SPC 1730Z Day 2 Outlook
Day 2 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
1226 PM CDT Tue Aug 01 2023
Valid 021200Z - 031200Z
...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM CENTRAL
MISSOURI INTO SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...
...SUMMARY...
Thunderstorms capable of damaging gusts are possible from central
Missouri into southern Illinois Wednesday afternoon through evening.
Isolated strong to severe thunderstorms capable of producing
damaging gusts and hail are also possible across the Upper Great
Lakes region and central High Plains.
...Synopsis...
Upper ridging is forecast to remain in place over the southern
Plains and Lower MS Valley, keeping that region hot and dry. Some
modestly enhanced mid-level flow will exist from the northern
Plains/Upper Midwest through the Mid-Atlantic, between the southern
Plains ridge and an upper low over the Hudson Bay. A shortwave
trough and associated surface low will likely move through this
enhanced flow across Ontario. An attendant cold front is expected to
move into the northern Plains, Upper Midwest, and Upper Great Lakes,
with some thunderstorms possible along the front during afternoon
and evening.
Additionally, a convectively induced vorticity maximum will likely
track eastward over the central Plains and into the Mid/Lower MO
Valley. Some thunderstorms are possible from the Mid MO Valley into
the Mid MS Valley as this vorticity maximum interacts with the moist
and buoyant air mass over the region.
...Mid MO Valley into the Mid MS Valley...
Numerous showers and thunderstorms will likely be ongoing Wednesday
morning in an arc from far eastern NE to southeast MO/southern
IL/far western KY, remnant from overnight storms from the Mid MO
Valley into the Mid MS Valley. These storms will likely dissipate by
late morning/early afternoon, but residual cloud cover and resulting
differential heating will help induce a warm-front-like boundary
across MO. Dewpoints are expected to be in the mid 70s in the
vicinity of this boundary Wednesday afternoon, contributing to
moderate/strong buoyancy. Even with strong daytime heating
south/west of the boundary, some convective inhibition will likely
persist, particularly with southwestward extent, where mixing will
be greatest. However, convergence along this differential heating
zone, combined with slightly higher dewpoints and less overall
mixing, as well as ascent from the approaching vorticity maximum, is
expected to result in convective initiation.
Strong buoyancy will support a risk for hail within the first hour
or so of development, before cell interactions and outflow-dominant
structures influence a more linear storm mode. Additionally, given
the presence of a surface boundary and some more southeasterly
surface winds, a tornado or two cannot be entirely ruled out.
However, a somewhat quick transition to a predominantly linear mode
is anticipated, with at least some chance for cold pool organization
into a coherent linear convective system. This system should then
track southeastward along the buoyancy gradient into southeast MO,
southern IL, and potentially even far western KY.
...Upper Midwest into the Upper Great Lakes...
Moderate buoyancy is anticipated ahead of the approaching cold front
mentioned in the synopsis. Convergence along the boundary will be
modest, with higher storm coverage expected across Upper MI versus
farther west across northern WI and northeast MN. Even so, expected
moderate buoyancy will combine with 30-40 kt of effective bulk shear
to support organized thunderstorms. Forecast soundings show modestly
steep midlevel lapse rates and elongated/straight hodographs above
around 1-2 km. This suggests isolated hail potential with the
strongest storms. Where stronger heating occurs, steep low-level
lapse rates will foster isolated strong/damaging gusts as well.
...Central High Plains...
Afternoon thunderstorms across the higher terrain are forecast to
progress eastward into the lower elevations of the central High
Plains during the late afternoon/early evening. Steep low-level
lapse rates and high cloud bases will likely support a few stronger
gusts as this activity moves eastward into western KS.
..Mosier.. 08/01/2023
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