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Forecast Discussion for Aberdeen, SD
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125 FXUS63 KABR 021855 AFDABR Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Aberdeen SD 155 PM CDT Tue Jun 2 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - There is a Slight Risk (Level 2 of 5) for severe weather this evening, mainly along and west of a line from Eureka to Murdo. There is a Marginal Risk (Level 1 out of 5) for severe storms east of this line through the James River Valley. Large hail of 1-2" in diameter and wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph are the main threats. Tornadoes cannot be ruled out over north central SD for a few hours this evening. Heavy rain is also possible that could lead to flash flooding. - Another Slight Risk (Level 2 of 5) for severe weather is in place for storms Wednesday afternoon and evening mainly along and east of the Missouri River. Large hail of 1-2" in diameter and wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph are the main threats. Tornadoes will also be a threat in the evening over the James Valley and eastward. Areas west of the Missouri River are under a Marginal Risk. - Thursday, yet another Slight Risk for severe weather is in effect along and south of US Highway 12. Areas to the north of US Highway 12 are under a Marginal Risk. Large hail of 1-2" in diameter will be the main threat, with wind gusts of 60 mph and tornadoes possible as secondary threats. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 141 PM CDT Tue Jun 2 2026 An active weather pattern continues over the next few days with the threat for strong to severe storms and heavy rain at times, that could lead to flash flooding, especially locations that have recieved lots of rain over the past few days. Synoptic setup consists of an upper low continuing to spin over MT/Canadian border with southwest flow aloft. An embedded jet streak (40-60kts) lies along the eastern side of the low over eastern WY/MT and western Dakotas with a negative embedded shortwave that will move in over western SD this evening, tracking east/northeast over central SD through 06Z. 700-500mb lapse rates range between of 6-7.5C/km tapping into the cooler air aloft with the highest values along and west of the Mo River into western SD (up to 8C/KM there!). At the surface, a cold front is stalled out vertically over the western Dakotas (with a low on the front over eastern WY) attached to the main low over southern Saskatchewan. By 00Z, everything shifts just slightly east with the fropa draping through north central SD and southwestward and actually retrogrades back west by 06Z. Along and ahead of this front, warm moist low levels continue with winds at the surface from 850 out of the south/southeast as dewpoints continue in the upper 50s to the lower 60s with temps in the 80s and overall sunny skies helping to destabilize the atmosphere, as the cap is eroding, as cumulus cloud streets are developing along and west of the James River. CAPE has increased between 1000-2000j/kg (RAP indicates 2000-3500j/kg possible this evening!) over the CWA (highest values over central SD) with bulk shear/EBWD out of the south/southwest over central SD and west James Vally and eastward between 20-40kts with the higher speeds over north central SD. As storms track across the CWA this evening, values do increase behind it to 30-40kts west of the James River. Current radar has isolated to scattered storms over the western Dakotas ahead of this front. Consensus of CAMs show these storms moving in, and additional formation, tracking from ND through north central SD and southwestward through western SD late this afternoon to evening time frame per HRRR/REFS. Storms at this point will either be evolved into a clustery line of storms or in the process as this line will continue to track east/northeast across central SD this evening as shear is/ becomes parallel to the boundary over central SD. HRRR indicates the line breaking up over the James Valley (and more of a messy cluster of storms) as shear and instability are weaker here. The SPC continues with a Slight Risk (level 2/5) for severe storms along and west of a line from Eureka to Murdo where we have this better instability. Main threat will be large hail of 1-2" in diameter with a Cig 1 intensity (2" diameter hail threat) for locations west of the Missouri River. UH>150m2s2 does indicates the potential for right moving supercells within this area of higher CAPE/Shear (mainly Corson/Dewey) as 0-3 SRH is about 100-200m2s2. There is a 5% tornado risk over western Corson/Dewey and westward and 2% tor threat east of here to the Mo River (intensity Cig 1 meaning max expected EF2+). So any supercells that do form have 0-1 SRH of 100-200m2s2 and 0-1km shear of 20-30kts with STP between 0-1. RAP soundings out here indicate a curved (smaller) hodographs for a few hours this evening (~0Z-4Z) before diminishing as we transition into a line of storms with more of a wind threat taking over. Lastly wind gusts of 60 to potentially 70 mph with the higher wind gust threat if we can get more of an organized line (help of LLJ) as DCAPE is around 1000-1200 j/kg but dropping off the more east you go in the CWA. There is a marginal risk (level 1/5) between the Missouri and James River, as mentioned, storms will continue to weaken as they track east/northeast east of the Mo River, however, locations in this area could see quarter size hail and 60 mph wind gusts with any stronger storms. Lastly, PWAT values are still running 1-1.50" with storm motion out of the southwest between 20-30kts with upwind propagation of about 5-10kts. So any stronger storms will produce heavy downpours that could lead to flash flooding, especially for areas that have recieved quite a bit of rain over the last few days. There is a slight risk (15%) for flash flooding per WPC over north central SD. For Wednesday, it is rinse and repeat as the cold front will be draped from east central ND and southwestward through central SD at 12Z. HRRR indicates the possibility of additional clustery cells moving in or developing over north central SD and convection that could be ongoing leftover from the line breaking up east of the James River through the late morning. By the afternoon through the evening there is a slight shift eastward of the front as locations along and behind Mo river will be behind the fropa and northwest flow with locations mainly James Valley and eastward well within the warm sector. Ahead of the front, meso parameters will be similar to today with bulk shear a bit higher of 30-40kts. CAMs show convection really firing up late afternoon east of the Mo River as discrete/clusters form into a line James Valley and eastward into the evening, tracking eastward with HRRR indicating the line exiting our far eastern CWA around midnight for now. Due to this there is a Slight Risk (Level 2/5) mainly for locations along and east of the James River with a 2% tornado threat over the James Valley where UH>150m2s2 highlights this supercell potential lining up with the better low level shear/helicity coinciding with the bulk shear/cape with the threat of hail up to 2". Wind gusts of 60-70 mph are possible and once again heavy rain with the potential for flash flooding. Another Slight Risk of severe weather is in place for Thursday afternoon and evening with all severe modes possible. Still a couple days out for exact setup but supercells and clusters of storms are possibly Thursday afternoon and evening. Rainfall amounts this evening through THursday evening have about a 40-60% chance of amounts of an inch or more. As mentioned, any stronger storms may lead to heavier rainfall amounts for any one location. We will continue with rain and thunderstorms Friday before this low and front move out and dry weather is forecast Saturday through most of Sunday as a ridge builds aloft. This will also bring in warmer air as temps are forecast in the upper 80s to lower 90s for the weekend. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 1215 PM CDT Tue Jun 2 2026 Terminals KABR,KATY,KPIR,KMBG Ceilings and visibilities over the area should remain in VFR to MVFR through the day and overnight for KABR and KATY. With storm and shower chances moving in during the afternoon through the overnight, KPIR and KMBG could see conditions decrease during those times. There is a slight chance for severe storms this afternoon into the overnight hours over KPIR and KMBG, and a marginal risk for severe storms over KABR tonight. These storms could have hail of an inch to two inches in diameter and locally strong wind gusts at times. South to southeasterly winds will continue through the rest of the day into Wednesday morning, with gusts this afternoon up to 25kts, approximately 30mph, at times. Winds will calm down overnight and increase again Wednesday over KABR and KATY. There is a bit of low level wind shear overnight after the storms move past KPIR due to stronger winds aloft from the south. && .ABR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...None. MN...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...MMM AVIATION...12 |
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