FXUS63 KFSD 090003
AFDFSD

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
703 PM CDT Wed May 8 2024

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Scattered showers and thunderstorms remain likely this
  afternoon and evening, transitioning to a more showery threat
  after 10 pm into Thursday morning. Isolated storms in the
  early evening could produce hail to the size of half dollars 
  as well as wind gusts to 50 mph. Some threat for localized 
  heavy rainfall exists, with the better chance in parts of 
  northwest IA, although confidence is low.

- Warmer and mainly dry conditions move in for the weekend.
  Continued warm with renewed rain chances by mid week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 239 PM CDT Wed May 8 2024

Showers and thunderstorms should increase in coverage across parts 
of northwest IA and southwest MN through the afternoon as well as 
near highway 14. A small axis of instability is expected this 
afternoon in this area. Overall instability not that high, but with 
the freezing level around 6-7 kft it will be pretty easy to get some 
smaller hail. Still looks like an environment supportive of hail up 
to half dollar sized with only weak shear expected. One other thing 
to watch will be the potential for funnels and landspouts. Steep low 
level lapse rates and lighter winds near a surface boundary may 
support this type of activity. With only marginal instability and 
weak shear any activity like this should be short lived. While some 
stronger winds gusts will be possible the HRRR and HREF both 
indicating gusts should generally be 50 mph or lower.

The upper level low pressure shears out and sags south tonight into 
Thursday. Scattered showers will remain possible during this time, 
but instability is quite a bit less so even lightning will likely 
diminish quite a bit after about 10 pm. Lows will be seasonally mild 
in the mid 40s.

While the main synoptic forcing settles south, model soundings do 
show some weak instability near the top of the mixed layer on 
Thursday which may support some isolated showery activity. 
Temperatures will also be a touch cooler as winds turn northerly and 
some diurnally driven cloud cover is expected to develop. Highs 
should still be in the 60s.

Friday and Saturday will be dry and mild as northwest flow aloft 
weakens and westerly flow in the low levels is in place. By Sunday a 
weak wave in this flow could bring some isolated activity but for 
now this looks to be low impact. Highs should gradually warm from 
the lower 70s Friday to the lower 80s by Sunday.

West to northwest flow aloft is expected Monday and Tuesday which 
should lead to a couple of warm days. While this pattern will not be 
a wet one, some spotty shower and thunderstorm activity will be 
possible. The most agreement appears to be Monday night into Tuesday 
morning. 

Wednesday into Thursday the models are indicating a strong upper 
level jet max diving into the Northern Rockies which should turn 
upper level flow more southwesterly and bring a better chance for 
showers and thunderstorms.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 648 PM CDT Wed May 8 2024

Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms will continue to
rotate around a slow moving upper level storm system. The
intensity and coverage of showers is expected to gradually wane
through the overnight, as the better chances sag to primarily
south of I-90 by daybreak Thursday. Showers/storms may produce
erratic gusty winds into this evening, but this threat looks to
diminish after 02Z-04Z, as does the potential for thunderstorms.

Mainly looking for VFR conditions, though areas of MVFR ceilings
are possible east of I-29 late tonight into Thursday morning.

&&

.FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SD...None.
MN...None.
IA...None.
NE...None.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...08
AVIATION...JH