647 FXUS63 KFSD 091124 AFDFSDArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 624 AM CDT Thu Oct 9 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Near to above normal temperatures will persist into early next week.
- The next chance for rain will not arrive until Saturday evening and Sunday. A this time, chances for rain remain between 30-60% though the highest probabilities lie north and east of the area.
- Additional chances for rain are possible into the middle of next week though details are very uncertain.
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.DISCUSSION... Issued at 327 AM CDT Thu Oct 9 2025
Quiet conditions begin the day today along with mid level clouds blanketing locations generally along and east of the James River. A few sprinkles are possible beneath the stratus but low level dry air should prevent the majority of the sprinkles from reaching the surface. Winds will strengthen this morning as mixing increases after sunrise. This will result in another breezy day with southerly winds gusting up to 20-35 mph. The mid level clouds will drift slowly eastwards, covering most locations along and east of I-29. This will make for cooler temperatures in the low to mid 70s east of I-29 and warmer temperatures up to the mid to upper 70s west of the interstate. Could see highs reach 80F in this area as well. A cold front will begin to push into the forecast area during the late afternoon hours. The strongest cold advection with the front will come in late tonight and be place north and east of the area. This will result in weakening winds behind the front. Wind won`t go completely calm overnight but will be much lighter and turn out of the northwest. Low temperatures will fall to 40s and 50s. There could be some fog south of I-90 late tonight but confidence is too low to include in this forecast package at this time.
Friday will be a quiet day as surface ridging slides through the Northern Plains. Winds will be light while temperatures remain near to above average in the 60s to mid 70s. This will make Friday a great day for outdoor activities! Overnight lows will be a bit cooler, falling to the upper 30s and 40s across the area.
Medium range guidance remains in agreement in a stronger upper level wave beginning to eject out of the Rockies and into the Plains states during the weekend. Think the daylight hours will remain dry on Saturday due to drier air in the low levels. With large scale ascent pivoting over the Northern Plains, surface pressure will fall, tightening the surface pressure gradient. This will lead to breezy southeast winds across the area along with high temperatures remaining near seasonable in the 60s thanks to mid and high level clouds blanketing most of the area ahead of the incoming wave. The exit region of the jet tied to this wave will encroach on the forecast area Saturday evening, strengthening low level warm air advection (WAA) and bringing chances for rain back to the area. The ensembles support this as they show a broad 30-60% chance for rainfall totals to exceed a tenth of an inch of rain Saturday evening and night. However, they also show the highest probabilities lying across eastern North Dakota and northwest Minnesota. Similar probabilities for rain persist through Sunday as the main wave fully ejects into the Northern Plains. Persistent WAA will result in warmer temperatures for the afternoon hours on Sunday with highs warming to the 70s to low 80s. A stronger cold front tied to this wave will push through the Northern Plains Sunday evening and night. A strong shot of cold air advection (CAA) behind the cold front could lead to stronger winds during this period of time. As of now, confidence is not high enough to deviate from the NBM but will continue to watch over the next few days.
The upper level jet will continue to sit over a large part of the country on Monday with the jet spanning from southern California all the way to the Great Lakes. Despite the jet, Monday will be a dry day as surface high pressure slides through the area along with near seasonable highs in the 60s. This will change heading into Tuesday as heights begin to fall aloft. Tuesday during the day looks to be dry with highs in the 60s but low level WAA will strengthen Tuesday evening and night. Moisture return does not look all that impressive during this period of time though. Thus, the ensembles only show a mere 10-30% chance for rainfall to exceed a tenth of an inch of rain.
There could be additional chances for rain next Wednesday and though confidence in this next potential is low due to medium range guidance showing increasing variance in the upper level pattern. The ensembles are in general agreement in upper level ridging remaining over the plains during this time, though they do also show the previously mentioned upper jet draped atop the ridge over the Plains. Despite the general agreement, the ensemble still show varying low probabilities between 10-30% for exceeding a tenth of an inch of rain. Latest trends have been building the ridge more aloft and retrograding it westward. This is a more commonly observed trend regarding these ridges so do think that the ensembles are on the right track. Will leave the NBM PoPs in place for now. Otherwise seasonable temperatures are favored for the middle of next week.
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.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 624 AM CDT Thu Oct 9 2025
Latest satellite imagery shows mid level clouds based between 4,000 to 8,000 ft along and east of the James River this morning. These clouds will continue to drift eastwards throughout the day today. Another batch of low level stratus with ceilings down to MVFR/IFR/LIFR levels is sitting across western/central Nebraska this morning and is pushing northeastwards. It is unclear if this stratus will reach the area after sunrise but as of now, do not anticipate it affecting any TAF sites at this time. Trends will be monitored.
Otherwise, breezy southerly winds are expected today with gusts up to 20-30 knots. Winds will weaken this during the evening hours as a cold front passes through the area. Winds will turn to out of the north/northwest in the wake of the front. There is a low chance (
NWS FSD Office Area Forecast Discussion