


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Sioux Falls, SD
Issued by NWS Sioux Falls, SD
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864 FXUS63 KFSD 151955 AFDFSD Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 255 PM CDT Tue Jul 15 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Scattered strong to severe storms are possible late this afternoon and evening mainly across southeast South Dakota and northeast Nebraska, with 70 mph winds and ping pong ball- sized hail as the main threats. Storms develop in central South Dakota around 4-5 pm, with the severe threat decreasing with eastward extent. - Dry and cooler Wednesday and Thursday as high pressure settles across the region. Daily highs will top out in the 70s. - Increasing heat and humidity Friday will allow for a return to shower and thunderstorm chances. - Gradual warming trend this weekend into early next week with periodic precipitation chances (20-30 percent). && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 255 PM CDT Tue Jul 15 2025 TODAY THROUGH TOMORROW: It`s another hot and humid day across the area, with highs around 90 and dew points around 70. This will help set the stage for potential severe weather late this afternoon through tonight as cold front residing just to west of the area will begin to move through. Initial storm development will likely occur around the Missouri River Valley in central South Dakota around 21- 22Z and quickly grow into east-southeastward moving linear segments. The initial development will have 2000-3000 J/kg of MLCAPE and mid- level lapse rates around 7-7.5 C/km, supporting a threat for large hail up to ping pong ball in size. The only limiting factor to large hail development will be modest effective shear of 25-30 kts. As storms develop into linear segments, expect damaging wind gusts to take over as the main threat as DCAPE values exceeding 800 J/kg will exist ahead of the storms. However, the greatest instability will be pushed south of the area into central Nebraska as the storms move through, and thus, expect a weakening trend in the storms locally with eastern extent. Storms will reach the I-29 corridor around midnight and continue pushing eastward by early tomorrow morning. Lows tonight drop into the low-to-mid-60s. With the cold frontal passage and cloud cover lingering through the day Wednesday, expect much cooler temperatures for Wednesday afternoon. Highs will range from the upper-60s to low-70s north to the upper-70s south. Lingering showers will also be around through Wednesday afternoon. Thursday will be dominated by surface high pressure region- wide, resulting in dry conditions and a continuation of cooler temperatures from Wednesday. High pressure drifts eastward Thursday night into Friday, allowing for return southerly flow and increasing temperatures/moisture. Quick-moving minor waves within quasi-zonal flow aloft will interact with increasing instability and increase the chances for showers and thunderstorms, especially Friday night. At this time, 12Z GFS is very aggressive with mid-level warming, resulting in a stout thermal cap between 5-10 kft. If this holds, any convective activity would be elevated. For now, broad brush 20-60 NBM POPs seem reasonable. This weekend into early next week, quasi-zonal flow appears to give way to some synoptic ridging, although the degree to which this occurs varies widely between medium-range guidance. Overall impact will be to see gradually rising temperatures each day, such that a return to the low 90s is possible by Tuesday. Precipitation wise, weak waves topping the ridge will provide periodic chances for showers and storms, but lack of continuity precludes anything more than a 20-30 POP at this time, which is handled well by NBM guidance. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 1256 PM CDT Tue Jul 15 2025 Scattered showers and storms are set to increase in coverage around 21-22Z this afternoon near the Missouri River Valley in central South Dakota. Storms will quickly develop into a line and push east- southeastwards into tonight. A few storms will be capable of wind gusts around 60 kts and hail up to ping pong ball in size, though there is some uncertainty in how long these storms will maintain their strength with eastward extent. With that said, it is unlikely the TAF sites will see these types of severe storms as the greatest threat will be in south-central South Dakota closer to the Nebraska state line. Storms will exit off to the east early Wednesday morning, leaving low MVFR to IFR ceilings in its wake along with some lingering areas of drizzle. Some smoke may also make it to KHON overnight, but it is not expected to be thick enough to cause MVFR visibilities at this time. A cold front is just to the west of the area to start the period, which will move across the area into the evening hours from northwest to southeast. As it moves through, winds will turn from the south to a more north/northwesterly direction. Outside of any stronger thunderstorm wind gusts, expect gusts as high as around 20 kts this afternoon before tapering off overnight. && .FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...None. MN...None. IA...None. NE...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Samet/Rogers AVIATION...Samet