Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Aberdeen, SD
Issued by NWS Aberdeen, SD
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215 FXUS63 KABR 091437 AFDABR Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Aberdeen SD 937 AM CDT Tue Jun 9 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - There is an Enhanced Risk (Level 3/5) for scattered to numerous severe storms for all of central and northeastern SD into west central MN this afternoon through tonight. Main threats include tornadoes (max intensity EF2+), large hail (2+ inches in diameter), and wind gusts of 75+ mph. Heavy rain that could lead to flooding is also a threat. - There is a Marginal Risk (Level 1/5) for isolated severe storms Wednesday afternoon and evening along and east of a line from Britton to Brookings. 1" hail and 60 mph gusts are the main threats. && .UPDATE... Issued at 935 AM CDT Tue Jun 9 2026 No changes in the forecast have been made this morning, with the main near-term concern of fog having mostly dissipated by this point. Focus remains on the severe weather potential beginning this afternoon. Current expectations are for storms to develop west of the Missouri River between roughly 4-6 PM CDT, continuing eastward through the evening. Rough timing estimates with hi-res model guidance puts storms in the James River Valley by 8-10 PM CDT and out of the forecast area shortly after midnight. All severe weather hazards remain possible this evening, including wind gusts of 75+ mph, large hail of 2"+, and tornadoes. A more technical and in-depth analysis of storms and possible hazards will be out with the afternoon discussion and forecast package. UPDATE Issued at 625 AM CDT Tue Jun 9 2026 The aviation discussion has been updated for the 12Z TAFS. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 213 AM CDT Tue Jun 9 2026 The main highlight will be the severe storms expected this afternoon through tonight with all modes of severe weather possible. Setting the stage, a slightly negative tilted trough continues over the western CONUS with the entire Northern Plains on the PVA side of this trough in southwesterly flow. By this evening an area of embedded higher winds of 45 to 60kts will overspread the western to central Dakotas by this evening, highest over ND. Down at 850mb, a LLJ will be in place on the downstream side of the trough with speeds of 20-45kts this afternoon, highest in ND and southward through north central SD. As the evening into the night progresses, this LLJ will track east and strengthen (45-55kts). Its low pressure by 18Z is forecast to be along the ND/MT border and its warm front eastward across ND and cold front (and surface trough ahead of it) southward along the SD/WY border leaving the entire CWA within the warm sector as strong return flow at surface to 850mb will allow temps to reach the 90s (upper 90s over south central SD). NBM is highest on temps compared to CAMS so lower confidence if we can reach these highs as dp`s will be higher. Moist dewpoints will be in the mid to upper 60s and topping out at +16/C at 850mb! Add in SB/ML/MU CAPE of 3000-4000j/kg, with HREF max between 4-5K+j/kg and we have lots of energy! This "should" all work together and break the cap later on this afternoon where storms will be able to develop and intensity rather quickly with bulk shear of 30-40kts. By 00Z, the low will track a bit northeast and cold front extending southward over or just west of central SD. The only thing that could put a kibosh in this entire setup is that we are too capped aka temps at 700mb are too warm and nothing happens. Right now temps range from 10-12C per HREF/REFS by peak heating so should be able to break it. HREF composite Z>40 dbz paintballs show discrete cells/clusters developing over central SD (or moving in from western SD), around ~22-00Z. UH 2-5km >150m2s2 (indicating supercells) shows this threat over central SD (possibly further east) with the highest probability along the ND/SD border. This will be short lived as through the evening, reflectivity paintballs indicate these cells merging (with additional convection) and forming a line (potentially consisting of embedded supercells at first). As the storms continue to grow upscale and mature (cold pool develops) then it would become more of a wind threat/MCS as it progresses eastward with help from the LLJ/shear. As of now it should be out of eastern SD/western MN by ~06-08Z with ongoing stratiform rain behind it. Low confidence on the discrete to linear timing as some models show this linear setup occurring as it enters our western CWA while some keep a discrete setup turning linear over central SD. As mentioned, supercell threat will be highest this afternoon/early evening. Any supercells that do form will have this bulk shear, 0-3SRH of 100-200 m2s2, and mid level lapse rates of 7-8C/km. Large hail will be likely with diameters of at least 2 inches as SHIP values are 2 and above. Supercells will also have an environment conducive for tornadoes but only for a few hours indicated by curved hodographs with the best right curvature between 23-04Z over north central to northeastern SD along the ND border per RAP with 0-1 SRH of 100-250m2s2, 0-1 shear of 15-20kts increasing to around 20-30kts or so by 02Z, and STP of 1-2. Only caveat is that LCL`s seem to run about 1000m or higher per RAP which if produced a tornado, would be high based. Beyond this as the storm mode turns linear the tornado threat should diminish (unless we hang onto embedded supercells longer as it tracks east) becoming a high wind threat (with the help of the increasing LLJ) with gusts of 75+ mph as DCAPE will be over 1000j/kg, especially with any bowing segments if a RIJ forms. If one does form then there is a threat of mesovortices within the balanced/shear dominant part of a line (north of bow) and only if a cold pool forms along with 0-3km line normal shear of at least 30kts. This will not be determined until closer or as the event is evolving. So to put it all together, the SPC continues with an Enhanced risk, level 3/5, covering the entire CWA with a 5% tornado risk (Cig1) meaning max intensity of EF2+ possible. Cig 1 intensity covers the entire CWA for hail (2"+ diameter) with the highest probability between the Missouri and James River (where supercells are possible). Lastly wind gusts of 75mph+ is possible for the entire CWA(Cig1). With PWATs over an inch, heavy rain and the risk of flooding or flash flooding is also possible. && .AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 625 AM CDT Tue Jun 9 2026 Terminals KABR,KATY,KPIR,KMBG Some patchy ground fog has developed across parts of northeast SD early this morning, including at KABR. This will be short- lived however and gone within an hour or two, but not before IFR vsbys will be possible. Otherwise, expecting VFR conditions to hold through most of the day at all TAF sites. Gusty southeast winds will develop during the day ranging between 25-35 kts. Changes to these conditions will arrive as soon as late afternoon or early evening, first across central SD and then across northeast SD by mid to late evening. A strong cold front shifting into the western Dakotas later today will kick off scattered thunderstorm development, some of which will turn severe with damaging wind gusts, large hail and some tornadoes. All terminals will have a chance to see MVFR/IFR cigs/vsbys in the heavier showers and thunderstorms from early this evening through late evening or early Wednesday morning. Most of this activity should be clear of all airfields by late in this forecast cycle. && .ABR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...None. MN...None. && $$ UPDATE...BC DISCUSSION...MMM AVIATION...Vipond