515 FXUS63 KFSD 122336 AFDFSDArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 636 PM CDT Fri Sep 12 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Well above normal temperatures (10+ degrees), will continue through the weekend and into early next week. WBGT values reach the moderate levels, and those participating in outdoor activity should use some caution.
- Convection chances remain low through Saturday and into Sunday, however chances do increase Sunday afternoon into Sunday night.
- Conditional risks for isolated severe storms develop Sunday afternoon into the evening. Marginal hail and brief strong wind gusts are the primary risks.
- Next reasonable risk for rain arrive Tuesday and continues through Wednesday, with cooler temperatures the second half of next week.
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.DISCUSSION... Issued at 151 PM CDT Fri Sep 12 2025
THIS AFTERNOON: Shortwave energy moving through early this afternoon will continue to push modest warm advection axis (and coexisting risk of convection) east of the CWA. Further west, we`ll continue to a mid-lvl and upper cloud deck build into the region as temperatures rise into the 80s.
TONIGHT: An upper trough centered over the Rockies and western CONUS will begin to slowly drift eastward overnight. Models remain consistent in a shortwave trough ejecting northeast through the western High Plains and Dakotas overnight, bringing risks of convection to those areas. While the bulk of this activity stays well west of the CWA, wouldn`t discount an isolate shower/thunderstorm developing in central South Dakota around daybreak. Further east, we`ll mostly see lingering mid-upr cloud cove overnight with a surface warm front drifting northward. Some modest convergence on the LLJ in southern Minnesota could develop an isolated shower over the eastern CWA, but chances too low to indicate at this time.
SATURDAY: A large dome of warm air at 850mb will lift northward, with temperatures at that level breaking the +25C mark by daybreak. Combining this warm layer with more meridional flow of the upper trough, this should keep conditions dry through the daytime hours of Saturday. Temperatures will however push the upper 80s to lower 90s in quite a few areas. Soundings show a bit of dry air within the soundings, and given how we`re trending towards a drier (lowering greenness) time of the year, dew points in the afternoon could mix down a couple degrees with the gusty southerly winds. Nevertheless, heat index values may approach the middle to upper 90s in a few areas.
SATURDAY NIGHT: A secondary shortwave moves northward through the Plains Saturday night into Sunday, inducing scattered thunderstorms in central and western Dakotas/Nebraska overnight. While chances remain low, could see some evening development near a stalled frontal boundary in south central and central SD early in the evening. Further east, overnight low temperatures will be slow to decline given the persistent mixy conditions.
SUNDAY: Guidance remains in modest to strong agreement that scattered showers and thunderstorms may be ongoing early in the period Sunday west of the James River. Some uncertainties further east as warming will be dependent on mid-lvl cloud cover. However should temperatures warm into the middle to upper 80s, then potential for early to mid afternoon thunderstorm development increases. Model soundings show quite a variation in both mid-lvl lapse rates and boundary layer moisture, resulting in a decent spread of MLCAPE from 800 J/KG to 1500 J/KG. Additionally, if next shortwave approaches too early in the day, then any severe risks may lesson considerably. However, if all things come together in the right way, modest shear combined with reasonable instability could lead to an isolated hail or wind producing storm in the afternoon and evening. This matches well with the SWODY3 marginal outlook for the area.
MONDAY-THURSDAY: Looking ahead to next week indicates that we`ll continue to see above normal temperatures Monday and Tuesday as the longwave ridge axis remains focused west of the Rockies. Gusty southerly winds on Monday keep temperatures 10+ degrees above normal. More uncertainty builds from Tuesday through Thursday as ensemble and deterministic models favor the upper trough shifting east into the Plains. Lift begins in earnest Tuesday, with broad warm advection showers and thunderstorms developing. Beyond Tuesday, confidence lowers as the eventual evolution of the upper trough (open wave vs closed low) grows uncertain. Nevertheless, PoPs remain elevated through the middle of the week with global ensembles suggesting over 60% probabilities of 0.10" of precipitation by Wednesday into Thursday. Temperatures will begin to lower back towards normal levels at end second half of the week.
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.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/... Issued at 628 PM CDT Fri Sep 12 2025
High based sprinkles continue to push east this evening. VFR conditions prevail with mid and high clouds, although could see some localized MVFR/IFR conditions east of the Buffalo Ridge with light southeast winds leading to potential fog. Winds should remain elevated elsewhere to preclude development.
Increasing LLJ over northwestern IA and southwestern MN leads to LLWS at KSUX and surrounding areas overnight. Conditions should improve quickly during the morning hours as mixing commences. Gusts increase to around 20 knots during the day Saturday. VFR conditions prevail with continued mid and high clouds.
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.FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...None. MN...None. IA...None. NE...None.
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DISCUSSION...Dux AVIATION...SG
NWS FSD Office Area Forecast Discussion