003 FXUS63 KOAX 170628 AFDOAXArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE 128 AM CDT Wed Sep 17 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Scattered off-and-on storms are expected across the entire area today. The best chance for widespread rain is this morning, but scattered storms will linger into the afternoon as well. There is a small chance for one or two severe storms.
- Another round of thunderstorms is expected on Thursday. Severe weather is once again unlikely.
- Cooler temperatures for the mid-to-late week in the 70s, with 80s returning this weekend into early next week.
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.DISCUSSION... Issued at 130 AM CDT Wed Sep 17 2025
A broad upper trough with multiple embedded vorticity maxima was drifting every so slowly across the central and northern Plains early this morning. It is worth noting that one of the embedded short wave vort maximums was lifting northeast toward central Nebraska. Two separate waves currently centered over northern Colorado and the Yellowstone region will rotate around each other over the next couple of days as they slowly drift east.
Current weather through this afternoon will be driven by this first short wave trough and a frontal boundary draped across the region. Early this morning, the front has been modified significantly by convective outflow but generally stretches from northwest KS into south central NE, and then up toward the SD/IA state line. The low level jet this morning in advance of the wave has been sufficiently strong to support continued convective development, both along and north of the effective front as well as in parts of the warm sector. Most Unstable CAPE of 1000 J/kg is common across the area while deep layer shear is not particularly impressive. Those MU parcels are weakly or even uncapped, hence the scattered development. While there were a few stronger updrafts this evening, instability has waned a bit and believe it will be difficult for storms to become severe from this point forward. The exception may be a linear segment crossing through south central NE which may be capable of producing some wind if it can force some momentum to the surface. Forecast soundings and CAPE profiles ahead of this system seem to favor elevated convection with weakening instability as it progresses east, but can`t totally rule out some wind.
As the day progresses and the center of the wave approaches, there are indications in model guidance of some destabilization around mid afternoon which may reinvigorate convection (although the bulk of it may be east of the forecast area), and may also provide a focused zone for additional development near the center of the short wave. Hodographs in this area have a fair amount of low level shear and turning. Would call this a highly conditional scenario for a few severe storms, based largely on the existence of surface based instability on the higher end of the envelope of guidance...but if strong updrafts develop near the upper circulation, shear profiles may favor some organization with hail or even a non-zero tornado potential. Again...highly conditional.
The abundance of model guidance is surprisingly consistent in the predominant circulation tracking into north central NE or SD by Thursday morning and lifting north while the Yellowstone vort rotates around the south side and ejects into eastern Nebraska Thursday into early Friday. Right now, it looks like slightly drier air will cover much of the area tonight into the first part of Thursday, with the exception perhaps being in the southeast part of the forecast area where showers or storms may track through. Later Thursday into Thursday evening then looks like another better chance for scattered thunderstorms. Intensity of the storms will lie in the details of daytime heating, but could again see a few strong ones. Scattered showers or a storm may continue into Friday over the eastern areas, but will finally see a weather pattern change by the weekend. Much of the weekend looks to be dry, but with a few low-end chances for rain. Better rain chances return when a fast moving short wave crosses the northern Plains on Monday. This system will be followed by a period of upper ridging.
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.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z THURSDAY/... Issued at 1233 AM CDT Wed Sep 17 2025
This is a very complex TAF period in terms of wind directions and timing of TSRA. Scattered TS were at or near all TAF sites at 0530Z, with continued sporadic development expected through the next 12 hours. OFK looks to have the most persistent TSRA activity in the next few hours. Otherwise, a line of storms moving in from the west will likely impact LNK and OMA by 10-14Z time range. Can expect reduced vis in TS, as well as some gusty and sporadic winds. Additional stormy periods are possible later in the TAF, but too difficult to nail the timing until getting closer to that time.
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.OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...None. IA...None.
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DISCUSSION...Barjenbruch AVIATION...Barjenbruch
NWS OAX Office Area Forecast Discussion