Forecast Discussions mentioning any of "HRRR" "RAP" "RUC13" "RUC" "RR" received at GSD on 09/20/16


Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
946 PM CDT Mon Sep 19 2016 .UPDATE... Issued at 938 PM CDT Mon Sep 19 2016 The 22-01 UTC HRRR and ESRL HRRR, and the 18 UTC NAM NEST continue to depict elevated convective development generally along and south of US Highway 2 late tonight into Tuesday morning. This is in association with a weak impulse aloft and low level warm air advection via a strengthening low level jet east of a surface low across western South Dakota and Nebraska. Given steep lapse rates aloft, thunderstorms are possible. The aforementioned HRRRs have hinted at possibly organized convection in their updraft helicity fields given the very high deep layer shear with the jet aloft. UPDATE Issued at 631 PM CDT Mon Sep 19 2016 The forecast for the remainder of the night remains on track and was blended to observed trends through 23 UTC. A similar overnight is expected tonight as was last night with a chance for showers across the south with a weak impulse embedded in the fast flow aloft. Given steep mid level lapse rates, did add a slight chance mention for thunderstorms. Severe weather is not expected. && .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Tuesday) Issued at 224 PM CDT Mon Sep 19 2016 Forecast concern through the short term will be chance for showers across the south associated with a weak shortwave trough. In the wake of the low that moved across the northern plains on Sunday, high pressure was the dominant feature today bringing mostly sunny skies. As the pressure gradient lessens the winds across the north have also diminished so no wind advisory was considered for this afternoon. Relative humidity this afternoon has fallen to around 20 percent across the southwest but winds not expected much above 15 mph with some gusts in the lower 20s. Tonight, a weak shortwave with move across the southern portion of the state bringing a chance showers to the southern third of the state. considered adding some isolated thunderstorms but cape is pretty meager so kept only showers. On Tuesday the will return to partly to mostly sunny skies as the shortwave trough moves east. Highs tuesday again in the 70s. .LONG TERM...(Tuesday night through Monday) Issued at 224 PM CDT Mon Sep 19 2016 The extended period will be feature a significant upper level low forecast to move from the Great Basin northeast into the northern plains by Saturday. This will bring a good chance for showers to the western portion of the forecast area. Tuesday night and Wednesday, as the upper flow begins to back to the southwest, will bring the opportunity for some shortwave energy to support scattered showers. Once again the instability remains slight so have limited the chance for thunderstorms to slight and that across the south. Thursday and Friday will see increasing chances for showers across the west as the upper low approaches. The GEFS climatological QPF supports the best rainfall across Montana with some in western North Dakota with this weather pattern. This would tend to support the GFS solution over the ECMWF for best chances for precipitation across western North Dakota Thursday night though Saturday. Again the instability appears to slim for Thursday and wait until Friday and saturday to add chance for thunderstorms. As the upper low lifts out on Sunday the precipitation will trail off. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Tuesday evening) Issued at 938 PM CDT Mon Sep 19 2016 VFR conditions are expected across western and central North Dakota for the 00 UTC TAF cycle. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are possible across southern North Dakota tonight into Tuesday morning, possibly impacting KDIK/KBIS/KJMS. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ UPDATE...AYD SHORT TERM...WAA LONG TERM...WAA AVIATION...AYD
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service State College PA
1058 PM EDT MON SEP 19 2016 .SYNOPSIS... Drier air will overspread the remainder of the region tonight. Skies will clear and winds will be light...promoting fog formation in many areas. A building ridge bring above normal temperatures into our region for the remainder of the work week. The larger scale south- southeast flow favors low moisture and thus little chance of significant rainfall. But it will be unseasonably warm. A back door cold front the west should provide some more seasonable temperatures for part of the weekend. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM TUESDAY MORNING/... Clouds will be slow to decrease over the east for much of the night as high clouds continue to stream NNE from the mid Atlantic region. The western half of PA is clear to partly cloudy...and will remain so overnight. Very light gradient and very light winds combined with recent rainfall favor fog in central and southern areas after midnight. Patchy dense fog is possible early Tue morning. North and west areas will have less fog due to the drying out that occurred today and southern and southeastern areas could have areas of diminished visibility. We were optimistic in clearing things out by mid- morning Tuesday. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/... After AM fog burns off it should be a warm for one of the last days of summer, which officially ends Thursday! But don`t tell the atmosphere as this summer has other plans. Should be a nice summer day Tuesday many areas will be in the 80s a good 6-10F above normal. The overnight will be relatively pleasant due to lower humidity and the longer nights now almost 12 hours long! But it is now fog season so lots of patchy fog is expected overnight. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... By Wed, surface high pressure area will be centered over PA. Patchy valley fog will give way to a mostly sunny and very warm day, with highs peaking in the upper 70s to mid 80s as 5H heights exceed 588dm. As high moves off to the east, a weak frontal boundary will be pushed across the Great Lakes late week and through PA on Sat as sprawling high pressure area builds from central Canada into the northeastern U.S. in response to a longwave trough over the Rockies. Ahead of the boundary Thu and Fri, well-above normal temperatures will continue even as heights very slowly fall and clouds become more prevalent over the NW. By Saturday, a back-door "cool" front slides through, bringing just a chance for showers and a push of somewhat cooler air that will nudge temps back down toward seasonal norms. Dewpoints will also drop off significantly as well, leading to a couple cooler nights. Upper flow over the western U.S. shifts to ridging early next week, with northwest flow aloft over PA. GFS/ECMWF bring a shortwave over PA Mon/Mon night, with the EC being notably more aggressive with strength. No matter the strength, the system should be moisture-starved and could only muster chance pops across NW half for now. But it should be enough to keep temps near normal much of next week. && .AVIATION /03Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... Clear skies, a calm wind and wet ground from recent rain is causing fog to form across the western half of the state late this evening. 11-3.9u satellite imagery starting to show the patchy fog over the northwest Mtns. KBFD just fell to 1/2sm at 0240Z, but RAP showing drier air mass working in overnight, so forecast not straight forward at KBFD. Expect vis to bounce in and out of IFR for several hours before a higher certainty of dense fog arnd dawn. Based on 02Z dwpt depressions and latest HREF output, expect fairly widespread LIFR/IFR conditions btwn 08Z-12Z, with the likely exception of KJST, whose ridgetop location is unfavorable for radiation fog. SREF and mos guidance suggest VFR conditions should return over most of central Pa by 15Z Tuesday, give or take an hour or so. Sunny skies and a light wind indicated for the balance of the day. Outlook... Wed-Sat...Patchy AM valley fog possible. && .CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...Grumm NEAR TERM...DeVoir SHORT TERM...Grumm/Lambert LONG TERM...RXR AVIATION...Fitzgerald
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Detroit/Pontiac MI
1135 PM EDT MON SEP 19 2016 .AVIATION... The dynamics overall are very weak along a cold front slipping into the region as mean flow is parallel to the boundary. No precipitation is expected overnight. High cloud convective debris is blanketing the region at the moment and is expected to hang around for the start of the period eventually transitioning to SKC by Tuesday morning. A geopotential height rise maximum is expected strengthen substantially over southeastern Michigan tomorrow in response to strong upper level jet dynamics spreading over Canada. This will cause subsidence to overwhelm the the column and and lead to rapid development of a surface anticyclone. Very quiet weather is expected for Tuesday. //DTW Threshold Probabilities... * None && .PREV DISCUSSION... Issued at 326 PM EDT Mon SEP 19 2016 DISCUSSION... A warm afternoon as temperatures have climbed into the lower 80s, but dew pts are not terribly high, predominately in the upper 50s. Mainly dry cold front to slowly sink south through southeast Michigan Tonight/Tomorrow morning as upper wave lifts northeast into Ontario, with zero height falls extending south of over southern Lower Michigan. Narrowing/pinched off 850-700 mb Theta-e ridge axis extending from the midwest, with showalter index telling the tale, going from slightly negative this afternoon over northern lower Michigan, to decidedly positive as the front sinks south overnight. The normally aggressive HRRR (17z) with respect to radar reflectivity also shows line of showers/thunderstorms dissipating as it enters our CWA. Will shave off about 5 percent inherited pops tonight. Best chance of activity will be early this evening across Tri-Cities region and with 30 knots of flow at 850 mb, stronger wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph are not out of the question if activity arrives soon enough before strong surface based inversion begins to develop. Upper level westerly confluent flow Tuesday afternoon/Tuesday night with surface high in place. 925 mb temps climbing back to 20 C supports highs around 80 degrees. Question on Wednesday is will the the retreating high/dry-stable airmass hold on enough during the day on Wednesday to maintain dry forecast as warm front lifts into Western Great Lakes. High degree of instability/moisture pooling over the Midwest could support an organized MCS which could then potentially persist enough to allow for showers to sneak into the cwa late as moisture transport ramps up across the State. PW values push above 1.5 inches across northern lower Michigan. Much better chance of showers and thunderstorms Wednesday Night with the moisture axis better established, but best level fgen forcing still looks to be mostly over northern lower Michigan. Warm front will extend into the northern Great Lakes region from low pressure developing on the Plains Thursday. Model consensus supports the active portion of the front mainly north of Southeast Michigan with most of our area in the warm sector Thursday. This front is expected to sag southward Thursday night/Friday, bringing the threat of precipitation to much of our area. Strong high pressure over central Ontario will usher in a cooler/drier airmass by the weekend with northeasterly flow setting up locally. MARINE... Southwesterly winds will increase through the evening hours as the pressure gradient tightens in between an exiting high pressure system and approaching trough. The cold front will weaken as it tracks southeast across the eastern lakes tonight. Wind gusts should peak around 20 knots ahead of the front before turning northwesterly overnight. Gusts will continue to peak near 20 knots as cooler, less stable air works into the region. Showers and thunderstorms will accompany the front over northern and central Lake Huron with coverage decreasing southward. High pressure will bring a weaker gradient and more stability back to the region Tuesday night. && .DTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MI...NONE. Lake Huron...NONE. Lake St Clair...NONE. Michigan waters of Lake Erie...NONE. && $$ AVIATION.....CB DISCUSSION...SF/DT MARINE.......DRK You can obtain your latest National Weather Service forecasts online at www.weather.gov/detroit.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
753 PM EDT MON SEP 19 2016 .UPDATE... WV loop showing much drier airmass across the state this evening...with one lone TS moving across Madison county. Not much change needed to the forecast thru the short term. Generally clear skies overnight...with low clouds possible across eastern and southern counties towards sunrise as winds shift to the northeast. Although moisture will be gradually increasing from the east...most areas will stay dry Tuesday. A cutoff low progged to be centered across eastern Ga/SC may squeeze out a few showers across northern and eastern counties Tuesday afternoon as it slowly meanders around the area. Low temps tonight mid to upper 60s and high temps Tues upper 80s. Kovacik && .PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 331 PM EDT MON SEP 19 2016/ SHORT TERM /Tonight through Tuesday Night/... The latest regional surface analysis shows low pressure continues off the Carolinas coast...spreading moisture back to the west into the western Carolinas and eastern GA. RAP upper air analysis shows upper low just to the west of the surface feature but continues to sink further south and east with time. With this setup...most of the activity has remained to the east and south of the local area and best chances for the remainder of the afternoon and into the evening looks to be over telfair...Wheeler...Montgomery and Toombs. There has been a surprising amount of low topped shra activity over portions of AL and have included 20 pops for all locations because of this. Upper low continues to shift southeast through Tue but moisture actually increases over the eastern sections of the area as circulation around both this and surface feature brings enhanced moisture back toward the local area. Forcing and instability look limited with this and low end chance pops look to suffice through the remainder of the short term period. Deese LONG TERM /Wednesday through Monday/... No major changes made to the extended forecast. Long range models show fairly good agreement through the long term... with each model beginning the period with a cut off upper low spinning over southeast Georgia and South Carolina where it meanders through Thursday or Friday before gradually shearing eastward over the weekend. This feature will likely keep some form of a weak surface low or trough along the coasts of Georgia and Carolinas through the work week. The resulting easterly wind flow will try to spread Atlantic moisture back over at least the eastern portions of the forecast area... and this will warrant holding onto a slight to low chance of showers and thunderstorms over at least the eastern zones through much of the period. The good news is instabilities seem to remain in check as expected cool east winds coupled with increasing clouds hold afternoon cape values in the 800-1200 J/KG range Wednesday through Friday. Cape values increase a bit over the weekend as the upper low shears out... which likely increases afternoon sunshine and daytime temperatures. However... high pressure building in from the west along with a fairly dry northerly wind flow will continue to help hold rain chances down in the 20-30 percent range at best over the weekend. Otherwise... expecting highs to hold mainly in the 80s through the work week... with some lower 90s likely by the weekend with increasing sunshine. Lows should run mostly in the 60s. 01 && .AVIATION... 00Z Update... Quiet conditions at most TAF sites at 00z. A lone TS is moving in the vicinity of AHN with a TEMPO covering this. Wind shift to the northeast will occur overnight tonight with VFR conditions prevailing. Towards sunrise Tues...MVFR ceilings possible across AHN and MCN...lifting to VFR by 14z. Generally quiet conditions expected Tuesday with SCT cu developing late morning/early afternoon. //ATL Confidence...00Z Update... Medium on MVFR ceilings...High on all else. Kovacik && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Athens 68 88 69 84 / 30 20 20 30 Atlanta 69 88 71 85 / 20 10 10 20 Blairsville 60 85 62 83 / 20 20 10 10 Cartersville 65 89 66 87 / 20 10 10 10 Columbus 71 92 71 89 / 20 10 10 20 Gainesville 68 87 69 84 / 20 20 20 20 Macon 69 90 69 87 / 20 10 10 30 Rome 65 89 66 88 / 20 5 5 10 Peachtree City 67 89 67 86 / 20 10 10 20 Vidalia 72 88 71 86 / 30 20 20 40 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...Kovacik LONG TERM....41 AVIATION...Kovacik
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
1107 PM EDT Mon Sep 19 2016 .SYNOPSIS... The remnants of Julia will remain across eastern North Carolina through much of the week and this will keep the weather rather unsettled. High pressure will build into the area by the weekend finally bringing drier conditions. A cold front will move across the area during Sunday bringing the first hint of Autumn early next week. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM TUESDAY MORNING/... As of 800 PM Monday...The weak circulation that was near Cape Lookout and moving NE. the significant rainfall associated with the remnant low was now offshore and well to out NE. An area of weakening convection in association with and upstream upper trough was creeping SSE, and will likely dissipate to the west of our westernmost zones through 1 am. The upper trough is expected to close off as it moves across the eastern Carolinas overnight and Tue. The HRRR has been doing an outstanding job modeling these two systems this eve. Thus, we have relied heavily on its forecast. There may be some showers that are able to wrap in and around the remnant low to our NE toward morning. Have dropped pops to slight chance or just below threshold overnight. Given the widespread nature of the rainfall today with many locations receiving a good soaking, added some fog to portions of the area. The fog could become more widespread if winds do not tick up on the backside of the remnant low. Model soundings are supportive of low stratus enveloping the area as cooler NW winds drop temps to or near dewpoints values. Low temps are expected to be around 70 degrees. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/... As of 300 PM Monday...A general troughiness along the coast anchored by the remants of Julia will characterize the short term, with ample moisture of tropical origin continuing the threat for unsettled weather through the period. As moisture will not be as deep as it was on Monday, do not see the threat for localized flooding to be as high. However, it cannot be ruled out, especially for slow moving and training storms. Ample cloud cover will keep highs capped in the lower to mid 80s for both days although elevated dewpoints will give us higher feels-like temperatures. Lows will be right around 70 for both nights. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... As of 300 PM Monday...Unsettled weather is expected through much of the long term period as the remnants of Julia slowly meander near southeast NC. In addition, a weak upper low will linger with high precipitable water values. Eventually, during the weekend, the weak upper low dissipates with drier air moving into the column while a cold front pushes into the area during Sunday. High pressure will build in from the north during Monday. Above normal highs/lows will continue Thursday through Saturday, then below normal temperatures are possible by Monday in the post-frontal air-mass. && .AVIATION /00Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 00Z...What is left of the tropical system Julia is pulling away to the north, taking most of the rain with it. Look for northerly winds tonight with IFR stratus once again becoming predominate over the region, due to the northerly flow and abundant moisture at the surface, these IFR conditions are expected to prevail for much of the day on Tuesday with continued northerly flow. EXTENDED OUTLOOK...Mainly afternoon convection along the coast through Friday with morning stratus/fog possible each day. && .MARINE... NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 1100 PM Monday...The remnants of Julia were evident near Cape Lookout and moving slowly NE. In its wake, the wind direction will continue from the NW. Wind speeds will be up to 10 to 15 kt. Seas will be 2 to 4 ft. Showers and some thunderstorms will be most numerous offshore overnight. SHORT TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/... As of 300 PM Monday...The remants of Julia will persist in the vicinity with a region of general troughiness. Although weather will remain unsettled in the form of showers and thunderstorms, winds and seas will remain fairly benign through the short term. We can expect seas of around 2 or 3 ft, with winds of around 10 kts each day. LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 300 PM Monday...A weak pressure gradient will exist across the waters Thursday through early Saturday with speeds at or about 10 knots or less and seas less than 3 feet. North to northeast flow increases behind the cold front Sunday with seas increasing to 3-4 feet. The northeast flow weakens quickly during Monday as high pressure builds in from the north. && .ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...None. NC...None. MARINE...None. && $$ NEAR TERM...RJD SHORT TERM...REK LONG TERM...MBB AVIATION...DL
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
902 PM CDT MON SEP 19 2016 .UPDATE... Issued at 900 PM CDT Mon Sep 19 2016 Some dense cirrus clouds are flowing into our western counties as a supercell moves south through northern Missouri. The line of storms in eastern Iowa are dissipating as they approach NW Illinois. We lowered PoPs to just slight chance NW of Peoria, and even that is looking questionable with the amount of dry and stable low level air across central IL. Even if rain does not occur, there should be a band of mid clouds move into the NW half of our forecast area overnight, before dissipating toward sunrise. That may help keep low temps slightly warmer in that area. Our forecast already has our warmest lows in the western counties, with mid 60s. Eastern areas should be able to drop into the low 60s or possibly upper 50s. Updates this evening were done to the weather and sky grids, otherwise the forecast looks on track. && .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Tuesday) ISSUED AT 254 PM CDT Mon Sep 19 2016 1018 mb surface high pressure over the Ohio and mid MS river valleys and upper level ridging building into central/southern IL was providing a sunny and warm afternoon with temps mostly in the mid 80s. Dewpoints had mixed down into the mid 50s to lower 60s with SSW winds 5-15 mph and few gusts of 15 to 20 mph. The latest Hi-resolution forecast models remain in very good agreement with a cold front over central parts of WI/IA weakening as it pushes toward the IL river valley late tonight. A narrow band of convection was starting to develop along this front where unstable airmass present with CAPES of 2-3k J/kg. Models show isolated convection moving into areas along and nw of the IL river late this evening and early overnight before dissipating before it reaches I- 55 as instability that peaks from 800-1600 J/kg nw of IL river late this afternoon and early evening, wanes and front moves into a flat upper level ridge over central IL with 500 mb heights getting at or above 590 dm. May see some patchy fog develop during overnight over southeast IL south of I-70 and lift by mid Tue morning with light winds, but fog coverage and denseness should be less than the past couple of nights. Partly to mostly sunny skies and warm summerlike conditions should prevail on Tuesday with strong upper level ridge holding over central/southern IL. Lows tonight will be in the low to mid 60s with coolest readings near the IN border where lows around 60F. Highs Tuesday back in the mid to upper 80s with dewpoints in the 60s. These readings are about 10 degree warmer than normal for mid September. .LONG TERM...(Tuesday night through Monday) ISSUED AT 254 PM CDT Mon Sep 19 2016 Surface high pressure will continue to slide into the northeastern US and bring the return of south to southwesterly flow into the middle part of the US and the central Mississippi valley. This will also allow a mid level ridge to build into the southern and southeastern parts of the US for the week and into the weekend. This pattern will keep the CWA dry and allow 850 temperatures to warm into +18C to +20C range, resulting in afternoon highs reaching into the middle to upper 80s for the week and into the weekend. Any wave or weak weather system will move across the northern US, keeping any precip north of the CWA through the period. Extended models have slowed with the next possible weather system this weekend, and now looks like chance of precip will move into the western part of the CWA beginning Sunday and then spread across the north and central part of the CWA Sunday night. Though there is timing differences on the onset of precip, both models shear the mid-level system into the northern part of the midwest. So precip should be short-lived, resulting in a dry forecast for Monday. However, temps should cool for Monday due to cloud cover and the passage of a weak front. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Tuesday evening) Issued at 637 PM CDT Mon Sep 19 2016 A cold front will push into NW Illinois later this evening, dissipating as it reaches the Illinois river and eventually I-55. SPC Mesoanalysis page shows a much more stable airmass in our counties than areas upstream in Iowa where a tornado watch is in effect until 10 pm. We do not expect storms to affect Peoria, nor any of our terminal sites overnight. The latest HRRR has a steady decline in storms as the front reaches near the IL river. The RAP shows some showers reaching PIA, but will leave all TAFs dry this evening for now. Forecast soundings show the potential for some MVFR ceilings for PIA and BMI late tonight as the front stalls out and dissipates across our northern counties. Residual boundary layer moisture could be enough for patch fog in low lying areas. MVFR fog may affect PIA later tonight, with other fog potential mainly south of I-70. Winds will start out from the south-southwest at 5-7kt, then become light and variable overnight. Wind directions will shift to the southeast tomorrow morning, then trend easterly by late in the TAF period. Wind speeds tomorrow should generally remain below 10kt. && .ILX Watches/Warnings/Advisories... NONE. && $$ UPDATE...Shimon SHORT TERM...07 LONG TERM...Auten AVIATION...Shimon
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville, IL
830 PM CDT MON SEP 19 2016 .UPDATE... 822 PM CDT Quite a fascinating atmospheric display this evening as showers and storms continue to fire in much of southern Wisconsin, but with the wall of instability and shear not moving, these storms quickly weaken as they approach Illinois and the radar returns fade. It is likely that some of this activity will sneak into Illinois this evening as a cold front works its way southeastward, but the increasingly less hospitable environment should continue to allow for a dissipation of this activity to largely just some lighter rain showers as some moistening occurs overnight. The exception may be along the border where some lightning is briefly possible. KMD && .SHORT TERM... 226 PM CDT Through Tuesday... Main forecast concerns/challenges are with shower thunderstorm chances and trends late this afternoon through the evening, with the potential for a strong to severe storm remaining through early/mid evening around the RFD area. Showers and thunderstorms are currently developing along surface trough and front across Wisconsin and far northeast Iowa. This is occurring as speed max pushes through the upper midwest and while instability has increased within moisture axis. Still monitoring potential for current upstream robust thunderstorm development to shift across the far northwest CWA as this front drops south this evening, mainly along/northwest of a Dixon to Antioch line. Several factors supporting rather strong development this afternoon across the region including steep mid/low level lapse rates, strong upper level support, and increasing bulk shear supportive of more organized development. However, at this time, the higher instability axis is currently situated just to the north/northwest of the area and significantly decreases the further into northern Illinois. This is evident in latest RAP analysis but even more noticeable given the lower dewpoints which have settled in across the CWA. For this afternoon, next couple hours, anticipate any shower and thunderstorm development to stay just outside of the CWA. As we move into the 22-00z time frame, would anticipate this upstream development to begin pushing into far northern Illinois as front and instability axis inch closer with the Rockford area seeing the highest chances. The potential for strong to severe storms will occur during this time, with large hail and damaging wind gusts the main threats. However, as soon as this occurs, instability will likely quickly lower this evening with the threat of stronger thunderstorms also lowering. Although precip may continue to drift further into areas in north central and northeast Illinois this evening, this precip will likely be decaying with thunder becoming more limited. By late evening and the overnight hours, any lingering showers will further diminish as they drift south but with locations in east central Illinois and northwest Indiana likely staying on the dry side. Rodriguez && .LONG TERM... 210 PM CDT Tuesday night through Monday... Tuesday night through Thursday: The medium range will begin with a large mid-lvl ridge centered over the Southern Plains stretching north through the Ohio Valley, with a quasi-zonal orientation to the longwave pattern across the northern latitudes of the CONUS. Surface features should keep anti-cyclonic flow in place for the Ohio Valley, which places the far Western Great Lakes region along the fringes of where precip/storms could clip. Present thinking is that with guidance progging a vort-lobe over the Central Plains, this feature should slide east/northeast following the flow of the 500mb ridge top. The best chance for POPs continues to be more focused north of the forecast area through at least Thursday; however, it is possible that the boundary could become oriented further south and increase the chances for precip. Temps will continue to be mild with highs generally in the low/mid 80s, but with the lack of a moist boundary layer of late, it is possible that highs could easily bump a degree or two warmer with the continued southerly flow. Friday through Sunday: Minimal changes to the extended periods with continued mild weather. The longwave pattern maintains ridging over much of the eastern CONUS, as a deep trough digs into the Southwest CONUS. This could help to further amplify the downstream ridging over the Great Lakes/Ohio Valley. Guidance does suggest a surface ridge over the Canadian Prairies late week will try to slide south, which could help to push the surface boundary south across the forecast area Saturday, and could bring slightly cooler air to the forecast area. But this could be short-lived as the mid-lvl trough from the Southwest CONUS begins to push east of the Rockies and helps to strengthen the warmer southerly flow through the Great Lakes/Ohio Valley for the weekend. Beachler && .AVIATION... For the 00Z TAFs... Spc mesoanalysis depicts a "wall" between the unstable airmass in WI and IL. Radar reflectivity returns show a considerable demise across our area, and a signficant decline in southwest WI which has a similar airmass to much of northeast IL and northwest WI. There is some upstream development that guidance suggests may survive into northeast IL as some brief lighter rain later this evening, but should be relatively low impact. Winds will generally be shifting to NE overnight, but should be relatively light, coming in this evening as outflow from storms combines with the southward moving frontal boundary. Timing for ORD is 3z but could be a bit sooner if it keeps moving. There could be some fog later tonight away from the metro sites as the cooler airmass moves in, and guidance is hinting at possibly some lower ceilings coming in off the lake late tonight into early Tuesday. Confidence is still low on its occurrence, but if it does it would be MVFR and occur in the 11-14z time frame. East winds increase tomorrow through the day. KMD && .MARINE... 210 PM CDT Broad surface ridge will linger across the Great Lakes region through Tuesday, before shifting southeast and allowing for a southwest/south flow to develop. The gradient does appear to tighten across the northern portions of Lake Michigan tuesday afternoon/evening, but should remain below 25 kt based on current guidance. A frontal boundary may try to slide south and stall across the central portions of the lake late Wednesday, producing northeasterly winds to the north and southerly flow to the south. Then as a low pressure develops across the Central Plains and lifts northeast towards Lake Michigan early thursday, this should lift the frontal boundary back north and allow the entire lake to see southerly winds thursday afternoon through friday. Beachler && .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...Updated
National Weather Service Saint Louis MO
653 PM CDT MON SEP 19 2016 .UPDATE... Issued at 643 PM CDT Mon Sep 19 2016 Updated the forecast this evening to account for the latest radar trends. One lone supercell has managed to sustain itself across southern Iowa. However, mesoanalysis data suggests that the MLCAPE gradient has only managed to make it as far east as south-central IA and north-central MO. Latest radar loops show the main storm complex diving south along this gradient, which will keep the severe threat west of the LSX CWA. At this point, seems the only way to get precip in our area is for the storm to weaken and become more elevated, which would cause it to move more eastward with the mean deep-layer wind fields. For this reason, will keep slight chances in northern MO over the next few hours, before going dry in all areas tonight. Also upped the fog wording a bit across southeastern MO and southwestern IL. Very similar setup to last night in this region with light winds expected and mainly clear skies. Dewpoints did mix out into the lower 60s today which may help mitigate how dense it becomes, but think areas of fog will be likely again in this region overnight. KD && .SHORT TERM... (Through Late Tuesday Afternoon) Issued at 315 PM CDT Mon Sep 19 2016 Weak vort max currently moving across Iowa will move slowly east southeastward into west central Illinois later this evening. This will cause a cold front currently over central Iowa to move into northeast Missouri toward midnight. Instability along the front will be waning with the loss of daytime heating, and convergence will be relatively weak, so have kept with just a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms late this evening and overnight across northeast Missouri and west central Illinois. This goes along well with latest runs of the HRRR and NSSL WRF which are showing isolated storms developing over the northern part of the CWA during this same time period. Still expect tomorrow to be dry as the upper ridge continues to build over the area. Do think there will be some additional fog development tonight as the winds will be light, and all but the northern CWA will see mainly clear skies. Like the past few nights, worst of the fog will be near the river valleys. Coolest temperatures will be over southeast Missouri and south central Illinois where winds will be the lightest and skies will be the clearest in the retreating surface ridge axis. Agreeable MOS lows look reasonable. Went at or above MOS tomorrow with highs given the expected mostly sunny skies and mixing into the 900-850mb range. Britt .LONG TERM... (Tuesday Night through Next Monday) Issued at 315 PM CDT Mon Sep 19 2016 (Tuesday Night - Friday Night) Two features will largely dominate the sensible weather across the mid-Mississippi Valley heading into early next week: 1) surface ridge nearly anchored across the northeastern United States southwestward into the lower Ohio Valley and 2) mid/upper level ridge overhead. Both of these features will help promote plenty of clear skies and above normal temperatures. The area will also be by and large precipitation free as any chance of widespread shower and thunderstorm activity look very small. Dewpoints will be in the mid 60s to near 70 degrees each day so it will even feel a bit hotter than the forecast highs of roughly 85-90 degrees each afternoon. Warmest days of this forecast period appear to be on Wednesday and Friday where highs in the upper 80s to near 90 degrees are expected. Nighttime lows will initially start off fairly seasonable on Tuesday night and even Wednesday night due to the clear skies and sfc ridge near the area. Dropped minimum temperatures a few degrees in the eastern Ozarks each of these nights from previous forecast. Lows are expected to moderate a few degrees by Thursday night and Friday night...mainly due to slightly increased southerly surface flow. (Saturday - Next Monday) Backdoor cold front will try and push southwestward into the CWA on Saturday. Slightly cooler temperatures are likely compared to Friday due to an increase in cloud cover predominantly. Still lots of uncertainty heading toward late this weekend and early next week. Evolution of closed low in the Rockies continues to cause problems in the medium range. Latest guidance suggests a portion of the closed low hanging out in the desert southwest with a portion ejecting out into the northern Plains on Saturday night/Sunday. This portion should send a cold front down toward our way either on Sunday or Monday. Continue to lean toward the slower end of the guidance envelope. Temperatures on Saturday and Sunday continue to look warmer than 24-48 hours ago with the highest PoPs now on Sunday night coincident with the expected frontal timing...though would not be surprised if it is yet delayed another 12 hours. Gosselin && .AVIATION... (For the 00z TAFs through 00z Tuesday Evening) Issued at 618 PM CDT Mon Sep 19 2016 Dry and VFR conditions are expected through the period. A cold front currently across portions of southern IA will make some southward progress tonight. Although the storms associated with this front should remain off to the west, some clouds will likely affect UIN tonight into Tuesday morning. Can`t rule out some MVFR cigs during this time, but will leave out for now given fairly low confidence on how far south the front will get. Expect IFR fog once again at SUS/CPS early Tuesday morning, before all sites go VFR by late Tuesday morning into the afternoon. SPECIFICS FOR KSTL: Expect dry and VFR conditions through the period. Light southwest winds will persist through the period with few/sct diurnal cu Tuesday afternoon. KD && .LSX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MO...None. IL...None. && $$ WFO LSX
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
1102 PM CDT MON SEP 19 2016 .UPDATE... Issued at 1102 PM CDT Mon Sep 19 2016 Updated to include 06Z aviation discussion below. && .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Tuesday) Issued at 330 PM CDT Mon Sep 19 2016 We will spend the short term portion of the forecast on the southern edge of a 120kt jet streak up along the international border. This will continue to send mid level impulses our direction. One came through this morning and is already working through southern Wisconsin. The next is working across Wyoming and will be working into western MN late tonight. This will bring another reinforcing shot of mid level clouds for Tuesday, and like today we will see some high based showers. The HRRR shows light rain moving into western MN around 12z, with the NAM/NMM/ARW showing this band lifting northeast across central MN through the morning on a push of isentropic forcing on the 305/310k surfaces. We did add some chance pops from western into central MN Tuesday morning for that. By the afternoon, 925-850 moisture transport starts to increase in SW MN as the LLJ begins its strengthen. Though the heavier precip and bulk of the thunderstorms are expected Tuesday night, the GFS/ECWMF are kicking off some light QPF on the nose of the LLJ by Tuesday afternoon. For now, maintained a dry forecast there as moisture depth looks lacking, with deep moisture arriving for the start of the long term period. Across central MN, we have seen dewpoints mix out into the upper 30s/lower 40s this afternoon, and with winds remaining light tonight with skies being clear, we should see temperatures drop off pretty quick. Dropped lows in central MN into western WI down into the 40s. This dry air also looks to keep fog at bay, unless you are by a warm body of water. For Highs tomorrow, airmass is similar to what we have today, so it will be another pleasant day with highs in the 70s. .LONG TERM...(Tuesday night through Monday) Issued at 330 PM CDT Mon Sep 19 2016 Heavy rainfall and possible flooding remain the primary weather threats Tuesday night into Thursday. Wednesday and Wednesday night still look to be the higher risk periods. Coverage area also looks to be in the vicinity of the warm front/stationary frontal boundary across southern MN into WI. Models suggest surface warm front lifting into far southern Minnesota later Tuesday night decent moisture return with the 25-35kt LLJ. This should be strong enough to generate thunderstorms into southern MN and high pops were retained. Some risk of large hail with thunderstorm development Tuesday night with steep mid level lapse rates and modest instability/shear. Heavy rainfall is also a threat...but areal coverage may not be that widespread...affecting mainly south central MN. Nevertheless...PW`s increase with the warm front so if training of storms develops...heavy rain will be a threat. The better chance of more widespread heavy rainfall looks to be Wednesday into Thursday with PW`s enriched with some tropical moisture from then Tropical Depression Paine. This increases PW`s to at least the 90th percentile. So WPC`s outlook of increased risk of excessive rain looks good during this period. Held off on watch at the moment to better determine overall coverage area that will be affected. Still looks like widespread 1 to 3 inches of rain with locally higher amounts possible...especially if training along the front develops across southern MN. The front is still forecast to drop southeast as the upper trough moves through. THis should leave an overall lull in the rain threat until mainly Later Friday into Saturday night. A more amplified pattern is suggested with the models with the next frontal passage forecast to move through Saturday night into Sunday night. This system looks progressive...so this should limit overall heavy rain/flood threat. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Tuesday night) Issued at 1102 PM CDT Mon Sep 19 2016 Not much change from previous forecast, with reasoning still looking similar. We`ll see some lower clouds work into the area toward the tail end of the period, with precipitation still mainly looking to occur after 06Z. However, there is a slight chance that KAXN and KSTC could see some light precipitation from VFR ceilings this morning as we see initial mid-level warm advection start to work into the area. But, with nothing upstream at this point, and ceilings and visibility looking like they`d stay VFR even if it does precipitate, did not include any mention at this point. KMSP...Main uncertainties are will the timing of precipitation toward the end of the forecast. Did include a TEMPO group with this issuance, since it appears somewhat likely that we`ll have things nearby after 06Z, although some of the guidance is keeping things south of the area through the full forecast period. Where things wind up will obviously impact ceilings and visibilities, and it unfortunately could be during the 09-12Z time frame when arrivals/departures increase. /OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/ Wednesday...MVFR expected, IFR possible with showers and thunderstorms. East wind 10 to 20 kt. Wednesday night...MVFR expected, IFR possible with showers and thunderstorms. Southeast wind 10 to 15 kt. Thursday...MVFR expected with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Southeast wind 10 to 20 kt. Thursday night and Friday...MVFR possible. East wind less than 10 kt increasing to 10 to 15 kt Friday. && .MPX Watches/Warnings/Advisories... WI...None. MN...None. && $$ UPDATE... SHORT TERM...MPG LONG TERM...DWE AVIATION...
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Marquette MI
721 PM EDT MON SEP 19 2016 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Tuesday) Issued at 401 PM EDT MON SEP 19 2016 WV imagery and RAP analysis indicated a mainly zonal pattern across the nrn CONUS with a 130-140 knots 250-300 mb jet from the nrn plains to the Upper MS valley. Upper level div with the left exit of the jet along with 700-300 qvector conv with a shortwave trough from nrn Ontario, w of James Bay, to Upper Michigan supported a band of -shra over ern Upper Michigan. MLCAPE values into the 500-1000 J/Kg range to support TS remained just to the south and east of the cwa. Strong subsidence/drying in the wake of the shrtwv has brought clearing with sunny skies over the west half of Upper Michigan. Tonight, mostly clear skies and drier air into the area with pwat values to around 0.40 inch will result in favorable radiational cooling conditions over inland locations where the winds will become light. Min temps should drop into the mid 40s. However, a tighter pressure gradient and more winds/mixing will keep temps in the upper 50s near Lake Superior. Tuesday, a dry airmass will prevail with sfc ridging building over the region. Under mostly sunny skies through most of the day temps will remain above normal with forecast soundings supporting highs in the mid 70s. Mid and high clouds will gradually spread into the area during the afternoon with the developing waa pattern in advance of a trough over the plains. .LONG TERM...(Tuesday night through Monday) Issued at 330 PM EDT MON SEP 19 2016 Zonal flow aloft the middle of this week becomes much more amplified the upcoming weekend as sharp ridge develops mid North America btwn upper trough over eastern Canada and trough across western Conus. At the sfc, a low pressure system and warm front emerging onto the Central Plains on Wed will track over the Upper Great Lakes Wed night into Thu. This system will bring best chance of widespread rain to the region this week. An west to east frontal boundary and pwats over 1.25 inches lifting into the boundary along with area being situated in right entrance region of upper jet over northern Ontario suggest could be moderate or heavy rain. Since tighter h85 temp gradient and edge of higher instability stays south of Upper Michigan closer to the sfc low pressure system, may also see the heavier rain remain south. Will keep featuring highest pops over south half of cwa. Even as sfc low and stronger instability stay to the south of cwa, there is weak elevated CAPE and near 0c SI/s to support some rumbles of thunder later Wed into Wed night. Best chance would be over scntrl. Highs in the midweek period should be mainly in the 60s. Questions remain in how strong upper trough is over eastern Canada Thu into Fri as a stronger trough would push the sfc front far enough south to keep conditions dry Thu night into Fri. Models are going back and forth on this. Latest consensus suggests though there may be some lingering showers on Thu night, most of Fri would end up dry. Temps through this period will be at or slightly below normal. Normal highs are in the mid-upper 60s. Appears that high pressure will then attempt to build southward from Manitoba and northern Ontario Fri night into Sat resulting in mostly dry weather. However, the GFS solutions over the last couple days, at least the ones that are reasonable in terms of the projected upper level pattern, do indicate there still could be some rain Fri night into Sat morning, at least for west and southwest portions of cwa. Latest GFS has trended drier though with only far west cwa getting clipped by additional showers. ECMWF has trended steadily to drier weather over most of the cwa but does keep some qpf over west cwa. Based on the trends, will keep small chances for rain Fri night over far west and southwest cwa. Dry weather should then hold most of Sat into Sat night as high pressure, both sfc and aloft, remains over the Great Lakes. Highs remain in the 60s. Lows Fri night and Sat night will dip into the low 40s inland. One of these nights may see even lower temps perhaps as low as upper 30s, but right now not looking for any frost. Next chance of rain with some small chances of tsra returns Sun into Mon. Ridging moving east and approach of at least a piece of shortwave trough energy from the Plains will support the increasing rain chances. Given the strength of the ridging departing and drier air could take some time for the rain to arrive on Sun. Model consensus works for now owing to the quicker GFS and slower ECMWF/GEM. Latest ECMWF has edged trough aloft farther east and would support arrival of rain earlier on Sun. Highs both days should stay in the 60s though if the rain for later in the weekend is delayed could see temps make run toward low 70s on Sun over parts of the cwa. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Tuesday evening) Issued at 721 PM EDT MON SEP 19 2016 Expect VFR conditions at all taf sites through the period. && .MARINE...(For the 4 PM Lake Superior forecast issuance) Issued at 401 PM EDT MON SEP 19 2016 West winds should generally diminish to 25 knots tonight into Tue as the pres gradient weakens with the Canadian low lifting farther ne across Hudson Bay. Winds will diminish to less than 20 kts Wednesday and remain blo 20 kts into Saturday under a weak pres gradient across the Upper Lakes. && .MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Upper Michigan... None. Lake Superior... None. Lake Michigan... None. && $$ SHORT TERM...JLB LONG TERM...JLA AVIATION...07 MARINE...JLB
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service SAN ANGELO TX
610 PM CDT MON SEP 19 2016 .AVIATION... /00Z TAFS/ Expect VFR conditions at the terminals for the next 24 hours. A few showers will be near the KJCT terminal through 01Z. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 337 PM CDT MON SEP 19 2016/ SHORT TERM... (Tonight and Tuesday) A cumulus field had developed over much of West Central Texas this afternoon. HRRR and the Tech Tech WRF models indicate isolated showers and thunderstorm mainly southeast of Mertzon...San Angelo... Cross Plains line. These storms, if they occur, will be diurnal in character, ending at sunset with loss of heating. Continued warm temperatures remain in store Tuesday as the upper ridge continues. Highs again are expected in the mid 90s, after morning lows in the lower 70s. 04 LONG TERM... (Tuesday Night through next Monday) Above normal temperatures and dry conditions with clear to partly cloudy skies will continue through Friday for our area, with the upper high remaining our dominant influence. The upper level high over Texas will shift east and build over the Mississippi Valley on Friday, as a strong upper low enters the western CONUS and moves into Utah. Low-level moisture will increase across our area on Friday, with an increase in south-southeast winds. The 12Z GFS and ECMWF continue to show a potentially wet pattern for next weekend, more notably for the western half of our area. While the 12Z GFS and ECMWF differ on the details of the pattern evolution, both models show an upper low over the southwestern CONUS. A series of shortwave disturbances are progged to rotate through the base of the trough and move across West Texas and western parts of the Southern Plains. This setup favors increased chances of showers and thunderstorms, especially for the western half of our area. We are carrying chance PoPs beginning Saturday and continuing into next Monday. Still have uncertainty this far out, as the track and strength of the upper low will play an important role on our rain chances. Will continue to monitor model trends with the forecast pattern and adjust PoPs accordingly. With the anticipated rain chances and increased cloud cover, temperatures are expected to be at least several degrees cooler next weekend with highs in the 80s. 19 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Abilene 72 95 71 93 / 5 0 0 0 San Angelo 72 96 70 93 / 20 0 0 0 Junction 71 96 69 93 / 20 0 0 0 Brownwood 71 95 70 93 / 20 5 0 5 Sweetwater 71 94 71 92 / 0 5 0 0 Ozona 71 94 69 92 / 10 0 0 0 && .SJT Watches/Warnings/Advisories... None. && $$ 21
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
845 PM MST MON SEP 19 2016 .SYNOPSIS...Moisture associated with decaying tropical system Paine will bring scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms through Wednesday. A drying trend will begin Thursday and continue into this weekend. However, enough moisture should exist for a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms east of Tucson. && .DISCUSSION...KEMX WSR-88D depicted mainly 30-45 dBZ moving northward 10-15 mph across western Pima County, the Tohono O`odham Nation, and south central Pinal County at this time. The rest of southeast AZ was mostly void of precip echoes. Rainfall amounts thus far have been limited to trace amounts or just a few hundredths of an inch. Regarding Hurricane Paine, the National Hurricane Center advisory number 9 issued at 8 PM PDT this evening stated that Hurricane Paine was located at 23.8N/116.7W, or southwest of the Baja California spur. Hurricane Paine was moving to the north-northwest at 13 mph. Hurricane Paine was beginning to decrease in intensity, as maximum sustained winds had decreased to near 80 mph. Rapid weakening is forecast during the next day or so, and Paine is expected to weaken to a tropical storm by Tuesday morning, then become a remnant low on Wednesday. Meanwhile, back across southeast Arizona, IR satellite imagery depicted cloud tops to generally be cooling during the past hour or so. Dewpoints at lower elevations valid 8 PM MST ranged from the lower-mid 40s across eastern sections, and from the 50s-lower 60s from the Tucson metro area westward into western Pima county. The dewpoint jump at KTUS occurred after the 20/00Z KTWC sounding was completed. The sounding total precip water value at that time was 0.89 inch, and increase of nearly one-quarter of an inch versus 12 hours earlier. The profile exhibited a nearly saturated column above 500 mb, though was still quite dry in the surface-600 mb layer. Several HRRR solutions and the 20/00Z NAM12 suggest the best chance of measurable rainfall the rest of tonight will be west of Tucson. This scenario seems plausible given radar trends. However, still believe that rain chances will gradually spread eastward by Tuesday morning. For this forecast update, only very minor adjustments were made to PoPs through Tuesday afternoon. However, the gridded data weather fields and lightning activity levels were adjusted to depict less coverage of thunderstorms versus the previous forecast. Thus, isolated to scattered showers mainly from Tucson westward the rest of tonight along with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms to then prevail area-wide by Tuesday afternoon and continuing into Tuesday evening. The threat for widespread heavy rainfall appears to be very low. High temps Tuesday are forecast to be mainly 5-10 degs cooler versus today. Please refer to the additional sections for further detail. && .AVIATION...Valid through 21/06Z. Scattered -SHRA mainly west of KTUS the rest of tonight, then scattered -SHRA spreading eastward across southeast Arizona Tuesday into Tuesday evening. A few -TSRA will also occur, though less coverage versus the -SHRA. Otherwise, cloud decks lowering to generally 8k-12k ft msl by daybreak Tuesday and continuing into Tuesday evening. Surface wind the rest of tonight mainly wly/nwly 10-15 kts, then variable in direction at 10-15 kts Tuesday. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...There is a chance of showers with a few thunderstorms through Wednesday. A drying trend will start Thursday and continue into this weekend. However, moisture will be sufficient for a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms east of Tucson. 20- foot winds will be mainly terrain driven less than 15 mph through Wednesday, then westerly to southwesterly breeziness developing Thursday and Friday afternoons. && .PREV DISCUSSION /219 PM MST/...Moisture associated with tropical system Paine located well west of the tip of Baja early this afternoon will continue to stream northward into Arizona tonight and Tuesday. Clouds have already been on the increase with regional radars detecting rainfall just south of the International border. Recent model solutions suggested that showers will start to develop and spread into southern sections of the CWA this evening and tonight with the initial moisture advection. Deeper moisture will move into the region Tuesday, with more widespread showers and isolated thunderstorms developing. Lingering moisture will interact with the tail end of the system moving into the Great Basin around Thursday. This will keep a chance of rain in the forecast through at least Friday, mainly east of Tucson. Both the ECMWF and GFS models drop this system farther south into Arizona over the weekend with rain chances possible into early next week along with cooler temperatures. && .TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None. && $$ Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
solution at this time. WPC extended forecast discussion also hints
at what both the EC and GFS are advertising, which is to separate
and stretch the upper trough with two distinct lows forming, one ejecting out with the northern branch, and the other stuck in the southern branch into New Mexico. So, the overall trend for showers to fill in and overspread western and central ND Friday into Friday night continues, with a potential dry slot punching up into central ND Saturday, limiting precipitation amounts. A surface cold front will sweep through Saturday night and Sunday with some showers behind the front. Drier weather is forecast Sunday night through Monday. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Tuesday night) Issued at 300 AM CDT Tue Sep 20 2016 A vcsh has been included at KDIK/KBIS until around 12z Tuesday, with a VCTS at KJMS from 13z-17z Tuesday. Although vfr cigs and vsbys expected through 06z Wednesday, bkn mid level clouds will impact all terminals through Tuesday morning before scattered conditions are once again realized. Winds will generally remain light and northeasterly. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...KS LONG TERM...KS AVIATION...KS
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston SC
356 AM EDT Tue Sep 20 2016 .SYNOPSIS... Unsettled weather will linger across the region through Friday as a stationary front remains nearby. High pressure will build in from the north over the weekend. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TODAY/... The weak cold front is moving slowly south across Southeast Georgia early this morning and will cross the Altamaha River by sunrise. Although the front will remain to the south today, a moist environment featuring pwats 1.5 to 1.8 inches will remain in place as a potent cut off low meanders along the South Carolina coast. The proximity of this feature coupled with the likely development of a southwest oriented resultant sea breeze and possible differential heating boundaries, the development of isolated to scattered showers/tstms is plausible. Expect a relative greater coverage of convection to occur across the central and eastern portions of the forecast area where low-level convergence will be enhanced along the sea breeze. Pops will be limited to 20-30% with most of a the upper forcing associated with the cut off displaced across Eastern North Carolina. Locally higher pops may eventually be needed as mesoscale and instability trends become a bit more apparent. The absence of any real post-frontal cold air advection and the likelihood of some decent amount of isolation today suggests afternoon temperatures will remain above seasonal normals. Guidance has certainly exhibited a cool bias over the past 5-7 days, but expect highs to warm into the upper 80s for most locations. Depending on how much insolation occurs, a few 90s can not be completely ruled out, especially across Southeast Georgia. && .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... Tonight: Somewhat unsettled weather will linger through the night as the cut off low meanders nearby. A weak shortwave rotating around the western periphery of the upper low could support a bit more shower activity after midnight, especially across interior Southeast South Carolina. The development of this feature is uncertain, but there are certainly signals in the various members of the 20/00z model suite. Will carry 40% across interior Southeast Georgia with 20-30% pops elsewhere. Lows will range from the lower 70s inland to the mid 70s at the beaches. Wednesday through Friday: Aloft a weak cut off low will hover over SC Wednesday and Thursday, then be absorbed into the overall flow by Friday. At the surface, a weak stationary front will be just offshore Wednesday and Thursday, dissipating by Friday. The combination of these features along with plenty of moisture across the region will lead to showers for the entire time period. Local vorticity enhancements pivoting around the cut-off low in the upper and mid levels will further enhance the rainfall, especially over the Charleston tri-county area. Though, there is too much uncertainty to nail down the timing and exact details of these enhancements days in advance. Wednesday and Thursday should be wetter than Friday, so POPs start out in the chance territory and then trend downward into Friday. Surface and upper level dynamics won`t be as favorable for as much coverage in showers on Friday. But chance POPs remain in the forecast along the coast where PWATs appear to be a bit higher. The severe threat remains low due to the lack of significant instability. Persistent clouds and precipitation will keep temperatures near normal. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/... High pressure building from the north this weekend will try to trend the general weather pattern drier. Though, the threat of afternoon showers could remain along the immediate coast. Models hint at a cold front approaching from the north on Monday, possibly moving through late. Uncertainty is too high nearly a week out, so we`re forecasting low POPs and will refine the forecast as we get closer. && .AVIATION /06Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... The cold front has cleared KCHS and will move through KSAV over the next 2 hours. Could see a brief shower occur at KSAV as the front pushes through, but long-duration impacts are unlikely. Will have to watch for possible post-frontal low-stratus given moist low-levels will remain place behind the front with clearing skies. There should be enough wind to preclude significant fog development. Best status potential looks to occur at KSAV based on the latest RAP stratus parameters. Will include a tempo of low-end MVFR roughly 11-13z to cover this, but latest RAP soundings suggest a brief period of cigs near alternate minimums could occur. Will monitor this carefully. At KCHS, satellite shows stratus steadily expanding behind the front. Latest guidance has shifted considerably and is now showing increased probabilities for IFR cigs, possibly dropping as low as alternate minimums. Will amend to show MVFR and monitor for possible inclusion of IFR or lower. Extended Aviation Outlook: Periods of showers and thunderstorms will bring brief flight restrictions each afternoon through Friday. && .MARINE... Today: North to northeast winds will prevail across the marine area as a cold front drops to the south. Winds will be 10 kt or less with seas 1-3 ft. Tonight: Expect similar conditions with slightly lower wind speeds and seas. Wednesday through Sunday: A stationary front will be just offshore through Friday. Unsettled weather is expected across the coastal waters during this time period with occasional lightning and brief periods of increased winds and seas. However, overall wind and sea conditions should remain well below Small Craft Advisory levels. High pressure will start building into the area from the north over the weekend. Tropical Storm Karl is expected to intensify into a hurricane as it approaches Bermuda late this week. Depending on its eventual intensity and movement, swell could reach our beaches as early as Friday or Saturday and cause an increased threat of rip currents && .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... Astronomical influences and general north/northeast winds could produce shallow salt water flooding Tuesday, mainly along the Charleston County coast. && .CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. SC...None. MARINE...None. && $$ ST/MS
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Duluth MN
325 AM CDT TUE SEP 20 2016 .SHORT TERM...(Today through Wednesday) Issued at 325 AM CDT Tue Sep 20 2016 A weak ridge of high pressure was over the Northland early this morning. This high will move east today and a trough will move into the region and act on a baroclinic zone to produce a strong area of FGEN. Showers and a few thunderstorms were occurring over portions of southwest to south central North Dakota into central South Dakota as of 08Z and this is expected to move into portions of the Northland this morning. We made some significant changes to the forecast for today by increasing the chance for rain quite a bit. The HRRR is most aggressive with rain coverage and if it ends up being correct, we`ll have to increase the chance even further and possibly spread further east into northern Wisconsin. Highs today will be in the upper sixties to lower seventies. The FGEN will weaken this evening and the area of rain should diminish. A warm front will extend from low pressure in the Central Plains northeast into southern Minnesota and southern Wisconsin. The front will move little into Wednesday. A shortwave will move along the frontal surface as well Wednesday along with strengthening FGEN/WAA and cause showers and storms to increase through the day, especially along and south of Highway 2 including all of northwest Wisconsin. .LONG TERM...(Wednesday night through Monday) Issued at 325 AM CDT Tue Sep 20 2016 The area of low pressure will slowly move into the Central Plains by Thursday as an inverted trough is located over central MN. The main concern is where the heavier rain will fall. With the shortwaves moving through the trough and the dynamics, it looks like the heavier rain will be across NW WI based on past trends and model forecast. Models are still different with the NAM further north with the rainfall with the GFS further south and the ECMWF a little closer to the GFS. Went with a GFS/ ECMWF compromise for solution. Similar to previous shift, will not put any potential flooding wording in for now until the situation can be better defined. There will be a break in the rain as the trough drifts south out of the forecast area on Thursday. But the precipitation returns as the warm front drifts back north Thursday night and Friday. It does look like it could be decent amounts of rain with 0.25 to 0.50 possible. The upper level trough will move through the region Saturday night through Sunday night with shortwaves passing through the region. This will keep the threat of rain Sunday night. Finally, it dries out on Monday as a ridge builds into the region. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Tuesday night) Issued at 1241 AM CDT Tue Sep 20 2016 High pressure will gradually lose its grip on the Northland, as strong warm air advection pushes into the region from the south. A warm front is expected to develop across central Minnesota on Tuesday, with a few showers developing in the vicinity of the front. Have included vicinity showers in the KBRD TAF for a time Tuesday Morning. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the period at all sites. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DLH 71 51 65 51 / 40 10 50 40 INL 70 46 64 43 / 10 10 10 10 BRD 71 53 67 52 / 50 10 70 40 HYR 74 53 68 54 / 20 20 70 70 ASX 73 54 66 52 / 10 10 50 60 && .DLH Watches/Warnings/Advisories... WI...None. MN...None. LS...None. && $$ SHORT TERM...Melde LONG TERM...Stewart AVIATION...Stewart
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
333 AM EDT Tue Sep 20 2016 .SYNOPSIS... Weak low pressure will drift around Georgia and the Carolinas into the second half of the week. An upper ridge will build over the southeast states through next weekend as temperatures rise above normal again. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 310 AM: RAP 500mb analysis shows cutoff low over central VA/NC/SC, while sfc analysis shows low pressure just off Cape Lookout. In conjunction with high pressure over the Northeast, a moist easterly flow continues into the CWFA. Patches of stratocu developed over parts of the CWFA earlier this AM as a result, but these have thinned over the past hr or so. Some light fog may still develop, but it is looking unlikely vsby issues will be significant outside mtn valleys; dewpt depressions appear too large over much of the Piedmont. Today the CWFA will see the effects of the somewhat drier continental airmass that pushed in behind the front yesterday. Lapse rates are not as strong aloft. Convergent flow in the upper levels (upstream of the low) is not supportive of widespread convective development either. The paltry QPF response from the hi-res guidance, particularly the NCEP WRF Windows, reflects these findings. PoPs accordingly have been lowered quite a bit from the previous forecast. I will retain chance-range values along/east of I-77, where vort lobes encircling the low may pass through and provide occasional enhancement to lift. Also a narrow band of chances is maintained over the Blue Ridge, where several model runs have initiated cells. Any activity will be capable of some brisk outflow winds, but no severe weather is anticipated. Partial thickness values have not changed much since Monday, and enough sunshine should occur to easily bring temperatures back into the upper 80s over most of GA/SC, with mid-80s likely across the NC foothills/piedmont. Tonight, models expect less low-level cloud cover will wrap around the low, which may even begin to retrograde slightly. While models produce little in the way of QPF this far west, seeing how a few showers have managed to develop from time to time this morning, a slight chance has been retained more or less over the eastern half of the area. Min temps will again be a couple categories above normal. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... As of 245 AM EDT Tuesday...the latest model guidance has somewhat of an eastward trend to the position of a closed upper low on Wednesday, with the center closer to the coast than previous runs. This position would keep the deeper moisture more to the east and would back the flow a bit more over the fcst area, which would be more unfavorable for precip over the mtns and near the Blue Ridge. The fcst will generally follow this trend which is reflected mainly in lowering the precip chances over the Mtns and Foothills and delaying the development of precip from the east on Wednesday morning. That being said, think Wednesday overall still has the best chance for seeing precip, particularly over the Wrn Piedmont of NC as rain that develops closer to the coast is wrapped westward. Confidence not high enough to go above 50 pct yet. Will also not completely rule out heavy rain over the eastern zones, but for the time being the threat is low enough to not mention in the HWO. Precip chances will have a diurnal peak late in the day but will not completely diminish overnight as the upper low remains nearby into Thursday and Thursday night. The model guidance now suggests that drier air will be pulled in from the north on Thursday night which should eliminate lingering precip, so precip chances diminish accordingly. Temps should finally be kept to something closer to normal for this time of year. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... As of 315 AM Tuesday, the models remain in better agreement out in the Medium Range with the fate of the upper low over the Carolinas, opening it up and taking it off to the east on Friday. We retain a chance of precip across most of the area mainly for Friday afternoon with the possibility of scattered showers developing with weak instability, mostly in deference to the ECMWF. The guidance shows the upper pattern amplifying over the weekend with a ridge building off to the west and an upper trof digging over the Northeast. The resulting NW flow aloft is a dry pattern for the Wrn Carolinas, especially at this time of year. The legacy of the slight chance PoP was kept for Saturday afternoon, but most places will probably not see rain. Precip chances were removed for the rest of the weekend. Model agreement as to the passage of a back door cold front on Sunday is not particularly great, with the ECMWF hanging the boundary closer to our region and developing some precip for Monday. No changes were made out that far to the precip chances because of this uncertainty. However, the high temp fcst looks too cool based on a blend of the guidance, so Monday max temps were raised at least one category which pulls them up close to normal. && .AVIATION /08Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... At KCLT: Moist northeasterly flow around low pressure near the Carolina coast is already bringing a fair amount of MVFR level clouds to the Piedmont. Expect these clouds to expand and/or lower as daybreak approaches; cigs are expected to remain MVFR at worst, however. Conditions today will be less favorable for deep convection than they were Monday, being as the area will be upstream of the low. Still can`t rule out a stray shower or possibly even TS during the heat of the afternoon. Could see some low clouds again tonight, but think that will occur after 06z if at all. Elsewhere: Patchy low VFR to MVFR cigs are expected to impact all sites except KAND overnight, due to moisture wrapping around coastal low pressure. MVFR fog may also develop in parts of the area, namely mountain valleys and the more climatologically favored sites in the Piedmont. Lapse rates will be weaker today than they were Monday, and so convective precip coverage is expected to remain isolated. KAVL receives VCTS with several convection-allowing models developing activity along the Blue Ridge, but no other mentions are made. N to NE flow continues thru the period. Outlook: Drier air and mostly VFR conditions are expected Wednesday and Thursday. However, an easterly flow may bring moisture back from the Atlantic at times, especially late in the week. Periodic restrictions could return Thursday and Friday, if not sooner. Confidence Table... 07-13Z 13-19Z 19-01Z 01-06Z KCLT Med 75% Med 78% High 100% High 100% KGSP Med 71% High 92% High 100% High 100% KAVL Med 67% Med 77% High 100% High 100% KHKY Med 60% High 91% High 100% High 100% KGMU Med 67% High 92% High 100% High 100% KAND High 100% High 100% High 100% High 100% The percentage reflects the number of guidance members agreeing with the scheduled TAF issuance flight rule category. Complete hourly experimental aviation forecast consistency tables and ensemble forecasts are available at the following link: www.weather.gov/gsp/aviation && .GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. NC...None. SC...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...DEO NEAR TERM...Wimberley SHORT TERM...PM LONG TERM...PM AVIATION...Wimberley
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
338 AM CDT TUE SEP 20 2016 .SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight) ISSUED AT 338 AM CDT Tue Sep 20 2016 Another unseasonably warm day, with generally quiet conditions, is expected across central and southeast Illinois. However, there is one fly int the ointment with respect to the forecast. This revolves around the chance for a few showers/storms as diurnal instability builds and a weak surface boundary lies in our vicinity. A weak west-southwest to east-northeast oriented cold front is currently sinking across northern Illinois. While there is some variance in the guidance, not surprising given the weak steering flow, this boundary is likely to briefly stall out across central Illinois later today before heading back north tonight. Have added isolated showers/storms to portion of forecast area north of the I- 72 corridor this afternoon. This area resides within the peak forecast instability axis (2000-4000 j/kg), is most likely to have the front in the area, and is closer to the faster flow aloft. While the coverage is likely to be very low, the risk of precipitation is certainly not zero. The risk of rainfall should end with loss of diurnal heating. && .LONG TERM...(Wednesday through Monday) ISSUED AT 338 AM CDT Tue Sep 20 2016 Forecast is warm and rather calm for the most part as the upper ridge builds over the eastern half of the CONUS for the rest of the week. A series of shortwave ripple through the flow aloft, but the ridge deflects most of them north of ILX. Going further into the extended for the weekend...the GFS has come around to last nights ECMWF solution for the next system. Late Thursday/Friday, a trof digs in over the west coast and settles into the SW. Now models agreeing in a more cut off solution. Whereas the flow aloft does become more southwesterly, the cut off low is much slower to make any progress eastward. The energy in the northern stream is sheared out a bit, and the front is dragged along behind it, separate from the cut off low and weaker overall. The southern extent of the precip is in question, and the last run is even more spotty with the production of QPF this far south. The forecast at this point is warm for mid September, and mostly dry, with chance pops to cover a weak system this weekend. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Tuesday night) Issued at 1149 PM CDT Mon Sep 19 2016 Convection along the approaching cold front has remained confined to northern Illinois, with just a wind shift occurring along the southern portion of the front approaching Galesburg at 0430z. The front will continue to make slow progress into central IL from the NW, but increasing clouds is looking more like the primary impact, along with a wind shift. No storms are expected to affect any of our terminal sites the rest of the night, and no precip will be included in the 06z TAFs. The latest HRRR has dry conditions for all our counties over the next 12 hours. The RAP shows some showers developing just east of the IL river between 14z-16z Tuesday, but little support is evident in the other models for that scenario. NAM and GFS forecast soundings continue to show the potential for some MVFR ceilings for PIA and BMI late tonight as the front pushes south through the area. Residual boundary layer moisture could be enough for patch fog in low lying areas, however, will not include any MVFR fog at any terminals. Winds will start out from the south-southwest at 4-6kt, then become variable as the front passes. Wind directions will shift to the southeast tomorrow morning, with wind speeds tomorrow generally remaining below 10kt. && .ILX Watches/Warnings/Advisories... NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...Bak LONG TERM...HJS AVIATION...Shimon
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Marquette MI
526 AM EDT TUE SEP 20 2016 .SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight) Issued at 525 AM EDT TUE SEP 20 2016 WV imagery and RAP analysis indicated a mainly zonal pattern across the northern CONUS/Southern Canada with a 130 knot 250-300 mb jet from the Northern Rockies into the Upper Great Lakes. A shortwave upstream was producing a cluster of storms over the ND/SD border along MUCAPE gradient approaching 1000 j/kg, steep mid-lvl lapse rates and at nose of fairly strong 850 mb moisture transport. Over the Upper Great Lakes broad sfc high pressure has resulted in generally cloud-free skies early this morning. Early morning temps have fallen into the 40s over the interior west half and into the 50s east half and along the Great Lakes shores. Today, a dry airmass will prevail with sfc ridging in place over the region. Under mostly sunny skies through most of the day temps will remain above normal with forecast soundings supporting highs in the mid 70s and perhaps even higher in a few spots. Mid and high clouds will gradually spread into the area from the west during the afternoon with a waa pattern developing in advance of a trough over the plains. Tonight, Waa continues tonight with a northward push of 850 mb warm frontal boundary into Northern Wi and expect clouds to increase into Upper Mi. Models suggest convection could initiate along warm frontal boundary over Nrn Wi with hint of a weak shortwave moving through the area. Will include some slight chc pops for showers late tonight far south central in case convection over Northern Wi brushes Wi Border counties. .LONG TERM...(Wednesday through Monday) Issued at 432 AM EDT TUE SEP 20 2016 An increasingly amplified pattern will be developing across N America for the remainder of this week. Ridge/positive height anomaly currently moving across the Gulf of Alaska will strengthen as it shifts across the Northwest Territories to Nunavut by the end of the week. The magnitude of the positive height anomaly at 500mb will reach 3 standard deviations above the long term late Sept avg. To the s of this anomaly, a trof will amplify over the western CONUS this week. Ahead of this developing western trof, shortwave energy in the vcnty of southern CA will be kicked ne, reaching the western Great Lakes Wed evening. This energy will bring the next opportunity of widespread pcpn Wed into Thu. What happens late week and thru the weekend continues to be uncertain. One aspect that has generally been favored in the last day or so is for increased se Canada troffing late week, which seems reasonable based on the strength of the north central Canada positive height anomaly and based on this anomaly linking up with the ridging farther s ahead of the western CONUS trof. This argues for a drier period late week as sfc high pres associated with the sharp ridge builds se into northern Ontario and the Upper Great Lakes. Until that happens, right entrance of the upper jet associated with the se Canada trof may continue to support some shra into Fri. Over the weekend into early next week, attention turns to the fate of the western CONUS trof. As CMC/GFS ensembles and some operational medium range models began to show a day or so ago, guidance is overall converging toward the solution of dropping much of the energy in the western trof into the sw CONUS. Building heights to the n of this feature will weaken/shift the mid continent ridge e as a shortwave is forced se into the Upper Lakes late Sun/Mon downstream of the building heights over the w. This will provide the next good chc of shra. As for temps, after the recent warmth, readings will be trending back to normal or a little blo normal this week as fcst area ends up under low-level ne to e winds btwn frontal boundary to the s and high pres building toward northern Ontario. Coolest conditions may end up occurring early next week behind the shortwave pushing thru the area late Sun/Mon. Wed-Fri...shortwave energy lifting ne from the sw states ahead of the deepening western CONUS trof will result in sfc frontal boundary settting up from the Plains across the Great Lakes with weak low pres waves rippling along it. Combination of shortwave energy, upper divergence from right entrance of 120kt upper jet across northern Ontario into Quebec, frontal boundary and precipitable water increasing to around 1.25 inches will support pcpn development across the Upper Mississippi Valley and Upper Great Lakes Wed into Thu. Given avbl moisture, mdt/hvy rainfall is a possibility. Better chc of the heavy rainfall will be s of the fcst area in WI, closer to frontal boundary, but southern Upper MI could certainly see some heavier rainfall at times. While 00z guidance has mostly trended slower to push pcpn s of the area Thu into Fri, fcst will maintain closer continuity to previous fcst in trending drier later Thu into Fri. Pops will drop to low chc across the s into Fri while the n trends to dry weather. Proximity of the right entrance of 120kt upper jet leads to low confidence for the drying trend, but eventually, sharp ridge thru central N America will support sfc high pres building into the Upper Great Lakes, pushing pcpn s and w of the fcst area. Heading into Sat, the ECMWF is most aggressive with right entrance of upper jet aiding renewed pcpn development back into Upper MI. For now, confined chc pops to western Upper MI, in better aggreement with the GFS/CMC. Models show poor continuity in timing of the shortwave that reaches the Upper Lakes early next week. Due to the inconsistencies, a consensus of recent runs was utilized, resulting in chc pops spreading across the area Sun/Sun night and lingering over the e on Mon. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Tuesday night) Issued at 140 AM EDT TUE SEP 20 2016 Expect VFR conditions at all taf sites through the period. West winds will gust from 20-25 knots by late Tue morning into late afternoon, strongest over the more exposed CMX site. && .MARINE...(For the 4 AM Lake Superior forecast issuance) Issued at 525 AM EDT TUE SEP 20 2016 West southwest winds to 25 knots will diminish to 20 knots or less tonight into Wed as the pres gradient weakens with the Canadian low lifting farther ne across Hudson Bay. Winds will remain blo 20 kts into Saturday under a weak pres gradient across the Upper Lakes. && .MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Upper Michigan... Beach Hazards Statement until 2 PM EDT this afternoon for MIZ006. Lake Superior... None. Lake Michigan... None. && $$ SHORT TERM...Voss LONG TERM...Rolfson AVIATION...07/JV MARINE...Voss
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
413 AM EDT TUE SEP 20 2016 .SYNOPSIS... An upper level low will become nearly stationary over the Carolinas and consequently draw the remnant low of Julia southwestward along the Southeast U.S. coast during the next several days. Moist, northeasterly low level flow and unsettled conditions will result. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 400 AM Tuesday... WV satellite imagery depicts an increasingly well-defined mid-upper level low evolving over the west-central Carolinas this morning, though the 00Z upper data indicate it had not yet closed off. Once it does, strong upper divergence will develop in the deformation zone of the low --over ERN NC-- as the low drifts SEWD across SC during the next 12-24 hours. Meanwhile, KMHX radar and surface data indicate the remnant ~1009 mb low of Julia continues to drift very slowly NEWD this morning and was centered at 08Z between Cape Lookout and Cape Hatteras NC. The forecast models agree that the low will be drawn or elongated SWWD toward the aforementioned upper low, but there remains larger than average uncertainty with respect to both when and where that turn will occur. This will have large ramifications on the risk of flooding/how much rain falls over east-central NC through tonight, since rain will be maximized immediately N of the track of the surface low, where the associated moist isentropic upglide in ELY flow there is drawn up and into the divergent deformation region of the upper low. Based on the current position of the low relative to model analysis fields, a blend of the 00Z NAM/00ZGFS/06Z RAP is preferred, which favors the low meandering near MHX for the next 24 hours, characterized by a little more NEWD motion early today, followed by a slow drift to the WSW tonight. This scenario would favor the heaviest rain remaining E of the RAH CWA, with instead the expansion of an area of moderate showers across the NE Piedmont and Coastal Plain, and diurnal scattered showers and isolated storms over the SRN-WRN Piedmont and Sandhills /on the WRN edge of a blanket of overcast over the remainder of central NC/ where the presence of the cold pool aloft accompanying the upper low will favor steeper lapse rates and "instability" convection. High temperatures will again be tempered by low and deep layer cloudiness, and range from the mid 70s over the NE Piedmont/NRN Coastal Plain to lower 80s from MEB to VUJ to INT, where periods of sun are expected. The pressure gradient between post-tropical Julia and high pressure over the OH Valley will also result in a noticeable NELY breeze, strongest with gusts to 20-25 mph in the Coastal Plain. Lows tonight in the upper 60s to lower 70s. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/... As of 350 AM Tuesday... Them remnant low from Julia is expected to drift back to the southwest on Wednesday as it becomes fully merged with the upper low cutting off over upstate SC this morning. The ECWMF and NAM are in good agreement on this southwestward drift, while the GFS continue to favor a more northward extension of the the low along the coast. Good easterly moisture transport will continue on the northern side of the low, tapping the 2-2.25" PW air off the coast and maintaining a threat of scattered to numerous heavy showers. The more southern ECMWF/NAM placement is preferred, which should focus the greater coverage of showers and higher qpf across the northern portions of the Piedmont and Coastal Plain. QPF is generally forecast to be 0.5" to 1", though heavier localized amounts are almost certain. Highs should be mostly in the mid/upper 70s given cloud cover and showers. Loss of heating should reduce the coverage of showers and leave the greater coverage to the coastal areas and the inverted trough left int he wake of Julia. However, the presence of moist easterly flow and weakly diffluent flow aloft necessitates at least a chance of showers overnight. Lows 66-71. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... As of 350 AM Tuesday... The airmass over central NC will remain largely unchanged Thursday and Friday, with PW still in the 1.5" to 2" range, though the upper low over the Carolinas is expected to slowly shear out and lose its forcing influence. Mainly diurnally driven showers should become more widely scattered and pose less of a flash flooding threat as the week wears on, with highs warming back into he mid 80s by Saturday. The weakening upper low is then forecast to be swept away by the stronger westerlies to our north as a deep trough begins to dig across New England through the weekend. A cold front is progged by noth the GFS and ECMWF to surge down the east Coast Saturday and settle in the Southeast by Sunday/Monday, knocking thicknesses below 1380, which would result in pleasant highs back in the mid 70s early next week. && .AVIATION /06Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 230 AM Tuesday... NELY low level flow, around the remnant circulation of Julia now centered near Cape Lookout, will wrap moisture SWWD across central NC for the next several days, while an upper level low becomes nearly stationary over the Carolinas during the same time. The result will be a persistence forecast of continued sub-VFR ceilings, lowest and most widespread each night, and periods of showers, through the end of the week. Through early tonight, widespread IFR-MVFR ceilings, whose WRN edge will flirt with Triad terminals, will gradually lift and scatter to VFR by this afternoon - first at Triad terminals and FAY/RDU, and last, if at all, at RWI. An area of showers, some heavy, will also expand over NERN NC and pivot SWWD and affect portions of central NC later this morning through tonight, particularly at RWI/RDU/FAY. && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...MWS NEAR TERM...MWS SHORT TERM...BS LONG TERM...BS AVIATION...MWS
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
358 AM EDT Tue Sep 20 2016 .SYNOPSIS... An upper low combined with the remnants of former Tropical Storm Julia will meander about eastern North Carolina and South Carolina through late week before finally shifting out into the Atlantic ocean. This will keep fairly unsettled conditions east of the Blue Ridge over the next several days, less so in western areas. High pressure will gradually build in from the west during the later half of the week before a cold front approaches late in the weekend. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 330 AM EDT Tuesday... A fairly complicated forecast through this period as a weak upper low cuts off across the Carolinas. This upper low is combined from the remnants of former T.S. Julia and an upper trough that cutoff from the westerlies yesterday. Models continue to offer several solutions as to how far west and north tropical moisture from these combined systems will track back into the RNK CWA. The GFS tends to be fairly dry keeping the associated rainfall closer to the coast, while the NAM/Canadian/ECMWF spread the moisture much further back west and north, all the way to the Blue Ridge. ECMWF QPF is excessive, while the GFS is minimal at best. The concern, however, is that the ECMWF, NAM, and Canadian are more similar in QPF amounts, namely several inches as compared to the GFS. Having said this, all models are in good agreement that more appreciable rain will not spread back into the CWA until later today or this evening. The HRRR and NCEP WRF models show little to no precipitation making it any further west than the eastern parts of the Piedmont today/this afternoon. Mid-level air spreading east from the TN/OH valley is quite dry with mean RH less than 15%. Therefore, in agreement with other offices, have decreased pops for today/this afternoon, then increased into the high chance range along RAH border after 00Z when a weak spiral band is evident moving west into the region. As always with this type of pattern of high tropical PWAT air yielding an efficient warm rain process and enhanced upslope easterly flow developing, there are concerns of enhanced, heavy rainfall along the east slopes of the Blue Ridge. This will certainly need to be watched over the next few days. While we are almost a year to the date of a very heavy rain/flooding event that evolved along the Blue Ridge in 2015, the synoptic pattern this week is not similar. Several features in place during the event last year are lacking at this time. We lack a T.D. moving north out of the Gulf with PWATS in excess of 2.0 inches, an upper trough to the west, a stationary front over the region, and strong easterly flow to the east of the front thanks to a strong surface high over New England. So, at this point, concerns are far less than at this time last year for such type of event. Nonetheless, as noted above, we will need to keep a close eye as the ECMWF/NAM/Canadian depict several inches of rainfall across eastern NC very close to the RNK border and we are dealing with remnants of a tropical storm, always problematic. The key take away here is that confidence is low that the deep tropical moisture from remnant Julia will ever make it this far west. It is more likely to stay across the coastal plain in association with the coastal trough. As has been the case for weeks, no appreciable change in 850mb temps noted through the forecast period. Temperatures will largely be dependent on cloud cover today, less in the west, more in the east. This will most likely yield max temps in the upper 70s to lower 80s with lows in the upper 50s to mid 60s. These temperatures are 5-10 degrees above normal, especially min temperatures. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/... As of 315 AM EDT Tuesday... During this portion of the forecast, a frontal boundary will remain stalled from near Jacksonville, FL, northeast along the east coast to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. A closed upper low will meander north and south along this boundary, and be centered somewhere near the coast of South Carolina. Model guidance varies as to the degree to which moisture on the northern side of this system gets advected into parts of our region. The GFS is the driest with little if any precipitation impacting our area. The ECMWF, NAM, and Canadian solutions all to some degree offer solutions that have precipitation impacting roughly the southern third of the region, with the greatest concentration across the southeast parts of the area. WPC also has been leaning towards this wetter scenario as noted in their QPF forecasts. Our ongoing forecast has been been mirroring these wetter solutions, and the one from this morning will continue likewise. The biggest alteration will be a slight shift southeast of the northern most extent of the slight chance probabilities. Other than that, the general orientation of the precipitation in the forecast has been altered very little. By Friday into Friday night, the guidance is in fairly good agreement that the closed low will transition into an open wave and start to progress more out to sea. This process will allow for a decrease in coverage across the southern sections of the area. By late Friday night, all the precipitation is expected to be out of the area. Thanks to decreasing wind speeds, less cloud cover, and a moist boundary layer, late night and early morning river and mountain valley fog is expected, especially by Thursday night and Friday night. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... As of 330 PM EDT Monday... The weak closed 500mb low opens to become absorbed in the general west to east flow which gradually takes the clouds and rain east and off the Atlantic coast Friday night. Upper ridge strengthens by Saturday morning but remains undercut by low level southeast flow Saturday ahead of a shallow backdoor front that may slide south into the area by Sunday. This supports isolated diurnal pops Saturday before deeper upstream moisture ahead of a stronger Midwest cold front works east along the backdoor boundary resulting in perhaps more widespread showers by early next week. Leaned temperatures towards Superblend with cooler readings especially for Sunday and Monday with moderating high temperatures for Tuesday. && .AVIATION /08Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 145 AM EDT Tuesday... With the combination of now a moist ground and lingering low level moisture, look for a continuation of an increase in coverage of LIFR/IFR ceilings across the mountains with IFR/MVFR ceilings east of the crest of the Blue Ridge. Visibilities will also continue to trend downward. LIFR/IFR values with fog/mist are expected across the mountains, especially the river valley regions. Areas east of the Blue ridge will more likely remain on the low end of VFR or drop into the MVFR range. Sub-VFR conditions are expected to improve to VFR within the 14Z-16Z/10AM-noon time window. Drier air will continue to work its way into the region through Wednesday afternoon. Light winds and surface moisture will help regenerate some sub-VFR visibilities in the mountain valleys towards the end of the TAF valid time period, 06Z/2AM Wednesday. Extended aviation discussion... Tuesday night through Friday, outside of late night/early morning fog/low clouds, expect mainly VFR conditions with the caveat to this being any lingering slight chance of showers and thunderstorms from Julia per GFS/EC, mainly affecting areas east of the Blue Ridge. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...RAB NEAR TERM...AMS/RAB SHORT TERM...KK LONG TERM...KK AVIATION...AMS/DS/MBS
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Duluth MN
920 AM CDT TUE SEP 20 2016 .UPDATE... Issued at 920 AM CDT Tue Sep 20 2016 Light rain was spreading into the Brainerd Lakes area per observations and latest radar. Current indications are that these showers will spread as far east as northwest Wisconsin this morning, then lift northward this afternoon before diminishing late. This rain is in conjunction with the vorticity max moving along the North and South Dakota borders. The rain is benefiting from some frontogenesis as well. Made some adjustments to pops/weather and increase sky cover. && .SHORT TERM...(Today through Wednesday) Issued at 325 AM CDT Tue Sep 20 2016 A weak ridge of high pressure was over the Northland early this morning. This high will move east today and a trough will move into the region and act on a baroclinic zone to produce a strong area of FGEN. Showers and a few thunderstorms were occurring over portions of southwest to south central North Dakota into central South Dakota as of 08Z and this is expected to move into portions of the Northland this morning. We made some significant changes to the forecast for today by increasing the chance for rain quite a bit. The HRRR is most aggressive with rain coverage and if it ends up being correct, we`ll have to increase the chance even further and possibly spread further east into northern Wisconsin. Highs today will be in the upper sixties to lower seventies. The FGEN will weaken this evening and the area of rain should diminish. A warm front will extend from low pressure in the Central Plains northeast into southern Minnesota and southern Wisconsin. The front will move little into Wednesday. A shortwave will move along the frontal surface as well Wednesday along with strengthening FGEN/WAA and cause showers and storms to increase through the day, especially along and south of Highway 2 including all of northwest Wisconsin. .LONG TERM...(Wednesday night through Monday) Issued at 325 AM CDT Tue Sep 20 2016 The area of low pressure will slowly move into the Central Plains by Thursday as an inverted trough is located over central MN. The main concern is where the heavier rain will fall. With the shortwaves moving through the trough and the dynamics, it looks like the heavier rain will be across NW WI based on past trends and model forecast. Models are still different with the NAM further north with the rainfall with the GFS further south and the ECMWF a little closer to the GFS. Went with a GFS/ ECMWF compromise for solution. Similar to previous shift, will not put any potential flooding wording in for now until the situation can be better defined. There will be a break in the rain as the trough drifts south out of the forecast area on Thursday. But the precipitation returns as the warm front drifts back north Thursday night and Friday. It does look like it could be decent amounts of rain with 0.25 to 0.50 possible. The upper level trough will move through the region Saturday night through Sunday night with shortwaves passing through the region. This will keep the threat of rain Sunday night. Finally, it dries out on Monday as a ridge builds into the region. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Wednesday morning) Issued at 632 AM CDT Tue Sep 20 2016 VFR through the forecast period at all TAF sites. However, there could be some showers developing this afternoon at all airports except HYR due to an upper level disturbance moving through the region. For tonight...there could be some more showers at HYR and BRD. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DLH 70 51 65 51 / 40 10 50 40 INL 70 46 64 43 / 10 10 10 10 BRD 70 53 67 52 / 60 10 70 40 HYR 73 53 68 54 / 20 20 70 70 ASX 73 54 66 52 / 40 10 50 60 && .DLH Watches/Warnings/Advisories... WI...None. MN...None. LS...None. && $$ UPDATE...GSF SHORT TERM...Melde LONG TERM...Stewart AVIATION...Stewart
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
1033 AM EDT Tue Sep 20 2016 .SYNOPSIS... Weak low pressure will drift around Georgia and the Carolinas into the second half of the week. An upper ridge will build over the southeast states through next weekend as temperatures rise above normal again. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 1035 AM EDT: We have held onto valley fog in the western North Carolina mountains until late morning, and issued SPS products for areas of patchy dense fog. Meanwhile added a bit more cloud cover in our eastern zones, plus gustiness over the entire region. Winds were based on current observation and radar profiles. Meanwhile the RAP 500mb analysis shows cutoff low over the heart of the Carolinas, while sfc analysis shows low pressure just off Cape Lookout. In conjunction with high pressure over the Northeast, a moist easterly flow continues into the CWFA. Today we will see the effects of the somewhat drier continental airmass that pushed in behind the front yesterday. Lapse rates are not as strong aloft. Convergent flow in the upper levels (upstream of the low) is not supportive of widespread convective development either. The paltry QPF response from the hi-res guidance reflects these findings. Also the 06z NAM flavors have trended toward even less coverage than the previous runs. I backed off PoPs a bit more with this update. However I retained chance-range values along/east of I-77, where vort lobes encircling the low may pass through and provide occasional enhancement to lift. Any activity will be capable of some brisk outflow winds, but no severe weather is anticipated. Partial thickness values have not changed much since Monday, and enough sunshine should occur to easily bring temperatures back into the upper 80s over most of GA/SC, with mid-80s likely across the NC foothills/piedmont. Tonight, models expect less low-level cloud cover will wrap around the low, which may even begin to retrograde slightly. While models produce little in the way of QPF this far west, seeing how a few showers managed to develop from time to time late Monday night, a slight chance has been retained more or less over the eastern half of the area. Min temps will again be a couple categories above normal. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... As of 245 AM EDT Tuesday...the latest model guidance has somewhat of an eastward trend to the position of a closed upper low on Wednesday, with the center closer to the coast than previous runs. This position would keep the deeper moisture more to the east and would back the flow a bit more over the fcst area, which would be more unfavorable for precip over the mtns and near the Blue Ridge. The fcst will generally follow this trend which is reflected mainly in lowering the precip chances over the Mtns and Foothills and delaying the development of precip from the east on Wednesday morning. That being said, think Wednesday overall still has the best chance for seeing precip, particularly over the Wrn Piedmont of NC as rain that develops closer to the coast is wrapped westward. Confidence not high enough to go above 50 pct yet. Will also not completely rule out heavy rain over the eastern zones, but for the time being the threat is low enough to not mention in the HWO. Precip chances will have a diurnal peak late in the day but will not completely diminish overnight as the upper low remains nearby into Thursday and Thursday night. The model guidance now suggests that drier air will be pulled in from the north on Thursday night which should eliminate lingering precip, so precip chances diminish accordingly. Temps should finally be kept to something closer to normal for this time of year. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... As of 315 AM Tuesday, the models remain in better agreement out in the Medium Range with the fate of the upper low over the Carolinas, opening it up and taking it off to the east on Friday. We retain a chance of precip across most of the area mainly for Friday afternoon with the possibility of scattered showers developing with weak instability, mostly in deference to the ECMWF. The guidance shows the upper pattern amplifying over the weekend with a ridge building off to the west and an upper trof digging over the Northeast. The resulting NW flow aloft is a dry pattern for the Wrn Carolinas, especially at this time of year. The legacy of the slight chance PoP was kept for Saturday afternoon, but most places will probably not see rain. Precip chances were removed for the rest of the weekend. Model agreement as to the passage of a back door cold front on Sunday is not particularly great, with the ECMWF hanging the boundary closer to our region and developing some precip for Monday. No changes were made out that far to the precip chances because of this uncertainty. However, the high temp fcst looks too cool based on a blend of the guidance, so Monday max temps were raised at least one category which pulls them up close to normal. && .AVIATION /15Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... At KCLT: Lower clouds moving into KCLT from the east. That trend should continue for the remainder of the morning. As a result we have updated the site for MVFR CIGS through the morning, with the CIGS lifting somewhat in the afternoon. That will be another issue to look at, based on bufkit data. We have also added gustiness to the KCLT TAF site, based on TCLT profiles and surrounding observations. Still can`t rule out a stray shower during the heat of the afternoon, but lapse rates are too poor for TS chances to warrant any mention. That low will remain essentially stationary thru tonight, but guidance has backed off earlier expectations of low clouds and moisture wrapping around it. Precip chance tonight is unmentionably low, and clouds look most likely to remain VFR. Winds will steadily be in the NE quadrant. Elsewhere: Except for fog in the mountain valleys and foothills, no restrictions are expected this morning (even at KAVL). Lapse rates will be weaker today than they were Monday, and so convective precip coverage is expected to remain isolated. Latest round of guidance, including the meso models, has trended toward even less coverage than yesterday evening`s runs. Best chance is along the Blue Ridge, hence VCSH at KAVL. N to NE flow continues thru the period. Tonight, per guidance, fog is expected to return in the same areas as this morning. A low VFR cloud deck may begin to spread in from the east late. Outlook: Drier air and mostly VFR conditions are expected Wednesday and Thursday. However, an easterly flow may bring moisture back from the Atlantic at times, especially late in the week. Periodic restrictions could return Thursday and Friday, if not sooner. Confidence Table... 14-20Z 20-02Z 02-08Z 08-12Z KCLT High 100% High 100% High 100% High 100% KGSP High 100% High 100% High 100% High 100% KAVL High 100% High 100% High 100% High 91% KHKY High 100% High 100% High 100% High 100% KGMU High 100% High 100% High 100% High 100% KAND High 100% High 100% High 100% High 100% The percentage reflects the number of guidance members agreeing with the scheduled TAF issuance flight rule category. Complete hourly experimental aviation forecast consistency tables and ensemble forecasts are available at the following link: www.weather.gov/gsp/aviation && .GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. NC...None. SC...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...DEO NEAR TERM...TS/Wimberley SHORT TERM...PM LONG TERM...PM AVIATION...TS/Wimberley
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
1119 AM EDT Tue Sep 20 2016 .SYNOPSIS... The remnants of Julia will remain across eastern North Carolina through much of the week and this will keep the weather rather unsettled. High pressure will build into the area by the weekend finally bringing drier conditions. A cold front will move across the area during Sunday bringing the first hint of Autumn early next week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 10 AM Tuesday...An upper low spinning around in the Carolinas will continue to provide unsettled weather across the area through tonight. Low clouds and spotty light drizzle were covering much of the area this morning. A moist northerly flow was wrapping around the remnant low from Julia as some drier air aloft wraps around the back of the upper low. Sounding data and time height sections show drier air aloft from h70 and above which looks like it should mix down some later this afternoon especially across inland areas producing some breaks in the clouds. This all makes for a tricky forecast as the clouds will hamper heating and therefore instability while areas that see some sunshine will become more unstable and should see some convective development this aftn. The cool pool aloft will drift south over the area helping to sharpen lapse rates and promote some convection associated with differential heating or low level convergence. It looks like the best upper level energy and support will be aligned from the Cape Fear almost due north and wrapping around the back end across inland areas later today, while the best convergence associated with sfc and low levels this morning will translate down across mainly inland areas later today in N-NW flow on back end of sfc low as it gets pulled S-SW toward Cape Fear. HRRR shows pcp mainly aligned along I-95 corridor and west with only spottier pcp to the east closer to the coast. Temps struggling to make it into the mid 70s through this morning will continue a slow rise hampered by clouds and pcp. Temps will remain in the 70s most of the afternoon. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... As of 300 AM Tuesday...Showery weather with moderate rainfall this period as the cool pool aloft remains overhead. Higher precipitable water and heavier rainfall potential will reside north and west of the area from central SC to central NC to the Outer banks, so the flooding threat lessens over NE SC and SE NC this 2 day period. Temperatures to run near normal. Isolated TSTMS will be possible anytime with help of a low level trigger given the anticipated mid level lapse rates and available column mositure. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... As of 300 AM Tuesday...The upper cutoff low meandering across the Carolinas leading up to this period, will finally weaken early Friday and actually open up and picked up by the upper westerlies ie. the jetstream, as they dip slightly southward. This a result of the upper ridge amplifying across the central U.S. leading up to Friday. During Friday thru Monday, this upper ridge will further amplify, further dropping the upper westerlies southward. The progged amplified upper trof line will reside well off the east coast leaving the ILM CWA nearly halfway between the central U.S. upper ridge axis and the trof line well off the East Coast. At this location, models indicate the ILM CWA will likely see the passage of a sfc cold front dropping north to south during Sunday. This followed by a 1025 mb sfc High dropping to the area on Monday. As for pcpn chances, will indicate isolated to scattered at 15 to 25 POPs, for both Fri and Sat, and mainly sea breeze force driven. For Sunday, will indicate 30-40 POPs tied to the cold frontal passage. Models do not indicate any decent to strong mid-level s/w accompanying this cfp, thus why kept POPs at this range. As for Max/Min temps, basically blended/meshed the big 3 model Mos Guidance across the FA. This results in the ILM CWA 1 to 2 categories above climo norms for Fri and Sat...and at or 1 category below climo norms for Sun and Mon. An elevated rip current threat will occur Fri thru the weekend due to a 10 to 12 second period 2 to 4 foot ese ground swell generated by Tropical Cyclone Karl affecting the area beaches. && .AVIATION /13Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 06Z...Through 15-16Z there is high confidence of IFR at coastal terminals. Otherwise 1-2K MVFR cigs expected. Shower activity is offshore, but some patchy -dz/-ra could still occur through mid-morning. Winds will be NW-N 5-10 kt. MVFR cigs will lift to 2-3K by afternoon. Early to mid-afternoon some VFR will occur, highest confidence at KFLO/KLBT. A cold pool aloft and the days heating will support the development of convection this afternoon. ATTM it appears coastal terminals will have a better chance of VCSH with the best potential for precipitation/thunderstorms at KFLO/KLBT mid-late afternoon into the evening. A moist N flow but lighter wind speeds support the development of IFR at the terminals overnight. Cigs could possibly lower to LIFR at the northern terminals. EXTENDED OUTLOOK...Isolated to scattered afternoon and early evening convection possible underneath the cutoff upper low through Friday. MVFR/IFR morning stratus/fog possible each day thru Saturday. && .MARINE... NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 10 AM Tuesday...E waves of 2-3 feet every 6-7 seconds will move ashore today and tonight. Scattered heavy showers and isolated TSTMS will remain in the marine forecast, so radar updates are advised before a venture out today and tonight. NW winds less than 15 KT will prevail today and tonight as low pressure remains between Cape Lookout and Cape Fear, thus largest seas and highest winds offshore. SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... As of 300 AM Tuesday...Changeable but overall light winds Wednesday outside of showers or TSTMS, as weak low pressure circulates over the waters. By Thursday, high pressure building from the north will begin to force the low southward, bringing a 10-15 knot NE wind Thursday across the 0-20 nm waters. Radar updates are recommended this period as showers and few storms develop and roam the waters. SE swell will build close to 3 feet by late Thursday. LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 300 AM Tuesday...Majority of this period will experience a rather diffuse pressure pattern and relaxed gradient. Will attempt to identify and use the best or predominate wind directions this period. The exception will be during each afternoon thru early evening nearshore, where a resultant wind boundary or sea breeze should occur with se-s wind directions and speeds 10 to possibly 15 kt. The strength of the sea breeze circulation will depend how warm inland temps reach during each aftn. Late Saturday night, a cold front will be dropping down from the north and will be on the doorsteps of the ILM coastal waters. It`s also noted that Tropical Cyclone Karl will be making it`s hard right hand turn with Bermuda on its mind. Significant seas will run 3 to 4 ft Fri thru Sat with the majority of it coming from a ground swell at 10 to 12 second periods generated by distant Hurricane Karl. This illustrated by the latest Wavewatch3 and locally run Swan models. Will see afternoon wind chop on-top of this swell. && .ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...None. NC...None. MARINE...None. && $$ NEAR TERM...RGZ SHORT TERM...MJC LONG TERM...DCH AVIATION...MRR
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
938 AM CDT TUE SEP 20 2016 .UPDATE... Issued at 938 AM CDT Tue Sep 20 2016 Little change needed to the existing forecast. Weak cold front dropping southward and hard to pick out on the surface obs over central Illinois at the moment, but should the HRRR focuses it along the I-72 corridor by late morning with little additional movement. RAP model continues to ramp CAPE`s up to over 2000 J/kg by midday, and between the instability and the front, the potential continues for isolated storms this afternoon. Temperatures are on track to reach the mid 80s in most areas with some locally higher values. && .SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight) ISSUED AT 338 AM CDT Tue Sep 20 2016 Another unseasonably warm day, with generally quiet conditions, is expected across central and southeast Illinois. However, there is one fly in the ointment with respect to the forecast. This revolves around the chance for a few showers/storms as diurnal instability builds and a weak surface boundary lies in our vicinity. A weak west-southwest to east-northeast oriented cold front is currently sinking across northern Illinois. While there is some variance in the guidance, not surprising given the weak steering flow, this boundary is likely to briefly stall out across central Illinois later today before heading back north tonight. Have added isolated showers/storms to portion of forecast area north of the I- 72 corridor this afternoon. This area resides within the peak forecast instability axis (2000-4000 j/kg), is most likely to have the front in the area, and is closer to the faster flow aloft. While the coverage is likely to be very low, the risk of precipitation is certainly not zero. The risk of rainfall should end with loss of diurnal heating. .LONG TERM...(Wednesday through Monday) ISSUED AT 338 AM CDT Tue Sep 20 2016 Forecast is warm and rather calm for the most part as the upper ridge builds over the eastern half of the CONUS for the rest of the week. A series of shortwave ripple through the flow aloft, but the ridge deflects most of them north of ILX. Going further into the extended for the weekend...the GFS has come around to last nights ECMWF solution for the next system. Late Thursday/Friday, a trof digs in over the west coast and settles into the SW. Now models agreeing in a more cut off solution. Whereas the flow aloft does become more southwesterly, the cut off low is much slower to make any progress eastward. The energy in the northern stream is sheared out a bit, and the front is dragged along behind it, separate from the cut off low and weaker overall. The southern extent of the precip is in question, and the last run is even more spotty with the production of QPF this far south. The forecast at this point is warm for mid September, and mostly dry, with chance pops to cover a weak system this weekend. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Wednesday morning) Issued at 640 AM CDT Tue Sep 20 2016 Predominantly VFR aviation weather conditions are expected across the central Illinois terminals through the 12Z TAF valid time. A weak frontal boundary will be over part of the area today, possibly triggering an isolated shower or storm. While KPIA and KBMI are the most likely to be impacted by any convection, the expected coverage is too low to mention at this time. && .ILX Watches/Warnings/Advisories... NONE. && $$ UPDATE...Geelhart SHORT TERM...Bak LONG TERM...HJS AVIATION...Bak
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA
901 AM PDT TUE SEP 20 2016 ...Marine discussion and Synopsis updated... .SYNOPSIS... The moisture from Tropical Storm Paine will bring possible showers and thunderstorms into this evening for Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Then another low will move in midweek for a temperature cool down and increase the overnight marine layer. The offshore flow will increase this weekend for a rapid jump in temperatures and decreasing clouds. && .SHORT TERM...(TDY-THU) A fairly quiet morning in respect to precipitation across the forecast area. Most of the showers have remained to the south and over the adjacent coastal waters with no thunderstorms to speak of. The synoptic pattern looks quite interesting today. Tropical Storm Paine was located around 500 miles south of San Diego just off the Central Baja Coast. By the looks of the latest Water vapor and IR radar, Paine has become much less organized than earlier this evening. Some remnants from Paine have been pulled north in part from a weakening upper low that was located around 250 miles west of San Diego. As the upper low continues to weaken, the mid level moisture will not continue to drive north around the low, but will start to re-direct to the north-northeast. Based on models including the latest HRRR model, have pulled pops out of all counties N of Los Angeles County this morning through this afternoon. Except will keep slight chance of thundershowers in the Ventura County Mtns this afternoon due to some marginal instability. The conveyer belt of mid level moisture will now be aimed towards the very southern part of the sate with the northern most progression over portions of Los Angeles County through early this evening. There are no real features that indicate any reason to keep thunderstorms in the forecast for coast and valleys of Los Angeles County this morning. There was a difluent area between the remnants of Paine and the weak upper low that appeared on satellite to show some cloud tops cooling near Catalina and towards Orange County, but nothing has materialized. Therefore will only be looking for isolated showers today for coast and valleys of LA county. Have left slight chance for thunderstorms across the LA and VTU county mountains this afternoon and Antelope Valley. The latest NAM WRF soundings indicated some marginal convective parameters as well as a vort max that skirts LA county and areas to the south late afternoon hours. If isolated thunderstorms do initiate over the L.A. county mountains, steering winds will be fairly weak this afternoon which could cause some localized street flooding. By this evening the upper low that was just off our coast will weaken and fill in as a more prominent upper trough begins to move into Northern Cal. The southerly flow that brought up the moisture will become more SW later this afternoon which will help to dry out the atmosphere for the most part. High temps will drop 5 to 8 degrees today across inland areas and only a few degrees or about the same as yesterday for most coastal areas. This due to clouds and the upper ridge beginning to break down in response to the upper trough to the north. Low clouds will likely redevelop across the Central Coast and Santa Ynez Valley tonight into Wed morning. For Wednesday, expect additional cooling as the upper trough approaches and increases onshore flow. There will be a few flat cu across the LA and VTU county Mtns but not expecting any showers to develop as soundings indicating some warming aloft over the mtns to hamper vertical development. Gusty NW winds will strengthen across the outer waters which in turn will help an eddy to form. This will bring low clouds well into the coastal valleys by Wed night while the SBA S Coast stays mostly clear. Some stratus could form near SBA city near Sunrise Thursdsay. Cooler air will advect down the coast in response the upper trough. Mostly NW flow will occur for SLO/SBA counties with cyclonic flow remaining across LA/VTU counties. This will cause low clouds to linger into the early afternoon across the LA/VTU coastal areas while gusty west to north winds develop across the Mtns and Antelope Valley. Thursday will be the coolest day this week with highs mainly in the 70s to lower 80s inland, and cooler at the beaches. The upper trough axis will move through Thursday evening. An interesting pattern will be setting up for the long term forecast. Lastly, in regards to the Canyon Fire...There will continue to be areas of smoke in and around the Central Coast. however onshore flow will increase today sending the smoke across interior areas and with some NW flow aloft should drift towards the SBA South Coast this evening. More W TO NW flow will occur in the next couple of days so smoke could reach portions of Ventura County Coast and Valleys By Wednesday due to NW flow expected. If fire continues into the weekend, expect offshore flow to blow smoke out to sea. .LONG TERM...(FRI-MON) After a cooler than normal day on Thursday, The weather pattern takes a major change as the upper trough (Inside Slider) moves into NV/Utah Friday. Initially gusty Sundowner winds across SBA county and northerly winds will strengthen across the I-5 Corridor, Santa Clarita and San Fernando Valleys and possibly into West LA Thursday evening into Friday morning. Winds will then shift to the NE Friday and continue through the weekend as relatively strong surface pressure sets up over NV/UT. The offshore pressure gradient will peak both Sat/Sun mornings allowing for our first moderate Santa Ana wind event. Winds will be at least 5-15 mph stronger than what we saw with the offshore event this last weekend and likely even more so for coast/valleys. Wind advisories will likely be needed this weekend for the usual wind prone areas of LA/VTU counties. The combination of gusty winds, high temperatures, low humidities and dry fuels will bring an elevated fire weather concern this weekend. High temps will be 2 to 6 degrees warmer on Friday across the board, with an additional 8 to 15 degrees warmer on Saturday. Highs will soar with combination of a moderate surface offshore gradient and a relatively strong upper ridge overhead. Highs will likely reach the mid to upper 90s with a few triple digits across coastal valleys while the Antelope Valley only reaches the mid 80s. Coastal areas of LA/VTU counties will reach the upper 80s to around 90. At this time, Sunday looks to be the hottest day as gusty Santa Ana winds and high temps should reach up to 105 in the warmest valleys and in the 90s along coastal areas. The Central Coast should reach the 80s as well with weaker offshore flow. Low clouds will not be an issue while the offshore flow persists. Some cooling is likely on Monday as the offshore gradients begin to weaken. This will allow for some cooling along the coast, but high temps will remain well above normal on Monday. && .AVIATION...20/0940Z... At 0930Z, the marine inversion at KLAX was surface based. The top of the inversion was 1300 feet with a temperature of 26 degrees Celsius. Overall, moderate to high confidence in 12Z TAF package. With abundant mid-level moisture moving overhead, conditions should remain VFR at all sites through this evening with a slight chance of showers/thunderstorms across the LA county TAF sites through this evening. For tonight, moderate confidence in return of IFR/VLIFR conditions to the Central Coast and conditions remaining VFR south of Point Conception. KLAX...moderate confidence in 12Z TAF. VFR conditions are anticipated through the TAF period. There is a slight chance of TSTMs through this afternoon. KBUR...moderate confidence in 12Z TAF. VFR conditions are anticipated through the TAF period. There is a slight chance of TSTMs through this afternoon. && .MARINE...20/830 AM... There is a slight chance of thunderstorms through this afternoon for the coastal waters south of the Channel Islands. For the outer waters... winds and seas will remain below Small Craft Advisory (SCA) levels through tonight. Northwest winds will increase on Wednesday with a good chance of SCA conditions on Wednesday then likely SCA conditions on Thursday with a chance of gale force gusts. The winds will gradually diminish into the weekend with SCA conditions possible on Friday then no SCA conditions on Saturday. For the inner waters north of Point Conception... winds and seas will remain below SCA levels through tonight. However for Wednesday through Friday there is a good chance of SCA level winds developing in the afternoon and evening hours. For the inner waters south of Point Conception... winds and seas will remain below SCA levels through Wednesday. Winds will increase on Thursday with a good chance of SCA level winds on Friday in Santa Ana wind prone locations. Winds will gradually diminish on Saturday. && .LOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CA...NONE. PZ...NONE. && $$ PUBLIC...CK AVIATION...RAT MARINE...KJ SYNOPSIS...Seto weather.gov/losangeles
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Marquette MI
719 AM EDT TUE SEP 20 2016 .SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight) Issued at 525 AM EDT TUE SEP 20 2016 WV imagery and RAP analysis indicated a mainly zonal pattern across the northern CONUS/Southern Canada with a 130 knot 250-300 mb jet from the Northern Rockies into the Upper Great Lakes. A shortwave upstream was producing a cluster of storms over the ND/SD border along MUCAPE gradient approaching 1000 j/kg, steep mid-lvl lapse rates and at nose of fairly strong 850 mb moisture transport. Over the Upper Great Lakes broad sfc high pressure has resulted in generally cloud-free skies early this morning. Early morning temps have fallen into the 40s over the interior west half and into the 50s east half and along the Great Lakes shores. Today, a dry airmass will prevail with sfc ridging in place over the region. Under mostly sunny skies through most of the day temps will remain above normal with forecast soundings supporting highs in the mid 70s and perhaps even higher in a few spots. Mid and high clouds will gradually spread into the area from the west during the afternoon with a waa pattern developing in advance of a trough over the plains. Tonight, Waa continues tonight with a northward push of 850 mb warm frontal boundary into Northern Wi and expect clouds to increase into Upper Mi. Models suggest convection could initiate along warm frontal boundary over Nrn Wi with hint of a weak shortwave moving through the area. Will include some slight chc pops for showers late tonight far south central in case convection over Northern Wi brushes Wi Border counties. .LONG TERM...(Wednesday through Monday) Issued at 432 AM EDT TUE SEP 20 2016 An increasingly amplified pattern will be developing across N America for the remainder of this week. Ridge/positive height anomaly currently moving across the Gulf of Alaska will strengthen as it shifts across the Northwest Territories to Nunavut by the end of the week. The magnitude of the positive height anomaly at 500mb will reach 3 standard deviations above the long term late Sept avg. To the s of this anomaly, a trof will amplify over the western CONUS this week. Ahead of this developing western trof, shortwave energy in the vcnty of southern CA will be kicked ne, reaching the western Great Lakes Wed evening. This energy will bring the next opportunity of widespread pcpn Wed into Thu. What happens late week and thru the weekend continues to be uncertain. One aspect that has generally been favored in the last day or so is for increased se Canada troffing late week, which seems reasonable based on the strength of the north central Canada positive height anomaly and based on this anomaly linking up with the ridging farther s ahead of the western CONUS trof. This argues for a drier period late week as sfc high pres associated with the sharp ridge builds se into northern Ontario and the Upper Great Lakes. Until that happens, right entrance of the upper jet associated with the se Canada trof may continue to support some shra into Fri. Over the weekend into early next week, attention turns to the fate of the western CONUS trof. As CMC/GFS ensembles and some operational medium range models began to show a day or so ago, guidance is overall converging toward the solution of dropping much of the energy in the western trof into the sw CONUS. Building heights to the n of this feature will weaken/shift the mid continent ridge e as a shortwave is forced se into the Upper Lakes late Sun/Mon downstream of the building heights over the w. This will provide the next good chc of shra. As for temps, after the recent warmth, readings will be trending back to normal or a little blo normal this week as fcst area ends up under low-level ne to e winds btwn frontal boundary to the s and high pres building toward northern Ontario. Coolest conditions may end up occurring early next week behind the shortwave pushing thru the area late Sun/Mon. Wed-Fri...shortwave energy lifting ne from the sw states ahead of the deepening western CONUS trof will result in sfc frontal boundary settting up from the Plains across the Great Lakes with weak low pres waves rippling along it. Combination of shortwave energy, upper divergence from right entrance of 120kt upper jet across northern Ontario into Quebec, frontal boundary and precipitable water increasing to around 1.25 inches will support pcpn development across the Upper Mississippi Valley and Upper Great Lakes Wed into Thu. Given avbl moisture, mdt/hvy rainfall is a possibility. Better chc of the heavy rainfall will be s of the fcst area in WI, closer to frontal boundary, but southern Upper MI could certainly see some heavier rainfall at times. While 00z guidance has mostly trended slower to push pcpn s of the area Thu into Fri, fcst will maintain closer continuity to previous fcst in trending drier later Thu into Fri. Pops will drop to low chc across the s into Fri while the n trends to dry weather. Proximity of the right entrance of 120kt upper jet leads to low confidence for the drying trend, but eventually, sharp ridge thru central N America will support sfc high pres building into the Upper Great Lakes, pushing pcpn s and w of the fcst area. Heading into Sat, the ECMWF is most aggressive with right entrance of upper jet aiding renewed pcpn development back into Upper MI. For now, confined chc pops to western Upper MI, in better aggreement with the GFS/CMC. Models show poor continuity in timing of the shortwave that reaches the Upper Lakes early next week. Due to the inconsistencies, a consensus of recent runs was utilized, resulting in chc pops spreading across the area Sun/Sun night and lingering over the e on Mon. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Wednesday morning) Issued at 717 AM EDT TUE SEP 20 2016 Expect VFR conditions at all taf sites through the period. West winds will gust into 20-25 knot range by late Tue morning into late afternoon, strongest over the more exposed CMX site. Expect increasing mid clouds from the west late in the day. && .MARINE...(For the 4 AM Lake Superior forecast issuance) Issued at 525 AM EDT TUE SEP 20 2016 West southwest winds to 25 knots will diminish to 20 knots or less tonight into Wed as the pres gradient weakens with the Canadian low lifting farther ne across Hudson Bay. Winds will remain blo 20 kts into Saturday under a weak pres gradient across the Upper Lakes. && .MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Upper Michigan... Beach Hazards Statement until 2 PM EDT this afternoon for MIZ006. Lake Superior... None. Lake Michigan... None. && $$ SHORT TERM...Voss LONG TERM...Rolfson AVIATION...Voss MARINE...Voss
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
1005 AM EDT Tue Sep 20 2016 .SYNOPSIS... An upper low combined with the remnants of former Tropical Storm Julia will meander about eastern North Carolina and South Carolina through late week before finally shifting out into the Atlantic ocean. This will keep fairly unsettled conditions east of the Blue Ridge over the next several days, less so in western areas. High pressure will gradually build in from the west during the later half of the week before a cold front approaches late in the weekend. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 730 AM EDT Tuesday... Removed expired dense fog advisory from products. Lower PoP chances across the piedmont until later this afternoon. Current showers enter an area of subsidence and relatively dry air. No other changes at this time. As of 330 AM EDT Tuesday... A fairly complicated forecast through this period as a weak upper low cuts off across the Carolinas. This upper low is combined from the remnants of former T.S. Julia and an upper trough that cutoff from the westerlies yesterday. Models continue to offer several solutions as to how far west and north tropical moisture from these combined systems will track back into the RNK CWA. The GFS tends to be fairly dry keeping the associated rainfall closer to the coast, while the NAM/Canadian/ECMWF spread the moisture much further back west and north, all the way to the Blue Ridge. ECMWF QPF is excessive, while the GFS is minimal at best. The concern, however, is that the ECMWF, NAM, and Canadian are more similar in QPF amounts, namely several inches as compared to the GFS. Having said this, all models are in good agreement that more appreciable rain will not spread back into the CWA until later today or this evening. The HRRR and NCEP WRF models show little to no precipitation making it any further west than the eastern parts of the Piedmont today/this afternoon. Mid-level air spreading east from the TN/OH valley is quite dry with mean RH less than 15%. Therefore, in agreement with other offices, have decreased pops for today/this afternoon, then increased into the high chance range along RAH border after 00Z when a weak spiral band is evident moving west into the region. As always with this type of pattern of high tropical PWAT air yielding an efficient warm rain process and enhanced upslope easterly flow developing, there are concerns of enhanced, heavy rainfall along the east slopes of the Blue Ridge. This will certainly need to be watched over the next few days. While we are almost a year to the date of a very heavy rain/flooding event that evolved along the Blue Ridge in 2015, the synoptic pattern this week is not similar. Several features in place during the event last year are lacking at this time. We lack a T.D. moving north out of the Gulf with PWATS in excess of 2.0 inches, an upper trough to the west, a stationary front over the region, and strong easterly flow to the east of the front thanks to a strong surface high over New England. So, at this point, concerns are far less than at this time last year for such type of event. Nonetheless, as noted above, we will need to keep a close eye as the ECMWF/NAM/Canadian depict several inches of rainfall across eastern NC very close to the RNK border and we are dealing with remnants of a tropical storm, always problematic. The key take away here is that confidence is low that the deep tropical moisture from remnant Julia will ever make it this far west. It is more likely to stay across the coastal plain in association with the coastal trough. As has been the case for weeks, no appreciable change in 850mb temps noted through the forecast period. Temperatures will largely be dependent on cloud cover today, less in the west, more in the east. This will most likely yield max temps in the upper 70s to lower 80s with lows in the upper 50s to mid 60s. These temperatures are 5-10 degrees above normal, especially min temperatures. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/... As of 315 AM EDT Tuesday... During this portion of the forecast, a frontal boundary will remain stalled from near Jacksonville, FL, northeast along the east coast to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. A closed upper low will meander north and south along this boundary, and be centered somewhere near the coast of South Carolina. Model guidance varies as to the degree to which moisture on the northern side of this system gets advected into parts of our region. The GFS is the driest with little if any precipitation impacting our area. The ECMWF, NAM, and Canadian solutions all to some degree offer solutions that have precipitation impacting roughly the southern third of the region, with the greatest concentration across the southeast parts of the area. WPC also has been leaning towards this wetter scenario as noted in their QPF forecasts. Our ongoing forecast has been been mirroring these wetter solutions, and the one from this morning will continue likewise. The biggest alteration will be a slight shift southeast of the northern most extent of the slight chance probabilities. Other than that, the general orientation of the precipitation in the forecast has been altered very little. By Friday into Friday night, the guidance is in fairly good agreement that the closed low will transition into an open wave and start to progress more out to sea. This process will allow for a decrease in coverage across the southern sections of the area. By late Friday night, all the precipitation is expected to be out of the area. Thanks to decreasing wind speeds, less cloud cover, and a moist boundary layer, late night and early morning river and mountain valley fog is expected, especially by Thursday night and Friday night. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... As of 330 PM EDT Monday... The weak closed 500mb low opens to become absorbed in the general west to east flow which gradually takes the clouds and rain east and off the Atlantic coast Friday night. Upper ridge strengthens by Saturday morning but remains undercut by low level southeast flow Saturday ahead of a shallow backdoor front that may slide south into the area by Sunday. This supports isolated diurnal pops Saturday before deeper upstream moisture ahead of a stronger Midwest cold front works east along the backdoor boundary resulting in perhaps more widespread showers by early next week. Leaned temperatures towards Superblend with cooler readings especially for Sunday and Monday with moderating high temperatures for Tuesday. && .AVIATION /14Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 740 AM EDT Tuesday... The combination of moist ground from Monday`s rainfall and lingering low level moisture combined with a general light east flow along with the lack of mid/high clouds allowed for fairly widespread dense fog formation west of the Blue Ridge, with low clouds advecting in from the coastal plain into the Piedmont. This has led to IFR-LIFR ceilings and visibilities across much of the CWA this morning. Conditions should improve fairly quickly after mid-morning with rather dry air noted above, but with a fairly strong low-level inversion developing given high pressure aloft and low-level moist easterly flow, MVFR clouds may hold in through early afternoon east of the Blue Ridge. Weather through the TAF valid period will be driven largely by remnants of T.S. Julia and a stalled frontal boundary along the coast. This will result in a strengthening northeast flow and even low end gusts across the Piedmont by afternoon. This will also keep lower clouds in these areas as well, while areas west of the Blue Ridge should clear out and be VFR through the afternoon. Outer bands of light rain may creep toward Danville overnight, so added those to the TAF after 06Z. Western areas will likely see a repeat of the dense ground fog after 06Z Wed, although confidence in this occurring is not as high as it was this morning. Extended aviation discussion... Tuesday night through Friday, outside of late night/early morning fog/low clouds, expect mainly VFR conditions with the caveat to this being any lingering slight chance of showers from Julia per GFS/ECMWF, mainly affecting areas east of the Blue Ridge. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...RAB NEAR TERM...AMS/RAB/RCS SHORT TERM...KK LONG TERM...KK AVIATION...AMS/DS/MBS/RAB
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Las Vegas NV
306 AM PDT TUE SEP 20 2016 .SYNOPSIS...Showers with a few embedded thunderstorms are expected today primarily south of I-15. A strong low pressure system will drop into the Great Basin by Thursday resulting in strong winds and unsettled weather for much of the region. && .DISCUSSION... Moisture from tropical cyclone Paine quickly spread across the area yesterday and at 2 AM this morning still abundant east of a line stretching from San Diego to Elko, NV. The western portions of the forecast area have cleared early this morning with mostly clear conditions over Inyo and central/southern Nye counties. At 2 AM, Radar returns were showing light to embedded moderate showers over southeastern San Bernardino and southern/central Mohave counties. The latest HRRR QPF forecast has showers continuing in these same general areas through the morning hours then spreading over much of San Bernardino into southern Clark counties this afternoon. Looking at the various high and low resolution model QPF forecast for today leaves most of Inyo, Esmeralda, central/southern Nye and Lincoln counties dry as they lie north of the moisture. Clark County is questionable but showers are not out of the question with increasing moisture and a weak disturbance passing across the area. Models continue to forecast relatively stable conditions today with cloud cover limiting daytime heating. Went ahead and left in slight chances for thunder but expect mainly showers. The greatest potential areas for higher precipitation totals include southeast San Bernardino and southern Mohave counties. The temperature forecast for today is tricky based on where the deeper moisture sets up but leaned heavily towards the MAV and ECS`s lower numbers since there should be plenty of cloud cover around. Wednesday becomes somewhat of a transition day with southwest flow aloft ahead of a developing Pacific trough. Models still forecast decent moisture left over from the departing remnants of tropical cyclone Paine with a little better instability over the northern CWA where the upper level support is improving and in northern Mohave County. Southerly winds 10-20 mph are expected both Tuesday and Wednesday. A potent Pacific low and associated cold front will push through Thursday and Thursday night spreading much drier air across the region behind the front. Decent moisture remains over Mohave and eastern Lincoln counties earlier in the day where showers and thunderstorms will be possible then dry conditions overtake the entire CWA in the afternoon. However, showers will remain possible in the afternoon/evening...primarily in the eastern CWA. The bigger story for Thursday is the wind associated with the upper low, both ahead and behind the front. Model guidance shows a strong southwest wind belt across San Bernardino, Clark, Lincoln and Mohave counties with north winds pushing south through Inyo, Esmeralda and central/southern Nye counties in the afternoon and eventually through the remainder of the area Thursday night. There is a good chance wind advisories will be needed for various areas on Thursday. Decided not to issue any hazard products with this package since our high resolution output does not go out far enough. The dayshifters will have to reevaluate when the new hi-res model guidance becomes available. The low is a slow mover and models keep it in the vicinity through the long term however with less impact to sensible weather within the forecast area. The primary impact beyond Thursday will be continued below normal temperatures although they will modify as each day passes. && .AVIATION...For McCarran...Messy forecast today. Dust cloud early this morning was causing slightly reduced visibility but not likely to persist past sunrise. Radar echoes were remaining well southeast of the terminal early this morning, and the best chance of precip and lower ceilings at the terminal is likely to be from this evening into early Wednesday morning. Strong southwest winds are likely on Thursday, with precip chances remaining east of the terminal. For the rest of southern Nevada...northwest Arizona...and southeast California...The best chances for rain, low ceilings, and mountain obscuration today will be southeast of Interstate 15. After a brief dry period for most of the area tonight, there will be thunderstorm chances for much of the area Wednesday and Wednesday night, with only the lower elevations of Death Valley and northern San Bernardino County most favored to remain dry. Breezy south winds can be expected today and Wednesday, then strong southwest winds kick up over the Mojave Desert on Thursday ahead of a cold front, with increasing northwest winds over the southern Great Basin behind the front. && .FIRE WEATHER... A series of systems will move through the area this week bringing increasing chances for precipitation to much of the area. However, as a potent Pacific trough moves through the region, strong winds will develop across the Mojave Desert and the southern Great Basin in advance of a cold front moving southeastward through Nevada Thursday afternoon. Sustained winds 25-35 mph with gusts 40- 50 mph are likely in much of the region, especially in San Bernardino County. This will be accompanied by rapid drying of the near-surface layer, with RH`s lowering to 5-15% in these areas. Critical fire weather conditions are expected in much of southeast California and southern Nevada Thursday afternoon. Fire weather watches will likely be required as the event approaches. && .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...No significant weather is expected today. Some showers and thunderstorms are possible Tuesday through Thursday with tonight and Tuesday currently looking like the best chance. Spotters are encouraged to report according to standard operating procedures. && $$ Discussion...Salmen Aviation...Morgan For more forecast information...see us on our webpage: http://weather.gov/lasvegas or follow us on Facebook and Twitter
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
257 PM MDT TUE SEP 20 2016 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Wednesday) Issued at 257 PM MDT Tue Sep 20 2016 For the remainder of today it will unseasonably warm and will remain dry area-wide other than an isolated storm or two for the Central Colorado Rockies. This evening and tonight the remnants of Tropical Storm Paine off the coast of Mexico will phase with a cut off low off the coast of southern California. Zonal flow at 500 mb exists across the northern Rockies, while the 500 mb ridge is centered over Oklahoma. The result for Colorado is SW mid and upper level flow across Colorado with considerable upper level moisture continuing through the short term. The moisture from the is advected for the next 36 hours and should keep us mostly cloudy. A subtle short wave trough crosses Colorado before sunrise Wednesday and both the NAM and the HRRR initiate light precipitation in the mountains and sustains the showers across the Denver metro area. It`s still quite dry in the low levels so have low confidence in rain reaching the ground, but have seen enough in the high res model signal to raise PoPs after 3 AM local time to slight chance for the metro area. Minimum temperatures tonight will stay in the low 60s across the Denver metro area and eastern Plains, and in the 40s in the mountains given the warm temperatures this afternoon and expected cloud cover tonight. Throughout the day on Wednesday, a deep/strong trough will dig south along the Pacific Northwest coast. This will continue to advect upper level moisture across Colorado keeping the area mostly cloudy. The low-levels will continue to be dry with surface dewpoints will be in the lower and mid 40s across the Plains, 30s in the mountains. Once again the best chance for afternoon thunderstorms will be over the central Colorado Rockies. In terms of temperatures, the warm overnight lows coupled with the dry low- level air means temperatures should still have little trouble getting into the mid 80s east of the mountains despite the mid and high cloud cover. However, the cloud deck should be thicker than today as so temperatures will be a few degrees cooler than Tuesday, but still well above average for this time of year. .LONG TERM...(Wednesday night through Tuesday) Issued at 257 PM MDT Tue Sep 20 2016 For Wednesday evening, could see just a couple showers and an isolated storm drift northeast across the mountains, but overall the airmass will be too stable and subsident to support much precipitation. Lower elevations should remain dry. Temperatures will stay quite mild but a cold front is expected to push into the northeast plains toward Thursday morning. This front may usher in some stratus across the northeast plains and lead to some cooling especially on the northeastern plains for Thursday. The airmass will destabilize in the afternoon but mainly over the mountains as the boundary layer cools slightly on the plains. Could still see a couple storms drift off the higher terrain or develop on the plains toward late in the day if slight cooling aloft occurs ahead of the deep upper level low dropping into the Great Basin. It appears the best chance of precipitation may occur Friday as the upper level low approaches from the west. Right now, all medium range models are pointing to a piece of energy rotating out of this low and across the forecast area. This along with cooling aloft should effectively destabilize the atmosphere so will have the best PoPs then. Winds are also expected to increase from the mountains eastward across the Palmer Divide and most of the plains with strong southerly flow and pressure gradient in place. Temperatures expected to get cold enough in the mountains for some snow potential but appears we`ll be getting into the dry slot so threat for much accumulation appears quite limited into Friday night. By Saturday, the upper level trough will begin to fill and gradually shear. We will still be under the cold pool aloft so will continue to keep a chance of showers and a few storms in the forecast. Temperatures will turn considerably cooler with highs mostly in the 60s on the plains and 40s/lower 50s in the mountains. The cooler weather will remain in place through Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday as the trough weakens and/or shears southward into the Desert Southwest. The chance of precipitation will likely decrease through this period. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Wednesday afternoon) Issued at 257 PM MDT Tue Sep 20 2016 VFR conditions with mid/high level clouds this afternoon, overnight, and through tomorrow morning. Winds should remain light and follow diurnal patterns through 18Z. No significant weather impacts expected. && .BOU Watches/Warnings/Advisories... None. && $$ SHORT TERM...Schlatter LONG TERM...Barjenbruch AVIATION...Schlatter
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM
319 PM MDT TUE SEP 20 2016 .SYNOPSIS... Higher level moisture from Tropical Storm Paine is streaming over the area and should lead to isolated thunderstorms later this evening, mostly west of Deming. As additional moisture moves in on Wednesday, thunderstorms will spread to all areas. A few storms may produce heavy rain and local flooding. The remains of Paine will sweep across New Mexico Thursday, likely ending most thunderstorm activity. Drier southwest flow then moves in to keep most of the weekend dry. By Sunday night and Monday, moist low level southeast flow combined with a developing upper low over New Mexico and Arizona will bring a chance of thunderstorms back to the area. Temperatures will remain above normal through Saturday, before falling to below normal Sunday into next week as clouds increase. && .DISCUSSION... WV imagery showing TS Paine now over the central Baja. Moisture from the system has helped spread clouds over most of Arizona and much of western New Mexico. Visible imagery showing considerable orographic CU development but high aloft capping most vertical growth. More substantial vertical growth seen over the NM Bootheel where instability is greater and capping weaker. Radar showing only few light showers at most over Arizona. HRRR showing some convection developing western zones next 1-2 hours but remaining mostly from Deming west. Expect Wednesday to be better day for thunderstorms as Paine moisture gets closer and upper high weakens some. Models still showing PW`s up to 1.3 inches, so can`t rule out a few storms with heavy rain and flash flood potential. The remains of Paine`s upper support sweep across New Mexico on Thursday. Thunderstorms should taper off and end with this passage. Next Pacific trough settles in over the Great Basin Thursday with a closed low over Utah. this will establish a drier southwest flow over the CWA as the low drifts slowly east. Additional tropical moisture does begin entraining into this southwest flow, but for the weekend, remains east of us for most of the weekend. By Sunday night, as the upper low settles in over SE Arizona, a nice east surge at low levels develops and begins drawing the tropical moisture west over much of the CWA. Monday/Tuesday forecast depends on which model solution pans out. GFS continues to retrograde the low back to western Arizona, giving much of our area a chance of thunderstorms and moderate/heavy rainfall. PW`s increase back to near 1.3 inches Monday but only over far west Texas. Can`t rule out some flash flood potential there. GFS solution shows low lifting up to four corners Tuesday night, effectively ending the showers. Unfortunately ECMWF is showing a different solution with this morning`s run as opposed to yesterday`s run. Now the ECMWF is closing off the low over New Mexico, effectively keeping the bulk of moisture east of the CWA, though some wrap around moisture still possible. For now went with GFS solution to avoid see-sawing, but will continue to watch for any deviations in models. I should add that temperatures will vary greatly depending on which model is right. GFS would suggest highs only around 70 across the lowlands. && .AVIATION...Valid 21/00Z-22/00Z... P6SM SCT-BKN080-100 BKN150-200 through pd. Isold lowland and scattered mtn 3-5SM TSRA BKN040-060 possible mainly through 04Z and after 18z...but some storms possible thru pd. Winds mainly S to SE AOB 12kts except more W to NW west of divide between 00Z and 15Z. && .FIRE WEATHER... Moisture has started to increase across the region with some Gulf moisture as winds have become more east to southeast. Some residual moisture from a tropical system in the Pacific will bring a chance for some showers and thunderstorms to mainly areas west of Rio Grande next couple of days. An upper low will be moving out of the northwest and provide some lift across the Borderland for continued isolated showers and thunderstorms through Thursday. Relative humidities will remain above 20percent through at least Thursday. Generally dry and breezy conditions for Friday and Saturday with another moisture surge possible for early next week and cooler temperatures. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... El Paso 71 92 70 94 / 10 30 30 20 Sierra Blanca 66 89 64 90 / 0 20 0 0 Las Cruces 66 90 65 90 / 20 30 30 20 Alamogordo 68 90 67 92 / 10 30 30 20 Cloudcroft 46 70 48 68 / 10 50 30 30 Truth or Consequences 65 88 64 89 / 20 30 30 30 Silver City 57 83 56 81 / 30 40 30 30 Deming 64 90 63 90 / 20 30 30 20 Lordsburg 62 89 63 89 / 30 30 20 20 West El Paso Metro 72 92 71 93 / 10 30 30 20 Dell City 66 91 65 93 / 10 20 10 0 Fort Hancock 71 93 69 95 / 10 20 10 0 Loma Linda 65 87 64 87 / 10 20 20 10 Fabens 70 93 68 95 / 10 20 20 10 Santa Teresa 69 91 68 92 / 10 30 30 20 White Sands HQ 68 89 67 90 / 10 30 30 20 Jornada Range 65 90 64 90 / 20 30 30 20 Hatch 66 90 65 90 / 20 30 30 20 Columbus 67 91 66 91 / 20 30 30 20 Orogrande 68 90 67 92 / 10 20 30 20 Mayhill 52 78 53 77 / 10 50 30 30 Mescalero 53 79 54 78 / 20 60 30 30 Timberon 51 77 52 76 / 10 40 20 30 Winston 52 81 50 79 / 30 40 30 40 Hillsboro 58 87 57 85 / 30 40 30 30 Spaceport 65 88 63 89 / 20 30 30 20 Lake Roberts 52 82 51 79 / 30 40 30 30 Hurley 57 86 56 84 / 30 30 30 30 Cliff 53 87 53 88 / 40 40 30 20 Mule Creek 50 84 49 84 / 40 30 20 20 Faywood 58 87 58 85 / 30 30 30 30 Animas 61 90 62 90 / 30 30 20 20 Hachita 62 89 61 90 / 30 30 30 20 Antelope Wells 62 87 62 87 / 30 30 30 20 Cloverdale 58 85 58 83 / 30 30 30 20 && .EPZ Watches/Warnings/Advisories... NM...None. TX...None. && $$ Hefner/Grzywacz
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
618 PM EDT Tue Sep 20 2016 .SYNOPSIS... The remnants of Julia will remain across eastern North Carolina through much of the week and this will keep the weather rather unsettled. High pressure will build into the area by the weekend finally bringing drier conditions. A cold front will move across the area during Sunday bringing the first hint of Autumn early next week. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING/... As of 300 PM Tuesday...An upper low spinning around in the Carolinas will continue to provide unsettled weather across the area through tonight. Low clouds and spotty light showers or drizzle were covering much of the area into this afternoon. A moist northerly flow was wrapping around the remnant low from Julia as some drier air aloft wraps around the back of the upper low. Sounding data and time height sections show drier air aloft from h70 and above which looks like it may mix down enough to produce a few breaks in the clouds especially across inland. This all makes for a tricky forecast as the clouds will hamper heating and therefore instability while areas that see any sunshine will become more unstable and should see some convective development this aftn. The cool pool aloft will drift south over the area helping to sharpen lapse rates and promote some convection associated with differential heating or low level convergence. It looks like the best upper level energy and support will ride around the upper low and combine with best convergence associated with sfc low to produce best chc of shwrs from N-NE to S-SW across the area through tonight. HRRR shows pcp mainly aligned along I-95 corridor and west with only spottier shwrs to the east closer to the coast. With such a cool pool aloft, you can not rule out isolated thunderstorms, but temps were struggling to make it much past the mid 70s limiting the sfc heating needed to steepen lapse rates. Temps will hold in the mid 70s in most places and will not drop too much tonight under a very moist air mass with plenty of cloud cover. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... As of 300 PM Tuesday...The remnants of Julia or a broad area of low pressure/trough will remain up the Carolina coast through mid week. Initially the circulation will drift southwest as it continues to be pulled by upper low. This will leave a moist northerly flow across much of the area through Wed into Thurs. The models are not in total agreement with evolution of this low/trough but it looks like it will be pulled back westward briefly on Wed which may produce a period of on shore flow and possibly enhance low level convergence but also may enhance thunderstorm activity along the coast. It will depend on the exact location of the low, both at the surface and aloft, to determine where the best convergence, lift and upper level support will be, but the potential will exist with a decent cool pool aloft. Overall, expect a good deal of clouds and showery weather through much of the period with isolated thunderstorms possible. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 300 PM Tuesday...Remnant mid-level circulation of Julia will still be overhead by Friday, before finally lifting off to the NE as high pressure builds across the area on Saturday. Friday will be near seasonable temperatures with periods of clouds of showers, but as subsidence develops behind the departing upper impulse, Saturday will likely rise to above climo again with much more sunshine. This warmth will be short-lived however, as a deep trough then digs into the northeast driving a back door type cold front into the Carolinas Sunday, with much cooler temperatures lasting into the beginning of next week. Increased clouds and showers are possible Sunday into Monday with the FROPA, but the forcing is weak and moisture is limited to the lowest part of the column. This suggests more clouds/drizzle into Monday than true showers, but will carry low-end POP before drying out by Tuesday. Temps Sun-Tue will drop to more seasonable levels, and our first taste of fall-like temperatures may occur early next week. && .AVIATION /00Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 00Z...Pretty ugly aviation conditions tonight through the overnight hours with IFR conditions becoming widespread due to stratus. Likewise visibilities will lower below two miles at times due to drizzle. Conditions will be at their worst from 06Z-13Z, with slowly improving conditions after 15Z. North northwest flow is expected through Wednesday morning, becoming more easterly in the afternoon. If we get any sun on Wednesday (which is pretty unlikely), we could see some heavier convection in the afternoon. EXTENDED OUTLOOK...Isolated to scattered afternoon and early evening convection possible underneath the cutoff upper low through Friday. MVFR/IFR morning stratus/fog possible each day thru Sunday. && .MARINE... NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 300 PM Tuesday...Northerly winds will back a little overnight as low pressure gets pulled southward, but overall expect N-NW 10 to 15 kts. Winds will diminish a bit and become more variable overnight. Seas will remain less than 3 ft. SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... As of 300 PM Tuesday...Northerly winds may become quite variable as remnant low of Julia gets pulled southward and possibly inland late Wed. This should produce a more on shore flow on Wed. Overall winds and seas will be determined by the exact fate of this remnant low/trough through mid week. A longer period up to 12 second SE swell will mix in by Wed night into Thurs. LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 300 PM Tuesday...A mostly weak gradient with N/NW winds will persist Friday and Saturday ahead of a back door type cold front which will sag across the waters during Sunday. Wind speeds Fri/Sat will be light, 5-10 kts or less, before steadily increasing behind the front to 10-15 kts from the NE during Sunday. WHile the wind will provide little contribution to the sea spectrum, a 3-4 sec/11 sec SE swell from Tropical Cyclone Karl will exist both Friday and Saturday, producing seas of 2-4 ft. On Sunday, this swell will slowly wane but a NE 5-6 sec wave will quickly amplify, producing wave heights of 3-5 ft the latter portion of the extended. && .ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...None. NC...None. MARINE...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...JDW NEAR TERM...RGZ SHORT TERM...RGZ LONG TERM...JDW AVIATION...43 MARINE...JDW/RGZ
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
239 PM CDT TUE SEP 20 2016 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Wednesday) ISSUED AT 239 PM CDT Tue Sep 20 2016 Weak boundary a bit tough to pick out this afternoon on surface obs, but best estimates are that it extends from near Macomb to just north of Danville. Cumulus field continues to expand along the boundary to near the I-70 corridor this afternoon. No sign of any convection yet, but SPC mesoanalysis shows CAPE`s are now in the 3000 J/kg vicinity and the cap is eroded. Latest HRRR has now started hinting at some isolated development, and will maintain the isolated PoP`s for this afternoon, mainly between the Illinois River and I-70. Main steering flow will remain to our north through Wednesday, and overnight MCS which is progged to develop over southern Minnesota and northern Iowa will track into Wisconsin and extreme northern Illinois on Wednesday. Local impacts would mainly be some cirrus blowoff across the northern CWA, but skies should again be mostly sunny. With little air mass change going on, have bumped up highs for tomorrow a couple degrees and mainly went around 88-89 degrees over the entire forecast area. && .LONG TERM...(Wednesday night through Tuesday) ISSUED AT 239 PM CDT Tue Sep 20 2016 Somewhat flat ridge will remain anchored over the southern part of the US for the last part of the week and then begin to build into the northern Miss valley for the weekend, as an upper level trough pushes east into the plains. This pattern will bring dry and very warm conditions to the CWA through the rest of the week and into the weekend. With 850 temps reaching to between +18C and +20C, expecting highs in the mid to upper 80s through most of the forecast period. The extended models remain different in their timing of the upper level trough for the latter part of the weekend. The ECMWF has been the most consistent and slowest over the last several days so will lean toward that solution and have gone several degrees warmer than guidance for highs for Sun and Mon. The associated frontal system finally gets into the state Sunday night and this will be the next real chance of precip in the area. The chance of precip will diminish as you go east and southeast, so chance pops will be in the northwest for Sun night/north and northwest Monday/and small area in the northeast for Monday night. By Tue, dry weather should return to the area. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Wednesday afternoon) Issued at 1210 PM CDT Tue Sep 20 2016 Diurnal cumulus on the increase at midday and may provide some broken ceilings for a time, but these will be well into VFR range. With a boundary roughly draped from KSPI-KCMI this afternoon, an isolated shower or thunderstorm cannot be ruled out, but coverage will be too sparse to include in any TAF`s at this time. As the boundary lifts northward this evening, easterly winds will gradually trend toward the south, and remain that way into Wednesday morning. && .ILX Watches/Warnings/Advisories... NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...Geelhart LONG TERM...Auten AVIATION...Geelhart
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Marquette MI
417 PM EDT TUE SEP 20 2016 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Wednesday) Issued at 414 PM EDT TUE SEP 20 2016 WV imagery and RAP analysis indicated a zonal pattern across most of the nrn CONUS with a trough moving into the Pacific Northwest. A weak shortwave trough and area of 800-600 mb fgen supported some light showers or sprinkles from near KDLH into wrn Upper Michigan. Very dry air below 700 mb will limit the extent of the pcpn with only slight chance pops mentioned late this afternoon. Otherwise, mid clouds were thickening over the area with a broad area of 300-310k isentropic lift in advance of sfc low pres over South Dakota. Tonight, expect mid clouds to linger over the region in the waa pattern with the 850-700 baroclinic zone lingering over the area. Shra/tsra are expected to remain south of the cwa, closer to the 850mb front and higher MUCAPE values. Otherwise, the clouds will keep min temps mainly in the 50s. Wednesday, pcpn chances will increase from s to n as the 850 mb front gradually lifts to the north. Additional weak shortwaves in the fast zonal pattern will likely also support shra/tsra development. However, with the relatively dry low level ne flow north of the front, the pcpn into the nrn cwa will be slow with likely pops south and only chance pops north. With MUCAPE values fcst into the 500-1000 J/Kg over the far south some TS will also be possible. The thickening clouds will limit highs to the upper 60s to lower 70s. && .LONG TERM...(Wednesday night through Tuesday) Issued at 311 PM EDT TUE SEP 20 2016 Still on track to see zonal flow aloft mid week transitioning to more amplified flow by this weekend as sharp ridge develops over the central Conus between upper trough over eastern Canada and trough crossing western Conus. At the sfc, a stationary front will lift across the Upper Great Lakes Wed night through Thu Night, then slowly settle south on Fri. Waves of low pressure tracking along the front will help enhance rain chances. Models have been locked on to overall scenario with pwats upward of 1.25 inches lifting into the stationary front and along/ahead of the waves of low pressure and large scale lift over entire area enhanced by right entrance region of jet over northern Ontario across Quebec and any shortwaves that will be sliding through. Heavier rain likely sets up farther south of Upper Michigan closer to main sfc front and where MLcapes over 1000 j/kg are located, but some heavy rain could affect south half of cwa as that area is on gradient of h85 theta-e. Overall there is fair agreement from the models in this scenario, though exact placement of heavier rain remains uncertain. Bigger question still remains on how quickly the front slips south of area to bring dry weather on Fri. There has been little run-to- run consistency in all models in whether front and associated showers will be south of Upper Michigan or still lingering over at least southern parts of cwa. At this time, GEM is most aggressive in hanging onto qpf while last two runs of GFS and ECMWF would point to mostly dry conditions as large Canadian high pressure builds in from Manitoba and northern Ontario. More differences for Sat as ECMWF continues to indicate qpf over far west and southwest cwa. Seems these showers are tied to shortwave/q-vector convergence and h85 frontogenesis on edge of h85 thermal ridge. Trouble is that ECMWF is not consistent with the solution as it has been back and forth on this the last couple days. Ribbon of higher h85 RH quite narrow even on the ECMWF focused over northern WI into sw Upr Michigan so think it is overdone in showing broadbrushed and light qpf across much of Upper Michigan in the 06z-18z time frame on Sat. Temps late this week probably end up near to blo normal in the low to mid 60s, coolest near Lk Superior with persistent northeast winds btwn the high pressure over northern Ontario and sfc front to the south. High pressure builds across the Great Lakes Sat and Sat night. Given such an amplified pattern aloft, the sfc high may not move out of at least eastern half of Upper Michigan until later Sun or Sun night. Though timing is not set, the approaching upper level trough and sfc trough along with low-level return flow on west side of retreating high help will bring rain back to the area. Could be dealing with moderate to heavy rain as pwats in the return flow regime are forecast to top out over 1.75 inches as deep moisture flows north off the western Gulf of Mexico. There are differences in how quickly the sfc trough and axis of higher pwat cross Upper Michigan. This is tied to how quickly shortwave trough moves across Upper Great Lakes and what extent of shortwave energy is left out across the Central Plains on Mon. Similar to late this week, run-to-run consistency on these details in the models is lacking and agreement among the models is also poor. Will keep using a consensus, which tilts slightly toward quicker GFS, until these differences can be sorted out. Though a slower solution would result in max temps Sun and possibly Mon above normal in the 70s, will keep with consensus temps mainly in the 60s due to the uncertainty in the timing for the front. Front should be east of here on Tue leaving a breezy day with some clouds and a few light showers eventually giving way to decreasing clouds as high pressure begins to build back in from the west. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Wednesday afternoon) Issued at 137 PM EDT TUE SEP 20 2016 Expect VFR conditions at all TAF sites through the period. West winds will gust into 20-25 knot range this afternoon, strongest over the more exposed CMX site. Expect increasing mid clouds from the west with the potential for a few sprinkles. && .MARINE...(For the 4 PM Lake Superior forecast issuance) Issued at 414 PM EDT TUE SEP 20 2016 West southwest winds to 25 knots will diminish to 20 knots or less tonight into Wed as the pres gradient weakens with the Canadian low lifting farther ne across Hudson Bay. Winds will remain blo 20 kts into Saturday under a weak pres gradient across the Upper Lakes. Southerly winds will increase Sunday to 20 knots as a low pressure trough approaches from the west. && .MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Upper Michigan... None. Lake Superior... None. Lake Michigan... None. && $$ SHORT TERM...JLB LONG TERM...JLA AVIATION...JLB MARINE...JLB
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Las Vegas NV
220 PM PDT TUE SEP 20 2016 .SYNOPSIS...Weather will remain cool and unsettled through the end of the week as remnant tropical moisture interacts with a trough pushing in from the west. As the trough moves in Thursday...increasing winds and the arrival of drier air will aid in dangerous fire conditions for some areas along with strong Thunderstorms in Northwest Arizona and eastern Nevada. Temperatures will remain cool through Friday before returning to near normal over the weekend. && SHORT TERM...Through Tonight. Three systems are currently affecting the southwestern U.S. The first is the rapidly dying Tropical Cyclone (TC) Paine, with moisture from it streaming well north of its center west of the Baja Peninsula. The second is an upper-level low slowly moving northeastward onto the Pacific Coast near San Diego. The third is an elongated vorticity maximum to the northeast of this upper low stretching from San Bernardino County northeast to southern Utah and southwest Colorado. Much of the precipitation in our CWA today has been associated with this elongated vort max, aided by the moist advection from TC Paine. However, this afternoon, precipitation has developed/increased in intensity in closer proximity to the upper low near San Diego. A quasi-zonally oriented band of rain showers has developed in southwest Mohave County and southern San Bernardino County in advance of this upper low. Precipitation rates have increased somewhat within this band. The HRRR has not handled this band particularly well this afternoon. Only recently has it caught onto the idea of its persistence/somewhat stronger intensity, and it continues to waver on its evolution through this evening. The latest run shows more convective-type showers continuing northeastward through southern Mohave County through 00Z Wednesday before rapidly progressing out of the area. Meanwhile, the western portion of the band remains anchored to the San Bernardino Mountains and Coachella Valley before rapidly progressing northeastward and diminishing somewhat in association with the track of the upper low. This seems to be a reasonable solution given the proximity to the two vort maxima; however, given the variability seen with this evolution simulation to simulation -- not overly confident of this. PoPs were tweaked but remain consistent with this morning`s update, in general. Think outside of a few sprinkles, the Las Vegas Valley will probably not see rain, so kept PoPs confined to south/east of I- 15 through the night. Most of the heavier precip in Mohave County should end by midnight with lighter showers possible thereafter. Instability has been meager to nonexistent today, so even an isolated lightning strike is not particularly likely. Nevertheless, the increasing precipitation intensities this afternoon and the stronger lift associated with the passing upper low led me to keep slight thunder chances in through the night. && LONG TERM...Wednesday through Monday. Remnant moisture from Tropical depression Paine will remain in play across the region on Wednesday beneath a broad southwesterly flow aloft. Some cooling aloft and slightly greater sunshine potential should allow for some marginal destabilization tomorrow afternoon which will support the probability of greater thunderstorm coverage across the region tomorrow as opposed to the more stratiform precipitation event we are observing today. However, instability will still not be very impressive and the greatest chance for thunderstorms will be across the great Basin closer to the approaching trough...and across Northwest Arizona. On Thursday, a strong and dynamic trough will push into the Great Basin region with the base of the trough dragging across our forecast area. The impacts with this system will be two fold, strong winds and fire danger will be one concern. While Heavy rain and thunderstorm potential will be another concern. As far as wind and fire goes, a dry slot in the lower levels and subsidence on the back side of the trough will promote strong drying and downward momentum transport to support widespread winds across much of the Mojave Desert and low relative humidity values. Winds may require their own headlines in subsequent updates but felt confident enough in the fire danger to go out with a fire weather watch for much of San Bernardino county and Clark County, as well as the Colorado River for Thursday afternoon. We may see wind gusts exceeding 40 mph across much of the same areas during this time. As usual with wind events, blowing dust can be expected as the winds pick up during the day Thursday. Meanwhile....across Northwest Arizona and mainly eastern Lincoln county, strong thunderstorms will be a possibility on the west edge of remnant moisture and instability from Paine. Southwesterly shear will be quite impressive with over 65kts of shear forecast at 500mb and a fairly unidirectional profile. This would favor both strong convection as well as training convection ahead of the trough. Some models are suggesting the potential for fairly significant QPF across northern Mohave county Thursday afternoon so flash flood potential will need to be monitored as the event approaches. Conditions will improve Friday as the trough pushes eastward and high pressure attempts to build back in but temperatures will remain cool...averaging 10 to 15 degrees below normal. Less confidence in the longer range period extending from this weekend into next week as the ECMWF builds a large ridge into the region while the GFS retrogrades some trough energy into Arizona which would keep us cooler with possible north winds especially down the Colorado River. For now maintained a dry forecast with temperatures gradually returning to near normal. && .FIRE WEATHER...Strong winds and low humidity will combine forces to create a period of critical fire weather conditions Thursday afternoon. Fuels remain very dry especially north of I-40 which will see little benefit from the remnant moisture of tropical depression Paine. Fire weather watches are in effect for the San Bernardino County deserts, much of the lower elevations of Clark County, the lower Colorado River valley and Lake Mead NRA. Improving conditions are expected friday as the winds relax. && .AVIATION...For McCarran...Current thinking is ceilings will lower to around 8-10 kft this evening, but chances of showers remain too low to include in the TAF. Wind directions should range from 110-170 through early evening before veering to southerly around/after sunset. Speeds 5-10 kts with occasional gusts to 15 kts through 03Z before remaining below 10 kts overnight. Winds will be light and diurnally driven tomorrow until stronger SW winds kick in by late afternoon. A slight chance of storms tomorrow afternoon/evening. For the rest of southern Nevada...northwest Arizona...and southeast California...Showers and ceilings near/below 10 kft will continue this evening for eastern San Bernardino and southern/eastern Mohave Counties. Some ceiling improvement is expected by late tonight. Scattered showers and mountain obscurations are possible in the Sierra this evening. Winds look to be predominantly S/SE through tomorrow morning, with speeds generally below 12 kts. Chances of storms exist tomorrow afternoon, especially near higher terrain, with stronger S/SW winds commencing by late afternoon. && .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Shower and thunderstorm chances continue through Thursday. Strong winds are also expected in much of the area Thursday afternoon and evening. Spotter activation may be required Wednesday afternoon through Thursday. && $$ Short Term/Aviation...Shafer Long Term/Fire Weather...Outler For more forecast information...see us on our webpage: http://weather.gov/lasvegas or follow us on Facebook and Twitter