Forecast Discussions mentioning any of "HRRR" "RAP" "RUC13" "RUC" "RR" received at GSD on 06/21/24


See below for an aviation forecast discussion for the 00Z TAFs.

&& .SHORT TERM /THIS EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/... Issued at 245 PM CDT Thu Jun 20 2024 Precipitation has remained mostly south of Hwy 212 so far today. There are a few showers showing up on radar farther north, but the bulk of the activity remains closer to the primary boundary - a developing warm front stretching east northeast from a Colorado low across northern NE. A 30 to 40kt llj in the warm sector and some ample shortwave activity riding the upper ridge will help kick off some strong to severe thunderstorms through this evening. However, the strongest part of the jet looks to remain across NE and maybe as far north as the NE/SD border. A more anemic 20 to 25kt llj may push into central and east central SD. Weak convection with heavier rain is the most likely scenario tonight, but there is a marginal to slight risk (1 to 2 out of 5) for severe storms south of Hwy 14. Anything severe could be more likely if an MCS traverses out of Wyoming and the Black Hills and clips this forecast area with strong winds. WPC pushed a moderate risk for excessive rainfall into Lyman and Buffalo counties for tonight. Given the convection, chances for locally heavy rainfall are present, especially with PWATs a full standard deviation above normal. Could still see an additional 1 to 3 inches of widespread rain across the southern cwa into east central SD through Friday night with embedded areas of more intense accumulations. Therefore, issued a flood watch through Friday night due to the wetter antecedent conditions and thunderstorm potential. The warm front will stretch farther northeast on Friday and be the focus point for strong to severe storms. The timing has really waffled on storm development but could be as early as 17z or closer to 21z. There is a slight risk for severe storms along and south of Hwy 212 Friday. Less sold on anything much developing too far north of the front, but there is a low potential for a couple of tornadoes right on the front aside from risks of strong winds and large hail. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... Issued at 245 PM CDT Thu Jun 20 2024 Saturday starts the long term with a shortwave over the area. This will move east fairly quickly before a ridge builds in for Sunday. This ridge stays over the region a little longer than in previous model runs, lasting at least into Monday afternoon before we transition to more westerly/zonal flow. Tuesday a quick shortwave makes its way across the area. Another ridge starts to build in for the end of the period. We start the long term with some possible lingering showers over far northeastern SD and west central MN Saturday morning. Monday evening is going to be our next chance for some rain ahead of that shortwave trough. Chances are pretty limited, with highest being 25 to 35% over eastern SD and west central MN. Accumulations are also expected to be low, toping out at about a tenth of an inch over east central SD. Temperatures to start the period will be warming, peaking on Monday with highs east of the James River about 5 to 10 degrees above average and west of the James River about 10 to 15 degrees above average. Highs return to about average for the rest of the period. Winds are expected to be around normal for the entire period. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 622 PM CDT Thu Jun 20 2024 Terminals KABR,KATY,KPIR,KMBG A blanket of clouds is over the region. Prevailing conditions are characterized as generally MVFR or lower. Guidance indicates that later tonight after 06Z, the prevailing condition at all four terminals will drop into some form of IFR (cigs) and remain there until sometime later on Friday when some improvement is expected. With the current batch of showers and thunderstorms just about done affecting terminal airspace, it appears that there will be a several hour break before more showers/thunderstorms begin picking up/moving in from the southwest later this evening into the overnight hours. Keeping an eye out for heavy rainfall, which could lead to reduced (MVFR/IFR) visibility overnight. && .ABR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...Flood Watch through Saturday morning for SDZ018>020-022-023-036- 037-048-051. MN...None. && $$ UPDATE...Dorn SHORT TERM...Wise LONG TERM...KK AVIATION...Dorn
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
1050 PM CDT Thu Jun 20 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Multiple rounds of heavy rain are expected Friday morning through at least Saturday morning. How the bands line up will determine the local flooding threat. Confidence is lower on exactly how the later storms Friday night into Saturday afternoon evolve. - A few storms Friday and Saturday may be severe, with damaging winds the main threat. - A brief respite from the active pattern for Sunday and Monday, but more storms loom for Monday night into Tuesday. Unfortunately, severe storms cannot be ruled out for Monday night into Tuesday. && .UPDATE... Issued at 1040 PM CDT Thu Jun 20 2024 With the evening update, in coordination with MPX have an earlier start time to the Flood Watch for flash flooding. The 03Z surface from stretched from central Iowa into northern Kansas with surface dewpoint in the 70s south of the front. The warm front is forecast to slowly lift north Friday. Overnight, a convective complex over parts of Nebraska/South Dakota is forecast to push east across MN with storms reaching our southeast MN counties in the morning. Precipitable water values increase 150 to 200 percent along and north of the frontal axis. The storms are forecast to move around 20kt, however due to the continue moisture transport/theta-e advection/low level jet, training of storms is expected and these morning storms may put down some locally heavy rain. The CAMs still have some differences in how far north the heavy stripes of rain will be Friday morning. The 21.00Z HREF has the mean heavy rain more from RST toward north of LSE. However, should the warm front not make it as farther north, the heavy would likely affect areas farther south. See our detailed river flood products for updates as we head into this significant rain/river flood event. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 338 PM CDT Thu Jun 20 2024 This Afternoon into Tonight: Decreasing Potential for Thunderstorms Largely as expected, widespread cloudiness across much of the CWA has limited surface insolation, with latest RAP guidance suggesting less than 250 J/kg of MLCAPE is present and, with winds out of the east, am not expecting robust enough low level warm advection to change this. Have therefore continued to limit mentions of thunder to 30 percent or less. Additionally, with 18z WV satellite showing the CWA is largely between two shortwaves - one southeast of the CWA and the second looking to pass just to our northwest, much of the area looks to remain free of precip entirely, with the exception of areas along an Albert Lea MN to Medford WI axis, where the close approach of the northwestern shortwave should be enough for at least a few showers. In either case, am not too concerned about excessive rainfall with any showers this afternoon and evening given PWAT values are generally under 1.65" and 700/850mb moisture transport is modest. Friday through Saturday: Heavy Rain, Flooding, and Severe Storm Potential This evening, moisture transport increases markedly over the central High Plains ahead of an advancing upper trough. As a shortwave ejects over NE, an MCS should develop and translate east- northeastward along a northward lifting warm front to SD and eventually S MN by Friday morning. As for severe thunderstorms, this morning MCS could pose an isolated damaging wind threat in S MN if it remains sufficiently organized. Finally, flood threat with this initial rounds appears to be low as 700/850mb moisture transport remains modest for this initial round. Friday afternoon and evening, low level moist advection should help MLCAPE build to 1000-1500 J/kg as the front, forced southward by the morning MCS, pushes back northward. While 0-6km bulk shear values are generally 35 knots or less, this would be sufficient for perhaps a bit of organized convection. While hodographs are not overly impressive, if enough surface destabilization can occur, there would be at least a small probability for all hazards with damaging winds having the higher relative risk. The primary concern with this activity will be heavy rainfall and flooding as 700/850mb moisture transport will increase in time as the main upper trough advances eastward over the central Plains and becomes oriented out of the southwest, somewhat along the expected east-west axis of the front. PWAT values look to top 2 inches, with these values exceeding the 99th percentile in both the NAEFS and ENS climatology. Thus, expect efficient rain producers with some areas potentially affected by training storms. Given this and the saturated soils from abundant recent rainfall, have issued a Flood Watch beginning Friday afternoon. Main uncertainty Friday afternoon focuses on how far north the low level warm advection pushes the front after it is forced southward by outflow from the morning MCS. Non-CAM guidance suggests the boundary may return to a position just northwest of our CWA while many CAMs have trended toward a solution roughly around Interstate 90. While all guidance tends to struggle with the effects of cold pools, am inclined to learn toward the CAM solutions as they tend to do a bit better. Have therefore trended axis of highest QPF to the south and this adjustment may not yet be enough. Second uncertainty focuses on the timing of the morning MCS - should this arrive sufficiently late, this round could carry a higher risk for severe wind as the morning inversion breaks. Additionally, this would delay airmass recovery and onset of the second round of storms. Moving ahead to Saturday morning, our third round of convection looks to occur as the main upper trough finally approaches. As moist advection continues, PWAT values approach NAEFS/ENS climatological maximums and training risk increases as 850mb moisture transport becomes more oriented along the surface boundary. Have therefore kept the Flood Watch going through midday Saturday. The already high uncertainty in details increases markedly by Saturday afternoon. Should the previous three rounds of convection occur largely as envisioned, the boundary may very well be shunted southeast of the CWA for good. Given this uncertainty, have ended the Flood Watch early Saturday morning. If the boundary remains in our CWA, would need to extend this Watch in time. Finally, if the boundary remains in our CWA, destabilization to the south of this feature Saturday afternoon would lead to another period with severe thunderstorm potential. Given the modest increase in deep shear as mid to upper level flow ramps up ahead of the upper trough, all severe hazards could be in play in the southeastern third of the CWA if this fourth round manifests itself. Sunday through Wednesday: Brief Break from Storms, then Active Weather Returns In the wake of Saturday`s upper trough, northwesterly flow aloft begins to dominate proceedings. With conditions at 700/850mb drying out considerably, most areas should remain free of rain Sunday, with the exception of north central Wisconsin due to a passing upper wave. Next wave Monday night into Tuesday may bring additional rainfall with CSU ML severe outlooks suggesting at least some risk for severe thunderstorms during this period. Admittedly had little time to closely examine this given the abundance of active weather in the short term but will need to keep an eye on Monday and Tuesday. && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY/... Issued at 955 PM CDT Thu Jun 20 2024 Increasingly challenging Aviation forecast. In the nearest term, upstream observations have varied between LIFR and VFR with thunder slowly trudging east through central Minnesota late tonight. Has been drastically slower with every radar loop however. Confidence increases through Friday for precipitation moving west to east. Confidence remains low on exact location of heaviest rainfall and convective storms. Therefore, have continued VCTS at both TAF sites but needs further refinement as forecast hour nears. & .HYDROLOGY... Issued at 405 PM CDT Thu Jun 20 2024 A Flood Watch has been issued for parts of southeast Minnesota, northeast Iowa, and western Wisconsin from Friday into Saturday. Multiple rounds of heavy rain are expected from Friday morning through Saturday, increasing the potential for flash flooding. Widespread rainfall accumulation of 2 to 4 inches is forecasted with locally higher amounts exceeding 5 inches possible in spots. Highest flash flooding risk remains dependent on exact location of heaviest rainfall bands. Should the heaviest rainfall bands line up over the smaller river basins, there is a 20-30 percent chance that these basins could experience periods of flooding at moderate flood stage. Additionally, the combination of recent heavy rains with the ongoing rounds of storms increase river flooding potential into next weekend. Moderate to high confidence (60-90% chance) for sites along the Mississippi River to exceed flood stage during this time. && .ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WI...Flood Watch from 7 AM CDT Friday through Saturday afternoon for WIZ032. MN...Flood Watch from 7 AM CDT Friday through Saturday afternoon for MNZ079-086>088-094>096. IA...Flood Watch from 7 AM CDT Friday through Saturday afternoon for IAZ008>011-018-019. && $$ UPDATE...Zapotocny DISCUSSION...Ferguson AVIATION...JAR
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
1002 PM EDT Thu Jun 20 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms remain possible this evening...mainly across northern MA where a Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect. A backdoor cold front moves in from northeast to southwest Friday...bringing another round of showers and thunderstorms. The bulk of this activity should be across interior Massachusetts and Connecticut...where some of the storms may become severe and also result in a localized flash flood threat. Warm and muggy this weekend with rain and thunderstorm chances both Saturday and Sunday. A cold front sweeps across the region Monday with additional showers and storms, briefly less humid on Tuesday, but summer warmth and humidity returns for midweek. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM FRIDAY MORNING/... 10 PM Update The severe thunderstorm threat has ended with storms loosing strength very quickly after sunset as capping inversion developed. A few lightning strikes are still being observed, mainly over the waters, but more stratiform showers have become the more dominant precipitation mode over the last hour or so. We expect that showers will continue to dissipate over the next two to three hours, with dry conditions expected well before sunrise. Given the lack of instability/forcing after sunset, the Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been cancelled. Previous update... 745 PM Update * Strong to Severe T-Storms through late evening in areas north of the CT/RI/MA State lines * Localized damaging wind gusts & torrential rainfall which may result in a very localized flash flood threat Shortwave energy across northern New England coupled with outflow and MLCapes still over 2000 J/KG has resulted in a solid line of strong to severe t-storms to enter northwest and northern MA early this evening. We think enough outflow will result in a risk for severe storms over the next 1-3 hours in areas at last north of the CT/RI/MA state lines. This is also supported by the latest machine learning probs from the CSU to the Nadocast and HRRR Neural network...which are all showing a quite robust signal for localized damaging wind gusts. Main question is how far south this convection will survive as it out-runs the greater forcing. Given that DCapes are still over 1000 J/KG...we expanded the Severe T-Storm Watch to the CT/MA border and extended it through 11 pm. Also...these storms will be capable of producing torrential rainfall and a localized flash flood threat. Once this activity winds down later this evening...much of the overnight hours should feature dry/muggy weather. Overnight low temps will mainly be in the upper 60s to the lower 70s. We also may see some patchy ground fog develop overnight given light winds/high dewpoints especially where rain falls earlier in the evening. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/... Key Points... * Showers & t-storms anticipated Fri PM with the severe weather threat/very localized flash flood threat across interior MA/CT * Much cooler across eastern MA but still hot & humid towards the CT River Valley where Heat Advisories remain posted Details... Friday... A backdoor cold front will be moving westward across the region Friday morning and into the afternoon. This will hold high temps in the 80s across much of eastern MA and temps along the immediate coast will probably fall into the 70s by afternoon. Further inland...high temps will top off in the upper 80s to the lower 90s with the warmest of those readings in the CT River Valley. The Heat Advisory for Friday will only cover portions of southwest MA/CT...where Heat Indices are expected to top off between 95 and 100 degrees. The other concern will be for another round of showers & t- storms...which looks to be Friday afternoon/early evening. The focus for this will be along the backdoor cold front and will be enhanced by shortwave energy in west to northwest flow aloft. While a few showers & t-storms may impact the entire region...thinking the main focus for the potential of severe weather/localized flash flooding will be across western/central MA & northern CT. This is where the greater instability will reside on the order of 1500 to 2000 J/KG. These backdoor cold fronts can be a recipe for training and a localized flash flood threat. The CSU Machine learning probs highlight this risk nicely with again the focus across the interior. There also is a severe weather risk with the main concerns being locally damaging wind gusts with hail a secondary risk. This is depicted nicely by the machine learning probs as well as the HREF Updraft Helicity Swaths/Radar Simulations. Friday night... The convection should dissipate Friday evening. Otherwise...we will have to watch for areas of low clouds and fog developing. Overnight low temps will be mainly in the 60s. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... Highlights: * Warm and muggy this weekend with rain chances both Saturday and Sunday. * Cold front sweeps across the region on Monday, drier and returning heat into mid next week. The mid-level ridge continues to deamplify, as 500mb heights lower from north to south, which is a consistent theme for the upcoming weekend. At the surface an area of higher pressure near Bermuda wanes and surface pressure lowers across the northeast. This area of low pressure developing over the northern Great Lakes, drives our weather conditions late this weekend into Monday, as the trailing cold front, south of the low, sweeps across the northeast sometime Monday. Beyond Monday, high pressure builds back Tuesday through Thursday, with a cold front possibly pushing across the region later on Friday/Saturday. In addition, most of next week trends warmer than normal, and at this point, next week doesn`t look to be as extreme as this current week. Though the ensemble situational awareness tables indicates Monday through Thursday, surface temperatures could be running between the 90th and 99th percentile (of climatology), with a return of average temperatures post cold front, sometime late Friday into Saturday. Saturday & Sunday: Getting closer to home, there is a quasi-stationary frontal boundary across the region, running from east to west through southern New England and through Upstate New York on Saturday. Weak area of low pressure tries to develop along the boundary, with the greatest area for showers and storms along and north of the Mass Pike during the mid to late afternoon. At this point, not expecting anything severe, and SPC has most of the region under general thunder. A slightly more elevated issue would be the potential for excessive rainfall. The ERO from WPC highlights much of central/western Massachusetts and northern Connecticut for a `Marginal` risk. Given PWATs are above two inches, isolated and locally heavy downpours could lead to urban street and poor drainage flooding. Aforementioned frontal boundary becomes a warm front Saturday night into early Sunday, lifting northeast, and placing us in the warm sector. Scattered showers into the overnight hours, though the best forcing appears to be concentrated further north. A prefrontal trough and shortwave pivot through, with showers and thunderstorms later Sunday afternoon/evening. As for temperatures, Saturday will be the `cooler` day, the warmest location will be the Connecticut River Valley, highs here are in the mid 80s. Much cooler in northwest Massachusetts where highs are low to middle 70s with the northeast flow. Nightly lows are still mild which isn`t ideal for sleeping with windows open, lows are in the middle to upper 60s to 70 degrees in the Connecticut River Valley on Saturday night, then 2-4 degrees warmer Sunday night. Next Week: Warm and muggy day ahead of a surface cold front with temperatures climbing into the 80s and dew points in the 60s. Storms develop mid to late afternoon with the surface cold front, a bit a relief behind the front with lowering dew points into the 50s and leads to a nice Tuesday with comfortable, albeit warm day, with dew points in the upper 50s to 60F. High pressure reestablishes across the northeast leading to a drier week with return of summer warmth. Highs are in the middle and upper 80s and lows in the 60s with a sign of cooler temperatures by late in the week. && .AVIATION /02Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... Forecast Confidence Levels: Low - less than 30 percent. Moderate - 30 to 60 percent. High - greater than 60 percent. 00z TAF Update... Through 04z This Evening...Moderate Confidence. Main issue through 04z this evening will be a large cluster of showers & t-storms. Some of these storms will be strong to severe and result in locally strong wind gusts and torrential rain. Still some uncertainty on the southern extent of this activity...but feel at least areas north of the CT/MA state lines are the areas of greatest concern. Overnight...Moderate Confidence. Mainly VFR once the scattered t-storms wind down by late evening. However...will have to watch for some patchy ground fog and reduced vsbys /MVFR-IFR levels/ especially where ground becomes wet from the earlier showers & t-storms. Light SW winds. Friday...Moderate Confidence. Biggest concern is another round of scattered showers & t-storms. Main risk for a few strong to severe storms will be across western/central MA & northern CT Friday afternoon/early evening with locally torrential rainfall. In addition...low clouds and fog patches may develop during the afternoon/early evening hours to the east of the CT River Valley. This process should occur first along the eastern MA coast. Backdoor cold front will shift the winds to the NE as the day wears along. Friday night...Moderate Confidence. Bulk of the scattered showers/t-storms should wind down Friday evening. Otherwise...light onshore flow and a cooling boundary layer will allow low end MVFR to IFR conditions to expand westward during the evening impacting the rest of the region. KBOS TAF...Moderate Confidence in TAF. Main issue is a cluster of strong to severe t-storms that will likely be working into the towards 01z/02z. Based on the latest radar trends and the environment...we do favor the activity surviving into Boston. KBDL TAF...Moderate Confidence in TAF. Main concern will be cluster of showers & t-storms to the north of the terminal. Not sure if the activity will get that far south...but will need to be watched 03z/04z. Outlook /Saturday through Tuesday/... Saturday: MVFR/IFR conditions possible. Chance SHRA, isolated TSRA, patchy BR. Saturday Night: Mainly IFR, with local MVFR possible. Chance SHRA, isolated TSRA, patchy BR. Sunday: Mainly VFR, with local IFR possible. Breezy. Chance SHRA, isolated TSRA, patchy BR. Sunday Night: Mainly VFR, with areas IFR possible. Breezy. SHRA likely, isolated TSRA, patchy BR. Monday: Mainly VFR, with local IFR possible. Breezy. Chance SHRA, isolated TSRA, patchy BR. Monday Night: VFR. Breezy. Chance SHRA. Tuesday: VFR. && .MARINE... Forecaster Confidence Levels: Low - less than 30 percent. Medium - 30 to 60 percent. High - greater than 60 percent. Tonight through Friday night...High Confidence. Nearshore small craft wind gusts will linger from areas near the southeast New England coast into early this evening...so small craft headlines continue in this region through 8 pm. Other risk tonight will be a few strong t-storms which may threaten our northern waters through about 10 pm. We also will need to watch for some fog developing overnight. The backdoor cold front will move across our northern waters Fri morning...but likely stall across our southern waters Fri afternoon and night. Pressure gradient will be weak enough to keep winds/seas below small craft thresholds. We will need to watch for areas of fog developing during the overnight hours. Outlook /Saturday through Tuesday/... Saturday: Winds less than 25 kt. Chance of rain showers, patchy fog, isolated thunderstorms. Visibility 1 to 3 nm. Saturday Night: Winds less than 25 kt. Chance of rain showers, isolated thunderstorms, patchy fog. Visibility 1 to 3 nm. Sunday: Low risk for Small Craft Advisory winds with gusts up to 25 kt. Local rough seas. Slight chance of rain showers, isolated thunderstorms, patchy fog. Visibility 1 to 3 nm. Sunday Night: Moderate risk for Small Craft Advisory winds with gusts up to 30 kt. Areas of rough seas. Rain showers likely, isolated thunderstorms, patchy fog. Visibility 1 to 3 nm. Monday: Low risk for Small Craft Advisory winds with gusts up to 25 kt. Areas of rough seas. Rain showers likely, isolated thunderstorms, patchy fog. Visibility 1 to 3 nm. Monday Night: Winds less than 25 kt. Local rough seas. Chance of rain showers, isolated thunderstorms, patchy fog. Visibility 1 to 3 nm. Tuesday: Winds less than 25 kt. Areas of seas approaching 5 ft. && .CLIMATE... All Time June High Temperature Record (Daily) BOS - 100 F (06/06/1925, 06/26/1952 and 06/30/2021) BDL - 100 F (06/26/1952, 06/30/1964) PVD - 98 F (06/25/1943, 06/15/1945 and 06/30/1945) ORH - 98 F (06/26/1952) Most recent day of 100 F (or greater) BOS - 100 F (07/24/2022) BDL - 100 F (07/21/2019) PVD - 100 F (07/28/2020) ORH - 102 F (07/04/1911)* * For ORH this is the only 100+ degree day in its period of record. Daily High Temperature Records... June 20th BOS - 98 F (1953) BDL - 97 F (2012) PVD - 95 F (1941) ORH - 93 F (1953) June 21st BOS - 96 F (2012) BDL - 96 F (1953 and 2012) PVD - 96 F (1941) ORH - 91 F (Multi-Years) Daily Warmest Low Temperatures Records... June 20th BOS - 78 F (1931) BDL - 74 F (1931) PVD - 74 F (1931) ORH - 72 F (1931) June 21st BOS - 80 F (2012) BDL - 73 F (1923 and 2012) PVD - 75 F (2012) ORH - 74 F (1923 and 2012) && .BOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CT...Heat Advisory until 7 PM EDT Friday for CTZ002>004. Air Quality Alert until 11 PM EDT this evening for CTZ002-003. MA...Heat Advisory until 7 PM EDT Friday for MAZ008>011. Air Quality Alert until 11 PM EDT this evening for MAZ007- 010>021. RI...Air Quality Alert until 11 PM EDT this evening for RIZ001>005. MARINE...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...Frank/Dooley NEAR TERM...Frank/KS SHORT TERM...Frank LONG TERM...Dooley AVIATION...Frank/Dooley MARINE...Frank/Dooley CLIMATE...BL
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Billings MT
655 PM MDT Thu Jun 20 2024 .UPDATE... Mostly quiet weather around the forecast area this evening. There is an area to watch across our north, east of Snowies, thru the evening. A couple stronger storms developed along the northern Musselshell and northern Custer county lines over the past few hours. Brunt of activity has stayed to our north but as ESE low level jet increases toward sunset would not be surprised to see a strong to severe storm develop across our northeast (potentially impacting Forsyth-Miles City-Baker between roughly 02-07z)... though it should be noted that high res models keep convection to our north. Otherwise, chance of showers and embedded thunderstorms will increase from the south overnight as a shortwave emerges from the southwest flow aloft. Low level easterly winds will persist, and there will be sufficient elevated instability for thunderstorm potential along w/ small hail and pockets of heavy rain during the overnight hours and early Friday. This includes the Billings metro area. Finally, area of stratus over Carter County is slowly advecting to the east/north. This will likely evolve into a stratus/fog combo as the night wears on. In fact, HRRR suggests 925mb moistening along our western foothills (per upsloping) by daybreak tomorrow. Something to watch. Overall the next 12-18 hours are messy, and the showers/stratus/fog will all have impacts on Friday`s convection. Stay tuned. JKL && .DISCUSSION... Tonight through Friday night... Shortwaves and jet energy will move through WSW flow aloft tonight. With low-level ESE flow, PWAT`s will climb to 1 inch from KBIL S and E. Some areas showed MUCAPE of 500-1000 J/kg (elevated) and bulk effective shear around 40 kt tonight. So with enough lift there could be a few strong storms, mainly along the northern tier, N of KBIL, where HREF showed a few updraft helicity tracks. Had 20-30% PoPs much of the night over portions of the area based on CAMS. Had higher PoPs E of KBIL late at night as second wave moves through the area. HRRR showed fog, possibly dense, over Carter and Fallon Counties overnight. Satellite and web cams had low clouds moving into SE MT. Added areas of fog to the far E overnight, with patchy fog elsewhere N and E of KBIL. Next shifts can keep an eye out for possible dense fog advisory. It will be a warm and humid night with lows well into the 50s. Stronger trough moves across the area Friday through Friday night. HREF showed a few helicity tracks S and SE of KBIL Fri. morning. Helicity tracks become strong in the afternoon with an area of tracks N of the forecast area and a second area over Sheridan County and far SE MT. Northern area of tracks weakens as it moves SE into the forecast area in the evening. MUCAPEs Fri. afternoon and evening will be 1000-2000 J/kg and bulk effective shear will be 30 to 50 kt with the strongest parameters from KBIL E and S. Due to continued ESE flow, some areas showed an inversion on GFS soundings...so this inversion along with cloud cover could inhibit strength of some of the storms. High PWAT`s continue which will bring heavy rainfall with the storms. So, hail, wind and heavy rainfall will be the threats with any strong to severe storms. Highest PoPs (50-60%) will be E of KBIL in the morning. 30-50% PoPs in the early afternoon will increase late in the afternoon and continue into the evening. PoPs will quickly decrease W to E late Fri. night. Temps will be in the 70s to low 80s on Friday and in the 50s Fri. night. Arthur Saturday through Wednesday... Upper level ridging will continue to build into the Northern Rockies through the extended forecast period. Increasing heights will result in above normal temperatures and mostly dry conditions. The warmest day in the extended forecast will be Sunday with highs in the mid 90s, approaching 100F. The probability of a high temperature of 100F or greater is 20-60% from Columbus to Busby and Miles City. There is a low chance (10-25%) for showers and thunderstorms Sunday night as the ridging is briefly flattened by a weak shortwave. High temperatures for the rest of the week will be in the mid-upper 80s to mid 90s. Rivers and streams have fallen considerably over the past week but still have a bit to go to get down to normal summer flows. If you head out to the rivers to cool down this weekend be sure to wear life- vests and continue to use extra caution, especially with children. Matos && .AVIATION... Stratus is expected to edge into the area late tonight in Friday morning with conditions lowering to MFVR. Chances for showers and thunderstorms increase late tonight, to around 40 percent, over much of the area E of KLVM and continue through Friday morning with MVFR/IFR or lower conditions possible in the thunderstorms. Continued VCSH at KBIL, KSHR and KMLS TAFs for late tonight, mainly after 06Z. There is a medium chance of seeing a thunderstorm around KBIL and KMLS in the 12Z to 15Z timeframe as a 500 mb jet pushes into the area. Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible again Friday afternoon but confidence is lower during this timeframe with the forecast depending on how the showers and thunderstorms evolve late tonight into Friday morning. Wetenkamp && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS... Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu ----------------------------------------------------------- BIL 057/079 056/084 059/097 062/091 058/088 058/090 061/093 24/T 31/U 00/U 11/U 10/U 11/U 12/T LVM 049/080 050/086 054/095 056/090 052/087 053/090 056/089 14/T 21/U 01/N 11/N 11/U 11/U 13/T HDN 056/081 054/085 057/099 060/092 056/090 057/092 060/096 55/T 41/U 00/U 21/U 10/U 11/U 11/U MLS 057/078 057/082 058/096 064/089 058/087 058/090 063/093 36/T 51/U 00/U 20/U 10/U 11/U 21/U 4BQ 058/079 057/084 058/097 066/091 059/088 060/091 063/094 46/T 41/U 00/U 10/U 10/U 11/U 11/U BHK 054/075 054/080 054/092 061/088 055/085 055/086 057/089 26/T 51/B 00/U 10/U 11/U 11/U 12/T SHR 052/080 051/083 055/097 061/092 055/087 056/091 059/093 37/T 31/U 00/U 10/U 10/U 11/U 11/U && .BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MT...None. WY...None. && $$ weather.gov/billings
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Columbia SC
813 PM EDT Thu Jun 20 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Dry weather and near normal temperatures will continue through tonight as synoptic situation remains relatively unchanged. Unsettled conditions are possible tomorrow and into the weekend as moisture moves in from the Atlantic. Well above normal temperatures are expected by Sunday into early next week. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM FRIDAY MORNING/... KEY MESSAGE: - Seasonably warm and dry overnight. Little change in the overall pattern and the surface high remaining in control of the region. Easterly winds will become light and variable overnight. Can`t completely rule out some ground fog south of I-20 towards daybreak, but the threat is low. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... KEY MESSAGES: - Tropical wave will pass south of us Friday. - Increasing chance for afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Westerly moving tropical wave/low pressure center is forecast to move ashore northern Florida or southeastern Georgia during the day on Friday, pushing westward by the evening hours. Initially, our forecast area will have quite a bit of subsidence north of this feature as we`ll still be stuck underneath the mid and upper level ridge. As a result, the day is initially expected to be dry and warm. By the afternoon hours, however, a surge of PWs is forecast by all guidance, with HREF members generally showing the highest PWs >1.5" approaching the I20 corridor and points southward. This is the area most likely to see rain between 2p and 8p, though it should remain generally scattered in nature. Thunderstorms are possible but generally expecting things to remain sub-severe. I do want to note that the well- performing HRRR has been consistently showing no precip developing but it also is mixing the boundary layer substantially more than its fellow CAMs (even those that have had that bias in the past) so tend to think that is the outlier. Highs will likely end up in the lower 90s, maybe a touch cooler in the coastal plain where clouds are likely to develop earlier in the day. Showers/storms will likely hang around for a bit after sunset, diminishing as the night goes along. Look for lows in the upper 60s. Saturday looks fairly similar, as the plume of higher PWs is expected to fully overspread the forecast area by this point. Given hot temperatures and rich boundary layer moisture, we should see scattered showers/thunderstorms develop across the forecast area again on Saturday. Again, generally expecting these to remain sub-severe but can`t rule out a strong storm here or there. Highs are likely to be in the low to mid 90s, with overnight lows again in the upper 60s or lower 70s. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... KEY MESSAGES: - Heat builds into next week with heat indices above 100. - Typical scattered afternoon/evening thunderstorms are expected. Guidance continues to show fairly conflicting signals in terms of heat in the long term. The ridge that has been parked across the OH Valley and Mid Atlantic regions is expected to shift westward and yield troughing as the next work week approaches. The first signs of this are expected by Sunday as heights will begin falling across the Carolinas. Heights should continue to remain at or below 588dm by Monday and Tuesday as the western CONUS ridge builds and persistent troughing looks like it may set up. LREF Members support the operational models in showing, leading to higher confidence than normal in the pattern evolution through early next week. However, the sensible weather that results from this in the forecast is conflicting to say the least. The trough is forecast and expected to yield a surface low into the northeast CONUS by Monday, pushing a weakening cold front towards the FA by Monday afternoon and the overnight hours. PWs will still be near to slightly above normal both Sunday and Monday, with scattered to potentially numerous thunderstorms expected both days given the favorable setup. This conflicts with models also showing high chances at temps in the upper 90s to around 100F for highs by Monday. This is also shown on Tuesday despite the cold front likely stalling near the area. Part of this looks like it could be westerly or northwesterly flow that develops in the base of this trough advecting warm (20-22C) 850 hPa temps across the area Sun-Wed of next week. Given the expectation that daily showers/thunderstorms will be a risk, and lowering 500 hPa heights, it is hard to believe NBM guidance that temps will make it to near 100F any day next week, let alone multiple days. Have capped forecast highs around 98F as that makes conceptual sense given the forecast as it stands right now. However, while we may not get as hot as some of the guidance suggests, it will feel above 100 due to the increasing low level humidity. Lows will likely be in the 70s given surface moisture in place. Overall, it does look hot but nothing too crazy for June in the southeast. By the middle of next week, things still look to be active with a building western CONUS ridge, so expect daily chances at rain to continue into Wednesday and Thursday. && .AVIATION /00Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... VFR conditions expected through the TAF period. With high pressure generally in control tonight into Friday, conditions are expected to remain vfr through the period. Late afternoon cumulus will be dissipating towards sunset once again. Winds should diminish to less than 5 knots, but should still be enough mixing near the surface to keep them from going completely calm for long periods. In addition, the mixing will also help to inhibit any fog formation late tonight. Friday will see an increase in low-level moisture as an area of low pressure off the coast begins tracking closer to the region. This may only produce more scattered to occasionally broken vfr clouds through the afternoon. As for rainfall potential Friday, most guidance keeps the activity much closer to the coast through much of the day, but can not completely rule out an isolated shower approaching ogb late in the afternoon as the sea-breeze moves inland more. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...Brief restrictions possible in isolated to scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms Saturday with increasing chances Sunday through Tuesday. && .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...None. GA...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS... NEAR TERM... SHORT TERM... LONG TERM... AVIATION...
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
551 PM MDT Thu Jun 20 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Severe thunderstorms possible this afternoon with hail, strong winds, and heavy rainfall. Cannot rule out a tornado with any longer track supercells that develop. Severe thunderstorm potential continues Friday. - Hot temperatures are expected for Sunday through the middle of next week. Highs exceeding 100F will be possible (40-60% chance) particularly on Monday. && .MESOSCALE... Issued at 1153 AM MDT Thu Jun 20 2024 Mesoscale trends continue to be monitored ahead of today`s severe weather event in southeast Wyoming and western Nebraska. As of 18z/noon, high-based convective towers were noted along and just west of the Laramie Range in southeast Wyoming where dewpoints are generally in the upper-30s and low-40s with southwesterly surface winds. A dryline boundary was noted on KCYS radar imagery over the south Laramie range, which per surface observations likely extends northward along the western fringes of the Laramie Range and into the Shirley Basin. East of this boundary and into the high plains, easterly surface winds are transporting rich surface moisture toward the dryline boundary in general east-southeasterly flow. With 30-40 knots of southwesterly flow aloft, bulk shear values AoA 45 knots are in place over the high plains. Several important nuances in satellite and surface observations are evident that may ultimately assist with zeroing in on the greatest threat zone today. The character of surface cloud cover in the eastern Wyoming high plains depicts a gradient of stabilization, also evident in wind/Td fields. In far southeast Wyoming over CYS, low- level cloud cover has generally mixed out late in the morning giving way to clear skies and lower dewpoint values as a relatively shallow moist layer mixes away. Farther north in central Platte and Goshen counties, surface cumulus clouds over the North Platte River valley from BFF through TOR and GUR have remained in place despite surface mixing and heating. With surface dewpoints remaining in the low 60s and more backed winds to the east compared with locations farther south, a favorable combination of deeper surface moisture and better low-level hodograph shape exists here. Even farther north along the US-20 corridor from Douglas through Lusk/Chadron, morning convection has draped an outflow boundary along this corridor with backed northeasterly flow north of this feature. It is likely that conditions will remain capped to the north of this boundary today given plentiful lingering mid- level cloud cover. With all this being said, the most favorable overlap of surface moisture, better directional wind shear, and upper-level support appears to be throughout Platte and Goshen County Wyoming as well as points farther east through Scottsbluff and Alliance. Mid-morning CAM guidance has continuously depicted initially discrete supercell activity here, eventually merging into a linear storm mode as outflows pool. Hail early in storm mode, then high winds later in the day appear to be the most likely threats. The tornado threat will likely be dependent on if any initial discrete cells can tap into enhanced low-level shear near/along the lingering outflow boundary in far northern Platte, Goshen, Sioux and Dawes counties. These features will continue to be monitored throughout the early afternoon. && .SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/... Issued at 234 PM MDT Thu Jun 20 2024 Surface low analyzed across east central Albany County this afternoon. Warm front from this low extends eastward to Wheatland and eventually to Alliance and into central Nebraska. Cold front extends southwest into southwest Albany County into northwestern Colorado. Storms are forming along these fronts this afternoon. North of the front...there still is some capping seen on RAP mesoanalysis...while south of the front...surface based CAPE ranges from 2000 J/KG over southern Wyoming to 3500 J/KG over the central Panhandle. Looks like the HRRR simulated radar is handling convective development the best this afternoon. This supercell tracks east into southern Sioux/northern Scotts Bluff and eastern Box Butte Counties through late afternoon. Storms line out over the central Panhandle towards 00Z from Alliance south west to Kimball. Some redevelopment of storms behind this line across Platte and Goshen Counties through 02Z. Concern tonight for stratus and fog returning to the northern Panhandle. Did bring low clouds and fog back into Dawes...northern Sioux and Niobrara Counties tonight. Warm front remains over the northeast portion of the CWA for Friday afternoon. This will be the focus for severe storms Friday. SPC has a Slight Risk area identified for Friday afternoon. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... Issued at 403 AM MDT Thu Jun 20 2024 A hot and largely dry weather pattern will dominate much of the week ahead. Friday`s shortwave trough will be off to our east by early Saturday morning, leaving dry air advection over much of our area in its wake. The shortwave moving east will break down the potent ridge that has been dominant over the central and eastern US this week. However, the ridge will then retrograde westward and expand over the Four Corners states through the weekend. Models are in good agreement showing the ridge remaining fairly stationary but amplifying through the middle of next week. Ensemble mean 500-mb heights over KCYS climb from around 587-dm at 12z Saturday to a maximum of 592-dm by Tuesday evening. Temperatures should return above normal on Saturday as 700-mb temps climb to around +15C over the Wyoming portion of the forecast area. Widespread 80s to lower 90s will still probably be the coolest day of the long term forecast period. By Sunday, 700-mb temperatures edge up to +16 to +18C and remain there or higher through at least Tuesday, and possibly beyond. Look for widespread 90s on Sunday, and possibly a few degrees higher on Monday. Some areas will have a good chance at surpassing 100F. Current probabilities of 100+F temperatures on Monday are sitting around 40% for Chadron, Torrington, and Bridgeport, but over 60% for Scottsbluff. Forecast confidence decreases somewhat beyond Monday, as the amplifying ridge may open the door to a few weak shortwaves sliding over the top. Some of these could have the potential to bring surface cold fronts through the area. While there is nearly every ensemble member has extremely hot temperatures on Sunday and Monday, about 20% of members bring a front through our northern counties by Tuesday, and this proportion rises for Wednesday and Thursday. Overall, the forecast still leans quite hot, but by mid-week there is a little bit more uncertainty. Other than the heat, the week ahead looks fairly dry too. Precipitable water values don`t look too bad, hovering around average for Saturday into early next week. However, the combination of dry low-levels (due to the dry-line getting pulled eastward) and warm air aloft will reduce precipitation chances. We should still see some activity each day, but it will be much less widespread than Thursday and Friday. With inverted-v soundings showing up in the forecast in place of decent mid to upper level moisture lingering, expect each day to put up some scattered radar echos, but the chance for measurable precipitation on the ground looks fairly low. Showers may lead to dry microbursts through this hot period. The majority of ensemble members allow the dryline to pull back to the west by Tuesday or Wednesday, increasing low level moisture and thus the chance for more noteworthy precipitation and thunderstorm activity for the middle of the week. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/... Issued at 547 PM MDT Thu Jun 20 2024 Concerns tonight with the 00Z TAFs will be remaining thunderstorms in the Nebraska Panhandle...followed by low stratus. Line of thunderstorms still making its way through the Panhandle. Still has to clear KSNY and KCDR over the next couple hours. Low stratus expected to develop over the Panhandle airports this evening and continue overnight. Followed HRRR guidance on timing of IFR onset. Another round of storms expected Friday afternoon. && .CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WY...None. NE...None. && $$ MESOSCALE...MAC SHORT TERM...GCC LONG TERM...MN AVIATION...GCC
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Goodland KS
656 PM MDT Thu Jun 20 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Marginal Risk for severe thunderstorms early this evening from northwest Kit Carson county to northwest half of Yuma into corner of Dundy county. - Continued very windy Friday with 20%-30% chances for afternoon and evening thunderstorms, some of which could become severe. - Weekend looks to remain hot with highs in the 90s. Could be a few severe thunderstorms Sunday afternoon/evening. - Hottest temperatures of the period Monday/Tuesday. Heat index values of 100-105 degrees east of Highway 25. - Not as hot (highs in the 90s) Wednesday/Thursday with better chances (20%-40%) for thunderstorms moving through the area from the west during the late afternoon to overnight hours. && .UPDATE... Issued at 647 PM MDT Thu Jun 20 2024 Watching cluster of storms draped from roughly the Denver Airport into the the Nebraska panhandle. The storms are cold pooling to the ENE and may clip NW portions of Yuma county. Overall not much change to the forecast. Did bump up winds from 23-02Z Friday evening as the GFS has been consistently showing an 8mb pressure rise and 40-45 knot winds in the 850-800mb range, which if this does come to fruition would not be difficult to mix down with pressure rises of that magnitude. RAP and NAM however show 3-4mb pressure rises in the same period and no where near that magnitude of winds in the same layer. Previous experience does lean more towards the GFS solution especially when it comes to winds so am leaning towards that solution at this time, but is plausible that winds remain in the 30-35 knot range if the RAP and NAM where to verify. && .SHORT TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... Issued at 115 PM MDT Thu Jun 20 2024 Tonight...a small area of moisture in the 700-500mb layer is forecast to move off the Palmer Divide area and into the northwest corner of the forecast area (from near Flagler to Wray north) early this evening, supporting 20%-30% chances for showers and thunderstorms. The primary hazards will be outflow wind gusts to 60 mph and hail to the size of quarters. Otherwise, it should generally be clear with low temperatures in the lower 60s to around 70. Breezy to windy southerly winds will continue generally west of Highway 25. Friday-Friday night...a monsoonal type pattern sets up with an upper trough to our west and ridge centered over the southeast states. Unfortunately, moisture from Mexico is skirted to the south of the area (oriented from southwest Kansas to northeast Kansas). There is a bit more moisture in the 700-500mb layer compared to 24 hours ago that moves into the northwest half of the area from the Raton ridge area, supporting 20%-30% chances for showers and thunderstorms north of a line from Kit Carson to Colby and Norton from around noon MDT to midnight MDT. A few thunderstorms are possible with hail and strong wind gusts the primary hazards. It will be windy once again with southerly winds gusting in the 35 to 45 mph range during the day, steadily decreasing overnight while veering to the southwest to northwest. Saturday-Saturday night...500mb flow shifts from southwest flow aloft to zonal with troughing to our north and an elongated ridge to our south. Presently, dry weather is forecast. There could be some isolated flirting with the northwest corner of Yuma and Cheyenne counties (Colorado) in the 23z-02z timeframe as some mid level moisture moves off the Cheyenne Ridge and Palmer Divide into those areas. High temperatures are forecast to be in the upper 80s to middle 90s with low temperatures in the 60s. Sunday-Sunday night...broad upper level ridging strengthens over the area. High temperatures continue to rise with readings in the middle to upper 90s. Low temperatures are forecast to be in the 60s. It appears from the GFS/NAM models show a plume of moisture in the 700- 500mb layer moves into parts of the forecast area from south central Colorado, supporting at least a 20% chances for afternoon thunderstorms for quite a bit of the area. As a result, I`ve expanded the areal coverage of possibility from what the NBM loaded. Any thunderstorm activity quickly dissipates in the early evening hours. High temperatures are forecast to be in the 95 to 100 degree range with low temperatures in the 60s. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... Issued at 115 PM MDT Thu Jun 20 2024 Monday...500mb flow becomes northwesterly, in between ridging to our south and troughing along the US/Canada border. A subtle weather system per GFS/ECMWF/GEM 700-500mb relative humidity forecasts and qpf moves through the area from the northwest during the very late afternoon through evening hours, supporting 20% chances for showers and thunderstorms at the moment. High temperatures are forecast to be in the upper 90s to around 104. This may be a few degrees too high given typical mixing at 850mb. Regardless, it will be hot. Heat index values of 100-102 degrees are forecast generally east of Highway 25. Low temperatures are forecast to be in the 60s to lower 70s. Tuesday...not a whole lot of change in the 500mb pattern with another chance (20%-30%) for late afternoon and overnight thunderstorms. High temperatures remain the middle 90s to around 101 degree range. Heat index values of 100-103 degrees are forecast east of Highway 25. Low temperatures again the 60s to lower 70s. Wednesday...500mb pattern shifts the upper high to the southwest part of the country with a trough approaching the west coast/pacific northwest. Thunderstorm chances increase into the 20%-40% range during the afternoon and overnight hours as a potentially more organized weather system moves off the Colorado front range and through the area. High temperatures are forecast to not be as hot as prior days with readings in the 90s. Heat index values remain in the 90s. Low temperatures fall into the 60s. Thursday...current guidance indicates another chance (20%-40%) for thunderstorms to move through the area during the afternoon and overnight hours from the west. High temperatures remain in the 90s with low temperatures in the 60s to lower 70s. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/... Issued at 436 PM MDT Thu Jun 20 2024 VFR conditions are forecasted for this TAF period. Winds will be the main story as breezy to gusty southerly winds will continue for the majority of the period; although winds do look to relax at KMCK overnight as they will be further away from a surface low across E Colorado. Fairly good signal for LLWS from the SW around 45-50 knots to affect each terminal tonight as well . && .GLD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KS...None. CO...None. NE...None. && $$ UPDATE...Trigg SHORT TERM...99 LONG TERM...99 AVIATION...Trigg
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Gray ME
1033 PM EDT Thu Jun 20 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Heat ridge breaks down this evening as a surface cold front pushes through the area bringing cooler weather. Front stalls just to our south and becomes a focus for rain shower activity tomorrow and Saturday. Warmer again on Sunday with thunderstorms and locally heavy rain. Quiet weather is expected by the beginning of next week. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM FRIDAY MORNING/... 1030 PM Update...Main focus of this update was to trim down PoPs as the bulk of shower activity has exited the area. Recent runs of the HRRR also suggest shower activity will be limited overnight. Have also increased fog coverage with this update as drier air does not arrive until tomorrow morning. 8 PM Update...Convection is on the downward trend with much of the activity shifting south of the NH/MA border. Therefore, have allowed for the Severe Thunderstorms Watch to expire as scheduled. Have mainly refined PoPs based on latest radar trends and hi res guidance which keeps chances for showers going through midnight. 5:50pm Update... A quick update to better match POPs with radar trends so far and through the rest of the evening. Severe storms remain possible for a few more hours, but the best chance for storms looks to be toward southern NH where the air hasn`t been worked over as much yet. Previous... The backbone of the heat breaks this evening as strong to severe storms move through the region. The heat threat is steadily evolving into a severe threat for this afternoon with a cold front slowly pressing southward through the afternoon hours. Isolated storms are expected to grow and consolidate into clusters and slow moving lines of storms through the afternoon and into the evening. With west- southwesterly flow, storms are not expected to weaken until after they move offshore, bringing the severe threat right to the coastline. A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for the entire forecast area, with storms already firing early this afternoon. Yesterday`s storms proved damaging with just high CAPE and cold pools. Today, a little more shear and better forcing from the front combine with the hot and humid conditions to bring severe storms with a higher degree of confidence than we often see. Damaging winds are likely to be the most widespread impact, but some hail around quarter size is also likely with a few storms, especially in the more isolated ones forming during the mid afternoon hours. The lines and clusters of storms push offshore through the evening hours after sunset, with much cooler conditions expected behind the storms by late evening. The front slowly moves through during the overnight hours, bringing in drier air overnight. Before this drier air filters in, patchy fog is likely by late evening and into the overnight hours, especially through the valleys and along the coastline. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY/... The front continues to slowly move through the CWA tomorrow, with temps warming into the mid 80s through southwest NH ahead of the front. Behind the front, cool and dry northeasterly flow keeps temps in the low to mid 70s through much of Maine and the Seacoast of NH. Showers, and some thunderstorms continue near and behind the front tomorrow as moisture continues to ride along the front. This makes for a cool and showery day for much of southern and western Maine and eastern NH. Further behind the front, central Maine may escape most of the shower activity to see more sunshine, with temps warming into the mid to upper 70s accordingly. Scattered showers continue through the overnight hours tomorrow night as the front lingers to our south. Placed of the cooler side of the ridge, waves of leftover convection and periods of showers likely continue to move through the region as these features ride around the ridge. The cooling trend continues, with lows dipping into the upper 50s to low 60s across most of the area. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Overview: Relatively progressive flow after the NE CONUS ridge becomes suppressed with a more active polar jet stream and Canadian troughs moving across New England. Shortwave ridging is expected between the troughs bringing a see-saw weather pattern over the next week. This will bring periods of active weather with thunderstorms and temperature swings from near normal to above normal. Impacts: Localized heavy rain is possible Saturday across Western NH with a higher threat for localized flash flooding on Sunday across the mountains. In addition, severe weather can`t be ruled out Sunday at this time across most of the forecast area. Forecast Details: On Saturday a stationary boundary will be located in the vicinity of Southern NH with surface ridging to our north. This will separate the heat and moisture from the Mid-Atlantic and cooler dry airmass from Canada. Expect showers and isolated thunderstorms along this boundary with the highest chances for locally heavy rain across Southwest NH at this time. By Sunday the stationary boundary becomes a warm front and surges north of the area bringing the region back into the warm sector. Threat for severe weather will increase as a robust mid-level shortwave and associated cold front pushes through the area sometime late Sunday into Monday morning. There is some model spread on the order of 12 hours or so on timing of FROPA at this time. Monday the shortwave trough swings through with the potential for much cooler weather and showers, but this depends on the timing of the trough. Tuesday looks to have the highest potential for being the driest day of the week as a shortwave ridge moves over the area with a rebound in the temperatures. Wednesday could be warm once again as a return to southwest flow is possible ahead of the next approaching trough. A period of storms is possible in the Wednesday night into Thursday timeframe as the next cold front swings through the area. && .AVIATION /03Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... Short Term...Showers and occasional thunderstorms are expected at all terminals through the early evening hours. These storms push offshore by late evening, with brief periods of BR or FG possible in the valleys overnight. PROBs are too low to go too strong with the fog threat, but IFR to LIFR can`t be ruled out late tonight at LEB, HIE, and RKD. Conditions improve tomorrow morning, but periods of MVFR ceilings are likely through coastal terminals. Showers and brief restrictions are possible at all terminals tomorrow afternoon and night, but otherwise mainly VFR to occasional MVFR conditions are expected. Long Term...Showers and thunderstorms could bring temporary MVFR to IFR conditions on Saturday with the highest threat across the airfields of New Hampshire. Similar impact to operations is possible on Sunday as the threat for afternoon thunderstorms increases along with gusty southwest winds. Storm coverage should trend downward by the beginning of next week. && .MARINE... Short Term...A cold front slowly moves southward across the waters overnight tonight and tomorrow. Thunderstorms with strong wind gusts are likely near the coast late this afternoon and early evening. Winds shift to northeasterly behind the front tonight, but conditions are expected to remain below SCA levels through tomorrow night. Long Term...Storms are possible over the waters on Saturday. By Sunday strong SW winds could develop leading to marginal SCA conditions by the afternoon and evening hours ahead of an approaching cold front. Cold front pushes through on Monday with a return to offshore flow and possible SCA conditions. && .GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ME...None. NH...None. MARINE...None. && $$ NEAR TERM...Clair/Schroeter SHORT TERM...Clair LONG TERM...Dumont AVIATION...Clair/Dumont MARINE...Clair/Dumont
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
136 PM MST Thu Jun 20 2024 .SYNOPSIS...Hot temperatures this afternoon with an Excessive Heat Warning in effect for portions of southeast Arizona. Increased moisture will result in the potential for thunderstorms each day into next week week. Storms this afternoon into evening could produce strong winds and blowing dust mainly from Nogales to Tucson and into Pinal County. Windy conditions are also expected into Friday. The added moisture will also result in temperatures dropping back down close to seasonable levels through the weekend. && .DISCUSSION...Plenty of active weather to talk about today as a more monsoonal pattern/moisture regime is developing. East to southeast winds are ongoing, mainly from points Tucson eastward with a southerly to southwesterly flow elsewhere. Given the strong surface pressure gradient, we`ve seen wind gusts between 40 and 50 mph for portions of Graham and Cochise County where a Wind Advisory remains in effect until 5 AM Friday. Moisture levels have increased considerably with PWAT values of 1 to 1.25 inches from Tucson eastward, but still between 0.5 inch to 1 inch west of Tucson where the moisture hasn`t made it quiet yet. For this afternoon, we`re particularly focused on the potential for a north-south line of showers and thunderstorms developing across Eastern Pima/Eastern Santa Cruz/Eastern Pinal/Western Graham/Western Cochise Counties. This north-south line of showers and thunderstorms is forming along the western edge of the moisture push (pseudo dry line) with the mid to upper level flow generally pushing the storms that do develop towards the east to northeast. MLCAPE values this afternoon per the RAP are around 500-1000 J/KG in this favored zone with DCAPE values nearly 2000 J/KG. Given this profile, the main concern with any thunderstorms will be strong/gusty outflow winds producing areas of blowing dust. With that said, a Blowing Dust Advisory remains in place between 3 PM and 8 PM this evening. Not a lot of rain with these storms with dry lightning potential in spots as well. Convective activity will diminish after sunset this evening, and then the focus overnight into Friday morning will continue to be the larger scale east to southeast winds. The normally more susceptible spots for east to southeast winds (including the south and east portions of the Tucson Metro) will especially see the winds kick up tonight into Friday morning. A few locales will see sustained winds approaching advisory levels (30 mph). We didn`t expand any wind headlines on this forecast cycle but this is something we`ll continue to monitor this evening and overnight. HREF probabilities for wind gusts over 45 mph are over 50 percent in these localized most favored spots so the winds will certainly be noticeable overnight into Friday morning for many folks. For Friday, wind speeds will gradually diminish as the day progresses with the main focus turning to the deeper moisture and convective potential. With the increased moisture, temperatures will drop about 3 to 6 degrees for most locales compared to today. PWAT values Friday will increase to around 1 to 1.5 inches and these values range from 150% to 225% of normal so it`s certainly anomalous to have this much moisture early in the monsoon. HREF/CAMS are showing isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms across most of southeast Arizona Friday afternoon into evening. Main concerns will continue to be gusty winds with brief localized downpours with the strongest storms. For this weekend, additional moisture makes its way into the region with PWAT values increasing to between 1.25 inches near the NM border to nearly 2 inches for the western deserts. These values are 2 to 3 standard deviations above normal for this time of year. With that said, the mid/upper high will be just to our north and east with warm temperatures aloft that will partially mitigate convection. However, given the deep moisture, we`ll certainly see scattered mainly afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms this weekend. The ensembles are showing a slight meander early to mid next week of the mid/upper level high to the south and west as it strengthens slightly. This type of regime would result in thunderstorm chances shifting to locales generally from Tucson south and eastward. With the high increasing in strength, temperatures bump back up during this timeframe to about 3 to 5 degrees above normal. && .AVIATION...Valid through 22/00Z. SCT-BKN clouds 10-14k ft AGL KTUS/KOLS eastward. Convergence along a surface boundary will likely lead to isolated to scattered -SHRA/- TSRA starting around 21/21Z through about 22/03Z. Main terminals affected will be KTUS and KOLS. Storms will be capable of winds 35- 45 kts with a 10-30 percent chance for winds in excess of 50 kts. Outside of storms SFC winds become SELY at 15-25 kts with gusts to 30-40 kts across much of the forecast area. The strongest winds are expected at KDUG and KSAD terminals. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...Temperatures are expected to peak today from Tucson westward, then more seasonable temperatures thereafter. Surface winds currently east to southeast from Tucson eastward and west to southwest areas west of Tucson. The strongest winds will be in the Upper Gila River Valley near Safford as well as near Douglas along the International and NM borders. The increased moisture with min RH values in these locales currently 20-30 percent. So while the winds are at critical levels, RH values will remain just above critical levels but certainly still elevated fire weather conditions due to the strong winds and dry fuels Thursday. Breezy to windy conditions continue Friday, though increased moisture will have overspread more of the forecast area. A mixture of dry/wet isolated to scattered storms are expected this afternoon from Tucson eastward and then to include the remainder of southeast Arizona Friday. As moisture remains this weekend, isolated to scattered thunderstorms will continue each day through the weekend into early next week with a low to mid grade monsoon pattern in place. && && .TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Excessive Heat Warning through 8 PM MST this evening for AZZ501>506. Blowing Dust Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to 8 PM MST this evening for AZZ502-504>506. Wind Advisory through 5 AM MST Friday for AZZ508-509. && $$ Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson