Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Rapid City, SD
Issued by NWS Rapid City, SD
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393 FXUS63 KUNR 221935 AFDUNR Area Forecast Discussion For Western SD and Northeastern WY National Weather Service Rapid City SD 1235 PM MST Fri Nov 22 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Weak cold front tonight with fog potential on the plains north and east of the Black Hills - Elevated fire weather conditions Saturday across northeast WY - Cold front Sunday with gusty northwest winds and small chance(<40%) of light snow/flurries - Below average temperatures through Thanksgiving with slight chance(<20%) of snow && .DISCUSSION...(This Evening Through Friday) Issued at 1214 PM MST Fri Nov 22 2024 Water vapor shows upper ridge over the Northern Plains with Upper low/trof over SASK/Manitoba, and strong upper low off the Pac NW coast. At the surface, low pressure near the WY/SD/NE border with high pressure building southeast through MT/western ND. Mainly sunny skies with early afternoon temps in the 40s/50s. Weak backdoor cold front will move south across the area tonight with boundary layer flow veering more easterly (upslope) overnight into Saturday morning. Fairly high probabilities of low stratus/fog developing late tonight and Saturday morning across the plains of western SD, possibly banking up against the Black Hills. Not sure how dense the fog might become, but there are a few HREF members that do suggest dense fog across far northwest SD as well as parts of south-central SD. Return flow strengthens Saturday as surface high shifts further east. Temps will be problematic on the western SD plains depending on quickly any stratus/fog is able to clear out. Northeast WY into the Black Hills and southwest SD will be the warmest with highs in the 50s, with some lower 60s possible in northeast WY as winds shift more southwest. Shortwave tracks across MT/ND Saturday night, with cold front moving through the area late Saturday night into Sunday morning. 3-4mb/3hr pressure rises and robust cold advection will bring a period of gusty northwest winds behind the front. There is a chance of light snow/flurries (<40%) on Sunday, mainly over northeast WY, the Black Hills, and southwest SD. Little to no accumulation expected. Upper flow transitions from zonal to northwesterly for the upcoming holiday week, setting the stage for below average temperatures. A few weak impulses move through the area bringing small chances (<20%) of light snow. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS Through 18Z Saturday) Issued At 1103 AM MST Fri Nov 22 2024 VFR conditions will persist through today. Patchy fog will develop across the western South Dakota plains after 09z Saturday morning, although probability in impacts at KRAP is low at this time. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued At 1214 PM MST Fri Nov 22 2024 Elevated fire weather conditions will develop across northeast WY on Saturday as southwest winds become breezy and RH drops to near and below 20 percent. These elevated conditions could possibly also develop over the Black Hills and far southwest SD. && .UNR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...None. WY...None. && $$ DISCUSSION/KEY MESSAGES...Johnson AVIATION...Dye FIRE WEATHER...Johnson