470 FXUS63 KUNR 121910 AFDUNRArea Forecast Discussion For Western SD and Northeastern WY National Weather Service Rapid City SD 110 PM MDT Fri Sep 12 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
-Unsettled this weekend with a good chance of showers and thunderstorms
-Locally heavy rain possible this weekend from the Black Hills region into northwest SD
-Warmer Monday, then cooler and unsettled
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.DISCUSSION...(This Evening Through Friday) Issued at 109 PM MDT Fri Sep 12 2025
Mean western CONUS trough continues to support semi-unsettled weather across much of the Northern Plains and Rockies. This system will continue to slowly shift northeast this weekend, supporting increasingly unsettled weather in the Northern Plains. Stronger lead impulse ejecting toward the region this afternoon with TS coverage expected to ramp up later today across the SW FA. Thunderstorm clusters are expected to grow upscale into to a line of storms as the system lifts NE. There will be potential for for a few stronger cells capable of producing strong winds and hail. Bulk shear is marginal and so is ML CAPE (aoa 1000-1500 J/KG), but certainly sufficient. Locally heavy rain will be possible with heavier cells, esp across NW SD later tonight given best expected moisture convergence. Lingering showers/storms will shift NE out of the region Sat morning. Dry most places Sat afternoon, except for around the BH where a unstable conditions will be place for more afternoon showers and storms. Main wave will lift into the region Sat night with a strong push of deep moisture. Model consensus supports the best chances for rain across western SD where the deformation zone will setup and stall through Sunday. Rounds of showers an isolated storms looks to support a good chance of rain there with rainfall amounts over an inch possible from the BH into NW SD Sat night into Sunday afternoon. Things will dry out Sunday night with warmer and dry conds expected for Monday. Another upper trough moves into the region later next week, supporting additional rain chances as well as a cooler temps. However, confidence in the track, strength, and resultant precip chances remain very low attm given progged semi-blocked flow, which typically leads to high forecast model uncertainty.
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.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS Through 18Z Saturday) Issued At 1156 AM MDT Fri Sep 12 2025
Isold to scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to later this afternoon and evening across the forecast area, with local MVFR cigs/vsbys possible with some of the stronger storms. otherwise VFR conditions are generally expected. Saturday morning, low cigs may creep into far northeastern WY and northwestern SD for a couple hours, but not expected to hinder TAF sites.
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.UNR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...None. WY...None. &&
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DISCUSSION/KEY MESSAGES...JC AVIATION...Dye
NWS UNR Office Area Forecast Discussion