889
FXUS63 KDMX 212338
AFDDMX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
638 PM CDT Thu Aug 21 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Quiet rest of today; Patchy fog possible east Friday morning

- Showers and storms possible (40-50%) Friday afternoon to
  evening, with a chance for isolated strong to severe storms
  with damaging winds and hail the main concerns

- Cooler and mainly Saturday through midweek next week, with
  highs in the 70s

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 247 PM CDT Thu Aug 21 2025

Dry and quiet conditions have set up nicely across Iowa following
this morning`s fog, with surface analysis showing the area of high
pressure centered over the Great Lakes, with its western extent
leading to east/southeast surface flow over Iowa. Scattered cumulus
has developed given peak heating and destabilization, which should
gradually fade this evening as cooling gradually occurs. Otherwise,
highs are expected to top out in the upper 70s to low 80s. Given
light winds and mostly clear skies mainly east closer to the
departing high pressure tonight, a chance for patchy fog will be in
play again into Friday morning. However, given another day of dry
conditions, the soil moisture content should be less so the extent
of fog coverage should generally be less as well, though will be
monitoring trends over the next several hours. Low mentions were
added to the forecast to highlight the potential that is there.
Otherwise, overnight lows are expected to drop into the upper 50s to
low 60s.

The synoptic setup into Friday remains fairly similar from the past
few days, with a large area upper level high pressure circulating
over the southwestern CONUS, while further north into Canada is an
upper level low that will eventually drop its associated frontal
boundary further south into the Central Plains, with it effects
expected to impact at least northwestern Iowa by early Friday
morning. The influence of the slowly departing high pressure over
portions of central and eastern Iowa Friday morning should keep much
of the state dry, with the boundary expected to remain more
stationary into far northwestern Iowa during this time, which models
generally agree on in terms of area. That said, the expectation
remains that forcing with this boundary as a 20-25 knot jet develops
in the over western Nebraska into South Dakota is expected to kick
off showers and storms mainly over over that area into Minnesota,
even bubbling into far northwest Iowa into Friday morning. In terms
of the parameter space, the favorable ingredients are expected to be
generally north and west of Iowa where bulk shear around 30+ knots
and CAPE values over 1000+ J/kg reside, though values around 500
J/kg with shear closer to 20 knots over northwest Iowa may be enough
to a least develop some storms, though the severe potential is not
very likely into Iowa. Dry air in the lower levels into Iowa will be
another limiting factor early on to consider. Into Friday afternoon
and evening though, particularly around 3pm and later, instability
is expected to build with values up to 1000-1500 J/kg and bulk shear
values around 30-35 knots overhead, with highest values along the
western portion of the state that will allow for a higher potential
to see storms develop, even some strong to severe storms over
northwest into western/central Iowa as the frontal boundary
gradually tracks southeastward across the state. Given lapse rates
generally expected in the 6.5-7 C/km range and warm cloud depths,
the hail potential overall is not very great, but some potential
does remain early on with afternoon development over northwest Iowa
if any supercell development can become sufficient enough for hail
growth to occur. Otherwise, the wind threat remains primary and
covers areas further south and east later into the evening as the
storms look to gradually congeal more into a line. Lingering storms
look to remain generally across portions of south central to
southern Iowa overnight until around sunrise Saturday, though the
severe potential will be little if any given the loss of favorable
parameter space and the lack of an additional forcing mechanism as a
weaker low level jet remains west of the state.

A descending area of surface high pressure with widespread
northwesterly flow and dry air moving into the Central Plains will
lead to dry conditions through the remainder of Saturday. Highs will
be noticeably cooler and more comfortable with values in the 70s and
dewpoints in the 50s. The dry and cooler pattern will persist this
weekend, and even beyond as northwesterly flow remains with surface
high pressure overhead. Highs will generally be in the 70s, and lows
in the upper 40s to 50s, coolest north. Breezy winds at times this
weekend are also expected given the tightened pressure gradient over
the Upper Midwest as the deepening Canadian low pressure moves
eastward, with occasional gusts up to 20-25 mph, especially north. A
very low chance (<10%) for showers is possible into far southern
Iowa with a boundary nearby late Sunday into Monday, but for now the
forecast remains dry given the presence of dry air overhead. Dry
conditions generally remain at least through midweek before the next
chances for rain, generally less than <20% probability, may occur
south. More on these details in the coming days but concerns, if
any, are low at this time.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 638 PM CDT Thu Aug 21 2025

Much of the period will have VFR conditions at the terminals,
but there are concerns for fog toward sunrise Friday and then
storm chances near the end of the period. At the onset, FEW040-050
cumulus will dissipate quickly early this evening. With a clear
sky and light to calm winds, patchy fog is likely to develop
over eastern Iowa. How far west the fog develops is in question,
but confidence is sufficient to introduce at both OTM and ALO
with possible addition of MCW at 6z issuance. Will also consider
lower visibility restrictions from what is in official
forecasts. Fog dissipates around 13z. A few storms may try to
develop over northwest into north central Iowa in the afternoon
ahead of a cold front, but higher chances likely arrive with
the front after 0z. Therefore, have no mention/PROB30 groups for
the late afternoon chances.

&&

.DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...Bury
AVIATION...Ansorge