623  
FXUS63 KARX 291059  
AFDARX  
 
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI  
559 AM CDT WED JUL 29 2026  
   
KEY MESSAGES
 
 
- POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM WILDFIRE SMOKE PRIMARILY WEST OF THE  
MISSISSIPPI RIVER INITIALLY THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT.  
 
- PRECIPITATION CHANCES INCREASE THROUGH FRIDAY FROM WEST TO  
EAST WITH LOCAL CONFIDENCE DECREASING IN HIGHER RAINFALL  
AMOUNTS (1"+) AND STRONG STORMS (<5%).  
 

 
   
DISCUSSION
 
 
ISSUED AT 1231 AM CDT WED JUL 29 2026  
 
POTENTIAL NEAR SURFACE SMOKE IMPACTS INTO THURSDAY:  
 
A STOUT AREA OF ANTICYCLONIC FLOW OVER THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI  
RIVER VALLEY WILL CAUSE A MOSTLY PERSISTENT FORECAST UNTIL  
FRIDAY WHEN PRECIPITATION CHANCES INCREASE FROM WEST TO EAST.  
MAIN IMPACT CONCERN THROUGH MIDWEEK WILL BE POTENTIAL NEAR  
SURFACE SMOKE CAUSING POOR AIR QUALITY. TUESDAY SATELLITE  
IMAGERY EXHIBITED THE OFF- SURFACE INCREASED VERTICALLY  
INTEGRATED SMOKE OVER AND UPSTREAM OF THE FORECAST AREA WITH THE  
ANTICYCLONIC FLOW EXPECTED TO SINK PARTICULATES TO THE SURFACE  
WEDNESDAY EVENING INTO THE NIGHTTIME HOURS (HRRR 28.18Z).  
LOCATION OF HIGH PRESSURE IN RELATION TO THE LOCAL FORECAST AREA  
WILL DETERMINE EXTENT OF LOCAL IMPACTS WITH CURRENT CONFIDENCE  
FOR HIGHEST IMPACTS PRIMARILY WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER  
VALLEY.  
 
PRECIPITATION CHANCES FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY:  
 
A DEEPENING EXTRATROPICAL CYCLONE WILL SLIDE EAST-SOUTHEAST  
THROUGH THE NORTHERN TO CENTRAL PLAINS THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH  
FRIDAY, BRINGING PRECIPITATION CHANCES ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST  
AS IT PASSES. CURRENT CONFIDENCE IN THE LOW'S PROGRESSION  
JOGGING SOUTH AS IT APPROACHES THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER  
VALLEY ABATES HIGHER CONFIDENCE FOR HIGHER PRECIPITATION  
PROBABILITIES AND UNSTABLE AIR WEST AND SOUTH OF THE LOCAL  
FORECAST AREA. ALTHOUGH, WITHOUT THIS SOUTHERN SHUNT, LOCALLY  
INCREASED RAINFALL AMOUNTS AND INSTABILITY IS POSSIBLE. WHILE  
OUTLYING, SELECT EPS MEMBERS SUGGESTS 3"+ QPF IN SELECT LOCAL  
AREAS WITH A MORE NORTHERN, MOIST SOLUTION.  
 
CURRENT LONG TERM GLOBAL ENSEMBLE CONFIDENCE KEEPS THE NEAR  
NORMAL LOW LEVEL TEMPERATURES OVER THE FORECAST AREA UNTIL EARLY  
NEXT WEEK WHEN LOW LEVEL THETA E ADVECTION RAMPS UP.  
 

 
   
AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY/
 
 
ISSUED AT 600 AM CDT WED JUL 29 2026  
 
MINIMAL AVIATION IMPACTS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE TAF PERIOD AS  
HIGH PRESSURE MOVES THROUGH THE REGION. CALM TO LIGHT WINDS THIS  
MORNING BECOME SOUTHERLY TO SOUTHWESTERLY BY THE AFTERNOON, BUT  
REMAIN 10KT OR LESS. DIURNAL CUMULUS 4-6KFT IS EXPECTED TO  
DEVELOP LATE THIS MORNING INTO THE AFTERNOON HOURS ALONG WITH  
THE LOW POTENTIAL FOR AN ISOLATED SHOWER OR STORM (5-10%), MOST  
FAVORABLE ALONG/NORTH OF I-90. NEAR-SURFACE AND VERTICALLY  
INTEGRATED SMOKE ARE BOTH EXPECTED TO INCREASE ACROSS THE REGION  
THIS AFTERNOON, LINGERING INTO THE EVENING HOURS WHICH WILL ACT  
TO REDUCE VISIBILITIES.  
 

 
   
ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
 
 
WI...NONE.  
MN...NONE.  
IA...NONE.  
 

 
 

 
 
DISCUSSION...JAR  
AVIATION...FALKINHAM  
 
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