119 FXUS63 KARX 150540 AFDARXArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service La Crosse WI 1240 AM CDT Mon Sep 15 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- The summer heat and humidity sticks around for the start of the new week with low end rain chances (20-30%). Highs in the 80s.
- The 2nd half of the week promises higher, more widespread rain chances (40-50%) along with cooler, more seasonable temperatures. Highs in upper 60s/low 70s.
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.DISCUSSION... Issued at 130 PM CDT Sun Sep 14 2025
* START OF THE WEEK: summery airmass, low end (20-30%) rain chances
Upper level ridge makes slow progress eastward as we move through the front end of the new week, flattening-bending over as its axis eases over the eastern great lakes. An upper level trough over the plains will continue to rotate shortwaves through it, but the brunt of each still slatted to hold west/north of the local area.
In between the ridge and trough a fetch of warm/moist air will push northward. While the models continue to hold most of the upper level forcing west/north, most due hint that weak ripples (likely convectively produced/enhanced) could shift from the plains to across the region later tonight/Monday. Add in weak convergence and MUCAPES north of 1kft j/kg and there would likely be enough forcing for at least isold/scattered showers/storms. Most CAMS show this. Without a more distinct forcing mechanism, how widespread and/or vigorous any shower-storm could get is questionable. For now, 20-30% chances look reasonable.
Of note, PWs push 1.5" with NAEFS and EC PW anomalies around +1.5. Warm cloud depths around 3 kft - not much in the summer, but not bad for mid Sep. If storms train or are relatively slow, localized rainfall in excess of an inch is possible.
Similar rain chances could persist into Tue before more widespread rain chances move in for the middle part of the week.
Unseasonably warm, humid air will continue to pool under the ridge, keeping the region under this summery regime. While the GEFS have trended as the warmer model on the whole, approx 75% of the EPS and GEFS members have highs climb to/above 80 into Wed. Summer lovers enjoy it while you can - the latter half of the week promises a return to the seasonable norms.
* SECOND HALF TO WEEK: cooler temps, widespread shower chances (40- 50%)
Moving into the middle part of the new week, the EPS and GEFS trend toward taking the upper level trough and developing a cutoff low. With shortwaves dropping southward out of Canada, and not much for west-east push in the upper level flow, this low could reinforce, hang around for awhile. The WPC clusters show the same scenario, with varying degrees of depth/strength to the low/trough. All keep its influence across the region into the weekend, not edging east until closer to Sunday.
Sensible weather outcomes will be the return of a cooler, less humid airmass along with periodic bouts with showers and a few storms. 850 mb temps in the GFS/EC deterministic runs drop from around +20 C during this warm span of days to around +10 C by next weekend. The grand ensemble drops the potential to reach the mid 70s for highs down to 5 to 30% starting Friday. The GEFS remains the warmer model and drives most/all of those higher chances. If you like the EPS, its suite is closer to around 70 and cooler. Eitherway, a lot of support for a return to temps more reminiscent of mid Sep.
With the slow movement of the upper level low, spiraling shortwave bands and the cyclonic flow will have a longish residence time across the upper mississippi river valley. Clouds and periodic showers (30-60%) will be the result. Some low end thunder chances. Differences in timing of the small features/locations within/between the ensemble suites working to hold chances a bit lower than they might be. Expect some adjustments to expectations as we move through the new week.
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.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z TUESDAY/... Issued at 1236 AM CDT Mon Sep 15 2025
VFR conditions are expected to prevail over the next 24 hours across much of the area with the exception of the usual nighttime fog trouble spots around BCK and along the Wisconsin River Valley. There is some uncertainty surrounding potential for TS along and west of the Mississippi River but latest trends suggest this is increasingly doubtful (10-20% chance of occurrence) so have removed the PROB30 groups from the RST/LSE TAFs. Otherwise, winds out of the east-southeast at around 5-10 knots will continue with a good amount of upper level clouds in the 10-15 kft layer.
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.ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WI...None. MN...None. IA...None.
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DISCUSSION...Rieck AVIATION...Ferguson
NWS ARX Office Area Forecast Discussion