


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Des Moines, IA
Issued by NWS Des Moines, IA
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561 FXUS63 KDMX 300543 AFDDMX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Des Moines IA 1243 AM CDT Wed Jul 30 2025 ...Updated for the 06z Aviation Discussion... .KEY MESSAGES... - Hot and humid conditions remain into this evening yet - Severe weather and heavy rain threats remain this evening/tonight and Wednesday. Damaging winds remain the primary concern, along with possible rainfall amounts of 1-3 inches or more, especially west - Cooler and drier Thursday and beyond && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 317 PM CDT Tue Jul 29 2025 Hot and humid conditions have prevailed generally through the day, though a very brief reprieve occurred for portions of central Iowa as a large outflow boundary from decaying convection across the north dove southward, leading so slightly reduced temperatures in the 80s in some locations this afternoon. However, temperatures have increased as of 2pm across the area with values in the upper 80s north into central Iowa and in the low 90s south. The expectation remains that values will increase further into the low to mid 90s through the rest of the afternoon and remain into this evening, with heat indices reaching in around 105+ degrees in southern Iowa and extending up to around the I-80 corridor, thus the earlier expansion of the Heat Advisory further north that will remain until 8pm. The attention then primarily becomes very focused on the return of active weather this evening, which per CAM guidance still has some variation between members on when the activity develops with the passing boundary. HRRR and FV3 members suggest that storms begin to fire around or just after 7-8pm, while more tend to favor convection developing into western Iowa and become more widespread between 10pm- 12am. Given an increase in forcing to lift with this boundary, along with the increase of at least some low level jet further west, and plenty of instability over 3000+ J/kg though shear is more marginal, storms should have no issue developing but may be more messy in coverage as updrafts may struggle to maintain themselves. With warm air near the surface as well, this convection looks to be more elevated in nature, with steep lapse rates around 7 J/kg supporting at least a small hail threat, though damaging winds remain the main severe hazard as DCAPE values around 1000-1500 J/KG are depicted in RAP and NAM soundings over southwestern Iowa. The Slight Risk per SPC remains reasonable, with more of an isolated severe risk further north and east. Of increasing concern as well is the potential for heavy rainfall, as HREF guidance depicts the showers and storms tonight into Wednesday morning kicking out amounts of 1-3+ inches of rainfall , especially over southern/western Iowa, while the GEFS has these higher amounts further north. While the variability remains on the location of the heavier rainfall, the certainty is high that heavy rainfall will fall somewhere in these areas, which has resulted after coordination of neighboring offices to issue a Flood Watch for much of western into southern Iowa tonight through Wednesday morning. Scattered flash flooding is possible, along with river rises that could lead to additional impacts, which is highlighted per the Slight ERO that the WPC included in the area, though more broad in coverage to account for lingering uncertainties. Details will continue to be refined over the next several hours as conditions set up. Following the active weather expected tonight through Wednesday morning, will see mid-level flow gradually shift northwesterly and surface flow shift northeasterly, which will usher in cooler and comfortable temperatures as highs are only expected to reach the 70s across much of Iowa. However, further south/southeast, a boundary overhead with the area remaining in the warm and humid air will lead to at least the potential for additional showers and storms to develop late Wednesday afternoon through the evening. Will have to closely monitor how conditions evolve through the day Wednesday. Any redevelopment of showers and storms would pose primarily damaging winds and heavy rain as the main threats again. Thursday and beyond will be come with much quieter and cooler weather over several days as high pressure sinks down, though some low end chances for at least shower activity is not completely out of the question. These details will be assessed in the coming days. && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z THURSDAY/... Issued at 1238 AM CDT Wed Jul 30 2025 Active weather tonight as numerous thunderstorms will propagate through the region. The primary concern with this convection is damaging winds as well as flooding. As we continue into the morning hours thunderstorm activity will start to decrease with showers lingering through the day. Ceilings will gradually be lowering through the forecast period and eventually reach IFR conditions. While rain chances will slowly taper off through the afternoon ceilings may be slow to lift. && .DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flood Watch until noon CDT today for IAZ004-005-015-023>025- 033>037-044>050-057>062-070>075-081>086-092>097. && $$ DISCUSSION...Bury AVIATION...Britt