Forecast Discussions mentioning any of "ACARS" "MDCRS" "AIRCRAFT" "TAMDAR" "AMDAR" "WVSS" received at GSD on 07/01/23


Area Forecast Discussion...Updated
National Weather Service Saint Louis MO
917 PM CDT Fri Jun 30 2023 .MESOSCALE DISCUSSION... Issued at 917 PM CDT Fri Jun 30 2023 Technical Discussion... A stationary frontal boundary currently extends from Moniteau/Boone Counties southeast through Ste. Genevieve County, MO. Thunderstorms have initiated along and north of the front this afternoon and continue to initiate at the time of writing. Some of these thunderstorms have had histories of producing large hail and damaging winds. The atmosphere is still primed for severe weather as of 02z, with MUCAPE values of 3000 to 4000 J/kg, effective bulk shear of 25 to 35 kts, and dewpoints in the low 70s. For this reason, the severe thunderstorm watch remains valid until 04z when severe parameters begin to give way to the diurnal curve. As this occurs, the severe threat will gradually become more isolated. Thunderstorms are expected to redevelop later tonight as a series of mid-level vorticity maxima interact with an intensifying low level jet, stationary surface boundary, and abundant low-level moisture. This round of thunderstorms is expected to be more widespread and generally weaker than this afternoon`s and evening`s convection. Jaja && .SHORT TERM... (Through Late Saturday Night) Issued at 234 PM CDT Fri Jun 30 2023 Earlier today, an MCS made its way across southern Iowa and northern Missouri into north-central Illinois. As that MCS moved eastward, an outflow boundary moved south and is interacting with a surface boundary stretching across central Missouri. Along that boundary there is a strong gradient of surface based CAPE. Convective initiation is expected between now and 23Z and along and south of the Missouri River as the outflow continues to interact with that frontal boundary. Thunderstorms are expected to follow that CAPE gradient and frontal boundary and travel southeast across central Missouri into south-central Illinois. As of 19:20Z, current ACARS soundings at STL are showing over surface base CAPE values nearing 4000 J/kg. With sufficient instability and 35 knots of 0-6km shear, these storms could become strong to severe with the main threat being strong winds and large hail. The storm threat looks to be out of the area by the evening hours. Hot and humid conditions will continue through the evening as dew points from central Missouri through south-central Illinois are in the mid to upper 70s. Temperatures are continuing to climb and are expected to hit the upper 90s and low 100s by peak heating with heat indexes between 105-110 degrees. The outflow boundary did keep temperatures cooler across northern Missouri and west-central Illinois where temperatures will struggle to reach 90 degrees. The heat advisory continues near and south of the I-70 corridor and is in effect through 8PM tonight. Overnight the low level jet will ramp up and surge moisture into the area just as a mid-level disturbance moves across the Mid- Mississippi River Valley, providing another chance for showers and thunderstorms through Saturday morning along and near the stalled frontal boundary. The boundary is forecast to stall somewhere across the northern 3rd of Missouri. With most unstable CAPE values around 2000 J/kg and strong moisture convergence, overnight rainfall looks promising with some locations could receive an inch or more of rain. By Saturday afternoon, the surface low pressure system that is associated with the stalled surface boundary will begin to move eastward into western Missouri. The surface boundary will slowly shift north, leaving much of the CWA in the warm sector. With the area being in the warm sector, instability will ramp up throughout the day. It is important to note that if the overnight showers linger further into the morning, instability across northern Missouri may be limited. However, in southeast Missouri and south- central Illinois, current guidance has most unstable CAPE values in excess of 2500 J/kg with 1-6km shear greater than 30kts. This environment will be more than enough to support strong to severe storms Saturday afternoon through the early evening. The greatest threats are expected to be strong and damaging winds and large hail. It looks as if LCL heights will remain rather high, limiting the tornado potential. Another round of showers and thunderstorms is forecast late Saturday night into Sunday as the surface low pressure system finally makes its way east and brings a cold front through the area. MMG/Carney .LONG TERM... (Sunday through Next Friday) Issued at 234 PM CDT Fri Jun 30 2023 Deterministic guidance remains in good agreement with respect to the late weekend-early week forecast. The short wave should be passing overhead in the wake of the cold front on Sunday which is likely to continue to produce enough synoptic-scale lift for more convection. Current indications are that lower instability and shear values than today and Saturday should really cut down on the chances for severe weather, but MUCAPE values in excess of 1000 J/Kg still support the inclusion of thunderstorms in the forecast. Weak ridging builds across the Mid Mississippi Valley on Monday, so we should stay largely dry on Monday, though an isolated thunderstorm isn`t out of the question. With somewhat cooler air moving in and the potential for clouds/convection on Sunday, highs will likely stay in the 80s...and could be suppressed into the 70s in west central and south central Illinois where there is more likely to occur. With fewer clouds and showers around on Monday, strong July sunshine should let highs rebound back into the upper 80s to mid 90s. The forecast becomes less certain for Tuesday through Friday as at least two short wave troughs, and possibly an MCV two, move across the Midwest. LREF cluster analysis implies decreasing certainty in the forecasts as the number of clusters increases from 2 or 3 solutions for Sunday/Monday, to 3-4 solutions for the rest of the week. Additionally, the differences in the clusters are minor for Sunday/Monday and are primarily with the amplitude of the ridge upstream of Sunday`s short wave. The number of clusters increases to 3-4 for Tuesday-Friday, and the differences between clusters becomes more pronounced. EOF patterns suggest both timing and amplitude differences in the weather pattern, particularly with respect to a deepening long wave trough over the eastern U.S. toward the end of the period. Temperature spreads on the box and whisker plots increase correspondingly toward the end of the week as well. However, the pattern does favor warmer temperatures Tuesday/Wednesday ahead of the long wave trough, trending cooler Thursday/Friday with more clouds and precip associated with the trough. Carney && .AVIATION... (For the 00z TAFs through 00z Saturday Evening) Issued at 623 PM CDT Fri Jun 30 2023 Currently, a stalled front is sitting in a line extending roughly from Boone County, MO through Ste. Genevieve County, MO/Randolph County, IL. This has provided a focus for thunderstorm development this afternoon primarily along the I-70 corridor in central and east central Missouri. Some of these thunderstorms have had histories of producing large hail and damaging winds. Thunderstorms are expected to move east this evening ahead of additional thunderstorm development overnight. These thunderstorms will likely be broader in coverage, but weaker in strength, impacting mainly northeast Missouri and west central Illinois. Confidence is high in strong to severe thunderstorms returning Saturday afternoon. Otherwise, VFR conditions are expected through the TAF period. Jaja && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Saint Louis 76 94 71 86 / 70 70 70 60 Quincy 71 86 68 83 / 70 80 80 60 Columbia 73 89 67 87 / 50 70 70 40 Jefferson City 73 92 68 89 / 50 70 60 40 Salem 73 93 69 86 / 70 60 70 70 Farmington 73 97 68 89 / 30 60 60 50 && .LSX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MO...None. IL...None. && $$ WFO LSX