734
FXUS63 KABR 260650
AFDABR

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Aberdeen SD
150 AM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Widespread rain expected through Monday night. Upwards of 1" of
rain is possible over northeastern South Dakota and western
Minnesota, and some locations may see as much as 1.5".

- Northerly winds increase Monday afternoon, reaching a sustained 25-
35 miles per hour, gusting up to 45 miles per hour. The strongest
gusts are currently expected along the James River Valley.

- High temperatures 5 to 15 degrees below normal expected through
the middle of the week. Highs are expected to be in the upper 40s to
50s through that period.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 149 AM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026

Light rain showers linger early this morning over northeastern
South Dakota and western Minnesota. These showers are expected
to move out over the next few hours, out of the forecast area
before sunrise. Little accumulation is expected out of these
showers, a couple hundredths at the most early this morning.

Rain will begin again this morning to afternoon, on the north side
of a low pressure center supported by a shortwave aloft. An eastward
shift in the track of the low has been noted over the past 24 hours,
pushing some of the highest precipitation totals east and out of the
Aberdeen CWA. Ensemble median values remain at their peak around 1"-
1.5" over northeastern South Dakota and western Minnesota, with
values dropping off moving west (bottoming out around a quarter of
an inch over north central South Dakota). Still seeing a bit of
spread in the ensembles on precip totals. The eastward trend in the
low track naturally has also shifted the location of the greatest
uncertainty east. 25th/75th spread over northeastern South Dakota
now sits at roughly 0.75"-1", 25th percentile values now peak at
around 1", and 75th percentiles 2" over northeastern South Dakota
and western Minnesota. Some stray embedded thunderstorms may be
possible, mainly Sunday night. However, no severe weather is
expected.

On the back side of the low Monday afternoon, a northerly low-level
jet will move over the region, up to 50 knots at 850mb. These winds
are expected to mix to the surface Monday afternoon, potentially
reaching Wind Advisory levels over part of the forecast area. There
is still some uncertainty as to the exact location, but the greatest
probabilities (30-50%) from the latest NBM are located along the
James River Valley. Winds will drop off overnight as the low
pressure center (and associated tight pressure gradient) continues
off to the east.

By mid-week, an upper-level trough settles over the northern plains,
allowing colder air (near 0C at 850mb, which is between the 10th and
25th percentiles for this time of year) to take hold. This colder
air will support high temperatures in the 50s Thursday, which is
roughly 5-15 degrees below normal for late April/early May. There is
some signal for a weak ridge to move in by the weekend, returning
the forecast area to normal or slightly above normal temperatures
for the weekend. No substantial precipitation is expected beyond
Monday, other than perhaps a stray shower or two generated by jet
streak overhead on Wednesday.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z MONDAY/...
Issued at 1238 AM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026

Terminals KABR,KATY,KPIR,KMBG

The latest guidance shows VFR conditions (cigs) deteriorating
on Sunday at KPIR and KATY between 12Z and 18Z, and at KMBG and
KABR between 18Z and 00Z as light to moderate rain showers move
in during the afternoon. Visibility drops to MVFR at times in
the heavier showers.

&&

.ABR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SD...None.
MN...None.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...BC
AVIATION...10