109 FXUS63 KOAX 161743 AFDOAXArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE 1243 PM CDT Tue Sep 16 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Low end chance for a shower or storm across the Missouri River Valley into western Iowa this afternoon. Highs today reach the mid 80s to near 90F along the Nebraska/South Dakota border.
- Shower and storm chances gradually increase from west to east late this evening. PoPs peak at 30 to 60% across northeast Nebraska after 10 pm. Some storms may be strong.
- 60 to 80% chance of storms for Wednesday, and continued rain chances through at least Saturday. Repeated rounds of rainfall may result in localized flooding concerns.
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.DISCUSSION... Issued at 340 AM CDT Tue Sep 16 2025
.SHORT TERM.../TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/
GOES-19 Nighttime Microphysics shows clear skies across the majority of OAX early this morning. Temperatures remain mild as well, with 08z METARs reporting anywhere from the low 60s to low 70s with light southeasterly winds.
Looking at the pattern aloft, H5 RAP objective analysis shows a closed 576dam low embedded within a positively tilted trof whose axis resides over southern Montana into Idaho. Just to the east of the trof, the feature has already induced a 1012 mb sfc low over central South Dakota. Sfc obs show a cold front extending from near Pierre, South Dakota southwest toward the Nebraska Panhandle early this morning. The front is progged to push east into the forecast area by this evening, eventually stalling out across eastern Nebraska on Wednesday.
Ahead of the frontal feature, expect to see a mix of clouds and sun through at least the afternoon hours today as highs reach the mid 80s to near 90F with 10-15 mph southerly winds. A few CAMs try to ignite convection across the Missouri River Valley into western Iowa after 18 or 19z, most likely attributed to subtle H8 warm air advection rounding the 159dam ridge centered over eastern Iowa. Kinematic forcing in the low to mid levels doesn`t appear very strong, so confidence in convection developing across these areas remains uncertain despite seeing around 1,500 to 2,500 J/kg of weakly capped sfc based CAPE. Shear appears weak throughout the column as well, so confidence in seeing severe storms is rather low with this activity. Have collaborated with DMX to include low end 15 to 20% PoPs along our shared border areas from 19z this afternoon to around 02z Wednesday.
Turning our attention to the west, the frontal boundary will track east during the day today, eventually reaching eastern Nebraska late this evening into Wednesday morning. BUFKIT soundings and model output suggest anywhere from 1,500 to 2,000 J/kg of MUCAPE in northeast Nebraska late this evening. However, 0-6 km bulk shear throughout the column appears poor and will likely lessen the chance for severe storm development. Latest CAM guidance suggests that storms will initially develop over central Nebraska and quickly grow upscale into an MCS as the 0-6 km bulk shear vector is nearly parallel to the front. CAMs show the line weakening as it tracks east into the forecast area late tonight into Wednesday morning given it runs into weaker instability and shear. However, a strong storm or two with gusty winds or hail can`t be ruled out. The SPC has issued a marginal risk of severe weather mainly northwest of a line from Platte to Wayne counties for this evening. PoPs peak at 30 to 60% across northeast Nebraska after 10 pm.
Model guidance suggests a gradual increase of kinematic forcing/Q- vector convergence across the forecast area from west to east as the front pushes through. So, expect a gradual increase in PoPs late tonight into Wednesday morning. Lows tonight will be in the low to mid 60s.
Wednesday will see the frontal boundary stall out across eastern Nebraska as the H5 low over the MT/ID region slowly ejects to the east. With continued forcing for ascent and southerly low level flow helping bring in moisture, will continue to see a threat for PoPs for much of the day. PoPs peak at 60 to 80%, with the highest PoPs expected over northeast Nebraska by Wednesday afternoon and evening. A few strong storms could develop on Wednesday, but similar to Tuesday, the main limitation appears to be the weak shear in place. By Wednesday night, total QPF will range from around a quarter inch along the Missouri River Valley, to around an inch across far northeast Nebraska. It is worth noting that repeated rounds of rainfall could lead to localized flooding concerns. Highs Wednesday will be noticeably cooler in the low to mid 70s across eastern Nebraska, to low 80s in western Iowa. Lows Wednesday night reach the low to mid 60s.
.LONG TERM.../THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/
Thursday will see the H5 low stall out across the Northern Plains, with several bits of vorticity ejecting along the cyclonic flow. This results in continued rain and storm chances from Thursday through at least Saturday when the low finally tracks east toward the Great Lakes. NBM PoPs peak at 50 to 60% for much of the forecast area Thursday, with around 40-50% PoPs by Friday before gradually tapering off by Saturday. Repeated rounds of storms may lead to localized flooding. More shortwaves will eject from the west and enter the Northern Plains by next week resulting in low end 15 to 30% PoPs.
Highs cool for Thursday and Friday with values in the low to mid 70s. Temperatures return to the upper 70s to low 80s for the weekend into next week.
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.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 1229 PM CDT Tue Sep 16 2025
Mid clouds are on the increase this afternoon as southerly to southeasterly winds at less than 10 kts expected through the period. The main concern over the next 24 hours with a stray shower/storm possible this afternoon (25% chance) south and east of KLNK/KOMA, while better chances move in early tomorrow from the west affecting all TAF sites. KOFK will see the best chances for thunder as they pass from 10-13z in addition to stronger wind gusts of 20 kts or more along with brief visibility dips, while KOMA and KLNK will see more sporadic (if any) lightning as they pass after 12z.
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.OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...None. IA...None.
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DISCUSSION...Castillo AVIATION...Petersen
NWS OAX Office Area Forecast Discussion