Area forecast discussion
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
234 PM CDT Tuesday may 21 2013
Short term...(tonight through Friday night)
issued at 234 PM CDT Tuesday may 21 2013
Upper low will have at least another day of impact for the
central US. While severe thunderstorm threat is over...focus will be
on rain chances until we are clear of this system. In addition...
may have some limited frost /yes...frost/ to deal with late in the
week.
Upper low continues to spin along South Dakota and Minnesota border
this afternoon. Quasi-stationary movement continues to form
convection mainly across northern half of Wisconsin where slightly
higher dew points are creating some MLCAPE. Lower dew points back to
the southwest may limit any formation going into the evening.
Meanwhile cool conveyor belt of precipitation also wrapping around
low back into the Dakotas with light rain shield.
Would think highest risk for any additional spotty showers going
into tonight will be north of Interstate 90 ahead of low...
but as upper low approaches Wednesday...overall rain threat should
be on the rise area wide. Have even increased rain chances on
Wednesday as upper low begins transition into more of an open wave
and westerlies move it east. High temperatures will even be cooler
on Wednesday as low moves overhead. Would not be surprised if some
locales miss the 60 degree mark.
Short term ridge builds in for promised cooler and drier day
on Thursday...even as sunshine prevails. Location of ridge axis
early Friday morning could setup a brief frost threat...especially
in central Wisconsin /favored cooler spots/ where lows could reach
middle 30s.
Medium range guidance still suggesting warm front return by end of
the week could be enough to generate a few thunderstorms but quite a
bit of uncertainty exists that far out with trend to build mean
upper ridge over nations middle-section through weekend. Should also be
a gradual warming trend.
Long term...(saturday through tuesday)
issued at 234 PM CDT Tuesday may 21 2013
Lots of attention on Holiday weekend forecast. Medium range guidance
has been hinting at building of upper ridge but differ in handling
of possible convection along warm front that should extend from the
Dakotas into Illinois. Last few European model (ecmwf) runs keep drier regime with
minimal rain threats until Tuesday when short wave energy ejecting
out of western US trough comes in. GFS solutions keep threat for
rain closer to our area...but even that should not translate into
all day rains.
Would not be surprised if rain chances trend drier as we get
closer...but for now will keep small rain threats in for the
weekend. Again...showers or storms would be intermittent at worst
with a higher threat across Iowa and lower chances into north or
central Wisconsin.
&&
Aviation...(for the 18z tafs through 18z Wednesday afternoon)
issued at 1245 PM CDT Tuesday may 21 2013
Periods of MVFR conditions are expected at the taf sites through
the forecast period. Also...conditions are expected to deteriorate
to IFR at krst early Wednesday morning. A low pressure system will
move east out of the Dakotas and into the upper Mississippi River
valley this afternoon through Wednesday. Plan on ceilings in the
1500 to 3000 feet range today with isolated showers possible. Rain
chances will continue tonight...with higher chances on Wednesday.
Patchy fog is possible tonight as the low draws closer to the area
and winds become light. Visibilities could fall to around 4sm at
klse and to around 5sm at krst. Look for ceilings to lower to 700
feet at krst by 13z.
&&
Arx watches/warnings/advisories...
Iowa...none.
Minnesota...none.
WI...none.
&&
$$
Short term...Shea
long term....Shea
aviation.....Wetenkamp
