Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Rapid City, SD
Issued by NWS Rapid City, SD
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152 FXUS63 KUNR 041743 AFDUNR Area Forecast Discussion For Western SD and Northeastern WY National Weather Service Rapid City SD 1043 AM MST Thu Dec 4 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Next chance of light snow tonight through Fri morning - More light snow Sat/Sat night - Warm and windy weather for Mon/Tue && .DISCUSSION...(Today Through Wednesday) Issued at 311 AM MST Thu Dec 4 2025 Upper air analysis shows northwesterly flow continuing across the central Great Plains...within broad cyclonic flow stretching across the eastern 2/3rds of the CONUS. Surface analysis shows strong high pressure across eastern SD into MN/IA. A warm front is crossing the CWA...with surface obs showing temps steady or slowly rising overnight. Some locations in the downsloping northeastern foothills have seen temps rise 20 degrees in the last 3-4 hours. High today will much warmer than yesterday...generally in the 30s to mid 40s. A surface trough will bring breezy northwest this morning. Dry weather is expected, but clouds will be increasing ahead of the next wave, which rolls in tonight/Friday. Light snow will begin late this evening through Friday morning, but little to no QPF is expected across most locations. Weak upsloping will redevelop across the northern Black Hills, which could bring 1-3" of accumulation. After the next brief dry period, from Fri PM through Fri night, a disturbance approach, accompanied by a 170kt jet streak crossing the northern Rockies into the High Plains. A surface low is progged to cross the Nebraska, drawing cooler air back into the CWA...with highs in the 20s to low 30s. Another round of light snow will push through...but this time a bit more widespread. Most areas are expected to see up to an inch or two over an 18-20 hour period...maybe slightly higher amounts again across the northern Black Hills. Generally unsettled NW flow continues early next week. However, models are showing enough warm air moving in to potentially bring temps in the 50s Monday and Tuesday. With more disturbances crossing the area, gusty winds are expected. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS Through 18Z Friday) Issued At 1040 AM MST Thu Dec 4 2025 VFR conditions continue this afternoon into early this evening. Breezy northwest winds are expected north of Interstate 90. An incoming system will bring light snow to northern and western portions of the area around 03Z tonight. Increasing MVFR/IFR conditions are expected, especially across northeast Wyoming, the Black Hills, and through northwest South Dakota overnight into Friday morning. && .UNR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...None. WY...None. && $$ DISCUSSION/KEY MESSAGES...13 AVIATION...15