978 FXUS63 KABR 280434 AFDABRArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Aberdeen SD 1134 PM CDT Sat Sep 27 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Above normal temperatures (10-15 degrees above normal) plus dry and windy conditions will return for the end of the weekend into the first half of next week.
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.UPDATE... Issued at 558 PM CDT Sat Sep 27 2025
The forecast remains on track, with limited updates are expected to the ongoing forecast this evening.
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.DISCUSSION... Issued at 338 PM CDT Sat Sep 27 2025
The center of a sfc high pressure system across eastern SD and western MN will gradually drift eastward tonight and eventually set up closer to the western Great Lakes on Sunday. Meanwhile, sfc low pressure/lee side troughing will organize across the Northern High Plains/western Dakotas during this time frame. If there remains any leftover northerly winds this evening in our eastern zones, they should progressively become more southerly tonight while the rest of the forecast area will see southerly low level flow continue to take hold. This should help in maintaining more mild overnight lows compared to this morning`s temperatures in the upper 30s to mid 40s. Tonight`s lows are expected to bottom out in the upper 40s to mid 50s from east to west across the CWA.
Upper level ridging will start to build into the Northern Plains later tonight into Sunday which will set up a warmer and continued dry trend for the end the weekend. The aforementioned sfc pattern will more or less remain constant on Sunday through at least the middle of the upcoming new week. An abnormally warm air mass will begin to set into the region. 850mb temperatures are still anticipated to be well above the 90th percentile for late September. Values of +20C or warmer are progged for most of the forecast area on Sunday which should equate to widespread afternoon highs topping out in the low to mid 80s. A tightening sfc gradient(10-12mb from northwest SD to southeast SD) Sunday will lead to increasing southerly winds by late morning and midday. Peak gusts during the afternoon look to range between 25-35 kts. NBM probabilities of seeing winds reach Wind Advisory criteria(30 mph sustained/45 mph gusts) are very limited for our forecast area. Portions of our far southern zones or along and south of the I-90 corridor see probs approach 50% Sunday afternoon with a better chance south of our CWA.
Drier low level air looks to persist across our eastern zones during the day and did make some effort into holding dew points lower across northeast SD and west central MN. With temperatures expected to warm into the low to mid 80s across most of the forecast area, this does result in afternoon RH values falling into the mid 20 percent range in northeast SD and west central MN. With winds albeit breezy to gusty at times, those eastern zones should not see wind gusts getting to critical levels that would warrant any fire weather concerns. Also, a corridor of stronger 1/2km winds of 30-35 knots will take a downward trend toward 25 knots during the peak heating afternoon hours. Low level moisture looks to recover better across central SD Sunday with dew point temperatures warming at least into the low to mid 50s which will help maintain higher min RH values in the 35-45 percent range.
Going into the new work week, southerly flow at the sfc and aloft will be maintained allowing for the warmer than normal air mass to persist. The upper flow pattern will feature successive upper level shortwaves coming in from the monsoonal flow across the Desert Southwest. Increasing mid level moisture will be pulled into the region thanks to this set up. Some of the CAM`s/deterministic solutions do show there could be a few elevated showers developing early Monday across south central SD in response to the initial shortwave energy and a stronger nocturnal low level jet developing. However, continued to stick with a dry forecast at this time as confidence remains low. It`ll be an interesting feature though to keep an eye on. The overall trend through the latter half of the forecast period does continue to indicate above normal temperatures and dry conditions. By late in the period, or late in the work week, deterministic/ensembles do show an upper trough developing across the Pac NW/Northern High Plains. This may provide some impetus in returning some precipitation into the region at that time.
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.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY/... Issued at 1134 PM CDT Sat Sep 27 2025
Terminals KABR,KATY,KPIR,KMBG
Expect VFR conditions over the next 24 hours. Winds 30-35kts will be just above the surface overnight into Sunday morning (while near 25-30kts at ATY). Low level wind shear may be possible, and we`ll continue to monitor the latest trends, but it has not been included in the forecast at this time. Low level wind shear is more likely at both PIR and MBG late Sunday night.
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.ABR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...None. MN...None. &&
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UPDATE...06 DISCUSSION...Vipond AVIATION...06
NWS ABR Office Area Forecast Discussion