144 FXUS63 KFSD 060737 AFDFSDArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 237 AM CDT Sat Sep 6 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Some patchy frost and river and valley fog is possible this morning. Otherwise, partly cloudy skies and fall-like highs in the 50-60s.
- Patchy frost is again possible Sunday morning with temperatures falling to the mid 30s to low 40s. Areas at elevation along the Buffalo Ridge are the most likely to see the lowest temperatures.
- Chances for isolated to scattered thunderstorms Monday. Some could be strong to severe.
- Additional chances for thunderstorms in the latter half of next week.
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.DISCUSSION... Issued at 236 AM CDT Sat Sep 6 2025
TODAY: This morning we may see patchy areas of frost as low temperatures fall into the mid to upper 30s. In addition, some patchy areas of river and valley fog may form this morning. The rest of today will be a lovely, fall-like day with partly sunny skies and highs in the 60s. Aloft, weak moisture advection in the mid-levels will allow for some diurnally driven afternoon cumulus to develop, especially over southwestern Minnesota. Meanwhile, a surface high pressure begins to push into the northern Plains Saturday afternoon. Light, westerly winds will become northwesterly and increase to 5-10 mph with peak afternoon mixing. Gusts should be less than 20 mph, with the strongest expected again over southwestern Minnesota. Overnight, winds will become light and variable and skies will clear. High potential for radiational cooling will allow lows to fall to the mid 30s to low 40s. With this in mind, patchy frost may be possible by early Sunday morning. Especially for areas at elevation along the Buffalo Ridge. Those with tender outdoor plants may want to cover them or bring them inside if possible. In addition, patchy river and valley fog is also possible by Sunday morning.
SUNDAY-MONDAY: High pressure slowly moves southeast through the region Sunday, gradually turning winds southerly. Winds will be slightly breezy at 5-10 mph with areas of central South Dakota seeing up to 15 mph. A strong push of WAA will warm 850 mb temperatures to 12-16 degrees C. Mixing this down to the surface will see highs in the mid 60s over northwestern Minnesota, to the low 70s elsewhere. WAA overnight will keep lows for Monday morning warm, in the 50s.
A surface low will move into central South Dakota pushing a warm front through our region late Sunday evening and into Monday morning. Guidance is in low agreement on when and where moisture will advect into the region ahead of the wave. Slower solutions would indicate showers to be unlikely due to lack of moisture. However, solutions that have moisture in place before the passage of the front would align with 800-1200 J/kg of CAPE, around 25 kts of 0- 6 bulk shear, and an increasing low-level jet. This could support isolated strong to marginally severe thunderstorms Monday morning.
Strong WAA behind the warm front will boost Monday afternoon highs significantly, into the mid 70s to mid 80s. Continued moisture advection on southerly winds will help to destabilize the atmosphere throughout the afternoon. Elevated CAPE of 1500-2000 J/kg, with lapse rates of 7.0-7.5 deg C/km, and marginal bulk shear of 25-30 kts may be enough to support isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms late Monday evening into Tuesday morning. Confidence in severe storms is low at this point due to two factors. One, a fairly strong cap will be in place over much of the region. This could work to prevent updrafts from forming. However, as the upper wave works through the region that may provide enough forcing to break the cap. The second factor is the low model agreement on strength, timing, and track of the wave. However, enough of a risk exists to keep thunderstorm chances in the forecast.
REST OF THE WEEK: Tuesday an upper ridge begins to push in from the west, clearing showers out of the area by late Tuesday morning. Highs will climb into the upper 70s to mid 80s. Wednesday looks to remain dry with continued seasonably warm temperatures in the upper 70s to mid 80s. Storm chances return Wednesday evening as a ridge rider wave works through the pattern. As the ridge begins to break down Thursday into Friday additional chances for storms are possible.
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.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/... Issued at 955 PM CDT Fri Sep 5 2025
Scattered 8-10K ft AGL ceiling will continue to drift through the region into mid-morning Saturday. Winds continue to turn light and variable and will remain so into mid-morning. Some very localized valley/river fog may be possible, especially in NW Iowa, at daybreak Saturday.
Similar to Friday, afternoon diurnal CU will develop, but coverage is likely to be lower than experienced today. VFR ceilings are expected and a quick decay of clouds will take place by the evening.
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.FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...None. MN...None. IA...None. NE...None.
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DISCUSSION...AJP AVIATION...Dux
NWS FSD Office Area Forecast Discussion