491 FXUS63 KFSD 131941 AFDFSDArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 241 PM CDT Mon Oct 13 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Rain returns to the area tonight through Tuesday, with the bulk of the rain falling Tuesday afternoon. Expected rainfall amounts remain between 0.1" to 0.4".
- Chances for rain remain in the forecast for the middle and end of the week, with Thursday seeing the highest chances for rain (60-80%) come during the evening and overnight hours.
- After a brief return to near to below normal temperatures today and Tuesday, above normal temperatures return for the middle and end of the week.
&&
.DISCUSSION... Issued at 240 PM CDT Mon Oct 13 2025
Nearly quiet conditions persist across the area this afternoon thanks to high pressure sliding through the Northern Plains. High temperatures have warmed to upper 50s to low 60s while winds remain light out of the north. Things will begin to change this evening though as a shortwave trough currently near to just northeast of the four corners region will push into the forecast area. Low level warm air advection (WAA) will strengthen in response to this wave. At the same time, the upper levels will saturate due to the cooling from the approaching wave. This will saturate the dendritic growth zone (DGZ) while omega (upward motion) also increases in the DGZ as well. However, the previously mentioned surface high will keep dry air in the low levels through the evening and overnight hours. Have reduced PoPs a bit, now down to a broad 20-40% chance for rain for this period of time. While some rain looks to reach the surface, it may not be all that much given the large amount of dry air in the low levels. Rainfall totals look to only reach up to a few hundredths across the area during the overnight hours. With clouds and very light rain in place, low temperatures will be a decent bit warmer than this morning, only falling down to the 40s.
Tuesday will see continued light rain across the area as the same forcing for ascent remains over the forecast area. The high pressure system will slide to the east, turning low level winds to out of the southeast. This will advect in better moisture into the low levels by early Tuesday afternoon, leading to more widespread light to moderate rain across the area. This overlap of moisture looks to last only a few hours though before the DGZ dries out. With clouds and precipitation in place, highs will only warm to the 50s. As the DGZ dries out during the later half of the afternoon, the low level will remain saturated. This looks to potentially result in more drizzle than light rain and persist through the evening and overnight hours. Will certainly feel like a classic dreary Fall day across the area. Rainfall totals again look to be light between approximately one to 4 tenths of an inch. Lows will again fall to the 40s.
An amplified upper level trough will be sitting over Nevada on Wednesday, keeping more amplified flow across the Plains. This will keep persistent WAA across the forecast area along with continued chances for rain/drizzle. The highest chances look to come in the morning (15-35%) but wane through the afternoon hours as the bulk of the low level moisture begins to slide to the east. While light drizzle to sprinkles is possible during the afternoon hours, Wednesday looks to be a drier day. Cloud cover will be decreasing during this period of time so highs will be a bit warmer in the 60s and 70s.
The previously mentioned upper wave over Nevada will begin to eject into the Plains on Thursday. The mass response from this wave will transport better quality low level moisture with dew points reaching up to about 60F. That said, the best quasi-geostrophic (QG) ascent will remain north of the forecast area over North Dakota. With warmer temperatures aloft over the area, high temperatures will be quite warm up to the 70s and just about 80F. The mid levels look to be generally dry with this wave until the cold front tied to this wave pushes eastwards. Showers and possibly a few storms look to develop along the front. Given the greater amplitude to the pattern, mean flow will parallel the front. Latest deterministic guidance has the front remaining just west of the forecast area during the afternoon hours before pushing eastwards during the evening and overnight hours. The ensembles support this as they generally show low chances (
NWS FSD Office Area Forecast Discussion