


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Rapid City, SD
Issued by NWS Rapid City, SD
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832 FXUS63 KUNR 312309 AFDUNR Area Forecast Discussion For Western SD and Northeastern WY National Weather Service Rapid City SD 509 PM MDT Sun Aug 31 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Mainly dry and warm Monday and Tuesday. - A cold front will move through Tuesday night, bringing a chance of showers and thunderstorms and cooler temperatures for Wednesday. - Another cold front will move through Thursday, with gusty northwest winds over the western South Dakota Plains and cooler temperatures for Friday. && .DISCUSSION...(This Evening Through Sunday) Issued at 209 PM MDT Sun Aug 31 2025 Upper level analysis shows a ridge over the Rockies, a low over eastern Nebraska and another low over northern Canada, resulting in northerly flow over the western High Plains. At the surface, a low is centered over eastern Kansas, with a trof extending northward into the central Dakotas and an area of high pressure over Wyoming. Radar imagery is still showing showers over central and northwestern South Dakota. The showers will gradually end this evening, leaving behind mostly cloudy skies across the eastern portions of the forecast area. Areas of fog and low stratus will likely develop again tonight across the plains east of the Black Hills, as low-level moisture pools near the surface. Low clouds/fog will slowly dissipate Monday morning, leaving behind sunny skies, mild temperatures, and light winds. The upper ridge will continue to build on Monday and Tuesday, advecting warmer air into the Northern Plains. Steep lapse rates and daytime heating could cause an isolated shower/storm over the Black Hills each day; however, confidence is low, so have opted to leave it out of the forecast for now. A cold front will drop southward through the area Tuesday night, from the Canadian low pressure area that drops southward into Ontario. This will result in a chance (20- 50%) of showers/storms. Temperatures will be much cooler on Wednesday, with ensembles indicating a 10C degree difference from highs on Tuesday. The upper low over Ontario will strengthen as the ridge over the Rockies tries to hold, before retrograding westward. This will bring a tightening pressure gradient and another cold front through the area on Thursday. Overall, moisture appears to be limited with this front, but the gradient will likely produce windy conditions over the western South Dakota plains. Will continue to monitor, but later shifts may have to consider wind highlights for Thursday and Thursday night. Temperatures will again cool with this second front, most likely slightly cooler than readings on Wednesday. After that, the upper ridge over the Rockies will again build, with the axis moving closer to the western High Plains. This will result in warmer temperatures and mainly dry conditions. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS Through 00Z Monday Evening) Issued At 507 PM MDT Sun Aug 31 2025 Look for patchy fog with resultant MVFR/IFR cigs and vsbys to develop across the plains of western SD aft 01/08Z. The patchy fog is expected to lift aft 01/14Z. Otherwise VFR conds are expected across the region through the valid forecast period. && .UNR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...None. WY...None. && $$ DISCUSSION/KEY MESSAGES...Smith AVIATION...Hintz