335 FXUS63 KSGF 181125 AFDSGFArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Springfield MO 625 AM CDT Thu Sep 18 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Showers and thunderstorms expected this afternoon through this evening. A few severe storms with wind gusts to 60 mph and hail to the size of quarters will be possible with the stronger storms. Localized rainfall amounts up to two inches.
- Highs in the 90s continue for one final day, especially east of Springfield.
- More seasonal temperatures and additional rain chances will occur into the weekend and perhaps into early next week.
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.SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY/... Issued at 300 AM CDT Thu Sep 18 2025
Current Conditions and Synoptic Pattern: Water vapor and upper air analysis continues to show upper level energy moving closer to the area from the west. The mid level ridge that has allowed for the hot temps lately was beginning to finally lose its grip on the region. 850mb temps on the 00z KSGF sounding were still high and came in around 20C which is >90th percentile. An area of showers and thunderstorms was pushing into eastern Kansas early this morning, likely induced by a mid level vort max, low level jet and weak elevated instability. Otherwise most of the area was partly cloudy with temps in the 60s to around 70.
Today: Short term guidance is in decent agreement that the current activity will move through eastern Kansas and perhaps into west central Missouri through sunrise before either dissipating or moving north of the region. Therefore for most areas the morning hours will be dry and will allow for destabilization. While there will be increased cloud cover, high temps should still be able to reach the upper 80s to low 90s with the highest temps east of Springfield. By mid to late afternoon, additional lift from the upper levels and an incoming surface front will allow for scattered showers and thunderstorms to increase across the area. The 00z HREF reflectivity paintball plots show a strong signal/consensus for thunderstorms developing along and either side of the Highway 65 corridor from mid afternoon into the evening and then another corridor of thunderstorms just west of Springfield sweeping through the area along the front during the late evening hours. Forecast soundings do show about 2000j/kg of ML CAPE and increasing wind shear (20-25kts). Therefore some of the thunderstorms could be severe with damaging winds up to 60mph and hail to the size of quarters. Also of note will be the increasing PW values (up to 1.6in). This will allow for efficient rainfall production and the HREF LPMM does show localized pockets up to 2 inches with the storms today.
Overnight: Overall a downward trend of showers and storms will occur as the front moves in however isolated to scattered storms still remain possible given the lift and low level jet over the area. Confidence is low in the current precip chances overnight into early Friday with additional future adjustments likely.
Friday: Shortwave energy will largely remain north of the area during the day and guidance has begun to back off and limit the amount of redevelopment of showers and storms during the afternoon and evening. Areas east of Highway 65, closer to the lingering front may be the area to watch for scattered afternoon thunderstorm development. Highs will likely be tamped down into the low to middle 80s, however if more sunshine occurs then upper 80s will be favored.
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.LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 300 AM CDT Thu Sep 18 2025
Saturday and Sunday: Ensembles suggest an unsettled pattern will occur with a more zonal upper level pattern allowing for weak disturbances to move through the area. Rain chances are currently lowest during the first half of Saturday with increasing chances Saturday night through Sunday as a stronger wave moves through. There also looks to be a low level jet nosing into the area as well and precip chances have now increased into the 60-70% range. While it wont rain all weekend, there will likely be periods or windows of showers and storms which are hard to pin point at this time range. Instability looks lower than previous days therefore not currently seeing the signal for any severe storms. In general, NBM high temps seem reasonable with many areas staying in the lower to middle 80s which is closer to average.
Monday through Wednesday: Ensembles have begun to converge on a pattern shift with a strong upper level low diving southeast into the central plains early next week. This will not only keep precip chances going, but will also act to keep seasonable temps. While current precip chances are around 30-50%, these will likely increase if the current forecasted pattern pans out.
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.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 620 AM CDT Thu Sep 18 2025
VFR conditions are likely through most of the TAF period. Thunderstorm chances increase late this afternoon and evening with the highest chances at SGF and BBG. Given the increased confidence, we have gone with a tempo group at the sites with a prob 30 for a few hours after 01z. Some of the thunderstorms may be strong with gusty winds. Winds will be light outside of thunderstorms. A brief period of northwest winds will occur this morning then a gradual shift to the west or west southwest for late morning and afternoon.
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.SGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KS...None. MO...None.
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SHORT TERM...Burchfield LONG TERM...Burchfield AVIATION...Burchfield
NWS SGF Office Area Forecast Discussion