Forecast Discussions mentioning any of "HRRR" "RAP" "RUC13" "RUC" "RR" received at GSD on 07/01/18


Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Gaylord MI
1029 PM EDT Sat Jun 30 2018 .UPDATE... Issued at 1029 PM EDT Sat Jun 30 2018 Closed mid level high pressure system has migrated to the mid Atlantic coast with mid level ridging stretching up through the central lakes region. Impressive heat dome remains across the Great Lakes with H8 temps >22C. But despite the warm temps and high sfc dewpoints still out there, atmosphere across most of this CWA remains capped owing to that warm nose and lack of moisture centered around 800 mb per this evenings APX sounding. Capping weakens heading west and north to the fringes of the heat dome of course, as evidenced by ongoing convection stretching from Iowa through Wisconsin and into western and central upper MI. Tricky forecast once again tonight, centered on whether or not we get any of the upstream convection into our area. Per radar trends, eastern upper MI has the better chances as ongoing showers/storms in central upper are continuing to slowly inch eastward toward Chip/Mack counties. Less certain for northern lower Michigan. Guidance continues to weaken the capping across the CWA as mid level ridging eases off to the east and warm nose around 800 MB cools a few degrees. No larger scale forcing mechanisms at play. But any smaller scale forcing/ripples propagating out of the upstream convection could touch of some showers/thunder over parts of northern lower Michigan during the overnight hours as suggested by several high- res guidance solutions. So, will continue the inherited forecast idea of easing PoPs into the area. Despite respectable instability (>3500 MUCAPE on 00Z sounding), stronger flow aloft/bulk shear values remain just to our north. There are some stronger cells across the U.P. and Lake Superior that could pose a severe weather threat to the EUP. Not so much south of the bridge however. Otherwise, and very warm night ahead with lows spanning the 70s in northern lower MI. A little cooler in eastern upper Michigan. && .NEAR TERM...(Through Tonight) Issued at 351 PM EDT Sat Jun 30 2018 ...Steamy with a few storms... High impact weather potential...blazing heat/humidity into evening. A few strong/severe storms possible nw lower/eastern upper MI. An impressively and dangerously hot/muggy day across northern MI. Temps range thru the 90s in most of northern lower MI, and have little doubt that a few sites have or will touch 100f. Equally impressive were surface dew points being very reluctant to lower even as mixing deepened. We are finally seeing a few interior spots see dew points lower into the upper 60s (GLR/Grayling), but low/mid 70s are still far more prevalent. Dangerous heat indices of 100 to 110f are thus quite common in northern lower, with TVC unfortunately as bad as anyone. Eastern upper MI has been held back by more in the way of cloud cover, but that is finally departing as a small cluster of convection heads east from Superior. Their warmest heat indices up there today are still yet to come. A series of low pressure systems is found over southern Canada. A weak cold front drapes from one of these across western Superior and western upper MI into northern WI and far se MN. Most of the convection is on the cool side of the front, as warm air aloft keeps the warm sector capped. However, that changes tonight as the 500mb ridge axis shifts toward the eastern lakes, resulting in falling heights/temps aloft and a weakening of the cap. Best chance of us seeing some showers/storms evolve into here will be after dark (10- 11pm). This is largely in agreement with the last couple of SPC HRRR runs and the going forecast, though have accelerated the onset of higher pops in nw lower/eastern upper MI by a few hours. This is obviously past peak heating, but a few stronger (but poorly organized) updrafts are progged, mainly a couple hours either side of midnight, and again for nw lower/eastern upper MI. We remain in a marginal risk for svr from Ltl Trav Bay northward, and that will continue to be mentioned in the HWO. Hard to go with more than sct/chancy pops though. Temps will slowly/steadily fall off, with any spotty convection hastening that process. Have gone above guidance temps, which are struggling with how anomalous this airmass is. Lows in the low/mid 70s will be most common, though TVC and a few other spots will hang in the upper 70s. && .SHORT TERM...(Sunday through Tuesday) Issued at 351 PM EDT Sat Jun 30 2018 ...Warm and humid with a continued chance of thunderstorms... High Impact Weather Potential: The potential continues for thunderstorms, some possibly severe, Sunday and early Monday morning. Chances for another round of heat index over 100 degrees on Sunday? Primary Forecast Concerns/Challenges: Will be assessing the atmospheric conditions and expected forcing over northern Michigan, as a weakening boundary lifts northeast across Wisconsin and the overall chances for severe weather Sunday and early Monday. Pattern Synopsis/Forecast...The storm system organizing over the central Plains since Friday, will weaken and eventually slowly push east into the Great Lakes Sunday. This system will exit northeast into Quebec on Monday. Pcpn and chances for thunderstorms will be hindered across the forecast area thru Sunday afternoon, mainly due to weak forcing with the approaching boundary and mid lvl cap in place (700mb temps warm to nearly 13c). 850/500mb qvector convergence shows the best forcing with the system confined to areas around the tip of the mitt, Upper Michigan and Lake Superior. These areas will also have a better chance of pcpn, being located on the edge of the 700mb cap into Sunday Afternoon. However 700mb temps across Lower Michigan do diminish between 21z Sunday and 06z Monday, as the strong ridge that had been in place over the ern one third of the country pushes east, while a weak upper trough drops into the upper Midwest. Additional support for thunderstorms Sunday evening and early Monday will be 0-3km cape values lingering around 2500 J/kg after the 700mb cap decreases and mid level lapse rates increase to 7 c/km. Some additional forcing will be supplied by the right entrance region of a weak 300mb jet Sunday evening. A few strong storms are expected with heavy rain (pwat over 1 inch) and hail limited to around 1 inch (freezing lvls near 16k ft with weak vertical wind shear). Pcpn chances diminish greatly by 12z Monday with some sun and dry conditions expected through Tuesday across northern Michigan, as surface and upper lvl ridging redevelop over the Great Lakes. High temperatures in this pattern will remain above normal across northern Michigan, with highs mainly around 90 degrees. Overall will hold off on issuing another heat related headline for northern Michigan Sunday, as increasing clouds will hold temperatures down a tad, helping keep afternoon heat index values below 100 degrees. .LONG TERM...(Tuesday night through Saturday) Issued at 351 PM EDT Sat Jun 30 2018 A warm pattern to remain over the region through the forecast period as surface and upper level ridging largely remain centered over the Great Lakes and Atlantic coast into next weekend. A warm boundary will pass quickly over the Great Lakes and Ontario Thursday generating a chance of thunderstorms across northern Michigan. Mid level temperatures do cool by the end of the forecast period, falling from around 17c earlier the week to around 12c Saturday as a 500mb trough deepens over the north Atlantic. overall will keep afternoon high temperatures 85 to 90 degrees through Friday with temperatures cooling to more seasonal levels in the upper 70s next weekend. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Sunday evening) Issued at 849 PM EDT Sat Jun 30 2018 Dome of heat remains across lower Michigan southward into the Ohio Valley. But despite the heat, atmosphere remains capped to showers/storms owing to a nose of very warm air and limited moisture in the lower levels of the atmosphere. Lots of active weather (showers and storms) continues to our west and northwest from Wisconsin into the western U.P. along the fringes of the heat dome where atmosphere is less capped. Low level capping will weaken through tonight and allow some of that activity to sneak into northern lower Michigan overnight, although it will likely weaken as it does so. But I do have a few hours of VCSH/VCTS at the NW lower MI terminal sites. Otherwise, VFR weather anticipated for much of the night with thickening mid and high cloud spreading into the region from upstream convection. But similar to last night, SCT-BKN stratus might materialize late overnight and persist into Sunday morning. Forecast confidence in this occurring is not great, but I did include SCT lower cloud cover at some of the sites. Sunday, expect much more daytime CU development (35-50K feet) and a few pop-up showers are possible. Cold front swings into the region late in the day into Sunday night and will bring a line of showers and storms through the region. && .MARINE... Issued at 351 PM EDT Sat Jun 30 2018 Gusty southwest winds this afternoon, will diminish below small craft advisory across northern Lake Michigan nearshore waters this evening. However, gusty southwest winds are expected to redevelop across the western Great Lakes once again Sunday, as a storm system in the Plains pushes east. Thunderstorm chances will increase across the northern Great Lakes Sunday and early Monday, as the Plains storm system quickly passes over the state. Some sun and drier conditions are expected Monday afternoon and Tuesday as high pressure rebuilds over the region. && .APX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MI...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING until 8 AM EDT Sunday for MIZ016>036-041- 042. HEAT ADVISORY until 8 AM EDT Sunday for MIZ008-015. LH...NONE. LM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY until 11 PM EDT this evening for LMZ341- 344>346. LS...NONE. && $$ UPDATE...BA NEAR TERM...JZ SHORT TERM...SR LONG TERM...SR AVIATION...BA MARINE...SR
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
954 PM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018 .UPDATE... Issued at 954 PM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018 Concerning additional rainfall and possible flooding overnight, re-issued the Hydrologic Outlook to highlight possible threats. Roughly 1-3 inches fell across parts of northeast IA, southeast MN, and west-central WI this evening. Latest CAMs suggest heavier convection currently across central IA should weaken as it drifts northward overnight. This tends to make sense as these areas should be worked over from the evening convection. RAP also shows the best MUCAPE and mid-level moisture transport overnight to the east of areas that have already received heavier rain. This isn`t to say flooding or flash flooding isn`t possible overnight, but not enough confidence to hoist a Flash Flood Watch. Right now, an additional inch or more looks possible. Will continue to monitor and adjust forecast as necessary. UPDATE Issued at 732 PM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018 Heat headlines were allowed to expire at 700 PM as showers and thunderstorms across the area have resulted in temperatures falling dramatically. The heat threat has ended. Showers and thunderstorms will continue through the evening, some of which may be severe with the primary threat being damaging wind. && .SHORT TERM...(Late Afternoon through Sunday) Issued at 240 PM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018 Ready for relief from the heat? We can see it not that far away, in the wake of a cold front currently draped from the western U.P of Michigan down through northwest Iowa as of early afternoon, though in spots "augmented" by remnants of outflow from earlier upstream convection. That boundary is the main focus for convective chances through tonight, combined with added forcing from a stronger upper wave working east out of Wyoming at the moment and expected to lift just to our west on Sunday. Plenty of heat and humidity in place ahead of that cold front right now, with the current Heat Advisory for western areas and Excessive Heat Warnings farther east working out quite well. That heat/humidity is also contributing to 2500- 3500+ J/kg MLCAPE, though held back for the moment by lingering low level inhibition per current satellite trends and forecast soundings. Things should change roughly 20-21Z with persistent hints we`ll erode the remaining cap. Overall shear honestly isn`t terribly great, with recent RAP runs backing away even more from 0-3km shear, only showing around 20-25 knots and limited deeper layer shear. However, with modest mid level lapse rates, the noted degree of instability, and impressive DCAPE profiles of 1500+ J/kg, still think we`re in line to see at least a handful of stronger line segments with a good wind threat. Despite overall storm motion to the north/northeast, get the feeling that outflow will help propagate storms farther east a bit quicker than earlier expected, so will have to watch near-term trends as any "stalling" will result in training convection and possible flooding concerns. Do have some concerns for additional convection developing this evening and tonight on the nose of a strong low level jet/moisture transport signal pointed into northeast Iowa and southern Minnesota ahead of the above-mentioned approaching upper wave. Exactly where and how widespread additional convection becomes remains in question, but have "upped" our messaging in that fashion given PWAT values around 2 inches or better and warm cloud depths pushing 4km or better (great heavy rain indicators). At the moment, confidence honestly still not high enough to warrant any time of Flash Flood Watch given the remaining uncertainties about how widespread any flood threat would be, but will watch trends this evening closely. The upper wave should lift north of the area by Sunday afternoon, swinging a cold front through the area. 12Z guidance looking just a touch slower getting that boundary out of our eastern areas, so will have to watch that we don`t end up with a sneaky stronger storm or two given much more robust low and deep layer shear. That risk is certainly much higher just east of our area into eastern Wisconsin, with the bigger story being a return to notably cooler conditions (though still quite a bit humid) with added clouds and occasional showers. .LONG TERM...(Sunday Night through Saturday) Issued at 240 PM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018 Most of the rain should be out of the area by Sunday night, but could see a few lingering showers in far eastern portions of the forecast area. Otherwise, models remain in good agreement regarding the general pattern through the work week with upper level ridging working back into the area and various weak shortwave troughs bringing precip chances. Unfortunately, very little model agreement on timing and placement of these shortwaves, so confidence in precipitation forecast for the work week is rather low, though given weak nature of the shortwaves, not expecting any periods of widespread rain. Looking at temperatures, we`ll be heating back up as the ridging builds in. At this point, 925 mb temperatures look to be the warmest on Wednesday (around 25-27 C), so could see highs back into the 90s in many spots, pending clouds and precipitation. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Sunday evening) Issued at 640 PM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018 Challenging aviation forecast with multiple lines of showers and thunderstorms through at least midday Sunday. Don`t want to litter the entire period with thunder chances, so multiple updates are possible. Current focus is on line of thunderstorms just west of KRST. Expect at least MVFR reductions as it moves through with gusty west-northwest winds. This line should also impact KLSE by 01.01Z. Later into the evening, expect mostly showers, but some additional thunderstorms are possible. Convective chances even more uncertain into Sunday. Away from thunderstorms, winds will generally be light with a southerly component, turning more to the west-southwest late in the period. && .HYDROLOGY... Issued at 240 PM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018 Watching convective trends the next handful of hours with slower storm motions anticipated as low level shear vectors support some potential training of storms out ahead of a slow-moving cold front. Confidence still not high enough to warrant a Flash Flood Watch just yet, but can`t rule out some localized flash flooding where/if any storms train over the same areas. The atmosphere is quite juicy, and rainfall rates of 2-3 inches per hour or even more are possible with any storms. Have maintained the ESF and web graphics to highlight the rain potential and will watch near-term trends closely into the evening. && .ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WI...None. MN...None. IA...None. && $$ UPDATE...Rogers SHORT TERM...Lawrence LONG TERM...Lawrence AVIATION...Rogers HYDROLOGY...Lawrence
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
944 PM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018 .UPDATE... Issued at 944 PM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018 One lingering shower/thunderstorm northwest, otherwise convection has dissipated across western and central ND this evening. Will remove thunder wording from the HWO and state forecast product. No other updates needed for this forecast issuance. UPDATE Issued at 632 PM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018 Will continue with low chances for showers and thunderstorms this evening. Shear is weak and mid level lapse rates are low so do not expect any strong storms this evening. Convection will slowly move east over the next few hours before diminishing altogether before midnight as the atmosphere decouples. ALl other forecast elements on track for tonight. && .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Sunday) Issued at 300 PM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018 Highlights in the short term forecast include isolated showers and weak thunderstorms through this evening, and a marginal risk of strong to severe storms north central Sunday afternoon. A broad middle and upper-level trough is present across the region this afternoon, with one potent embedded shortwave centered across WY and a weaker impulse moving across northeast MT per GOES-16 low-level moisture channel imagery. The northeast MT impulse will likely aide isolated to perhaps scattered convective development in western and central ND late this afternoon and evening. Based on modifications to the 12 UTC Bismarck sounding and more recent model-simulated profiles, steep low-level lapse rates are likely contributing to MLCAPE on the order of 500 J/kg. However, midlevel lapse rates are only around 6 C/km, which will likely tend to limit overall updraft strength and altitude. Even so, deepening cumulus fields are being observed as of mid afternoon, especially in closer proximity to the upstream weak shortwave impulse, and the CAMs through the 17 UTC HRRR continue to simulate isolated to scattered convection through the early evening, so we will keep a mention in the forecast, generally along and west of Highway 83. We expect any activity to diminish by late evening as the lower atmosphere cools and boundary-layer-based instability concurrently diminishes. On Sunday, the 12 UTC global model guidance consensus calls for a stronger shortwave trough moving into the broad 500 mb trough with the primary region of differential cyclonic vorticity advection in the U.S./Canadian border region. The associated cooling aloft will likely help steepen midlevel lapse rates in support of MLCAPE from 500 to 1000 J/kg given dewpoints in the 50s F near an associated surface low and weak cold front, mainly in far north central ND. Only modest increases in midlevel winds are forecast ahead of the shortwave trough, yielding 0-6-km bulk wind differences averaging 30 kt in support of primarily a multicell convective mode. Given the expected CAPE-shear setting, there is some risk of strong to marginally severe storms in far north central ND, though timing of the midlevel shortwave trough and associated surface front will be crucial to the western bound of that risk. Both the 12 UTC NAM and 09 UTC SREF calibrated severe thunderstorm probabilities suggest the greatest risk may focused further east in northeastern ND. Otherwise, a well-mixed boundary layer is forecast along and west of the Highway 83 corridor Sunday afternoon in the wake of the surface front and in a region of at least modest low- and midlevel subsidence, all of which could favor momentum transfer in support of breezy west winds. We therefore relied on the higher edge of wind-speed guidance from the 12 UTC model output for the forecast on Sunday afternoon. .LONG TERM...(Sunday night through Saturday) Issued at 300 PM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018 The long term forecast will be characterized by a chance of storms from Monday night through Independence Day, and then the arrival of hotter and more humid weather by next weekend. A strong subtropical ridge is expected to retrograde westward from the eastern seaboard early this week to the central U.S. by Friday per the 00 and 12 UTC global model suite. Initially, the northern Plains will be in southwest flow aloft with a quasi-stationary frontal boundary from western SD into eastern ND per the 12 UTC GFS and ECMWF, resulting in a chance of thunderstorms as a series of impulses cross the region. At least one stronger shortwave is likely to cross the region in the time period centered on Tuesday night, but in general predictability of the impulses aloft is low, and model simulations suggest that the frontal zone -- and the warm sector to its south and east -- may tend to be capped to deep convection much of the period. That could tend to favor post- frontal convection evolving from the high terrain of MT/WY during the afternoon hours each day and reaching the area nocturnally. Given strong wind fields aloft and the close proximity of rich low-level moisture near the frontal zone, there will be some risk of strong to severe storms in this period, even in the post- frontal regime, but confidence in the potential is modest at best. Note too that convective-parameterizing model output does indeed simulate significant warm-sector development near the surface front in south central and especially southeast ND both Monday and Tuesday afternoon and evening, but based on forecast 500 mb height tendencies and evaluation of simulated warmth at the base of an elevated mixed layer, that may be significantly overdone. As a result, our QPF-blend-driven PoP forecast may be too aggressive in close proximity to the front during the afternoon and evening both days. Otherwise, once heights aloft begin rising more substantially by late this week and next weekend, convective opportunities may trend downward overall, while highs will likely increase close to 90 F by Friday and Saturday per the multi-model consensus. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Sunday evening) Issued at 944 PM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018 Clouds diminishing this evening along with the chances for showers. Next chance for showers and storms will be Sunday morning northwest and Sunday afternoon north central. Overall VFR conditions should be expected. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ UPDATE...NH SHORT TERM...CJS LONG TERM...CJS AVIATION...NH
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Columbia SC
1026 PM EDT Sat Jun 30 2018 .SYNOPSIS... Lingering surface troughing and strong heating will help support scattered mainly afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Typical summertime weather can be expected next week as weak high pressure resides over the region. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SUNDAY MORNING/... Weak upper level low over Mississippi with ridge over eastern North Carolina. Surface trough over central Ga extending into the CSRA early this evening. Persistent light east-southeast flow overnight should result in high low-level moisture. Muggy conditions with dew points in the mid 70s in some areas. HRRR and Lamp suggest some patchy stratus possible toward daybreak. Radar and satellite trends indicate showers diminishing across the area with loss of heating. Low tonight will be in the low to mid 70s. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/... Center of upper ridge will remain off to the north and northeast of the area through Tuesday night, with a weak trough well west of the area. Onshore flow pattern will continue to bring moisture inland, and with it scattered afternoon/early evening showers and thunderstorms each day. Best rain chances may remain across western counties due to them being slightly further away from the upper ridge. Afternoon highs remain seasonably warm each days with readings in the low to mid 90s. Overnight lows fall between 70 and 75 degrees. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... As we get into the longer term, models indicating a weak area of low pressure moving westward in the easterly flow. A the same time, the upper ridge north of the area strengthens and pushes westward. This will bring enhanced easterly flow to the area, along with continued moisture from the Atlantic. Depending on the strength of the upper ridge, the westward moving low should remain south of the forecast area, pushing into portions of GA Wednesday/Wednesday Night. Weak ridging takes hold for Thursday, then another westerly moving low being shown by long range models for next weekend. With all the moisture, expecting mainly diurnal showers and thunderstorms each day. Daytime high temperatures will be in the low to mid 90s with nighttime lows in the low 70s. && .AVIATION /02Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... VFR conditions for the majority of the period with restrictions possible in late afternoon and evening thunderstorms and early morning fog or stratus. Fog and stratus will be possible around daybreak with abundant low-level moisture present. Model guidance has been trending more optimistic with only patchy fog and a few areas of stratus early Sunday morning. With similar conditions to the previous night fog may be most likely at AGS around sunrise. Although we cannot rule out brief periods of fog or stratus at any site. Winds overnight will be light and variable with the moist easterly flow returning by late morning. In the afternoon and early evening, winds will be out of the SE from 5 to 10 kts with scattered thunderstorms developing. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...Restrictions possible each day in early morning fog/stratus and mainly afternoon and evening thunderstorms. && .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. SC...None. && $$
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM
322 PM MDT Sat Jun 30 2018 .SYNOPSIS... A disturbance aloft, along with unstable air, will help kick off a few thunderstorms this evening over Otero and Hudspeth Counties. The disturbance aloft will move off to the northeast Sunday, bringing in mostly sunny skies, though some residual moisture persisting will give the Sacramento Mountains a slight risk of a thunderstorm. Southerly flow aloft will increase Monday and Tuesday, bringing some tropical moisture back up to the Borderland and a risk of isolated thunderstorms for most of the area. && .DISCUSSION... Summertime "hit or miss" thunderstorm pattern looks like it will continue through much of the forecast period. Currently vort center aloft hard to find in satellite imagery but likely over northern Otero County, helping kick off a few thunderstorms over that area. Some orographic thunderstorms have developed over the Black Range, but don`t expect that area to remain active tonight. Strong dry slotting taking place behind the exiting vort center, but fairly dense convection still occurring over the Sierra Madres. Believe that is only orographically aided and not the result of another short wave moving up. HRRR does show considerable convection over northern Mexico next few hours drifting east but mostly dissipating before reaching west Texas. Will keep low POPs in this evening for eastern Otero and Hudspeth Counties. With vort center lifting out of area to the northeast, northern Gulf of Mexico high center aloft will begin building back to the north and west. This will briefly dry us out on Sunday, but then begin streaming some tropical moisture back up over the area Monday into much of next week. Models not quite as bullish on QPF as previous runs, so somewhat lower POPs look reasonable; having said that POPs still remain for all zones. Inverted trough developing over far east Texas continues to be less and less a player, still moving through the Big Bend Thursday, but hardly affecting the CWA. Feature still drags a back door front into the area Thursday night, but becoming less pronounced, with only minor cooling for Friday. The upper high migrates north over Nebraska/eastern Wyoming by Thursday into the weekend, maintaining persistent east flow aloft. While not a bad flow for our precip chances, the trajectory is mostly from over the SE U.S. states and not the Gulf of Mexico, so don`t expect any widespread showery days--just hit or miss each day. && .AVIATION...Valid 01/00Z-02/00Z. VFR conditions for most areas through the period. Drier westerly winds are pushing moisture to the east. Fewer clouds Sat night through Sunday and less storm development mainly isolated north of a TCS-Orogrande line. Skies: FEW070 SCT150. VSBY P6SM. Winds W to NW 7- 15kts...gusts to 22kts. In VCTY of TSTMs local CIGs BKN040...VSBY 2- 3SM...Winds VRBL 25G35kts. && .FIRE WEATHER... An upper trough moving through the Central Rockies today will bring warmer and drier westerly flow over the area through the weekend. Expect warmer temperatures and lower relative humidity today and again Sunday as Min RH levels drop to less than 15% in the lowlands and Gila Wilderness and 20% in the Sacramentos. Rain and storm chances will be much reduced...especially over the western areas. By Monday into next week, moisture begins to move back in from the east. Thus rain and storms chances will again increase from east to west across southern New Mexico through the week and this will up the chances for new lightning starts out west early-week storms will likely be more dry than wet. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... El Paso 73 99 72 100 / 0 0 0 10 Sierra Blanca 68 98 68 96 / 10 0 10 20 Las Cruces 65 98 66 98 / 0 0 0 0 Alamogordo 65 98 67 97 / 10 0 0 30 Cloudcroft 49 74 51 74 / 10 30 10 50 Truth or Consequences 68 99 67 98 / 0 0 0 10 Silver City 59 91 60 93 / 0 0 0 0 Deming 62 99 63 99 / 0 0 0 0 Lordsburg 62 95 63 98 / 0 0 0 0 West El Paso Metro 71 98 71 99 / 0 0 0 10 Dell City 66 97 67 100 / 10 10 10 20 Fort Hancock 67 100 70 100 / 10 0 0 20 Loma Linda 66 96 65 95 / 10 0 0 20 Fabens 66 99 68 100 / 0 0 0 10 Santa Teresa 67 98 68 99 / 0 0 0 10 White Sands HQ 68 98 69 97 / 0 0 0 20 Jornada Range 62 100 66 99 / 0 0 0 10 Hatch 62 101 65 100 / 0 0 0 0 Columbus 66 100 66 100 / 0 0 0 0 Orogrande 69 99 69 98 / 10 0 0 20 Mayhill 54 82 55 83 / 10 30 10 40 Mescalero 53 84 55 84 / 10 30 10 50 Timberon 52 83 54 82 / 10 30 0 40 Winston 52 94 55 92 / 0 0 0 10 Hillsboro 61 97 61 97 / 0 0 0 10 Spaceport 63 99 66 99 / 0 0 0 10 Lake Roberts 47 93 50 92 / 0 0 0 10 Hurley 58 93 59 95 / 0 0 0 0 Cliff 59 97 59 97 / 0 0 0 0 Mule Creek 58 95 59 98 / 0 0 0 0 Faywood 60 95 61 96 / 0 0 0 0 Animas 63 96 63 99 / 0 0 0 0 Hachita 61 98 62 98 / 0 0 0 0 Antelope Wells 62 96 63 98 / 0 0 0 0 Cloverdale 60 93 60 95 / 0 0 0 0 && .EPZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NM...None. TX...None. && $$ Hefner/Novlan
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Green Bay WI
1045 PM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018 Updated aviation portion for 06Z TAF issuance .UPDATE... Issued at 556 PM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018 After a marked increase in intensity in the 20Z-22Z time frame, storms seem to have somewhat leveled off. The overall trend on the models has been to forecast the initial storms to weaken somewhat as they head east and away from the cold front. That seems to be what has happened thus far, but local meso-plots indicate low-level moisture convergence is now increasing so will need to watch and see if the weakening trend holds. Otherwise, plan to let the heat-related headlines expire as scheduled at 00Z. If the storms the rest of the night do not adequately overturn the airmass in eastern Wisconsin, the potential will exist for severe weather there tomorrow. Wind fields and large-scale forcing will be stronger at that time, which may offset weaker instability. && .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 239 PM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018 Periods of thunderstorms tonight and Sunday. Though the worst of the hot and humid conditions occurred today, very warm and rather humid weather is likely to continue through at least the middle of next week. The forecast period begins with a seasonably strong band of westerlies across the northern CONUS and southern Canada, with ridges off the West Coast and in the Great Lakes region, and a trough over the Rockies. The trough will broaden some as energy shears out to the northeast the next couple days. A substantial retrogression of the entire pattern is forecast during the middle to latter part of next week, with the trough reamplifying off the West Coast, and the ridges shifting back toward the Aleutians and western Plains. That will allow troughing to develop over eastern Canada and New England next weekend. Although the heat and humidities as extreme as today are not anticipated again during the period, the pattern favors very warm and rather humid conditions continuing through at least the middle of next week. The upper flow tilting northwest as the upper ridge shifts back into the Plains may eventually allow for some slightly cooler and less humid conditions late in the period. Given the available moisture, there appears to be enough opportunities for precipitation to result in AOA amounts for the period. && .SHORT TERM...Tonight and Sunday Issued at 239 PM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018 The latest RAP analysis and satellite/radar imagery show a cold front stretching from southeast Minnesota to western Wisconsin early this afternoon. Although the most potent storms have occurred over the Upper Peninsula so far today, cu is getting more agitated along the front and into north-central Wisconsin where temps have reached their convective temp. ML capes are very robust in this area this afternoon, in the 2600-3600 j/kg. The hourly models continue to show convection ramping up in the 20-22z time period in this corridor. Although the strongest wind fields are behind the front, 25-30 kts of deep layer shear remain supportive of scattered severe storms given the beefy instability present. Apparent temps also remain on track to reach excessive heat warning criteria at several locations over central and northeast WI. But the focus of this forecast is on severe thunderstorm chances. Tonight...The cold front will not make much headway to the east tonight as it waits for a deeper trough that will be moving across the Plains. However, many of the higher resolution models show the thunderstorms racing eastward across the area this evening, probably propagating on their outflow. Severe weather chances will quickly diminish during the evening as the storms outrun the front, and nocturnal stability increases. However, severe weather chances will likely continue through mid-evening, and most concerned with central and north-central WI where instability and shear will be most supportive. Damaging winds, large hail, and localized flooding will be the main threats from the storms. Most thunderstorm activity should diminish by early overnight, leaving spotty showers and storms, and some low clouds hanging back around the front over western sections of the forecast area. Temps will remain warm and humid, but not quite as warm as last night due to the possibility of rainfall. Sunday...As a shortwave quickly moves northeast across the northern Mississippi Valley, surface low pressure will track along the front and across northwest Wisconsin in the morning and western Lake Superior in the afternoon. Depending upon how thunderstorms and resultant cloud cover evolve tonight may impact how heating occurs tomorrow. If sufficient heating can occur, ML capes of 1500-2500 j/kg appear possible across eastern WI during the afternoon. With passage of the cold front and strengthening wind fields aloft (30-40 kts), severe thunderstorms appear possible again, this time primarily over eastern WI. Damaging winds and large hail will be the main threats. Temps will fall back into the upper 70s to mid 80s. With the humidity, a few locations will see heat indices reach the mid 90s. .LONG TERM...Sunday Night Through Saturday Issued at 239 PM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018 The cool front will settle south of the area Sunday night and begin to dissipate. It does not appear there will be much of a push of cooler and drier air behind the front, but mixing into drier air aloft will probably knock dew points back primarily into the 60s for Monday and Tuesday. Building upper heights as the eastern North American ridge begins it`s westward shift will also be unfavorable for precipitation. Although it may not be possible to totally rule out precip, any convection during this period is likely to remain isolated with most areas staying dry. The tail of a shortwave embedded within the main westerlies will brush the area Wednesday/Wednesday evening (Independence Day). That will result in a chance of showers and storms, especially across the north. Slightly cooler and less humid air is likely to settle into the area as the upper flow turns northwest late in the period, though temperatures will probably remain at least somewhat above normal into next weekend. Overall, the standard extended forecast initialization grids based on a broad blend of guidance products seemed to adequately, so few adjustments were necessary. && .AVIATION...for 06Z TAF Issuance Issued at 1036 PM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018 Primarily VFR conditions are expected across the area during the next 24 hours. The main concern overnight will be the potential for fog for any areas that clear out overnight, particularly across the north where the heaviest rain fell. However, satellite observations show there isn`t much in the way of clearing upstream, therefore will leave out of the TAFs. Additional thunderstorms are possible across the area Sunday afternoon as a cold front moves through the area. Some of these storms could have strong winds and hail with brief lower ceilings and visibilities. Will continue to carry a PROB30 group for this possibility in the TAFs given the low confidence in storms actually hitting each TAF site. && .GRB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Beach Hazards Statement until 1 AM CDT Sunday for WIZ022-040-050. && $$ UPDATE.........Skowronski SYNOPSIS.......Skowronski SHORT TERM.....MPC LONG TERM......Skowronski AVIATION.......Kurimski
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville, IL
835 PM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018 .UPDATE... 834 PM CDT No major changes to the forecast this evening. Explosive convection across far NW Illinois may still clip the far NW CWA late this evening, but lingering capping away from appreciable mid-level forcing and a developing LLJ over Iowa should prevent the convection from making it much farther east. The outflow from this convection may reach the Chicago metro while washing out during the early overnight hours. Otherwise, the forecast looks on track with regard to temps and the continuing Excessive Heat Warning through Sunday across much of the CWA. Kluber && .SHORT TERM... 300 PM CDT Tonight through Monday... Heat continues to be the immediate focus of the forecast this afternoon, with thunderstorm potential gradually increasing later tonight and more so on Sunday. Some locations, particularly the southeast parts of the cwa, will likely see nearly similar heat conditions Sunday before thunderstorm coverage increases later in the afternoon, and thus have elected to extend the Excessive Heat Warning through 7 pm Sunday, roughly east of the I-39 corridor. Afternoon water vapor imagery indicates the upper ridge has shifted east across the eastern Midwest and mid-Atlantic region. The low level thermal ridge axis remains back across the Mississippi Valley however, with another hot and very humid afternoon underway across the forecast area. Temps in the 90-95 range, and heat indices ranging generally from 105-115F characterize the air mass across the cwa at 2 pm. Farther west, a cold front trails from surface low pressure over Manitoba, southward across northwest Iowa and into the Central Plains. Thunderstorms had developed across northern Iowa in the low level convergent axis ahead of the front, in response to a northeastward propagating short wave downstream of a broad upper trough. This trough, and surface cold front, will move slowly east into the local area Sunday, with a gradual increase in thunderstorm potential beginning later tonight. Moderate to strongly unstable conditions were in place across the forecast area this afternoon, thanks to the hot/humid air mass across the region. RAP analysis depicts MLCAPE values of 3500-4500 J/kg, with minimal capping noted in forecast soundings. Little low level convergent focus is noted however, with GOES-16 high res 1-minute visible imagery showing a broadly anti-cyclonic cu field. Can`t rule out an isolated shower or storm especially across the southwest/western cwa late this afternoon where capping is weakest, though coverage, if any storms actually occur, is expected to be quite low. High-res CAM guidance has backed off in developing any storms here this afternoon, from a few runs earlier this morning which did. Guidance is in somewhat decent agreement in spreading current Iowa convection eastward into parts of WI, northwest and possibly north central IL very late this evening, though generally in a weakening mode forced by outflow. Convective models then keep things pretty quiet across the area until Sunday afternoon, when our pre-frontal air mass again diurnally destabilizes. Looks to be a fairly high probability of storms ahead of the cold front Sunday afternoon. Strong instability, and stronger southwesterly wind field aloft will likely support the threat of strong/severe storms, with damaging winds being the primary threat. Locally heavy rainfall will also be a concern, with PW`s approaching 2.00 inches. Individual storm motion should be fairly progressive, though any backbulding into the southwest flow could produce training which could lead to localized flooding, given potential for efficient rain production. Actual cold front passes slowly Sunday night, so thunderstorm potential will linger across the east into the night. Have a lingering chance across the far southeast Monday, as front slows up even more north of the Ohio River. Pre-frontal air mass looks to be only marginally "cooler" than today or Friday, especially across the east and south parts of the area least likely to be affected by decaying overnight convection or outflow. While raw numbers may be short of warning criteria, have elected to extend the Excessive Heat Warning through 7 pm Sunday for all but north central IL. Confidence is somewhat limited, given the potential for increased cloud cover, convective outflow, etc., but did not want to "ramp down" to an advisory especially cumulative effects of heat and another day of 100-105+ heat indices. Storms should push the last of the real heat out Sunday night, which should allow headlines to expire by early evening. High pressure develops across and north of the area Monday, with "cooler" northeast flow keeping temps from the low- mid 80s along the Lake Michigan shore, to the upper 80s inland. Ratzer && .LONG TERM... 325 PM CDT Monday night through Saturday... Some low chances for thunderstorms briefly early Monday evening along the eastern side of the surface ridge. Should be a small window though with the bulk of any development likely remaining just outside of the area. Upper level ridging still expected to be the main feature next week, with guidance indicating this will be a continued feature through the remainder of the work week. In this pattern, expect hot conditions to likely persist across the region and in this pattern, could see higher dewpoints/humid air to remain in place. Will need to continue to monitor high temps and dewpoints, as higher heat indices are a concern mid/late in the work week. Tough to really focus on any feature supportive of higher precip chances during the period, however, could see this pattern also providing periodic thunderstorm chances and have continued this theme in the forecast. This is especially the case Thursday night into Friday when a surface trough/boundary approach the area from the north, supporting a more organized setup for thunderstorm development. Rodriguez && .CLIMATE... Record Temps For the Chicago area... Record High Max Temp June 30: 99F (1913, 1953) Record High Min Temp June 30: 80F (1931) For the Rockford area... Record High Max Temp June 30: 102F (1931) Record High Min Temp June 30: 74F (1913, 1931) && .AVIATION... For the 00Z TAFs... Gusty south winds should gradually diminish this evening across the area. Ongoing convection across NE Iowa may clip RFD to the north mid to late evening. There is uncertainty how far SE the associated convective outflow will reach into northern IL. Anticipation is that outflow will dissipate around the Chicago metro during the early overnight hours. Winds at ORD/MDW/DPA may become NW or VRB for an hour or two between 06-09Z before settling back to S winds by daybreak. Gusty S winds are then expected well into the afternoon at all sites, with high-end MVFR BKN cumulus possible at times late morning into the early afternoon. Focus is then on the expected initiation of convection around 20Z Sunday just east of the Mississippi River. The line of broken convection should move eastward across northern IL and NW IN through the early evening. Strong to severe storms are possible, with strong wind gusts from microbursts being the main threat. Kluber && .MARINE... 341 PM CDT Southerly winds in place this afternoon across much of the lake, with this direction likely remaining tonight. Higher speeds in place at this time with surface trough/low just to the northwest, but do think a slight diminishing trend will be possible later tonight. This would be brief though, as this pattern will support another period of strengthening southerly winds on Sunday. Expect increased winds over the open waters and nearshore waters, and will need to monitor speeds over the nearshore as higher winds hazardous for small craft will be possible for a time Sunday afternoon into Sunday evening. Lower confidence at this time with this possibility, but at least a small window of these higher speeds are a definitely possibility. Rodriguez && .LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...Excessive Heat Warning...ILZ003-ILZ004-ILZ008-ILZ010-ILZ011 until 10 PM Saturday. Excessive Heat Warning...ILZ005-ILZ006-ILZ012-ILZ013-ILZ014- ILZ019-ILZ020-ILZ021-ILZ022-ILZ023-ILZ032-ILZ033-ILZ039 until 7 PM Sunday. IN...Excessive Heat Warning...INZ001-INZ002-INZ010-INZ011-INZ019 until 7 PM Sunday. LM...None. && $$ VISIT US AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/CHICAGO (ALL LOWERCASE) FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK...TWITTER...AND YOUTUBE AT: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/NWSCHICAGO WWW.TWITTER.COM/NWSCHICAGO WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/NWSCHICAGO
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
1105 PM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Sunday) Issued at 219 PM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018 Surface analysis this afternoon shows a nearly-stalled cold front extending SW from a low pressure center near Superior WI through southeastern MN into north-central IA. A more subtle cold front is shown from a low pressure center over southern Manitoba province extending SW into far NW MN into SE ND. Aloft, solid southwest flow prevails while a trough axis pushes off the Rockies and into the northern-central Plains. A deep plume of moisture is pushing PWATs into the 1.5-1.75 inch range with MLCAPEs hitting around 3000 j/kg with nearly no CINH. This combination of features, along with plenty of insolation, has allowed convection to spark over northern IA into SW-W MN this afternoon. CAMs continue to show a merging of clusters over eastern MN into western WI through the rest of this afternoon and evening. Bulk shear in the 40-30kt range combined with steep mid-level lapse rates (around 7C/km) still indicate the potential for all 3 severe storm modes although the highlighted modes are large hail and damaging winds through the early evening hours. With the front making little progress eastward tonight into Sunday morning, the bulk of the thunderstorms will occur over southern and eastern portions of the WFO MPX coverage area. The other aspect which the CAMs have shown is for there to be two distinct parts of this event over the next 18-24 hours: the current event which will continue through this evening then a second rush of rain from the early morning hours through daybreak. While the severe push looks to be during the former, the heavy rain event looks to be the latter. The lack of progression of the cold front combined with an increasing H85 jet to around 30 kts would help produce training cells and fairly good coverage of mod-hvy rain over southern MN into western WI. Localized rainfall amounts of 2-4" cannot be ruled out through tomorrow, especially over far southern MN where the flash flood watch will be maintained. The rainfall is expected to steadily wane and shift eastward tomorrow morning such that the bulk of the area looks to be dry Sunday afternoon. As for temperatures, lows tonight will be about 7-10 degrees cooler across the coverage area compared to this morning followed by highs on Sunday that will only climb to around 80 degrees. .LONG TERM...(Sunday night through Saturday) Issued at 219 PM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018 As the cold front at the surface continues to move east of the area we return to more of a zonal flow pattern aloft into Tuesday. After a brief dry spell Sunday evening into Monday afternoon, thunderstorm chances return Monday evening across western & northwestern MN as the LLJ ramps up. With little to no forcing aloft we`re not expecting much in the way of heavy rain or severe weather with these storms. Upper-level ridging builds back to the west mid-week & with it comes a return to hot & muggy weather. As the ridge builds our flow aloft becomes southwesterly with a potent mid-summer trough passing off to our north. The low at the surface over Manitoba will drag a weak cold front over our area Wednesday into Thursday & bring with it another chance for thunderstorms. Models are beginning to converge on a solution bringing the best chance for thunderstorms into our area Wednesday evening so unfortunately it looks like we may have some wet weather to deal with for Independence Day celebrations. As the cold front slides east Thursday, high pressure at the surface builds over the Great Lakes & should keep us relatively dry into the weekend. Expect warm & muggy weather into Thursday with highs in the mid-upper 80s, with a return to more seasonable temperatures beginning Friday. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Sunday night) Issued at 1105 PM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018 Writing is on the wall for a large shield of rain with embedded TS to impact the MPX terminal tonight through Sunday morning. 00z CAMs came pretty much in line with what the HRRR has been showing, so brought prevailing precip in to all terminals, though may not be fast enough with it. Besides the rain, MVFR cigs look likely as well and went with a blend of the LAV and HRRR for those. KMSP...No avoiding the rain, which looks to begin impacting MSP between 7z and 10z and will last through most of Sunday morning. Lower confidence on how low cigs will go, but approaching 1k feet is certainly plausible Sunday morning. /OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/ Mon...VFR. Wind SW 10-20 kts. Tue...VFR. Wind SSE 10-20 kts. Wed...Mainly VFR. Chance MVFR/TSRA late. Winds S 10-15 kts. && .MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WI...None. MN...None. && $$ SHORT TERM...JPC LONG TERM...ETA AVIATION...MPG
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
909 PM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018 .UPDATE... Issued at 902 PM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018 Have allowed Severe Thunderstorm Watch 245 to expire at 9 PM for much of eastern Nebraska and all of southwest Iowa. However there remains a small threat for hail or a severe wind gust in southeast Nebraska for an hour or so where storms track northeast from northeast Kansas. While heaviest rains have ended across our area, moderate rainfall was persisting in Flash Flood Watch area. Radar estimates of 1.5 to 2 inch amounts have only heightened flood threat for overnight storms. That area was racing into central Nebraska at late evening, and meso-scale models maintain storms across eastern Nebraska and western Iowa beginning before midnight. One positive note is that area of storms will be progressive, so localized intense rainfall is not anticipated. Still, another half inch to an inch could fall on areas that already received plenty of rain this evening. Thus flash flood watch will continue. && .SHORT TERM...(Tonight through Tuesday) Issued at 320 PM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018 Thunderstorms and heavy rain threat remain the primary forecast concerns. Aside from a lone thunderstorms that tracked northeast of our area this morning, convection has been slow to initiate at mid afternoon. Cold front has slipped into the Omaha Metro area as of 230 PM, and extends to the northeast near Denison Iowa, and to the southwest south of Lincoln. Airmass near and south of the front is unstable as latest RAP analysis suggests MLCAPE near 3500 J/kg. However extensive cloud cover limiting surface heating has kept low level lapse rates contained. Mid level cooler air was slow to arrive as well, and mid level lapse rates were struggling, too. Looks like we`ll have to wait for mid level impulse currently in north central Kansas to move closer for further erosion of cap for storm initiation. When convection does fire, damaging winds and possibly hail are likely give high instability and effective shear near 40kt. There is still some tornado risk as well where storms can ingest low level energy/helicity near frontal zone. Trends in short-range meso-scale model output, while delaying initiation, continue to develop storms this afternoon, with a secondary surge during the evening originating from current convection in south central Nebraska. Areas along and south of Interstate 80 still appear under severe threat until sunset. Then attention turns to stronger mid level trough rotating across northern Nebraska overnight, and attendant thunderstorms and heavy rain potential. There is at least a small risk for severe hail with these as mid level temps are cooler. Precipitable water values remain in the 1.5-2 inch range after 06Z, suggesting heavy rain is a threat with all storms overnight. However the overnight system is more progressive than evening convection along/south of front, so additional rainfall may not be as copious. Still average rainfall of of 1 to 2 inches is certainly possible with through Sunday morning, with localized areas much higher if training along front occurs as expected. Thus will continue Flash Flood Watch as is. Beyond tonight, cooler air spilling in behind mid level trough should keep highs in the 80s on Sunday. Return flow begins Monday and continues into Tuesday, helping warm temperatures back into the 90s. There is a small chance for elevated convection Monday night as low level jet noses into northeast Nebraska. .LONG TERM...(Tuesday night through Saturday) Issued at 320 PM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018 The main weather story for the rest of the week still looks to be warmer temperatures as mid level heights rise with expanding ridge from the Southeast into the Plains. Have highs in the 90s at least through Thursday. GFS has been relatively persistent in indicating a weakness in the ridge allowing convection to fire Thursday night into Friday, and ECMWF is beginning to show some agreement. Thus will continue with a chance for thunderstorms then, which in turn will cut highs Friday and Saturday a few degrees. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Sunday evening) Issued at 643 PM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018 Scattered thunderstorms will affect KOMA and KLNK during the 00Z to 06Z period storms slowly drift north and east across the region. Then another band of storms is forecast between 06Z and 12Z, moving in from the west. Attendant MVFR/IFR cigs/vsbys will accompany any storms, with wind gusts over 40kt in some areas. A band of MVFR cigs is expected to settle south across all TAF sites after overnight storms move past, and will likely linger from 10Z through 18Z before scattering out. && .OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...Flash Flood Watch until 7 AM CDT Sunday for NEZ015-033-034-044- 045-051>053-066>068. IA...Flash Flood Watch until 7 AM CDT Sunday for IAZ043-055-056-069- 079-080-090. && $$ UPDATE...Dergan SHORT TERM...Dergan LONG TERM...Dergan AVIATION...Dergan
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
847 PM EDT Sat Jun 30 2018 .SYNOPSIS... Ridging aloft will shift slowly east from the Appalachians tonight to the middle Atlantic Coast by Sunday, where it will then remain for much of the upcoming week. This will allow for a slight increase in moisture on the west side of this ridge into western parts of the Appalachians, and also for temperatures and humidity to slowly increase through early next week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 842 PM EDT Saturday... Isolated convection has again formed near the northwest NC foothills this evening associated with weak southeast flow within an axis of residual stronger instability/moisture convergence to the north of a stretched out vort lobe. These steering west around high pressure to the north and may reach parts of the mountains/foothills espcly from Watauga east across Wilkes into Yadkin counties in the next hour or two before likely fading with loss of heating. This in line with the latest HRRR which actually has added shallow convection meandering off residual outflow until around midnight across the far southwest. However uncertain about how far north any of the showers will make it, but still enough instability around to not count out isolated coverage developing along a corridor from Independence to Fries/Galax and Stuart in the next couple of hours per less cap aloft off the 00z GSO raob. Otherwise after low pops southwest, keeping things mainly clear under passing high clouds overnight with some dense fog around in spots. Lows again not too bad given dewpoints mainly in the 60s which should allow temps to fall off to at or below guidance with only the southeast staying around 70 for the most part. Previous discussion as of 315 PM EDT Saturday... Strong high pressure remains centered over the central Appalachians with dry air aloft and a bit of a mid level capping inversion, and thus overall lower than normal precipitable water values. This airmass and profile aloft is acting to keep any developing convection suppressed so far this afternoon with a relatively shallow cumulus field seen in visible satellite imagery. Some clustering can be seen in a few locations over the higher elevations of NW NC and far SW VA as well as to the south of the RNK CWA in central NC, with an isolated shower see on radars to the south. There is still a small chance that an isolated shower or weak thunderstorm could develop across our far southwest this afternoon and this threat could linger well into the evening as shallow southeast flow, and thus uplsope component, increases somewhat this evening. Kept precip chances at 20 percent or lower however and confined to the NW NC mountains and foothills through late this evening. Otherwise expect patchy valley fog to develop after midnight once again in favored river valleys, especially New River and Greenbrier, as we have seen last few nights. For Sunday as the center of the upper ridge shifts east toward the Atlantic coast and southeast flow deepens there will be a slow increase in moisture especially at mid levels, but still a good deal of mid level subsidence under ridge. Model consensus is for slightly better chances and coverage of showers and storms across NW NC and extending northward across far SW vA and into SE WV. Best chances will be generally west of I-77 but still think coverage will be scattered so not going any higher than mid chance PoPs. With the slightly better upslope cannot rule out an isolated shower or storm forming a little farther north along Blue Ridge, probably no farther north than Roanoke area. Guidance suggest a couple degrees warmer Sunday than today but still likely well shy of records. See Climate section below for what the record highs over the next few days though as we may get close early next week in a couple spots. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 300 PM EDT Friday.. The dominate weather feature during the short term period of the forecast will be an expanding upper level ridge, that is projected to be 1-3 standard deviations above average per the 12z GEFS. This, combined with increasing moisture from a weak low level southeast flow, somewhat influenced by a westward moving low off the southeast U.S. coast, will lead to heat index values from 100-105 from ROA to east of the Blue Ridge. The warmest day appears to be Tuesday when subsidence is strongest as the upper ridge moves overhead, but Monday will only be a degree or so behind. Leaned toward the warmer guidance values for highs during this period. Record highs for Monday and Tuesday (see climate section)are a couple of degrees warmer than current forecast with the exception of BLF, where the current forecast highs are forecast to match or exceed records. As for precipitation chances, expect scattered storms to develop on the west edge of the building upper ridge as PWAT values increase, a weak upslope southeast flow forms, and where mid level cap is weaker. Highest pops will be from southeast WV through far SW VA into NW NC. Precipitation coverage should be less on Tuesday, but can`t rule out widely scattered storms developing along the eastern slopes of the southern Blue Ridge. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 300 PM EDT Friday The long-range models continue to be in good agreement shifting an anomalously strong upper level west during the long term period. With 850mb temps down just a touch Wednesday and Thursday compared to Tuesday, highs may be a couple of degrees cooler. Still, heat index values east of the Blue Ridge will reach between 95-100 degrees through Friday. There still is disagreement in the models about the strength of a shortwave trof entering the northeast U.S. on Friday, but the ECMWF has trended toward the more amplified GFS. This should allow a cold front to approach and increase chances of showers and storms Friday into Saturday. Due to the differences in the model forecasts, there is low confidence on whether the front will completely move through our forecast area, or will it stall on Saturday. For now, kept highest POPs in the southern portion of our forecast area on Saturday. Prior to this front, a weak southeast flow off the Atlantic bring a moist, but weak upslope flow, should be enough to spawn daily afternoon and evening thunderstorms, especially across the southern Blue Ridge. && .AVIATION /01Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 645 PM EDT Saturday... Overall VFR conditions will prevail into this evening with only isolated showers possible well southwest of the TAF sites through about midnight. Otherwise high pressure over the region will again result in light winds and favorable radiational cooling overnight. Fog will form again in the typical mountain river valleys after midnight. The fog and/or stratus should mainly impact KLWB with IFR to LIFR fog through 13Z/9AM Sunday, but brief IFR visibility will also be possible at KBCB and KLYH. Isolated to scattered thunderstorms should form again Sunday afternoon mainly over the NW NC mountains but a few could sneak farther north toward SE West VA including KBLF. Coverage and confidence remains low at this point that they will move into KBLF later Sunday as too isolated to include as well. Otherwise TAF sites should remain dry with VFR conditions under scattered cumulus during the day Sunday. Forecast confidence is above average. Outlook: VFR conditions will be the primary flight category through mid-week, though with late night-early morning fog, and a slight chance of an afternoon thunderstorm from Monday onward, especially in the mountains. Confidence in the above forecast is high, though predictability of the afternoon storms is low for any given site. && .CLIMATE... Sunday 07/01/2018 Site MaxT Year KBLF 90 2012 KDAN 100 2012 KLYH 98 1970 KROA 100 1931 KRNK 92 1959 Monday 07/02/2018 Site MaxT Year KBLF 87 2011 KDAN 100 1954 KLYH 99 1898 KROA 100 1954 KRNK 95 1954 Tuesday 07/03/2018 Site MaxT Year KBLF 89 2012 KDAN 99 1968 KLYH 97 2012 KROA 97 2012 KRNK 95 1954 && .EQUIPMENT... As of 700 AM EDT Saturday... The NOAA weather radio transmitter in Hinton, West Virginia that is WXM72 and broadcasting at a frequency of 162.425 MHz remains off the air, and will likely remain so through the weekend and into early next week. Parts are on order to repair the transmitter, but there is no known time of restoration. We apologize for any inconvenience. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...SK NEAR TERM...JH/SK SHORT TERM...PH LONG TERM...PH AVIATION...JH/SK CLIMATE...SK EQUIPMENT...WERT
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Topeka KS
315 PM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Sunday) Issued at 308 PM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018 Strong to severe thunderstorms with heavy rain and strong winds are possible this afternoon and tonight, with a brief respite from the heat on Sunday. The early afternoon synoptic analysis featured a broad subtropical ridge stretching from the Mid-Mississippi River valley to the Mid-Atlantic region. A sharp northern stream H300 meridional trough axis was shifting eastward over Montana and Wyoming--with some hints of an embedded closed upper low over central Wyoming on GOES-16 water vapor imagery. A 60-70 kt jet streak and H500 shortwave were rounding the base of this trough and lifting northeastward towards the Northern Plains. Upper tropospheric undulations/gravity waves were also noted this morning emanating southward from the location of overnight convection in Nebraska, with a low to mid tropospheric outflow boundary noted on satellite, radar, and even for a short time in the Salina to Manhattan observation network, where winds veered to the north/west behind the passing boundary for a few hours this morning before the mean southerly flow became reestablished. A small MCV--remnants from earlier convection in Oklahoma, was lifting northward through central Kansas. The region of DCVA ahead of the low was helping generate isolated showers along the aforementioned outflow boundary. At the surface, a 1005 mb lee cyclone had gradually shifted off the Front Range and into far western Kansas early this afternoon, with an attendant frontal boundary arcing northeastward into SE Nebraska and NW Iowa. This quasi-stationary boundary is forecast to meander near the Kansas/Nebraska border through the rest of the day, with isentropic upglide over the boundary serving as the foci for thunderstorm development through the remainder of the afternoon/evening. Several HREF members and the HRRR have been hinting at the development of prefrontal showers and storms late this afternoon in the warm sector from north central Oklahoma to central Kansas. Have maintained slight chance to chance POPs to account for these solutions. However, the threat for more widespread showers and storms will come as the boundary sags southward overnight between 04 and 10Z. Have pushed the heaviest QPF to between 06 and 12Z timeframe in the forecast. The overall convective environment in northeast Kansas features a typical summertime setup--rich in buoyancy but lacking in deep shear. MLCAPE values of 3000-4000 J/kg were noted on recent SPC Mesoanalysis plots over the region, but with effective shear values of only 15 to 25 kts. Given the minimal inhibition, even weak lift associated with either the aforementioned outflow, MCV, or H500 wave could lead to convective initiation. For now, have focused afternoon POPs on the outflow and MCV, which already have a history of producing convection. Storm mode is also complicated by the lack of deep shear, hodograph inflection points, and weak inhibition. Multi-cell clusters/lines are most likely given this environment. Cold pools will be efficiently generated in this regime with 1500-1700 J/kg of DCAPE and 0-3 km theta-e differences of 25-35 C. Heavy rain will also be a threat with any training or slow moving complex with PWATs of 1.5 to 2 inches approaching the 90-99th percentile of the climatological average. The hail and tornado threat are non-zero given the possibility of isolated sustained updrafts and multiple outflow boundaries providing localized ESRH enhancements, but wind and rain look to be the two main threats. The complex as a whole should push off to the southeast Sunday morning with some residual precipitation possibly lingering in the far southeast CWA. H850 temps drop to +15 to +17C in the wake of this system for Sunday, but by Sunday night the lower tropospheric ridge will push east of the region and allow WAA to overspread NE Kansas once again. .LONG TERM...(Sunday night through Saturday) Issued at 308 PM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018 The upcoming week features a return of hot summer temperatures and few chances of precipitation. The upper tropospheric ridge slowly retrogrades westward over the course of the week; its centroid shifting from the southeast U.S. to the Four Corners region by the end of the week. This will result in highs hanging around the 90 to 95 degree mark and heat indices in the 100-105 degree range. Any precip chances come later in the week and are low/ill-timed at best. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Sunday afternoon) Issued at 1253 PM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018 Showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop late this afternoon and persist through the overnight. Any showers and storms during the afternoon/evening will likely be more scattered, with the best chance for widespread restrictions coming overnight. Winds will be from the south at 10 to 20 kts today, veering to the northwest Sunday morning as a front moves through. && .TOP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Excessive Heat Warning until 7 PM CDT this evening for KSZ011- 012-022>024-026-036-038>040-055-056-059. Heat Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for KSZ008>010-020-021- 034-035-037-054-058. && $$ SHORT TERM...Skow LONG TERM...Skow AVIATION...Skow