HIGHER RAIN CHANCES WILL GRADUALLY OVERSPREAD THE REST OF NORTH AND CENTRAL TEXAS THROUGHOUT THE DAY ON SUNDAY. INTO THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS ON SUNDAY...INSTABILITY IS EXPECTED TO SLOWLY INCREASE AS THE STRENGTHENING LOW LEVEL FLOW HELPS TO TRANSPORT MORE MOISTURE NORTHWARD. THE INCREASE IN BOTH OF THESE PARAMETERS COMBINED WITH LARGE LOOPING HODOGRAPHS SUGGEST THAT A SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL EXIST. RIGHT NOW...FORECAST PROFILES WOULD MAINLY SUPPORT A DAMAGING WIND AND TORNADO THREAT (AS OPPOSED TO A LARGE HAIL THREAT)...ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE LARGE MAGNITUDE OF LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR. INCREASING PWATS WILL ALSO FOSTER A HEAVY RAIN AND POTENTIAL FLOODING THREAT AS PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES NEAR +2SD FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR. RIGHT NOW...IT APPEARS THAT FLOODING WILL BE THE BIGGEST WEATHER HAZARD WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR TORNADOES AND DAMAGING WINDS THE SECONDARY AND TERTIARY THREATS. WITH REGARDS TO THE LOCATIONS OF SEVERE WEATHER AND FLOODING...IT APPEARS THAT AREAS ALONG AND SOUTH I-20 WILL HAVE THE BEST POTENTIAL. AS HI-RESOLUTION MODEL OUTPUT BECOMES MORE READILY AVAILABLE...REFINEMENTS TO THE FORECAST WILL BE MADE. FOR MONDAY...HEAVY RAIN WILL CONTINUE TO BE POSSIBLE AS THE UPPER AIR PATTERN REMAINS SOMEWHAT STAGNANT. PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES WILL CONTINUE TO REMAIN HIGH AND WITH ADDITIONAL LIFT...THE HEAVY RAIN AND FLOOD POTENTIAL WILL REMAIN. SEVERE WEATHER CHANCES DURING MONDAY DO NOT APPEAR TO BE QUITE AS HIGH AS INSTABILITY REMAINS SOMEWHAT LOW. WITH DEEP LAYER SHEAR INCREASING HOWEVER...THE THREAT IS NON-ZERO. OVERALL STORM TOTAL RAIN AMOUNTS COULD CERTAINLY FALL IN THE 3 TO 6 INCH RANGE WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR ISOLATED HIGHER AMOUNTS FOR TUESDAY AND BEYOND...THE UNSETTLED WEATHER PATTERN WILL CONTINUE WITH ADDITIONAL CHANCES FOR RAIN THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK AS THE UPPER AIR PATTERN REMAINS FAIRLY PROGRESSIVE. BAIN && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DALLAS-FT. WORTH 78 62 76 65 71 / 0 5 30 30 70 WACO 80 61 76 65 71 / 0 5 30 30 70 PARIS 76 62 72 60 72 / 0 10 20 20 40 DENTON 78 62 73 62 70 / 0 10 30 40 70 MCKINNEY 77 62 74 62 71 / 0 10 30 30 60 DALLAS 78 62 76 65 72 / 0 5 30 30 70 TERRELL 78 63 76 63 71 / 0 5 20 20 60 CORSICANA 78 63 77 65 72 / 0 5 20 30 60 TEMPLE 80 60 76 65 71 / 0 5 30 30 70 MINERAL WELLS 80 60 72 61 68 / 0 5 40 50 80 && .FWD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... DENSE FOG ADVISORY UNTIL 10 AM CDT THIS MORNING FOR TXZ115>117- 129>133-141>145-156>160-174. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MIAMI FL
147 PM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 .AVIATION... CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY HAS NOT YET INITIATED OVER SOUTH FLORIDA, BUT SHORT RANGE MODELS ARE STILL INSISTENT THAT THEY WILL, WITH TIMING BEING MAINLY AFTER 20Z. SPC HAS PLACED SOME OF THE AREA UNDER A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. THE SITES UNDER THE SLIGHT RISK ARE FROM KFLL NORTH. THE AREA ALSO INCLUDES MOST OF THE AREA IN THE LAKE REGION. VFR CONDITIONS ARE CURRENTLY FORECASTS THROUGH THE TAF PERIOD. HOWEVER, BRIEF IFR WILL BE POSSIBLE UNDER ANY HEAVY SHOWER/STORMS. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 901 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016/ UPDATE... A FEW UPDATES TO THE POPS AND WEATHER GRID TO BETTER REFLECT THE TIMING OF ANY CONVECTIVE INITIATION. SHORT RANGE MODELS, ESPECIALLY THE HRRR ARE SHOWING SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS AROUND 18Z IN THE LAKE REGION, AND THEN MORE WIDESPREAD CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT AFTER ABOUT 20Z. PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 358 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016/ SYNOPSIS... A STATIONARY FRONT NORTH OF SOUTH FLORIDA WILL SERVE AS A FOCUS FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BRING DRIER CONDITIONS FOR MUCH OF NEXT WEEK. SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... AFTER EVENING CONVECTION IMPACTED NRN PALM BEACH COUNTY, REMAINDER OF THE REGION AND NIGHT HAS BEEN DRY. FEW WEST TO EAST MOVING SHOWERS OVER CENTRAL FLORIDA AND ADJACENT WATERS, JUST NORTH OF SFC STATIONARY FRONT THAT IS DRAPED ACROSS LAKE OKEECHOBEE. THESE FEATURE...ASSOCIATED WITH FLATTENING H8-5 TROUGH OVER SERN CONUS, WILL MOVE LITTLE THROUGH THE SHORT TERM, AND WILL BECOME DIFFUSE AND UNRECOGNIZABLE BY SUNDAY AS THE AFORE MENTIONED TROUGH TRANSITIONS INTO ZONAL FLOW REGIME. UNTIL THEN, SOUTH FLORIDA WILL RESIDE IN A WARM, SOMEWHAT MOIST/HUMID ENVIRONMENT. COOL TEMPERATURES ALOFT ASSOCIATED WITH THE TROUGH /AS LOW AS -12C AT 500MB/ COMBINED WITH AMPLE SURFACE HEATING WILL KEEP ENVIRONMENT UNSTABLE WITH DECENT LAPSE RATES, SO CONVECTION SHOULD BE ABLE TO DEVELOP ALONG SEA BREEZES AND REMNANT FRONTAL SYSTEM. MODERATE WESTERLY FLOW ALOFT AND DECENT VEERING WITH HEIGHT WILL LEAD TO MODERATE LEVELS OF SHEAR THIS AFTERNOON, AND TO A LESSER EXTENT SATURDAY AFTERNOON, SO ANY CONVECTION THAT DEVELOPS WILL BE ABLE TO REMAIN SOMEWHAT ORGANIZED. YESTERDAY SAW ISOLATED REPORTS OF SEVERE HAIL ACROSS CENTRAL FLORIDA, AND TODAYS ENVIRONMENT APPEARS SUPPORTIVE OF AT LEAST SOME HAIL IN STRONGEST UPDRAFTS OVER SOUTH FLORIDA, ALTHOUGH WITH DOWNBURST THUNDERSTORM WINDS. SPC HAS PLACED NERN 2/3RDS OF THE REGION IN MARGINAL SEVERE RISK. FLOW WILL PROPAGATE STORMS ENEWD, SO BEST CHANCE FOR ROBUST CONVECTION IS OVER PALM BEACH COUNTY. DYNAMICS FOR SATURDAY ARE LESS FAVORABLE, BUT STILL SUFFICIENTLY IMPRESSIVE TO WARRANT THUNDER IN FORECAST. BY SUNDAY, DRIER ENE FLOW WILL INCREASE ACROSS THE REGION, AND ASIDE FROM A FEW SHOWERS MOVING INLAND FROM THE ATLANTIC, QUIETER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED. LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... MORE TRANQUIL WEATHER WILL RESUME NEXT WEEK. TEMPERATURES WILL BE NEAR NORMAL FOR MID-APRIL, HIGHS GENERALLY IN LOW 80S AND LOWS IN THE 60S TO AROUND 70F. SLIGHT RAIN CHANCES EXIST ALONG ATLANTIC COAST EARLY IN THE WEEK, THEN DRY CONDITIONS PREVAIL. EASTERLY WINDS MAY AT TIMES BE GUSTY AS HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE CENTERS NORTH OF THE REGION, THUS ATLANTIC RIP CURRENTS WILL LIKELY BE A CONCERN. MARINE... SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS, ESPECIALLY OVER LAKE OKEECHOBEE AND ATLANTIC WATERS OFF PALM BEACH COUNTY, ARE LIKELY THROUGH LATE SATURDAY AS A FRONT REMAINS STALLED JUST NORTH OF THE REGION. DRIER WEATHER WILL BEGIN SUNDAY, BUT EASTERLY WINDS OF UP TO 20 KT AND HIGH SEAS MAY LEAD TO HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS FOR MARINERS SUNDAY INTO MONDAY. HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN NEXT WEEK. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... WEST PALM BEACH 69 82 70 79 / 50 60 50 30 FORT LAUDERDALE 71 85 71 80 / 50 50 40 30 MIAMI 71 85 70 81 / 40 60 40 20 NAPLES 69 85 65 86 / 40 50 20 20 && .MFL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...NONE. AM...NONE. GM...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...13/SI LONG TERM....23/SK AVIATION...13/SI
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE, IL
145 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 .SHORT TERM... 133 PM CDT TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY... SHORT TERM FORECAST FOCUS IS ON BEAUTIFUL SPRING WEATHER THROUGH THE WEEKEND. UPPER RIDGE IS PROGGED TO STRENGTHEN ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES AND MIDWEST THROUGH SUNDAY. HEIGHTS/THICKNESS INCREASE WITH TIME RESULTING IN GRADUAL WARMING OF THE COLUMN...WHICH FORECAST SOUNDINGS AND TIME SECTIONS INDICATE WILL REMAIN DRY AND LARGELY CLOUDLESS OUTSIDE OF SOME THIN THROUGH THE PERIOD. SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE OVER EASTERN CANADA BUILDS SOUTHWEST WITH TIME AS THE RIDGE DEVELOPS ALOFT...MAINTAINING RELATIVELY LIGHT SOUTHEAST SYNOPTIC WINDS OVER THE FORECAST THROUGH THE PERIOD WITH LAKE BREEZE DEVELOPMENT EACH DAY. DRY COLUMN SUPPORTS LARGE DIURNAL CHANGE IN TEMPS...AND GENERALLY HAVE FAVORED WARMER GUIDANCE WITH MID/FEW UPPER 70S FOR AFTERNOON HIGHS AWAY FROM THE LAKE. CLOSE TO THE SHORE TEMPS WILL LIKELY BE LIMITED TO THE 50S SATURDAY AND AROUND 60 SUNDAY. BLENDED GUIDANCE LOWS FROM THE UPPER 40S TO LOW 50S APPEAR GOOD. RATZER && .LONG TERM... 256 AM CDT SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY... A COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO PUSH SOUTHWARD DOWN LAKE MICHIGAN ON MONDAY. THIS COULD ACT LIKE A PNEUMONIA FRONT NEAR THE LAKE...WITH A SHARP DROP IN TEMPERATURES FOLLOWING ITS PASSAGE. IT DOES APPEAR THAT PRECIPITATION CHANCES WITH THE FRONT WILL BE LOW DUE TO THE DRY AIR MASS OVER THE REGION. THEREFORE...WE HAVE REMOVED THE CHANCE OF SHOWERS ON MONDAY. COOLER CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE AREA ON TUESDAY AS NORTHEASTERLY FLOW CONTINUES OFF OF LAKE MICHIGAN. HOWEVER...TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO BOUNCE BACK WELL INTO THE 60S AWAY FROM THE LAKE LATER IN THE WEEK AS THE SURFACE FLOW SHIFTS BACK OUT OF THE SOUTHEAST. THERE WILL ALSO BE SOME INCREASING CHANCES OF RAIN VERY LATE IN THE PERIOD...AROUND THURSDAY NIGHT AS THE UPPER LOW OVER THE SOUTHWESTERN CONUS DURING THE SHORT TERM PERIOD ATTEMPTS TO MOVE TOWARDS THE CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. KJB && .AVIATION... FOR THE 18Z TAFS... QUIET AVIATION WEATHER TO CONTINUE AS SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE REMAINS ANCHORED OFF TO THE EAST OF THE FORECAST AREA. EAST- SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL SEE EASTERLY LAKE BREEZE PUSHES BOTH TODAY AND SATURDAY...WITH SPEEDS 10-12 KT FOR A FEW HOURS. OTHERWISE LIGHT WINDS AND VFR/CLEAR CONDITIONS TO PERSIST. RATZER && .MARINE... 115 AM CDT A TRANQUIL WEATHER PATTERN REMAINS IN PLACE OVER THE LAKE THROUGH THE WEEKEND WITH PRIMARILY A SOUTHEAST WIND. NEARSHORE AREAS ESPECIALLY ALONG THE ILLINOIS...INDIANA...AND WISCONSIN SHORES WILL SEE A MAINLY ONSHORE COMPONENT IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENINGS DUE TO LAKE BREEZES. A COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE DOWN THE LAKE EARLY NEXT WEEK THOUGH THE TIMING IS UNCERTAIN...WITH SOMETIME MONDAY PRESENTLY FAVORED. BEHIND THIS FRONT THE WINDS WILL TURN NORTHERLY WITH POSSIBLY A SHORT-LIVED PERIOD OF SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CONDITIONS INTO THE ILLINOIS AND INDIANA NEAR SHORES. MTF && .LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...NONE. IN...NONE. LM...NONE. && $$ VISIT US AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/CHICAGO (ALL LOWERCASE) FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK...TWITTER...AND YOUTUBE AT: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/NWSCHICAGO WWW.TWITTER.COM/NWSCHICAGO WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/NWSCHICAGO
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 1230 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 .UPDATE... Issued at 1020 AM CDT Fri Apr 15 2016 A weak upper level disturbance over northeast Arkansas late this morning continues to edge very slowly east and at the same time was pushing some shallow moisture/clouds (6000-8000 ft) north into parts of central Illinois. These clouds shouldn`t have much, if any affect on afternoon temperatures with the latest forecast soundings suggesting we should easily mix down from 6500 feet which should push afternoon temps up a few degrees from the previous forecast. In addition, as has been the case over the past few days, dew points will be adjusted downward with the deep mixing expected this afternoon. Otherwise, the rest of the forecast looks good. The updated zones should be out by 1045 am. && .SHORT TERM...(Today) ISSUED AT 253 AM CDT Fri Apr 15 2016 Upper low evident on 07z/2am water vapor imagery over northeast Arkansas will remain nearly stationary today. Cloud cover associated with this feature will pivot N/NW across south-central Illinois into eastern Missouri and southern Iowa this afternoon. Some of the high-res models such as the HRRR are even trying to develop isolated showers along/southwest of a Galesburg to Effingham line after 19z/20z. While forecast soundings show steepening lapse rates, a pronounced dry layer remains in place below 850mb thanks to continued dry SE flow around prevailing surface ridge. As a result, will go with a mostly sunny and dry forecast today. High temperatures will be a couple of degrees warmer than yesterday, reaching the lower 70s across the board. .LONG TERM...(Tonight through Thursday) ISSUED AT 253 AM CDT Fri Apr 15 2016 A warm and dry weekend is on tap across central Illinois, as an upper-level blocking pattern across the CONUS keeps a strong ridge locked in place over the Great Lakes/Midwest. Temperatures will warm a degree or two each day, with highs reaching the middle to perhaps upper 70s by Sunday and Monday. The big question in the extended is how quickly the blocking pattern will break down. Models have been struggling with this for the past several runs, with each successive solution seemingly slower than the last. The 00z Apr 15 run of the GFS/ECMWF is actually in fairly good agreement, featuring a deep upper low over the Rockies/western Plains slowly meandering eastward into Illinois by Thursday. Meanwhile, the upper ridge further east is flattened by a northern- stream wave tracking across southern Canada. This feature will push a weak cold front into central Illinois late Monday into Tuesday: however, it will have very little moisture to work with, so have only carried slight chance PoPs for showers with its passage. Will have to wait until stronger lift/deeper moisture arrive with the Rockies upper low for better rain chances later in the week. At this time, it appears scattered showers and thunderstorms will be a good bet on Thursday as the upper low weakens and tracks eastward into the area. Given falling upper heights, the much above normal temperatures this weekend will be replaced by readings closer to normal in the upper 60s Tuesday through Thursday. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Saturday afternoon) Issued at 1227 PM CDT Fri Apr 15 2016 VFR conditions are expected through this forecast period. High pressure to our northeast will continue to bring quiet weather to the TAF area. A few-sct clouds at around 6000-7000 feet will be possible, but coverage too limited at this time to include a group in the current forecast. Surface winds will be east to southeast at 10 to 15 kts this afternoon and Saturday, and from 5 to 10 kts tonight. && .ILX Watches/Warnings/Advisories... NONE. && $$ UPDATE...Smith SHORT TERM...Barnes LONG TERM...Barnes AVIATION...Smith
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE, IL
1219 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 .UPDATE... 1023 AM CDT FOR MORNING UPDATE... NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO GOING FORECAST...THOUGH DID BUMP MAX TEMPS A BIT INTO THE MID-70S ACROSS SOUTHERN COUNTIES FOR THIS AFTERNOON BASED ON LOW LEVEL MODEL TEMPS. SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE REMAINS ANCHORED ACROSS AND NORTHEAST OF THE GREAT LAKES REGION TODAY...WITH SYNOPTIC SOUTHEAST LOW LEVEL FLOW AND MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES EXPECTED TO ALLOW CONTINUED WARMING OF TEMPS AS SEEN OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS. IN ADDITION...DRY LOW LEVEL AIR WITH DEW POINTS IN THE 20S AND 30S WILL HELP WITH QUICK WARMING AND LARGE DIURNAL SWING. BUMPED TEMPS A COUPLE DEGREES DOWN AROUND PONTIAC...WHERE 925-850MB TEMPS SUGGEST MID-70S ARE ATTAINABLE THIS AFTERNOON. EAST TO NORTHEAST LAKE BREEZE WINDS ALONG THE LAKE MICHIGAN SHORE WILL LIMIT TEMPS THERE TO THE LOW- MID 50S. ALL IN ALL...FORECAST HAS THIS WELL IN HAND AND OTHER THAN AFOREMENTIONED TWEAKS TO AFTERNOON HIGHS DOWN SOUTH WILL LET THINGS RIDE. RATZER && .SHORT TERM... 243 AM CDT THROUGH SUNDAY... GREAT WEATHER IS ON TAP FOR MOST OF THE AREA FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS...ESPECIALLY AREAS INLAND FROM LAKE MICHIGAN. OVERALL...A BLOCKED UPPER LEVEL FLOW PATTERN ACROSS THE CENTRAL CONUS WILL ESSENTIALLY KEEP ALL OF THE INCLEMENT WEATHER WELL WEST OF THE REGION THROUGH THE WEEKEND AS AN UPPER LOW SETS UP OVER THE SOUTHWESTERN CONUS. MEANWHILE...AT THE SURFACE...A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE...EXTENDING SOUTHWESTWARD FROM EASTERN QUEBEC...WILL BE DOMINATE ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES REGION THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THIS FEATURE WILL ACT TO KEEP THE SURFACE FLOW OUT OF A SOUTHEASTERLY DIRECTION...AND THIS WILL BE IDEAL FOR LAKE BREEZE DEVELOPMENT EACH DAY...ESPECIALLY ACROSS FAR NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS. AS A RESULT...ALTHOUGH CONDITIONS INLAND FROM THE LAKE WILL LIKELY WARM INTO THE LOW 70S TODAY...AND INTO THE MID 70S OVER THE WEEKEND...TEMPERATURES WILL LIKELY REMAIN A GOOD 13 TO 16 DEGREES COOLER NEAR THE LAKE. IN ADDITION TO THE WARMER CONDITIONS...DEW POINTS WILL AGAIN LIKELY MIX OUT INTO THE LOWER TO MIDDLE 30S INTO THIS AFTERNOON...AND THIS WILL RESULT IN THE MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY FALLING INTO THE 25 TO 30 PERCENT RANGE. BY SATURDAY A BIT MORE LOWER LEVEL MOISTURE IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE AREA...AND THIS SHOULD RESULT IN SLIGHTLY HIGHER DEW POINTS AND ALSO POSSIBLY SOME MORE FAIR WEATHER CUMULUS. KJB && .LONG TERM... 256 AM CDT SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY... A COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO PUSH SOUTHWARD DOWN LAKE MICHIGAN ON MONDAY. THIS COULD ACT LIKE A PNEUMONIA FRONT NEAR THE LAKE...WITH A SHARP DROP IN TEMPERATURES FOLLOWING ITS PASSAGE. IT DOES APPEAR THAT PRECIPITATION CHANCES WITH THE FRONT WILL BE LOW DUE TO THE DRY AIR MASS OVER THE REGION. THEREFORE...WE HAVE REMOVED THE CHANCE OF SHOWERS ON MONDAY. COOLER CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE AREA ON TUESDAY AS NORTHEASTERLY FLOW CONTINUES OFF OF LAKE MICHIGAN. HOWEVER...TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO BOUNCE BACK WELL INTO THE 60S AWAY FROM THE LAKE LATER IN THE WEEK AS THE SURFACE FLOW SHIFTS BACK OUT OF THE SOUTHEAST. THERE WILL ALSO BE SOME INCREASING CHANCES OF RAIN VERY LATE IN THE PERIOD...AROUND THURSDAY NIGHT AS THE UPPER LOW OVER THE SOUTHWESTERN CONUS DURING THE SHORT TERM PERIOD ATTEMPTS TO MOVE TOWARDS THE CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. KJB && .AVIATION... FOR THE 18Z TAFS... QUIET AVIATION WEATHER TO CONTINUE AS SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE REMAINS ANCHORED OFF TO THE EAST OF THE FORECAST AREA. EAST- SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL SEE EASTERLY LAKE BREEZE PUSHES BOTH TODAY AND SATURDAY...WITH SPEEDS 10-12 KT FOR A FEW HOURS. OTHERWISE LIGHT WINDS AND VFR/CLEAR CONDITIONS TO PERSIST. RATZER && .MARINE... 115 AM CDT A TRANQUIL WEATHER PATTERN REMAINS IN PLACE OVER THE LAKE THROUGH THE WEEKEND WITH PRIMARILY A SOUTHEAST WIND. NEARSHORE AREAS ESPECIALLY ALONG THE ILLINOIS...INDIANA...AND WISCONSIN SHORES WILL SEE A MAINLY ONSHORE COMPONENT IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENINGS DUE TO LAKE BREEZES. A COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE DOWN THE LAKE EARLY NEXT WEEK THOUGH THE TIMING IS UNCERTAIN...WITH SOMETIME MONDAY PRESENTLY FAVORED. BEHIND THIS FRONT THE WINDS WILL TURN NORTHERLY WITH POSSIBLY A SHORT-LIVED PERIOD OF SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CONDITIONS INTO THE ILLINOIS AND INDIANA NEAR SHORES. MTF && .LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...NONE. IN...NONE. LM...NONE. && $$ VISIT US AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/CHICAGO (ALL LOWERCASE) FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK...TWITTER...AND YOUTUBE AT: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/NWSCHICAGO WWW.TWITTER.COM/NWSCHICAGO WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/NWSCHICAGO
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lincoln IL 1023 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 .UPDATE... Issued at 1020 AM CDT Fri Apr 15 2016 A weak upper level disturbance over northeast Arkansas late this morning continues to edge very slowly east and at the same time was pushing some shallow moisture/clouds (6000-8000 ft) north into parts of central Illinois. These clouds shouldn`t have much, if any affect on afternoon temperatures with the latest forecast soundings suggesting we should easily mix down from 6500 feet which should push afternoon temps up a few degrees from the previous forecast. In addition, as has been the case over the past few days, dew points will be adjusted downward with the deep mixing expected this afternoon. Otherwise, the rest of the forecast looks good. The updated zones should be out by 1045 am. && .SHORT TERM...(Today) ISSUED AT 253 AM CDT Fri Apr 15 2016 Upper low evident on 07z/2am water vapor imagery over northeast Arkansas will remain nearly stationary today. Cloud cover associated with this feature will pivot N/NW across south-central Illinois into eastern Missouri and southern Iowa this afternoon. Some of the high-res models such as the HRRR are even trying to develop isolated showers along/southwest of a Galesburg to Effingham line after 19z/20z. While forecast soundings show steepening lapse rates, a pronounced dry layer remains in place below 850mb thanks to continued dry SE flow around prevailing surface ridge. As a result, will go with a mostly sunny and dry forecast today. High temperatures will be a couple of degrees warmer than yesterday, reaching the lower 70s across the board. .LONG TERM...(Tonight through Thursday) ISSUED AT 253 AM CDT Fri Apr 15 2016 A warm and dry weekend is on tap across central Illinois, as an upper-level blocking pattern across the CONUS keeps a strong ridge locked in place over the Great Lakes/Midwest. Temperatures will warm a degree or two each day, with highs reaching the middle to perhaps upper 70s by Sunday and Monday. The big question in the extended is how quickly the blocking pattern will break down. Models have been struggling with this for the past several runs, with each successive solution seemingly slower than the last. The 00z Apr 15 run of the GFS/ECMWF is actually in fairly good agreement, featuring a deep upper low over the Rockies/western Plains slowly meandering eastward into Illinois by Thursday. Meanwhile, the upper ridge further east is flattened by a northern- stream wave tracking across southern Canada. This feature will push a weak cold front into central Illinois late Monday into Tuesday: however, it will have very little moisture to work with, so have only carried slight chance PoPs for showers with its passage. Will have to wait until stronger lift/deeper moisture arrive with the Rockies upper low for better rain chances later in the week. At this time, it appears scattered showers and thunderstorms will be a good bet on Thursday as the upper low weakens and tracks eastward into the area. Given falling upper heights, the much above normal temperatures this weekend will be replaced by readings closer to normal in the upper 60s Tuesday through Thursday. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Saturday morning) Issued at 625 AM CDT Fri Apr 15 2016 VFR conditions and SE winds 8-12 kts expected for the next 24 hours across central IL terminals. Scattered cloud cover expected to develop for the afternoon/early evening...but precipitation unlikely. && .ILX Watches/Warnings/Advisories... NONE. && $$ UPDATE...Smith SHORT TERM...Barnes LONG TERM...Barnes AVIATION...Onton
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS INDIANAPOLIS IN
224 PM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 .UPDATE... THE LONG TERM SECTION HAS BEEN UPDATED BELOW. && .SYNOPSIS... ISSUED AT 300 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 HIGH PRESSURE WILL KEEP IT DRY WITH AFTERNOON HIGHS IN THE 70S THROUGH MONDAY. AFTER THAT...A BROAD LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL APPROACH FROM THE PLAINS AND BRING SLIGHTLY COOLER TEMPERATURES ALONG WITH LATE WEEK SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM CHANCES. && .NEAR TERM /TODAY/... ISSUED AT 920 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 A COUPLE OF SPRINKLES DEVELOPED OVER THE SOUTHWESTERN COUNTIES IN THE LAST COUPLE OF HOURS. HRRR AND RAP BOTH SHOW THESE DISSIPATING RAPIDLY SO WILL NOT INCLUDE AFTER 10 AM. ADJUSTED HIGHS UP A COUPLE DEGREES FOR THE AFTERNOON BASED ON HI RES OUTPUT AND TRENDS LAST COUPLE OF DAYS. ALSO DROPPED AFTERNOON DEW POINTS BASED ON MIXING...EASTERLY FLOW AND RECENT VERIFICATION. PREVIOUS DISCUSSION FOLLOWS... MAIN ISSUE TODAY WILL BE THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME CLOUDS ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN PARTS OF CENTRAL INDIANA AS AN UPPER LOW...ACROSS NORTHWESTERN ARKANSAS...GRADUALLY SETTLES SOUTHEAST TO CENTRAL ALABAMA BY 00Z SATURDAY. OTHERWISE...THE UPPER RIDGE WILL KEEP IT DRY WITH NEAR FULL SUNSHINE. BASED ON PLENTY OF SUNSHINE...LOW LEVEL THERMAL PROGS AND MIXING POTENTIAL...HIGHS IN THE LOWER 70S LOOK GOOD TODAY PER THE 00Z MOS BLEND. && .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... ISSUED AT 220 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 GOOD CONFIDENCE THAT THE DRY WEATHER AND ABOVE AVERAGE TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE SHORT TERM AS UPPER RIDGE HOLDS STRONG OVER THE OHIO VALLEY AND LOWER GREAT LAKES. THE UPPER LOW WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE SOUTHEAST TO SOUTH CAROLINA BY SATURDAY MORNING AND TAKE ANY THICKER CLOUDS ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN PARTS OF CENTRAL INDIANA WITH IT. MODELS IN GOOD AGREEMENT...SO A BLEND IS IN ORDER FOR MOST ELEMENTS. MODEL RH TIME SECTIONS AND LAYERED RH PROGS SUGGEST THERE WILL BE VERY LITTLE CLOUD COVER THROUGH THE PERIOD. MEANWHILE...MODEL LOW LEVEL THERMAL PROGS WERE SHOWING VERY LITTLE CHANGE. SO...EXPECT AFTERNOON HIGHS IN THE LOWER TO MID 70S THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THE LOWER MOS DEW POINTS HAVE BEEN VERIFYING BETTER THAN THE MODEL DEW POINTS LATELY. WITH MOS DEW POINTS NO HIGHER THAN THE MID 40S TO UPPER 40S...CLEAR SKIES AND LIGHT TO CALM WIND...OVERNIGHT LOWS IN THE MID TO UPPER 40S PER THE 00Z MOS BLEND LOOK REASONABLE. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... ISSUED AT 224 PM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 MODELS ARE CLOSE ENOUGH THAT THE SUPERBLEND INITIALIZATION WAS ACCEPTED FOR MOST ITEMS. A WEAK FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA EARLY IN THE PERIOD...BUT WITH MOST FORCING WELL OFF THE EAST WITH AN UPPER TROUGH FEEL THAT ODDS OF RAIN ARE TOO LOW TO MENTION. REMOVED ANY SUPERBLEND SLIGHT CHANCE POPS THROUGH WEDNESDAY. AN UPPER LOW WILL WORK ITS WAY EAST INTO THE AREA BY THURSDAY AND WILL REMAIN IN THE AREA ON FRIDAY. THUS KEPT THE CHANCE POPS FOR THOSE DAYS. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN ABOVE AVERAGE THROUGH THE PERIOD. && .AVIATION /DISCUSSION FOR THE 151800Z TAF ISSUANCE/... ISSUED AT 1154 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED THROUGH THE PERIOD. SOME FEW-SCATTERED CLOUDS AROUND 6000FT WILL PASS BY MOST SITES AT SOME POINT DURING THE PERIOD. WINDS WILL GENERALLY REMAIN LESS THAN 10KT FROM THE SOUTHEAST WITH HIGH PRESSURE IN CONTROL. && .IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ SYNOPSIS...MK NEAR TERM...MK/CP SHORT TERM...MK LONG TERM....50 AVIATION...50
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS JACKSON KY
306 PM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 1238 PM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 BLENDED OBS INTO THE FORECAST AGAIN...WITH JUST VERY MINOR CHANGES OVERALL. UPDATE ISSUED AT 1022 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 BLENDED MORNING OBS INTO THE FORECAST...WITHOUT SUBSTANTIVE OVERALL CHANGES. UPDATE ISSUED AT 710 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 DID A QUICK UPDATE TO TOUCH UP THE SKY/T/TD GRIDS PER THE LATEST OBS AND TRENDS. STILL CANNOT RULE OUT A STRAY SHOWER TODAY PER THE LATEST HRRR...THOUGH GIVEN THE DRY CONDITIONS AND RECENT RUNS BACKING OFF WITH EACH UPDATE WILL KEEP THE POPS SUB 10 PERCENT. THESE UPDATED GRIDS HAVE BEEN SENT TO THE NDFD AND WEB SERVERS. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY) ISSUED AT 300 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 06Z SFC ANALYSIS SHOWS HIGH PRESSURE OFF TO THE NORTHEAST OF KENTUCKY WITH WEAK LOW PRESSURE TO THE SOUTHWEST. THE MOST DRAMATIC GRADIENT ON THE CHART IS ONE OF DEWPOINT VARYING BY OVER 30 DEGREES ACROSS EASTERN KENTUCKY. DEWPOINTS ARE NEAR 50 DEGREES IN THE FAR SOUTH ALONG THE TENNESSEE BORDER AND ONLY IN THE UPPER TEENS AND LOW 20S TO THE MORE OPEN AREAS IN THE NORTHEAST. THIS SEEMS FITTING GIVEN THAT OUR LACK OF SIGNIFICANT RAINS THE PAST MONTH AND A HALF HAS BROUGHT PARTS OF THE CWA TO D0 DROUGHT STATUS. THE CLOUDS OVERNIGHT ARE MAINLY FOUND TO THE SOUTH SO THAT THEY ARE NOT INTERFERING WITH THE GOOD INVERSION SET UP OVER THE EASTERN VALLEYS AND RESULTANT RADIATIONAL COOLING. ACCORDINGLY...A DECENT RIDGE TO VALLEY TEMPERATURE SPLIT EXIST FOR THAT PART OF THE CWA...RANGING FROM THE MIDDLE AND UPPER 50S ON THE HILLS TO THE LOWER 40S IN THE SHELTERED VALLEYS. THE SOUTHERN AND WESTERN EXTENT OF THE CUMBERLAND VALLEY IS MISSING OUT ON THIS SPLIT DUE TO THE MID LEVEL CLOUDS AND HIGHER DEWPOINTS SO THAT READINGS ARE FAIRLY UNIFORM IN THE LOW TO MID 50S MOST SPOTS... ALONG WITH A BALMY LOW 60S AT LOZ AND THE HARLAN AIRPORT. THE SFC CHART DID ALSO SHOW A GRADIENT OF PRESSURE THROUGH NORTHEAST PARTS OF THE STATE AND THIS IS KEEPING A LIGHT NORTHEAST WIND BLOWING FOR THE MORE EXPOSED AREAS THERE...ELSEWHERE WINDS ARE NEARLY CALM. THE MODELS ARE IN GOOD ENOUGH AGREEMENT ALOFT THROUGH THE SHORT TERM. THEY ALL DEPICT A WEAK AREA OF LOWER HEIGHTS OVER THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. THIS IS FOUND IN THE MIDST OF A BUILDING RIDGE ACROSS THE OHIO AND TENNESSEE VALLEYS. THIS WEAKNESS CONTAINS SOME LOOSE PACKETS OF ENERGY FLOATING AROUND OVER THE REGION. HOWEVER...IT ALL WILL FADE OUT WITH TIME AS THE RIDGE BUILDS MORE COMPLETELY LATER TODAY AND THROUGHOUT THE DAY SATURDAY. THE RIDGE IS PUMPED UP OVERHEAD THROUGH THE FIRST PART OF THE WEEKEND IN RESPONSE TO A DEEPENING AND CLOSING OFF TROUGH SETTLING INTO THE FOUR CORNERS REGION. GIVEN THE MODEL AGREEMENT WITH THE BROAD PICTURE AND TYPICAL TROUBLE WITH WEAK FEATURES EMBEDDED WITHIN THE LARGER SCALE PATTERN WILL FAVOR THE A BLENDED SOLUTION WITH EMPHASIS ON THE HIGHER RESOLUTION HRRR AND NAM12 IN THE NEAR TERM. SENSIBLE WEATHER WILL FEATURE A CONTINUATION OF THE RELATIVELY DRY PATTERN WE HAVE BEEN IN SINCE MARCH. DRY LOW LEVELS WILL MAKE THE LINGERING MID LEVEL ENERGY INEFFECTUAL AT KICKING UP ANY SHOWERS THROUGH THE PERIOD...EVEN DURING PEAK HEATING...BOTH TODAY AND SATURDAY. THE CLOUDS WILL FADE AS WELL TONIGHT AND MAKE FOR A MOSTLY SUNNY DAY THROUGH EAST KENTUCKY WITH CAPITAL WEATHER ON TAP AS TEMPERATURES CLIMB INTO THE LOWER 70S ALONG WITH LOW HUMIDITY LEVELS. LOOK FOR ANOTHER RIDGE TO VALLEY TEMPERATURE SPLIT TO SET UP TONIGHT UNDER THE MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES...ESPECIALLY OVER THE EASTERN SHELTERED VALLEYS. HOWEVER...EVEN IN THOSE SPOTS THOUGH... TEMPERATURES SHOULD NOT GET COLD ENOUGH TO ALLOW FOR FROST FORMATION. USED THE SHORTBLEND AS THE STARTING POINT FOR THE T/TD/WIND GRIDS INTO THE LATE EVENING AND THE SUPERBLEND THEREAFTER THROUGH SATURDAY WITH SOME ADJUSTMENTS MADE FOR TERRAIN DISTINCTIONS EARLY THIS MORNING AND TONIGHT. KEPT THE POPS NEAR ZERO THROUGHOUT...IN LINE WITH ALL MOS GUIDANCE. .LONG TERM...(SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY) ISSUED AT 306 PM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 MOST OF THE EXTENDED PERIOD WILL FEATURE DRY WEATHER AS A LARGE CLOSED LOW OVER THE FOUR CORNERS REGION BATTLES AGAINST A HIGH BLOCK IN PLACE OVER THE EASTERN CONUS THROUGH MONDAY. THE KICKER WILL BE A NORTHERN STREAM TROF DROPPING SOUTHEASTWARD FROM EASTERN CANADA EARLY TUESDAY...BRINGING A MOISTURE STARVED COLD FRONT THROUGH THE REGION TUESDAY NIGHT. THIS FRONT SHOULD BE ABLE TO TAP INTO SOME OF THE ENERGY FROM THE FOUR CORNERS LOW AS IT OPENS UP BUT STILL MAY NOT BE ENOUGH TO PRODUCE ANY RAINFALL. MODEL SOLUTIONS DIFFER ON THIS FRONT WITH THE GFS THE WETTER OF THE TWO SOLUTIONS. FLOW THEN TURNS TO THE WEST AND SOUTHWEST /USHERING IN MORE MOISTURE/ AS THE NORTHERN STREAM TROF PUSHES OFF TO THE EAST...ALLOWING THE FOUR CORNERS LOW TO FINALLY SHIFT EASTWARD INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS. THIS LOW LOOKS TO GRADUALLY MAKE ITS WAY INTO KENTUCKY BY THE END OF THE WORK WEEK. HOWEVER...THE LOW IS FIGHTING AGAINST SFC RIDGING AND MAY TREND EVEN SLOWER IN FUTURE MODEL RUNS. WHENEVER THE LOW DOES REACH KENTUCKY...THE DRY SPELL WILL BE BROKEN...WITH CHANCE POPS FORECAST ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA TO END THE PERIOD. THE WEATHER WILL REMAIN DRY AND SEASONABLY MILD FOR THE FIRST PORTION OF THE EXTENDED PERIOD. A MOISTURE STARVED COLD FRONT WILL PASS THROUGH EASTERN KENTUCKY TUESDAY NIGHT AS A DEVELOPING LOW MOVES THROUGH NEW ENGLAND. A FEW SHOWERS MAY BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS FRONTAL PASSAGE BUT EXPECTING MOST OF THE AREA TO STAY DRY. MORE SUBSTANTIAL RAINFALL...ALONG WITH CHANCES FOR THUNDER...ARE PROGGED TO RETURN BY MID WEEK AS THE FOUR CORNERS LOW MOVES TOWARDS KENTUCKY. THE GFS MODEL BRINGS PRECIP INTO THE AREA BY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. HOWEVER...THE SLOWER ECMWF HAS THE PRECIP MOVING IN ALMOST A FULL 24 HOURS LATER. THESE DIFFERENCES ARE MOSTLY DUE TO THE INTERACTION OF THE FOUR CORNERS LOW WITH THE NORTHERN STREAM TROF OVER NEW ENGLAND. GIVEN THIS DISPARITY...HAVE DECIDED TO STAY CLOSE TO THE CR SUPERBLEND INIT BUT UNDERCUTTING SOME OF THE POPS ON WED. THE BEST CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS APPEARS TO BE ON FRIDAY AS THE UPPER LOW PASSES THROUGH KENTUCKY. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN SEASONABLY MILD THROUGH THE PERIOD WITH MONDAY LOOKING LIKE THE WARMEST DAY OF THE WEEK. HIGH TEMPERATURES ON MONDAY COULD REACH THE 80 DEGREE MARK FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR....AT LEAST FOR JKL. FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK...TEMPS WILL AVERAGE NEAR NORMAL. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 1238 PM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 VFR AND LIGHT WINDS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE PERIOD. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ UPDATE...HAL SHORT TERM...GREIF LONG TERM...JVM AVIATION...HAL
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS JACKSON KY
1238 PM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 1238 PM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 BLENDED OBS INTO THE FORECAST AGAIN...WITH JUST VERY MINOR CHANGES OVERALL. UPDATE ISSUED AT 1022 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 BLENDED MORNING OBS INTO THE FORECAST...WITHOUT SUBSTANTIVE OVERALL CHANGES. UPDATE ISSUED AT 710 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 DID A QUICK UPDATE TO TOUCH UP THE SKY/T/TD GRIDS PER THE LATEST OBS AND TRENDS. STILL CANNOT RULE OUT A STRAY SHOWER TODAY PER THE LATEST HRRR...THOUGH GIVEN THE DRY CONDITIONS AND RECENT RUNS BACKING OFF WITH EACH UPDATE WILL KEEP THE POPS SUB 10 PERCENT. THESE UPDATED GRIDS HAVE BEEN SENT TO THE NDFD AND WEB SERVERS. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY) ISSUED AT 300 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 06Z SFC ANALYSIS SHOWS HIGH PRESSURE OFF TO THE NORTHEAST OF KENTUCKY WITH WEAK LOW PRESSURE TO THE SOUTHWEST. THE MOST DRAMATIC GRADIENT ON THE CHART IS ONE OF DEWPOINT VARYING BY OVER 30 DEGREES ACROSS EASTERN KENTUCKY. DEWPOINTS ARE NEAR 50 DEGREES IN THE FAR SOUTH ALONG THE TENNESSEE BORDER AND ONLY IN THE UPPER TEENS AND LOW 20S TO THE MORE OPEN AREAS IN THE NORTHEAST. THIS SEEMS FITTING GIVEN THAT OUR LACK OF SIGNIFICANT RAINS THE PAST MONTH AND A HALF HAS BROUGHT PARTS OF THE CWA TO D0 DROUGHT STATUS. THE CLOUDS OVERNIGHT ARE MAINLY FOUND TO THE SOUTH SO THAT THEY ARE NOT INTERFERING WITH THE GOOD INVERSION SET UP OVER THE EASTERN VALLEYS AND RESULTANT RADIATIONAL COOLING. ACCORDINGLY...A DECENT RIDGE TO VALLEY TEMPERATURE SPLIT EXIST FOR THAT PART OF THE CWA...RANGING FROM THE MIDDLE AND UPPER 50S ON THE HILLS TO THE LOWER 40S IN THE SHELTERED VALLEYS. THE SOUTHERN AND WESTERN EXTENT OF THE CUMBERLAND VALLEY IS MISSING OUT ON THIS SPLIT DUE TO THE MID LEVEL CLOUDS AND HIGHER DEWPOINTS SO THAT READINGS ARE FAIRLY UNIFORM IN THE LOW TO MID 50S MOST SPOTS... ALONG WITH A BALMY LOW 60S AT LOZ AND THE HARLAN AIRPORT. THE SFC CHART DID ALSO SHOW A GRADIENT OF PRESSURE THROUGH NORTHEAST PARTS OF THE STATE AND THIS IS KEEPING A LIGHT NORTHEAST WIND BLOWING FOR THE MORE EXPOSED AREAS THERE...ELSEWHERE WINDS ARE NEARLY CALM. THE MODELS ARE IN GOOD ENOUGH AGREEMENT ALOFT THROUGH THE SHORT TERM. THEY ALL DEPICT A WEAK AREA OF LOWER HEIGHTS OVER THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. THIS IS FOUND IN THE MIDST OF A BUILDING RIDGE ACROSS THE OHIO AND TENNESSEE VALLEYS. THIS WEAKNESS CONTAINS SOME LOOSE PACKETS OF ENERGY FLOATING AROUND OVER THE REGION. HOWEVER...IT ALL WILL FADE OUT WITH TIME AS THE RIDGE BUILDS MORE COMPLETELY LATER TODAY AND THROUGHOUT THE DAY SATURDAY. THE RIDGE IS PUMPED UP OVERHEAD THROUGH THE FIRST PART OF THE WEEKEND IN RESPONSE TO A DEEPENING AND CLOSING OFF TROUGH SETTLING INTO THE FOUR CORNERS REGION. GIVEN THE MODEL AGREEMENT WITH THE BROAD PICTURE AND TYPICAL TROUBLE WITH WEAK FEATURES EMBEDDED WITHIN THE LARGER SCALE PATTERN WILL FAVOR THE A BLENDED SOLUTION WITH EMPHASIS ON THE HIGHER RESOLUTION HRRR AND NAM12 IN THE NEAR TERM. SENSIBLE WEATHER WILL FEATURE A CONTINUATION OF THE RELATIVELY DRY PATTERN WE HAVE BEEN IN SINCE MARCH. DRY LOW LEVELS WILL MAKE THE LINGERING MID LEVEL ENERGY INEFFECTUAL AT KICKING UP ANY SHOWERS THROUGH THE PERIOD...EVEN DURING PEAK HEATING...BOTH TODAY AND SATURDAY. THE CLOUDS WILL FADE AS WELL TONIGHT AND MAKE FOR A MOSTLY SUNNY DAY THROUGH EAST KENTUCKY WITH CAPITAL WEATHER ON TAP AS TEMPERATURES CLIMB INTO THE LOWER 70S ALONG WITH LOW HUMIDITY LEVELS. LOOK FOR ANOTHER RIDGE TO VALLEY TEMPERATURE SPLIT TO SET UP TONIGHT UNDER THE MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES...ESPECIALLY OVER THE EASTERN SHELTERED VALLEYS. HOWEVER...EVEN IN THOSE SPOTS THOUGH... TEMPERATURES SHOULD NOT GET COLD ENOUGH TO ALLOW FOR FROST FORMATION. USED THE SHORTBLEND AS THE STARTING POINT FOR THE T/TD/WIND GRIDS INTO THE LATE EVENING AND THE SUPERBLEND THEREAFTER THROUGH SATURDAY WITH SOME ADJUSTMENTS MADE FOR TERRAIN DISTINCTIONS EARLY THIS MORNING AND TONIGHT. KEPT THE POPS NEAR ZERO THROUGHOUT...IN LINE WITH ALL MOS GUIDANCE. .LONG TERM...(SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY) ISSUED AT 257 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 THE EXTENDED PORTION OF THE FORECAST LOOKS TO BE WARMER THAN NORMAL AND MOSTLY DRY ACROSS THE AREA. THE MODELS ALL AGREE ON A LARGE RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE SETTING UP CAMP ACROSS THE OHIO AND TENNESSEE VALLEYS FROM SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE UPCOMING WORK WEEK. THIS RIDGE WILL BRING ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES TO THE AREA...BOTH DAY AND NIGHT...THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. THE RIDGE WILL FINALLY BEGIN TO BREAK DOWN TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY...AS A POTENT TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE ALOFT MOVES OUT OF CANADA...ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES REGION...AND EVENTUALLY OFF THE MID ATLANTIC COAST LINE BY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. AFTER THE RIDGE DETERIORATES A BIT...AND BEGINS TO DRIFT OFF TO THE EAST...A SECOND WEAKER TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE IS PROGGED TO EJECT OUT OF THE CENTRAL PLAINS AND ACROSS THE EASTERN THIRD OF THE CONUS WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. THIS SYSTEM WILL BRING SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS TO THE AREA FROM WEDNESDAY EVENING ONWARD. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 1238 PM EDT FRI APR 15 2016 VFR AND LIGHT WINDS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE PERIOD. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ UPDATE...HAL SHORT TERM...GREIF LONG TERM...AR AVIATION...HAL
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS NORTH PLATTE NE
357 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 .SYNOPSIS... ISSUED AT 356 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 AS OF 20Z... THE ENTIRE FORECAST AREA IS SOCKED IN WITH CLOUDS WITH THE SURFACE FRONT EXTENDING NORTH TO SOUTH ACROSS THE EASTERN PANHANDLE/FAR WESTERN SANDHILLS. SFC TEMPS RANGE FROM THE MID 50S AT KAIA TO UPPER 60S AT KONL. MOISTURE ADVECTION HAS BEEN TAKING PLACE ALL MORNING WITH DEW POINTS RISING INTO THE LOWER 50S AS NORTH AS KVTN AND KONL AND THE MID 50S FROM KMCK TO KTIF. AN AREA OF SHOWERS DEVELOPED ACROSS THE NORTHERN SANDHILLS WHILE ACTIVITY IS MORE ISOLATED OR SCATTERED ACROSS THE SOUTH. WV IMAGERY SHOWS THE THE UPPER LOW SPINNING ACROSS THE DESERT SOUTHWEST WHILE SFC OBS LOCATE THE SFC LOW IN SOUTHEAST COLORADO. THE OTHER SFC LOW ASSOCIATED WITH THE COLD FRONT IS OVER NORTH DAKOTA. && .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 356 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 THIS EVENING... MAIN WEATHER CONCERN DEALS WITH THE SEVERE THREAT ACROSS WESTERN NEBRASKA... GENERALLY SOUTH OF NEB HWY 2 AND ALONG/WEST OF U.S. HWY 83. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH BEING ISSUED FOR THAT AREA AS OF 20Z... AND WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT THROUGH 03Z. MID LEVEL INSTABILITY HAS BEEN NOTED IN THE RAP WITH LAPSE RATES NEAR 7C/KM AND LIFTED INDEX OF -4. THE INSTABILITY CAN BE VERIFIED BY A LINE OF CU ON VISIBLE SATELLITE. RAP ALSO INDICATES SUFFICIENT MUCAPE WITH VALUES TO 1500J/KG NEAR KOGA AND KIML WITH A NORTHWARD EXTENT OF NEARLY 1000J/KG TO SOUTHERN CHERRY COUNTY. AXIS OF HIGHEST MIXING RATIOS... NEAR 11G/KG... ALIGNS AHEAD OF THE FRONT FROM KIML TO KOGA TO KVTN WITH DECENT MOISTURE EAST TO HWY 83. WITH THE STORM MOTION BEING NEARLY PARELLEL TO DEEP LAYER SHEAR AND 0-3KM VECTORS... CONVECTIVE MODE WOULD MORE THAN LIKELY BE A LINE OR CLUSTER/MULTICELL. 0-6KM BULK SHEAR IS PEGGED AT NEARLY 40KTS IN THE RAP AND NAM... WHICH WOULD SUPPORT SUPERCELLULAR ACTIVITY... WHICH WOULD PROBABLY BE EMBEDDED IN THE LARGER SYSTEM. TORNADO THREAT IS LOW... ALTHOUGH CANNOT BE RULED OUT COMPLETELY. RAP AND NCAR ENSEMBLES SHOW 0-1KM SRH NEAR 300M2/S2 SOUTH OF I-80 AROUND 00Z. THE 12Z KLBF RAOB AND RAP/HRRR FORECAST SOUNDINGS SHOW LOW LEVEL VEERING WHICH WOULD ALSO SUPPORT SUPERCELL ACTIVITY AND A SMALL TORNADO THREAT. TONIGHT... SEVERE THREAT DIMINISHES AFTER SUNSET AS INSTABILITY DECREASES TO UNDER 500J/KG ACROSS THE AREA. KEPT AT LEAST ISOLATED THUNDER MENTION FOR THE SANDHILLS AND TSRA EAST OF A KIML TO KONL LINE AFTER 06Z DUE TO MARGINAL CAPE AND CONTINUED STEEP MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES. MADE LITTLE CHANGE TO MIN TEMPS EXCEPT FAR NORTHWEST NEBRASKA... WHERE LOWERED A DEGREE OR TWO DUE TO COOLER THAN EXPECTED DAYTIME HIGHS. THROUGH 12Z... TEMP PROFILE IN RAP AND NAM SOUNDINGS STAYS ABOVE FREEZING THROUGH 700HPA... SO LEFT PTYPE AS ALL RAIN. .LONG TERM...(SATURDAY THROUGH FRIDAY) ISSUED AT 356 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE MAIN FOCUS FROM SATURDAY THROUGH THE FIRST PART OF NEXT WEEK. MODELS CONTINUE TO SHOW GOOD AGREEMENT WITH THE UPPER LEVEL LOW STALLING ACROSS THE 4 CORNERS REGION DUE TO A BLOCKING HIGH ACROSS THE EASTERN CONUS ON SATURDAY. THIS IS FAVORABLE FOR SOUTHEASTERN PACIFIC MOISTURE AND GULF MOISTURE TO SURGE NORTHWARD. THUS A COUPLE MORE WAVES OF PRECIPITATION ARE EXPECTED TO PUSH ACROSS THE REGION WITH A LARGE PART OF THE CWA TO LIKELY SEE 1 TO 3 INCHES OF RAINFALL. THUNDER CHANCES ARE MINIMAL AND CONFINED TO THE FAR EASTERN ZONES. TEMPS STEADY OR FALLING INTO THE 30S ACROSS NW NEB AND A MIX OF RAIN/SNOW IS POSSIBLE. BETTER CHANCE FOR THE SNOW ACROSS NW NEB INTO SE PORTIONS OF THE PANHANDLE WILL BE OVERNIGHT INTO SUNDAY MORNING. COULD SEE SOME LIGHT ACCUMULATION...MAINLY ON GRASSY OR ELEVATED SURFACES. SUNDAY INTO SUNDAY NIGHT LOOKS TO BE ANOTHER ROUND OF SHOWERS...POSSIBLY SNOW ACROSS NW ZONES. THE GFS BREAKS THE RIDGE DOWN A LITTLE FASTER TODAY WITH THE MAIN LOW STARTING TO PUSH ONTO THE PLAINS. THIS ALLOWS A DRY SLOT TO DEVELOP AND PUSH INTO SW NEB. THINK THE RIDGE...WHICH EXTENDS TO HUDSON BAY...WILL NOT BREAK DOWN THAT FAST AND HAVE FAVORED THE OTHER MODELS WHICH BRING ADDITIONAL PRECIP...LOCALLY HEAVY...TO THE REGION. BY MONDAY THE UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL FINALLY BEGIN TO PUSH EAST...MODEL CONSENSUS...HOWEVER STILL SEEING WRAP AROUND MOISTURE WITH A CHANCE FOR SHOWERS TO CONTINUE. THIS LINGERS INTO MONDAY NIGHT AND INTO TUESDAY ACROSS THE NORTHERN AND EASTERN ZONES. A WEAK DISTURBANCE TO PUSH ACROSS THE AREA WEDNESDAY TO BRING ONE LAST CHANCE...ALBEIT LOW CHANCE...OF RAINFALL. THEN A DRYING PERIOD TO END THE WEEK. AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES WILL BE COOL WITH THE CLOUDS/SHOWERS INTO NEXT WEEK. BY MID WEEK WARM AIR ADVECTION WILL RETURN TEMPS CLOSER TO SEASONAL WITH EVEN WARM TEMPS FOR BY THE WEEKEND. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 1223 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS WESTERN NEBRASKA THIS AFTERNOON AND WILL INCREASE IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY THROUGH THE EVENING. GUSTY AND ERRATIC WINDS ARE EXPECTED IN THE VICINITY OF THUNDERSTORMS... AND SOME STORMS MAY PRODUCE LARGE HAIL. OVERNIGHT... PRECIPITATION WILL TRANSITION TO SHOWERS OR STEADY RAIN. BREEZY CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE FORECAST PERIOD... WITH WIND SWITCHING FROM SOUTH/SOUTHEAST TO NORTH AS A COLD FRONT DROPS THROUGH THE AREA. LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR MAY BE AN ISSUE OVERNIGHT WITH 2KFT WINDS APPROACHING 40 KTS... PRIMARILY FROM KLBF TO KVTN AND TERMINALS EAST. MVFR TO IFR CEILINGS ALONG WITH REDUCED VISIBILITY ARE LIKELY OVERNIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING. && .HYDROLOGY... ISSUED AT 356 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 NO HYDROLOGY HEADLINES FOR NOW. LONG DURATION HEAVY PRECIPITATION EVENT EXPECTED INTO THE FIRST OF NEXT WEEK. WIDESPREAD RAIN OF 2 TO 4 INCHES WITH LOCAL AREAS 6 INCHES OR MORE. THIS WILL CAUSE RIVERS TO RISE...HOWEVER DUE TO THE LONG DURATION AND THE ANTECEDENT DRY CONDITIONS...NOT EXPECTING FLOODING TO BE A MAJOR CONCERN. IF THE WAVES HIT FAVORED LOCATIONS...LOCALIZED FLOODING WILL BE POSSIBLE...BUT LIKELY NOT UNTIL EARLY NEXT WEEK. WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE PRECIPITATION PATTERNS CLOSELY THROUGH THE WEEKEND. && .LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ SYNOPSIS...SNIVELY SHORT TERM...SNIVELY LONG TERM...MASEK AVIATION...SNIVELY HYDROLOGY...MASEK
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS HASTINGS NE
1225 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 453 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 MAIN ISSUES INCLUDE CHANCES OF PRECIPITATION ALONG WITH SEVERE WEATHER POSSIBILITIES IN OUR FAR WEST LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. SHOWERS AND ISOLATED STORMS WILL CONTINUE TO FORM NEAR THE LOW-LEVEL JET AXIS THAT IS TRAVERSING THE CWA TO THE EAST. I EXPECT PRETTY DECENT COVERAGE IN OUR NORTH AND TO SOME EXTENT OUR CENTRAL CWA INCLUDING THE TRI-CITIES. SHORT TERM NUMERICAL MODELS APPEAR TO BE SUPERIOR WITH THE COVERAGE OF THESE SHOWERS AND HAVE GRAVITATED TOWARD HRRR THIS MORNING. NOT ENOUGH INSTABILITY TO CONCERN ME ABOUT SEVERE WEATHER DURING THE OVERNIGHT AND THIS MORNING. RAIN AMOUNTS SHOULD NOT BE SPECTACULAR. A CLOSED LOW WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP WITHIN A DEEPENING TROUGH AND WILL SETTLE INTO THE FOUR CORNERS AREA OF THE UNITED STATES. A MID- LEVEL WAVE WILL KICK OUT OF THE BASE OF THE TROUGH AND WILL KICK UP CONVECTION NEAR A COLD FRONT IN THE HIGH PLAINS TO THE WEST OF THE AREA TODAY. BY LATE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING THIS CONVECTION COULD MAKE IT JUST FAR ENOUGH EAST TO BE IN OUR WESTERN CWA. IN OUR FAR WEST...WITH CAPE IN THE 500 TO 1000 J/KG RANGE AND BULK WIND SHEAR BETWEEN THE SURFACE AND 6 KM IN THE 30 TO 35 KTS RANGE...I WILL NEED TO INCLUDE SEVERE WEATHER IN THE HWO FOR AREAS ALONG AND WEST OF HIGHWAY 183 IN OUR FAR WESTERN CWA...ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT WE ARE IN EARLY SEVERE SEASON. FOR HIGH TEMPERATURES...I REALLY LIKE THE BIAS CORRECTED RAWBLEND GRIDS SINCE THEY HAVE DONE THE BEST FOR TEMPERATURES IN SIMILAR SCENARIOS. I ALSO INCREASED WIND GUSTS 3 TO 5 KNOTS COMPARED TO THE WIND GUST ALGORITHM THAT IS NORMALLY RUN...AS CONSRAW SEEMS TO BE FAR SUPERIOR. I ALSO USED MOSGUIDE FOR SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS AND DIRECTION FOR TODAY AND TONIGHT. TONIGHT THE BEST RAIN CHANCES WILL BE IN THE WEST...BUT WILL CONTINUE TO NUDGE EAST WITH TIME. I GENERALLY LIKE WHAT SREF HAS DONE AND HAVE FOLLOWED CLOSELY...BUT TAMPED DOWN A BIT. MOST OF ANY HEAVY RAIN WILL BE WEST OF THE CWA AND I BELIEVE OUR FAR WEST WOULD BE ABLE TO TOLERATE A FEW INCHES OF RAIN BEFORE WE WOULD EVER BEGIN TO HAVE ANY WATER PROBLEMS. WENT WITH CONSRAW FOR LOWS FOR TONIGHT AS THIS IS USUALLY SUPERIOR IN SITUATION WHERE WE WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY ABOVE AVERAGE. LOWS MAINLY IN THE 50S...BUT SOME SPOTS IN OUR SOUTH MIGHT NOT DROP BELOW 60. SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED PAST 10 PM AS INSTABILITY WANES AND BULK SHEAR WILL BE MARGINAL. WITH A 50 KT LOW-LEVEL JET EXPECTED TONIGHT ALONG WITH PLENTY OF MOISTURE TRANSPORT...WE STAND A GOOD CHANCE OF RAIN FOR MOST OF THE CWA...ESPECIALLY WEST. OUR FAR EAST MAY STRUGGLE TO GET A WHOLE LOT AS THE LOW-LEVEL JET AXIS WILL LIKELY REMAIN FAR ENOUGH WEST TO SHORT-CHANGE THE EAST. AS FAR AS HEAVY RAIN IS CONCERNED...THE MAIN AXIS OF LOW-LEVEL MOISTURE TRANSPORT WILL REMAIN WEST OF THE CWA DURING THE SHORT TERM. ALTHOUGH OUR FAR WEST IS IN THE MOST FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR HEAVIER RAIN...EVEN THIS IS A BIT TO FAR EAST TO CONCERN ME THROUGH TONIGHT. .LONG TERM...(SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY) ISSUED AT 453 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 INITIAL IMPRESSIONS FROM A FORECASTER COVERING MOST OF THIS LONG TERM TIME FRAME FOR THE FIRST TIME: 1) WOW...WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THAT LITERALLY EVERY ONE OF THE DAY/NIGHT FORECAST PERIODS IN OUR 7-DAY FORECAST FEATURED RAIN CHANCES?! 2) ALTHOUGH CONSIDERABLE UNCERTAINTY REMAINS IN THE FINER DETAILS...CONFIDENCE CONTINUES GROWING THAT THE CWA WILL SEE A VERY WELCOMED SOAKING OF CUMULATIVE RAINS DURING THIS UPCOMING WEEK...AND QUITE POSSIBLY A BIT TOO MUCH ESPECIALLY NEAR/WEST OF HIGHWAY 183. ALTHOUGH WE ONLY OFFICIALLY FORECAST QPF/RAINFALL TOTALS OUT THROUGH 72 HOURS...A BLEND OF OUR CURRENT FORECAST ALONG WITH NATIONAL WPC GUIDANCE SUGGESTS THAT THE EASTERN HALF OF THE CWA CAN GENERALLY EXPECT MULTI-DAY TOTALS OF 1.5-3"...WITH THE WESTERN HALF GENERALLY 3-5". OF COURSE...AS IS ALMOST ALWAYS THE CASE IN THIS BUSINESS...AT LEAST LOCALIZED HIGHER/LOWER EXCEPTIONS ARE LIKELY. 3) CHANCES FOR SEVERE STORMS FROM SATURDAY ONWARD CONTINUE TO LOOK PRETTY LOW (ESPECIALLY BY MID-APRIL STANDARDS). ALTHOUGH "SURPRISES" CAN AND SOMETIMES DO HAPPEN IN THE PROXIMITY OF THESE LARGE/LUMBERING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEMS...THE EXPECTED PRESENCE OF APPRECIABLE CLOUD COVER AND ASSOCIATED LIMITED INSTABILITY ARGUES IN FAVOR OF THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER (SPC) KEEPING THE CURRENT DAY 2 MARGINAL RISK AT LEAST SLIGHTLY SOUTHWEST OF THE CWA...WITH EVEN LESS OF A STRONG STORM THREAT FOR SUNDAY (DAY 3). STICKING WITH THE BIG PICTURE STORY OF ALL THESE RAIN CHANCES: ALTHOUGH AT LEAST "SOME" CHANCE OF RAIN EXISTS ALL THE WAY THROUGH NEXT THURSDAY...BY FAR THE HIGHEST CHANCES FOR APPRECIABLE AMOUNTS ARE FOCUSED DURING THE FRIDAY NIGHT-MONDAY TIME FRAME. AS ALREADY MENTIONED...OUR LATEST OFFICIAL QPF/RAINFALL FORECAST CURRENTLY ONLY GOES OUT 72 HOURS (THROUGH MONDAY MORNING)...AND THUS DOESN`T QUITE CAPTURE THE ENTIRE MAIN EVENT. ALTHOUGH OUR CURRENT/UPCOMING WEB-BASED GRAPHICS DO A BETTER JOB OF "VISUALIZING" EXPECTED RAIN TOTALS THAN THIS WRITTEN PRODUCT...THE 48-HOUR PERIOD FROM SATURDAY MORNING-MONDAY MORNING IS EXPECTED TO FEATURE A RATHER SHARP GRADIENT FROM LESS THAN 1" IN THE FAR EASTERN CWA NEAR HIGHWAY 81...TO GENERALLY 3-4" IN COUNTIES ALONG AND ESPECIALLY WEST OF HIGHWAY 183. IN BETWEEN...MIDDLE AREAS SUCH AS THE TRI-CITIES ARE GENERALLY IN THE 1.50-2.50" POTENTIAL FOR THESE 48 HOURS. DESPITE HOW DRY IT HAS BEEN LATELY...IF PARTS OF OUR WESTERN CWA DO IN FACT REALIZE AT LEAST 3-4" OF RAIN DURING THESE NEXT 72 HOURS AND POSSIBLY A BIT MORE THEREAFTER...IT`S LIKELY NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION THAT A FEW MAINLY MINOR/NUISANCE SHORT-TERM FLOODING ISSUES COULD RESULT...ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT LIMITED VEGETATIVE GROWTH WILL DO LITTLE TO COUNTERACT RUNOFF. THAT BEING SAID...DO NOT CURRENTLY FORESEE THE NEED FOR A FORMAL FLOOD WATCH GIVEN THAT RAINFALL "SHOULD" BE REASONABLY SPACED-OUT OVER MULTIPLE "WAVES". OFFICIAL 6-HOUR FLASH FLOOD GUIDANCE (FFG) IS CURRENTLY RUNNING AROUND 3"...SO UNLESS A LOT OF RAIN ENDS UP FALLING IN A SHORT TIME...TRULY IMPACTFUL/WIDESPREAD FLOODING ISSUES SHOULD BE HELD AT BAY. AS A RESULT...AT LEAST FOR NOW WILL CONTINUE HIGHLIGHTING A CUMULATIVE/PROLONGED HEAVY RAIN POTENTIAL FOR OUR WESTERN CWA IN PRODUCTS SUCH AS THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK (HWOGID) AND WEB-BASED/SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS...BUT STILL FOREGOING A FORMAL FLOOD WATCH. HOWEVER...THESE TRENDS WILL BE MONITORED CLOSELY FOR POSSIBLE CHANGES OF HEART OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. FOR THOSE WONDERING WHEN THIS SUDDENLY-WET WEATHER PATTERN WILL COME TO AN END: ALTHOUGH IT`S JUST BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THE CURRENT 7-DAY FORECAST...IT APPEARS THAT THE THURSDAY NIGHT/FRIDAY TIME FRAME NEXT WEEK WILL "PROBABLY" FEATURE NO RAIN CHANCES ANYWHERE IN THE CWA FOR A CHANGE. TEMPERATURE-WISE: VERY LITTLE NOTICEABLE CHANGE VERSUS PREVIOUS FORECAST. BECAUSE OF THE MULTITUDE OF RAIN CHANCES AND EXPECTED PREVAILING MOSTLY CLOUDY/CLOUDY SKIES...DIURNAL RANGES SHOULD BE HELD DOWN. IN GENERAL...HIGHS ON MOST OF THESE 6 DAYS ARE AIMED INTO THE UPPER 50S-UPPER 60S RANGE...ALTHOUGH PARTS OF THE FAR WESTERN CWA MAY ACTUALLY STRUGGLE TO REACH 55 ESPECIALLY SUNDAY- MONDAY. OVERNIGHT LOWS ARE CURRENTLY AIMED INTO EITHER THE 40S/50S ON ALL NIGHTS...WITH NO HINTS OF A THREAT FOR SUB-FREEZING READINGS EVEN IN FAR NORTHERN/WESTERN ZONES. OTHER POSSIBLE HAZARDS BEYOND THUNDERSTORMS/HEAVY RAIN: ALTHOUGH THIS WETTER TYPE OF PATTERN COULD EASILY YIELD ONE OR MORE ROUNDS OF IMPACTFUL FOG...THERE ARE NONE "OBVIOUS" AT THIS TIME. IN A WELCOME CHANGE FROM THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS...THE PERSISTENCE OF HIGHER DEWPOINTS/LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND OBVIOUSLY THE EXPECTED RAINFALL SHOULD GREATLY MITIGATE FIRE WEATHER ISSUES. WITH THE MAIN POINTS/THEMES COVERED...WILL FINISH UP WITH SOME FAIRLY BRIEF DAY-TO-DAY DETAILS IN 12-36 HOUR BLOCKS: SATURDAY DAYTIME: A DEFINITE WEST-TO-EAST DISPARITY IN RAINFALL POTENTIAL IS EVIDENT...WITH MEASURABLE CHANCES/POPS RANGING FROM ONLY 30-40 PERCENT IN FAR EASTERN ZONES TO 80 PERCENT IN FAR WESTERN AREAS. IN FACT...ESPECIALLY THE WESTERN 1/3 OF THE CWA MAY STRUGGLE TO SEE HARDLY ANY RAIN. VARIOUS MODELS ARE IN DECENT AGREEMENT THAT THE CENTER OF THE EXPANSIVE MID LEVEL LOW WILL BE CENTERED OVER THE NM AREA. SATURDAY NIGHT: A WEAK FRONT/INVERTED TROUGH WILL START MAKING ITS WAY INTO ESPECIALLY THE NORTHWESTERN CWA...BUT HOW FAR IS STILL IN QUESTION. VARIOUS LOBES OF SHORTWAVE ENERGY/LIFT CONTINUE STREAMING NORTHWARD INTO THE CWA OUT AHEAD OF THE MAIN UPPER SYSTEM...AGAIN STILL FAVORING WESTERN AREAS FOR RAIN MORE THAN THE EAST. SUNDAY/SUNDAY NIGHT: WHILE GOOD RAIN CHANCES CONTINUE IN THE WESTERN CWA...FOR CENTRAL/EASTERN COUNTIES THIS 24 HOURS MIGHT END UP BEING THE "MAIN EVENT" AS THE LARGE-SCALE UPPER LOW STARTS TO OPEN UP A BIT AND SENDS A LOBE OF ENERGY A BIT FARTHER EAST INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS. MONDAY/MONDAY NIGHT: THE STALLED OUT/WEAKENING UPPER LOW SPRAWLED ACROSS THE CENTRAL ROCKIES AND SURROUNDING STATES STARTS TAKES ON MORE OF A WEST-EAST ORIENTATION AS LARGE-SCALE FORCING WEAKENS SOMEWHAT. NONETHELESS...PRETTY HIGH RAIN CHANCES CONTINUE ESPECIALLY FOR THE DAYTIME HOURS. TUESDAY/TUESDAY NIGHT: BY THIS TIME...THE "MAIN EVENT" SHOULD BE OVER WITH...BUT WILL MAINTAIN LESS-THAN-LIKELY RAIN CHANCES FOR THE ENTIRE CWA GIVEN THAT THE CENTER OF THE REMNANT MID LEVEL LOW STILL JUST FINALLY START PASSING OVER THE HEART OF THE LOCAL AREA. WEDNESDAY DAYTIME-THURSDAY: ALTHOUGH AT LEAST SMALL 20-30 POPS LINGER ON FOR MOST OF THE CWA...IN ALL REALITY MOST AREAS SHOULD BE DRY THE MAJORITY OF THIS TIME. UNLESS THINGS SLOW DOWN NOTICEABLY...THE MAIN MID LEVEL LOW SHOULD START DEPARTING THE LOCAL AREA AROUND WED NIGHT...SETTING THE STAGE FOR RIDGING TO BUILD IN ESPECIALLY JUST BEYOND THIS TIME FRAME. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z KGRI/KEAR TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 1212 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 MAIN CONCERNS AT THIS TIME WILL BE CHANCES FOR PRECIPITATION THROUGH THE PERIOD. THERE ARE SMALL CHANCES OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THE ENTIRE PERIOD...BUT BETTER CHANCES WILL BE LATE TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING. && .GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...NONE. KS...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...HEINLEIN LONG TERM...PFANNKUCH AVIATION...JCB
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS BISMARCK ND
1205 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 1205 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 LATEST LOCAL/REGIONAL RADAR SHOWS THE MAIN AREA OF PRECIPITATION NOW MOVING OUT OF THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY AND SHIFTING INTO FAR NORTH CENTRAL/NORTHERN NORTH DAKOTA. A BREAK SOUTH AND WEST WAS BEING REALIZED IN THE WARM SECTOR. SURFACE ANALYSIS SHOWS A SURFACE TROUGH NOW ENTERING SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA WITH A GUSTY WIND SHIFT TO THE WEST...SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS NEAR 25KT. THIS IS OUT AHEAD OF THE MAIN AREA OF COLD AIR ADVECTION/PRESSURE RISES AND A WIND SHIFT TO THE NORTH AND NORTHEAST. THIS BOUNDARY WAS LOCATED NEAR BEACH INTO NORTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA. AS THIS BOUNDARY MOVES EAST THIS AFTERNOON...THE NAM/RAP JAMESTOWN SOUNDING SHOWS AN AREA OF INSTABILITY WITH CAPE AND LIFT COINCIDING IN THE LOWEST LEVELS...RISING INTO A MORE STABLE AIRMASS ALOFT. THUS LOW LEVEL CONVECTION POSSIBLE AND WILL CONTINUE WITH THE TREND OF INCREASING POPS TO SLIGHT CHC/CHC TOWARD 00Z SATURDAY IN THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY. THIS WAS THE TREND WITH THE PREVIOUS FORECAST. LOOKING AHEAD...WEATHER SETUP FOR MID MORNING SATURDAY THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA ARE A BIT CONCERNING. MORE ON THIS IN THE AFTERNOON DISCUSSION...BUT A STRONG/DISTINCT BAROCLINIC ZONE WILL RESIDE ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA WITH A DECENT AREA OF LIFT/FRONTOGENESIS RESULTING IN SNOW WEST...TRANSITIONING TO RAIN SHOWERS SOUTHEAST. EVEN SOME THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL FAR SOUTHERN JAMES RIVER VALLEY. SOUTH CENTRAL/SOUTHWEST MAY SEE ACCUMULATING SNOW (MAINLY ON GRASSY AREAS) AND WILL CONTINUE TO EVALUATE THIS FOR POSSIBLE MESSAGING THIS AFTERNOON FOR SATURDAY. .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 954 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 SHORT RANGE GUIDANCE EXPECTS THE SURFACE LOW THAT IS NEAR GARRISON AT MID MORNING TO SHIFT EAST-NORTHEAST TOWARD DEVILS LAKE BY LATE AFTERNOON. THIS WILL GRADUALLY SHIFT A SURFACE FRONTAL ZONE TO THE SOUTH AND EAST...WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY SLOW AND THEN SERVE AS THE FOCUS FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF PRECIPITATION TONIGHT. MEANWHILE...WE UPDATED THE FORECAST TO REFLECT RADAR AND RECENT HRRR TRENDS /AS THAT GUIDANCE APPEARS TO BE CAPTURING RADAR TRENDS WELL/...BUT DID HANG ONTO SOMEWHAT HIGHER POPS IN THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY A BIT LONGER THAN THE HRRR ALONE WOULD SUGGEST BASED ON UPSTREAM SHOWERS IN SD AS OF 1445 UTC. THAT SAID...WEAK 500-MB HEIGHT RISES MODELED IN GUIDANCE THIS AFTERNOON IMPLY BRIEF SHORTWAVE RIDGING THAT VERY WELL COULD PRODUCE A LULL IN PRECIPITATION CHANCES 17-23 UTC. UPDATE ISSUED AT 615 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 MAIN CONCERN IS A NARROW BAND OF STRONG SURFACE WINDS FROM CROSBY TO TIOGA IN FAR NORTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA WHICH HAVE BEEN MIXING DOWN FROM THE STRONG 850MB LEVEL DUE TO SHOWERS. BUFKIT SOUNDINGS SHOW THIS WILL BE DIMINISHING AFTER 7 AM. WILL HANDLE THIS SMALL AREA WITH SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENTS THIS MORNING. OTHERWISE BAND OF SHOWERS AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUES TO MOVE SLOWLY EAST THIS MORNING AND COVERS CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA. CURRENT FORECAST REFLECTS THIS TREND. UPDATED LATEST OBS. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 327 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 MAIN CONCERNS IN THE SHORT TERM WILL BE WINDS IN THE VICINITY OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AS WELL AS QPF AMOUNTS. HAVE HAD SEVERAL REPORTS OF 45 TO 60 MPH WINDS IN SHOWERS AS THE INITIAL SURGE OF MOISTURE ARRIVED EARLIER THIS NIGHT. THIS SEEMS TO HAVE SETTLED DOWN BUT STILL EXPECT THE POSSIBILITY OF 35 TO 50 MPH WINDS IN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. WILL CONTINUE TO HANDLE THESE ISOLATED REPORTS WITH SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENTS...BUT DID ADD AN AREA OF 30 TO 45 MPH WINS FOR A FEW HOURS THIS MORNING IN THE ADVANCING SHOWERS/TSTMS SOUTH CENTRAL. THE INITIAL SURGE OF MOISTURE SEEMS TO BE IMPACTING THE WEST RIVER AREA...WEST OF THE MISSOURI AND ACROSS TEH NORTHWEST. WITH TIME THIS WILL SHIFT EAST TO TEH JAMES RIVER VALLEY WHERE THE MAIN PRECIPIATION IS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. THE THREAT FOR SEVER WEATHER WILL BE LOW TODAY BUT GUSTY WINDS AGAIN COULD BE AN OCCASIONAL ISSUE SOUTH CENTRAL WHERE THE H850 LOW LEVEL WINDS REMAINS STRONG ABOVE 40 KTS FOR THE MORNING. TEH THREAT OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CONFINES TO TEH EAST TONIGHT WITH A BIT IF SNOW MIXING INTO TEH PICTURE NORTHWEST TONIGHT. .LONG TERM...(SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY) ISSUED AT 327 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 THE MAIN ISSUE FOR THE EXTENDED PERIOD WILL BE SOME SNOW SATURDAY AS THE COLDER AIR CONTINUES TO MIX INTO THE WEST SATURDAY MORNING. SOME ACCUMULATIONS ON GRASSY AREAS MAY BE POSSIBLE BUT SHOULD DISAPPEAR BY AFTERNOON. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL FOLLOW THE BAROCLINIC ZONE ACROSS THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY SATURDAY/SATURDAY NIGHT. GFS/ECMWF SUPPORT ANOTHER SURGE OF MOISTURE INTO THE SOUTH CENTRAL...EAST OF THE MISSOURI SATURDAY NIGHT. THIS WILL BE ASSOCIATED WITH SHORTWAVE ENERGY MOVING NORTH BEFORE THE UPPER LOW CLOSES OFF AND FORMS A REX BLOCK BY SUNDAY NIGHT/MONDAY. THE BLOCK WILL BRING DRY WEATHER NORTH WITH SMALL CHANCES OF SHOWERS ACROSS THE SOUTHERN BORDER MONDAY AND TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY LOOK MILDER UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE NORTHERN BRANCH OF THE REX BLOCK. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 1205 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 MVFR AND IFR CEILINGS CENTERED OVER NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL ND AT MIDDAY WILL PUSH SOUTH AND EAST AND BEGIN LOWERING BY EVENING. WE EXPECT WIDESPREAD IFR AND EVEN SOME LIFR CONDITIONS IN WESTERN AND CENTRAL ND TONIGHT AND SATURDAY. ANOTHER ROUND OF MORE ROBUST SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP OVER THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY BY EVENING AND SPREAD WESTWARD. UNCERTAINTIES EXIST IN HOW FAR WEST THE HEAVIER PRECIPITATION WILL SPREAD AND WHAT FORM IT WILL TAKE...WITH WET SNOW POSSIBLE ON ITS WEST FLANK AFTER 09 UTC. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ UPDATE...KS SHORT TERM...WAA LONG TERM...WAA AVIATION...CJS
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NWS MEMPHIS TN
1258 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 .UPDATE... UPDATED FOR 18Z AVIATION DISCUSSION BELOW. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1000 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016/ UPDATE... AT 10 AM CDT AROUND THE REGION SHOWERS ARE ONGOING PRIMARILY ACROSS NORTH MISSISSIPPI AS AN UPPER LOW CURRENTLY RESIDES ALOFT OVER EASTERN ARKANSAS. TEMPERATURES HAVE ALREADY CLIMBED INTO THE UPPER 50S TO MID 60S...RISING QUICKER THAN ANTICIPATED AND AS SUCH HAVE INCREASED AFTERNOON HIGHS BY A DEGREE OR TWO. ESPECIALLY SINCE MODEL GUIDANCE UNDER PERFORMED ON HIGHS YESTERDAY. POPS ALSO REQUIRED ADJUSTMENTS UPWARD AT SOME LOCALES FOR BOTH THE REST OF THE MORNING AND THE AFTERNOON...WITH LOWER POPS AFTER NOON. THE UPPER LOW HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO GET A HANDLE ON THE PAST FEW DAYS BUT FEEL LIKE SHOWER ACTIVITY WILL SLOWLY DIMINISH THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND COME TO AN END TOWARD SATURDAY MORNING AS THE FEATURE FINALLY CLEARS THE REGION TO THE EAST. TEMPERATURES WILL REACH THE UPPER 60S TO LOWER 70S TODAY WITH SFC WINDS FROM THE EAST SOUTHEAST GENERALLY AT 10 KTS OR LESS. ZDM PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 329 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2016/ DISCUSSION... MODELS IN GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT THE UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL SLOWLY MOVE OUT OF THE AREA. ALONG WITH A REX BLOCK SETTING UP OUT WEST STALLING THE PATTERN UNTIL ABOUT MID-WEEK. AS FOR THE PRECIPITATION...NONE OF THE MODELS SEEM TO HAVE A GOOD HANDLE ON WHAT IS GOING ON. CURRENTLY THERE ARE SHOWERS ACROSS NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI AND SOME SCATTERED LIGHT SHOWERS OVER NORTHERN TENNESSEE. YET...THE GFS INDICATES THAT BOTH THESE AREAS SHOULD BE RECEIVING THE SAME ABOUT OF RAIN...THIS IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. MEANWHILE...THE ECMWF DOESN/T HAVE ANYTHING IN NORTHERN TENNESSEE. THE HRRR SEEMS TO HAVE THE BEST HANDLE ON THE CURRENT SITUATION. THE HRRR KEEPS THE SHOWERS IN NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI MOVING NORTH THROUGH ABOUT MID-DAY AND INTO SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE...YET ALL OTHER MODELS END THE PRECIPITATION. SO RAISED POPS THIS MORNING FOR NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI AND LEFT THE SLIGHT CHANCE POPS FOR REST OF THE MID- SOUTH. NOT COMPLETELY SURE WHAT WILL HAPPEN THIS AFTERNOON SO LEFT WHOLE AREA WITH SLIGHT CHANCE POPS. AS THE UPPER LOW IT WILL MOVE TO THE EAST BY TONIGHT AND DRY WEATHER SHOULD MOVE INTO THE MID-SOUTH, STARTING SATURDAY. YET THERE WILL STILL BE CLOUDS FROM THE UPPER LEVEL LOW ON SATURDAY. SKIES WILL CLEAR ON SUNDAY AS AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE BUILDS OVER THE AREA. THE RIDGE DOESN/T MOVE MUCH IN THE BEGINNING PART OF THE WEEK...THIS IS IN PART TO A REX BLOCK /UPPER HIGH NORTH OF UPPER LOW/ SETTING UP OVER THE WESTERN US WHICH TYPICALLY STALLS THE UPPER LEVELS. SO IT LOOKS LIKE A DRY PATTERN AT LEAST FOR A SHORT TIME. THE UPPER LOW OVER THE ROCKIES MOVES EAST JUST ENOUGH THAT BY MONDAY NIGHT THE FAR WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE AREA MAY SEE SOME PRECIPITATION. THIS HOLDS THROUGH TILL WEDNESDAY. THE REX BLOCK FINALLY BREAKS DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK AND THE UPPER LOW MOVES INTO THE GREAT PLAINS. AS LOW MOVES EAST THE MORE OF THE MID-SOUTH WILL HAVE A CHANCE FOR RAIN. BY WEDNESDAY...IT LOOKS LIKE WE CAN/T RULE OUT ANYWHERE IN THE MID-SOUTH FOR SOME PRECIPITATION AND THE CHANCE FOR RAIN WILL CONTINUE FOR THE REST OF THE FORECAST PERIOD. TEMPERATURES DURING THE FORECAST PERIOD WILL START OUT COOL TODAY...BECAUSE OF THE CLOUDS. HOWEVER...THE REST OF THE FORECAST TEMPERATURES SHOULD BE ABOUT NORMAL WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE 70S AND GETTING CLOSE TO 80. TLSJR && .AVIATION... 18Z TAFS EXPECT A GRADUAL TRANSITION TO VFR ALTITUDE CLOUD BASES THIS AFTERNOON...PERHAPS MORE SLOWLY THAN THE NAM BUFR SOUNDINGS AND HRRR SUGGESTS. EXPECT POCKETS OF MVFR TO PERSIST NEAR AREAS OF RAIN OVER NORTH MS INTO THE MID TO LATE AFTERNOON. THIS EVENING SHOULD SEE A BETTER THAN EVEN CHANCE OF VFR FOR THE MEMPHIS INBOUND PUSH. GFS LAMP GUIDANCE WINDS FOR THE NIGHTTIME PERIOD APPEAR TOO STRONG BY SEVERAL KNOTS AND HAVE MORE CLOSELY FOLLOWED NAM GUIDANCE WINDS. PWB && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...NONE. MO...NONE. MS...NONE. TN...NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS LUBBOCK TX
323 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 .SHORT TERM... MAIN FOCUS IN THE SHORT TERM PERIOD ARE CHANCES OF STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS LATER THIS AFTERNOON-EVENING...TRANSITIONING TO MORE OF A RAINFALL THREAT OVERNIGHT-SATURDAY. LOW CLOUDS WERE SLOW TO BURN OFF AS IT FINALLY SCATTERED OUT AOA 19Z THIS AFTN...RESULTING IN TEMPS BEING CAPABLE OF WARMING INTO THE 70S WITH EVEN A FEW LOWER 80S. THE UA TROUGH THAT CONTINUES TO DEMAND OUR ATTENTION WAS NOTED ACROSS FAR NWRN AZ AND HAVE SHOWED SIGNS OF CLOSING OFF PER 20Z WATER VAPOR IMAGERY. IT IS STILL PROGGED TO DEEPEN A BIT WHILST TRANSLATING ESE TO NEAR THE FOUR-CORNERS REGION BY LATE TONIGHT/EARLY TOMORROW MORNING. IN RESPONSE TO THIS SYSTEM DRAWING NEAR...SFC LEE TROUGHING DEEPENED AS WELL RESULTING IN BREEZY SERLY SFC WINDS ACROSS MOST OF THE FA /20-25 MPH SUSTAINED/ WHICH HAS AIDED TO INCREASE DEWPOINTS INTO THE LOWER TO UPPER 50S. BREEZY S-SW SFC WINDS NEAR THE TEXAS AND NEW MEXICO BORDER IS USHERING IN A DRIER AIRMASS WITH DEWPOINTS IN THE 20S AND 30S NOTED ACROSS ERN NEW MEXICO...THUS MATERIALIZING THE DRYLINE. JUST HOW FAR EAST THE DRYLINE WILL SURGE ARE WHAT MODELS HAVE AND CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE WITH FOR THE LAST FEW MODEL RUN ITERATIONS. THE RAP SOLUTION SEEMS TO HAVE THE BEST HANDLE ON THE CURRENT PLACEMENT OF THE DRYLINE THUS SUGGESTING IT ALSO HAS THE BEST HANDLE ON HOW IT WILL EVOLVE...WHICH IS PUSHING THE DRYLINE ONTO THE FAR WRN ZONES AND BECOME QUASI-STATIONARY BEFORE RETREATING SHORTLY AFTER SUNSET. AS SUCH...IT COULD SERVE AS A MESOSCALE FOCUS FOR THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT...BUT WHICH MODEL BEST REPRESENTS WHEN AND WHERE STORMS WILL ARISE IS THE PRESSING QUESTION. BOTH THE GFS AND THE ECMWF HAS RATHER LIGHT QPF SIGNALS COMMENCING AT NOON ACROSS THE TEXAS PANHANDLE AND POINTS NWRD...WHICH MORE OR LESS HAS OCCURRED...BUT RADAR ECHOES WERE LIGHT AND THE ACTIVITY WAS ELEVATED /NO PRECIP REACHED THE GROUND/. THE HRRR...NAM AND RAP SOLUTIONS EXHIBITED CI ACROSS THE SW PANHANDLES AND NW SOUTH PLAINS AT 20Z/21Z...CLOSE TO THE DRYLINE AND ALONG THE AXIS OF LOW-MID LEVEL THETA-E AND Q-VECTOR CONVERGENCE /WITH THE CAP ERODING BY THEN/. THE LATTER SOLUTIONS SEEM TO HAVE A GOOD HANDLE ON THE SITUATION AS STORMS HAVE FIRED ACROSS THE WRN TX PANHANDLE AND ALSO ACROSS THE NORTH CENTRAL SOUTH PLAINS /WITH ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT POSSIBLE/. THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO THE AFOREMENTIONED MESOSCALE FEATURES...AS WELL AS THE SYNOPTIC FEATURES CONSISTING OF A 70-80 KT 250 MB LEFT EXIT JET STREAK NOSING INTO THE WRN PANHANDLES AND NW SOUTH PLAINS...COUPLED WITH SBC OF 1500-2500 J/KG...STEEPENING LAPSE RATES...VEERING WIND PROFILES AND 0-6 KM BULK SHEAR OF 50-60 KTS. THIS WILL ALL RESULT IN STORMS QUICKLY BECOMING ORGANIZED AND REACHING SEVERE LEVELS. TENNIS BALL SIZED HAIL TORNADOES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 65 MPH WILL BE THE MAIN THREATS...ESPECIALLY AS STORMS WILL INITIALLY BE ELEVATED. HOWEVER...AS WE APPROACH THE EVENING HOURS...LCL/S DROP TO AOA 4000FT AGL WHILST HELICITY INCREASES AND HODOGRAPHS SHOW THAT CLASSIC VEERING IN THE LOW LEVELS...SUGGESTING POTENTIAL FOR TORNADOES. AREA OF CONCERN FOR THE POSSIBLE TORNADO RISK WILL BE ACROSS THE FAR SRN TX PANHANDLE. OVERNIGHT...THE SEVERE THREAT MAY DECLINE BUT A CONTINUAL SFC SERLY FLOW HELPING TO MAINTAIN PWATS 2-3 STANDARD DEVIATIONS ABOVE NORMAL...AS WELL AS A 30-40 KT LLJ WILL ALLOW FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO PERSEVERE. AS FLOW ALOFT BECOMES A BIT MORE MERIDIONAL THROUGHOUT THE DAY ON SATURDAY...AND A 70 KT 250 MB JET STREAK PUSHES OUT ONTO THE SOUTH PLAINS STORMS WILL RE-GENERATE. MODELS SHOW BEST CHANCES OF RENEWED PRECIP TO BE ACROSS THE ROLLING PLAINS AS A DRYLINE SURGES TO NEAR THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT. HOWEVER...THE DISPLACEMENT OF THE DRYLINE COULD BE OVERDONE AND MAY NOT BE AS FAR EAST AS SUGGESTED...SO THE SOUTH PLAINS ARE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS JUST YET. DO AGREE HOWEVER THAT THE HEAVIER RAINFALL AMOUNTS WILL BE ACROSS THE ROLLING PLAINS WHERE THE BEST MOISTURE AXIS WILL RESIDE. OTHERWISE...SATURDAY WILL BE COOLER THANKS TO THE EXPECTED CLOUD COVER AND PRECIP /60S AND 70S/. /29 .LONG TERM... LARGE UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM STILL EXPECTED TO REMAIN CUTOFF VICINITY OF THE FOUR-CORNERS AND SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL ROCKIES LATE IN THE WEEKEND. THE BIGGEST CHANGE WE HAVE SEEN THIS CYCLE IS FOR MORE APPARENT WESTERLY COMPONENT TO THE MID AND LOWER LEVEL FLOW SUNDAY INTO MONDAY THAT COULD PUSH THE DRY-LINE OFF TO THE EAST A BIT MORE AGGRESSIVELY THAN WE HAD BEEN EXPECTING. MODEL SOLUTIONS HAVE LATCHED ON SHIFTING MOISTURE AXIS A BIT QUICKER EAST ON SUNDAY...WHILE A DEEP CONNECTION TO THE SUBTROPICAL MOISTURE PLUME ALSO SEEMS LACKING OR IMMATURE AT BEST AT LEAST IMPACTING OUR SPECIFIC AREA. STILL...A MID AND UPPER LEVEL WIND MAXIMUM WILL WORK ACROSS THE AREA SATURDAY NIGHT WITH DECENT HEIGHT FALLS AND GIVE PERHAPS OUR BEST CHANCES FOR WIDESPREAD THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WITH POTENTIAL FOR UP TO SEVERAL INCHES OF RAIN MAINLY ACROSS OUR EASTERN COUNTIES. WE HAVE COORDINATED A FLOOD WATCH FOR SATURDAY NIGHT WHICH MIGHT APPEAR A LITTLE GENEROUS ON THE WEST SIDE...BUT ALLOWS FOR WIGGLE ROOM FOR LATER SHIFTS TO DETERMINE ADJUSTMENTS. OVERALL EXPECTED RAIN TOTALS HAVE DROPPED A BIT...AND FOR THIS FORECAST WE HAVE COMPROMISED BETWEEN PREVIOUS HEAVIER TOTALS AND THE MOST CURRENT LIGHTER AMOUNTS TO ALLOW ANOTHER LOOK OR TWO BEFORE SIGNIFICANT CHANGE. IT REMAINS AN IMPRESSIVE UPPER LEVEL LOW AND THESE TYPES OF LOWS FIT PAST ANALOGS FOR HEAVY RAIN AMOUNTS FAVORING THE EASTERN AND NORTHERN PARTS OF OUR AREA. SATURDAY LATE AFTERNOON OR EARLY EVENING ALSO WILL STILL OFFER AT LEAST BRIEF SEVERE POTENTIAL THOUGH AVAILABLE SURFACE BASED INSTABILITY MAY BE QUICKLY USED UP. A WAVE SHOULD LIFT NORTHEAST SUNDAY EVENING WITH A COLD FRONT MOVING SOUTHWARD. QUESTIONABLE HOW MUCH MOISTURE WILL REMAIN FOR THE FRONT TO LIFT THOUGH LATEST WRF/NAM AND GFS RUNS INDICATE ADEQUATE FOR CHANCE CATEGORY. UPPER HEIGHTS ALSO SUPPRESSED WITH COLD UNSTABLE AIRMASS ALOFT. THUNDER CHANCES BECOME A BIT TRICKIER THROUGH MID WEEK WITH THE OLD UPPER LOW FINALLY MOVING EAST AND HEIGHTS REBUILDING. SHOWER CHANCES SHOW A SLOW DECLINE FROM MID TO LATE WEEK. NEXT UPPER LOW MOVING INTO THE SOUTHWEST NEXT WEEKEND NOT SHOWING MUCH TO LATCH ONTO YET. /05RMCQUEEN .FIRE WEATHER... THE DRYLINE WAS SHOWING SIGNS OF SHARPENING UP NEAR THE TEXAS AND NEW MEXICO BORDER LATE THIS AFTERNOON...AS DEWPOINTS HAVE FALLEN INTO THE 20S AND 30S ACROSS ERN NM VERSUS 40S AND 50S ACROSS THE FA. A FEW SITES IN ERN NM HAVE TICKED OFF A FEW RED FLAG MINUTES AND WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF THAT OCCURS ACROSS THE FAR WESTERN SOUTH..THOUGH THE BOUNDARY STILL NEEDS TO DRY OUT A BIT MORE. ALTHOUGH TEMPS ARE ABOVE NORMAL AND 20-FOOT SOUTHEAST ARE INDEED BREEZY /20-25 MPH/...RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES REMAIN ABOVE 15 PERCENT AT THIS TIME. AS SUCH...WILL ELECT TO HOLD OFF ON FIRE WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS AS CONDITIONS ARE MARGINAL AND EXPECTED TO BE BRIEF. TOMORROW...THE DRYLINE IS EXPECTED TO SURGE TO NEAR THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT...FILTERING IN DEWPOINTS INTO THE 20-35 PERCENT RANGE...WITH 20-FOOT SOUTH WINDS OF 15-25 MPH. HOWEVER CHANCES OF RAINFALL...CLOUDY SKIES AND TEMPERATURES DROPPING TO A FEW DEGREES BELOW NORMAL COULD AID TO MITIGATE FIRE WEATHER POTENTIAL. /29 && .LUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FLOOD WATCH FROM SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING FOR TXZ024>026-030>032-036>038-042>044. && $$ 29/05
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
246 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2016 .SHORT TERM (TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY)... CURRENTLY THE SYNOPTIC PATTERN ACROSS THE UNITED STATES IS SPLIT INTO TWO. THERE IS A LARGE UPPER LOW ACROSS THE WESTERN HALF OF THE CONUS WITH A RIDGE ACROSS THE EASTERN CONUS. THIS PATTERN IS FAVORABLE FOR SLOW MOVING SYSTEMS AND WE ARE NOT EXPECTING MUCH IN THE WAY OF MOVEMENT WITH OUR UPPER LOW TO THE WEST. FOR TONIGHT...THE HRRR IS SUGGESTING THERE MAY BE SOME STORMS WHICH DEVELOP WEST OF THE RIO GRANDE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF UPPER HEIGHT FALLS. MOST RUNS HAVE SHOWN THIS ACTIVITY WEAKENING BEFORE REACHING OUR WESTERN CWA. IN ADDITION TO THIS SMALL CHANCE...THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME SHOWERS OR POSSIBLE LIGHT RAIN IN THE MORNING ACROSS THE WESTERN HALF OF THE AREA...AS STRONG SOUTHERLY FLOW IN THE LOWER LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE PROVIDES WEAK LIFT. FOR SATURDAY...LIFT IN THE LOWER LEVELS WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS. FORECAST SOUNDINGS SHOW A WEAK CAPPING VERSION AROUND 700 MB WHICH SHOULD HELP TO LIMIT DEEP CONVECTION...BUT SOME ACTIVITY DEVELOPING UNDERNEATH THE CAP IN A VERY MOIST AIRMASS IS EXPECTED. WILL CONTINUE TO MENTION THE CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS FOR THE CHANCE THAT AN UPDRAFT IS ABLE TO BREAK THROUGH THE CAP. RAINFALL AMOUNTS ON SATURDAY SHOULD REMAIN GENERALLY BELOW A QUARTER OF AN INCH. && .LONG TERM (SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY)... SATURDAY NIGHT...LARGE SCALE FORCING FOR ASCENT WILL APPROACH THE AREA FROM THE WEST WITH THE BULK OF THE RAINFALL REMAINING JUST NORTHWEST OF THE CWA. SHOULD STILL CONTINUE TO SEE THE CHANCES FOR STREAMER TYPE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AHEAD OF THE MAIN FORCING. SUNDAY/SUNDAY NIGHT...WE WILL SEE OUR FIRST ROUND OF POSSIBLE HEAVY RAINFALL. A LARGE AREA OF FORCING WILL OVERSPREAD THE AREA AT THE SAME TIME A STRONG LOW LEVEL JET SETS UP ACROSS THE AREA WITH A SURFACE TROUGH. THESE INGREDIENTS WILL GIVE MUCH OF THE AREA A GOOD CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. MODELS CONTINUE TO HINT AT THE BEST AREA FOR THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL ACROSS THE NORTHEASTERN CWA WHERE THE BEST LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE IS EXPECTED. IN ADDITION TO THE HEAVY RAINFALL THREAT...MOST OF THE CWA IS UNDER A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE STORMS IN THE SPC DAY 3 OUTLOOK. THERE WILL BE ABOUT 1000-2500 J/KG OF CAPE AVAILABLE ACROSS THE AREA WITH DECENT SHEAR. THE CAPE PROFILES ON FORECAST SOUNDINGS ARE LONG AND SKINNY WHICH WOULD NOT SUPPORT MUCH OF A HAIL THREAT. THINK THE MAIN THREATS FOR SEVERE WEATHER WOULD BE POSSIBLE DAMAGING WINDS FROM ANY BOWING SEGMENTS. IN ADDITION TO THE THREAT OF WINDS...LOW LEVEL WIND PROFILES WILL ALSO ALLOW FOR THE THREAT OF ISOLATED TORNADOES. MONDAY/MONDAY NIGHT...THE FORECAST COMES A BIT MORE UNCERTAIN. THE GFS CONTINUES TO SHOW A SECOND ROUND OF HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS OUR NORTHERN AND EASTERN CWA WHILE THE ECMWF IS MORE DRY...BUT STILL SHOWS SOME RAIN. THE GFS HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY SHOWING THIS WET SOLUTION RUN AFTER RUN AND THE LATEST RUN SEEMS TO HAVE A MCV MODELED IN THE 850 MB LAYER. THE ENVIRONMENT WILL BE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN MCV ON MONDAY GIVEN THE WEAKER FLOW IN THE LOWER LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE...BUT GIVEN THE FACT A SYNOPTIC SCALE MODEL IS FORECASTING A MESOSCALE EVENT...THIS SOLUTION NEEDS TO BE WATCHED CLOSELY. THE CANADIAN SOLUTION IS SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE WITH QPF AMOUNTS MORE THAN THE ECMWF BUT LESS THAN THE GFS. THE GFS ENSEMBLE SYSTEM HAS SEVERAL MEMBERS SHOWING ITS VERY WET SOLUTION WHICH DOES GIVE SOME CREDIT TO IT. STORM TOTAL RAINFALL EVENTS THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT SHOULD BE 1-3 INCHES ACROSS THE WEST TO 3-5 INCHES ACROSS THE EASTERN CWA. THERE WILL BE THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME ISOLATED LOCATIONS TO POSSIBLY RECEIVE 7-10 INCHES ESPECIALLY IF THE GFS VERIFIES WITH ITS MONDAY/MONDAY NIGHT SOLUTION. THE FORECAST SHOULD BECOME MORE CLEAR AS WE GET INTO TOMORROW AS MORE OF THE HIGH-RES MODELS BEGIN TO PICK UP THE EVENT. RAIN CHANCES WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE END OF THE PERIOD AS ANOTHER PIECE OF ENERGY MOVES THROUGH ON THURSDAY MORNING. AM NOT ANTICIPATING HEAVY RAINFALL FROM THIS ACTIVITY. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... AUSTIN CAMP MABRY 64 77 68 74 67 / 10 30 30 80 80 AUSTIN BERGSTROM INTL AIRPORT 63 78 68 74 67 / 10 30 30 80 80 NEW BRAUNFELS MUNI AIRPORT 64 78 69 76 68 / 10 40 30 80 80 BURNET MUNI AIRPORT 62 74 65 73 64 / 10 40 40 80 80 DEL RIO INTL AIRPORT 68 81 66 81 65 / 20 30 50 60 50 GEORGETOWN MUNI AIRPORT 63 75 67 74 66 / 10 30 40 80 80 HONDO MUNI AIRPORT 65 77 69 77 67 / 10 40 40 80 60 SAN MARCOS MUNI AIRPORT 63 77 68 74 66 / 10 30 30 80 80 LA GRANGE - FAYETTE REGIONAL 64 79 70 75 69 / 10 30 30 80 80 SAN ANTONIO INTL AIRPORT 65 77 68 76 68 / 10 40 40 80 70 STINSON MUNI AIRPORT 66 79 69 77 69 / 10 30 30 80 70 && .EWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ MESOSCALE/AVIATION...LH SYNOPTIC/GRIDS...HAMPSHIRE PUBLIC SERVICE/DATA COLLECTION...TREADWAY