333 
FXUS63 KLSX 182037
AFDLSX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Saint Louis MO
337 PM CDT Thu May 18 2017

.SHORT TERM...  (Through Late Friday Afternoon)
Issued at 333 PM CDT Thu May 18 2017

Main concerns the through tomorrow will be the potential for severe 
thunderstorms.

Cold front has become quasi-stationary from near Kansas City to 
Quincy to Chicago.  To the south, there have been a few showers and 
thunderstorms that have developed across southeast Missouri.  There 
is still potential for thunderstorms to develop farther north near I-
70 late this afternoon into the early evening hours according to the 
latest runs of the CAMS.  This falls in line with the RAP which 
shows some weak surface moisture convergence south of the front in 
the 2000-3000 J/kg MLCAPEs.  There may be a few storms continue to 
develop along the front into the early evening hours.

Focus for storms will increase later this evening and overnight 
farther west where severe thunderstorms that are expected to develop 
over the Central Plains will grow upscale into an MCS per the latest 
runs of the HRRR and move east across the CWA between 08-14Z.  There 
will be the possibility for a few strong to severe thunderstorms 
during this time with some large hail and damaging winds.  This 
complex will lift to the northeast by mid morning allowing for dry 
time from mid morning until early afternoon.  If the atmosphere can 
recover from the morning convection, then a few severe thunderstorms 
will be possible in the afternoon given MLCAPES between 1500-2000 
J/kg and deep layer shear values 40+kts along and south of the warm 
front.  Main focus for severe storms in the afternoon would be along 
the warm front.


Britt


.LONG TERM...  (Friday Night through Next Thursday)
Issued at 333 PM CDT Thu May 18 2017

(Friday Night - Saturday Night)

Best chance of convection early in the period will be along/north of 
the slowly retreating warm front. Some disagreement on how 
widespread this activity will be with CAMs suggesting isolated-
scattered activity while global models seem a bit more bullish. 
Regardless, favorable environment will exist for strong to severe 
thunderstorms capable of producing large hail and damaging winds, 
with a tornado threat for any storms that can travel along the warm 
front.

Another round of storms then looks to move in from western Missouri 
overnight Friday night. Straight-line winds look like the primary 
threat with convection expected to be more linear by the time it 
reaches our CWA. Could Some signs the quasi-linear convective system 
will weaken as it heads toward the Mississippi River toward daybreak 
as low-level moisture convergence and instability slowly abates. 
Will have to also monitor the potential for flash flooding with this 
round of activity. Thankfully, the ground has gotten a good week to 
dry out so flash flood guidance is fairly high. Concern would be for 
any areas that get hit fairly hard tonight through Friday afternoon 
and then get hit again Friday night. Will continue to monitor this 
potential, but for now will hold off on a flash flood watch and see 
how the next ~24 hours evolves. 

Uncertainty increases on Saturday with respect to convective trends. 
There will likely be some ongoing convection on Saturday morning as 
alluded to above. How the morning convection evolves will be 
important regarding afternoon destabilization and severe potential. 
Does look like more of a marginal setup however with quite a bit 
uncertainty with the amount of destabilization. Higher chance for 
strong/severe storms at the moment look east of the Mississippi 
River where higher instability will likely reside. Do expect at 
least another round of showers and storms regardless of severity to 
form along/ahead of the cold front which will sweep through the bi-
state area.


(Sunday - Next Thursday)

Well-below normal temperatures continue to increase in likelihood in 
the extended with a deep upper-level trough carving out across the 
eastern two-thirds of the CONUS. Highs generally will range from the 
mid 60s to low 70s each day with lows as cool as the mid to upper 
40s. Best chance of rain, with a few thunderstorms possible, 
continues to look like the Monday night through Tuesday timeframe 
coincident with a closed midlevel circulation moving 
southeastward into the mid-upper Mississippi Valley and eventually
the Ohio Valley.


Gosselin


&&

.AVIATION...  (For the 18z TAFs through 18z Friday Afternoon)
Issued at 102 PM CDT Thu May 18 2017

Scattered thunderstorms have begun to develop across southeast
Missouri and may spread northward and affect the St. Louis area
terminals this afternoon and early evening. Any storms that 
develop this afternoon may bring brief MVFR/possible IFR ceilings
and visibilities with gusty winds. Better chance for thunderstorms
will be tonight when a thunderstorm complex will move across the
area. Expect this complex to affect all of the airports overnight
before it moves northeast of the area by 14Z. This complex will
also bring low ceilings and visibilities and a better chance of
gusty winds. 

SPECIFICS FOR KSTL: There will be the chance for thunderstorms
throughout the period. The best chances will be late this
afternoon and early evening, and then again overnight as a complex
of thunderstorms move across the area. Thunderstorms will be
possible again tomorrow afternoon. Any thunderstorms may bring 
brief MVFR/possible IFR ceilings and visibilities with gusty 
winds.

Britt

&&

.LSX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MO...None.
IL...None.
&&

$$

WFO LSX