992  
FXUS63 KUNR 031806  
AFDUNR  
 
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION FOR WESTERN SD AND NORTHEASTERN WY  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD  
1206 PM MDT SUN MAY 3 2026  
   
KEY MESSAGES  
 
- SCATTERED SHRA/ISOLATED TS END EARLY THIS EVENING OVER  
SOUTHWEST HALF OF CWA  
- COLD FRONT DROPS THROUGH LATE TONIGHT/MONDAY MORNING WITH GUSTY  
NORTHERLY WINDS BEHIND IT AS WELL AS SOME SHOWERS  
- MEAN NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT BRINGS UNSETTLED WEATHER THROUGH NEXT  
WEEKEND  
 
 
   
DISCUSSION  
(THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY)  
ISSUED AT 1203 PM MDT SUN MAY 3 2026  
 
17Z SURFACE ANALYSIS HAD WEAK TROUGH FROM THE BIG HORNS INTO THE  
NE PANHANDLE. TROUGH REFLECTION OF COMPACT SHORTWAVE OVER THE BIG  
HORNS PER WATER VAPOUR LOOP. 0.5KM VISIBLE SATELLITE MATINEE  
DEPICTED AGITATED CU/TCU FIELD ASSOCIATED WITH THESE FEATURES.  
FEW LIGHTNING STRIKES NEAR THE BIG HORNS WITH SLOWLY INCREASING  
RADAR RETURNS OVER THE BLACK HILLS. ~250J/KG SBCAPE OUT THERE,  
FORECAST TO PEAK AROUND 500J/KG PER SPC HREF. RESULT WILL BE  
SCATTERED SHRA/ISOLATED TS THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING OVER THE  
SOUTHWEST HALF OF THE CWA. ENOUGH 0-6KM BULK SHEAR TO HELP A STORM  
IF BUOYANCY WERE HIGHER, BUT WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED TO SEE A STORM  
PUT OUT A 30-40KT WIND GUST GIVEN THE 18Z KUNR SOUNDING.  
 
AFTER THE PRECIPITATION ENDS EARLY THIS EVENING, NEXT UPSTREAM  
SHORTWAVE TROUGH CAREENS SOUTHWARD INTO THE NORTHERN PLAINS LATE  
TONIGHT/MONDAY MORNING PUSHING A COLD FRONT THROUGH THE CWA.  
DECENT PRESSURE RISES BEHIND FRONT WITH FORECAST SOUNDINGS  
DEPICTING WELL-MIXED BOUNDARY LAYER LATE MONDAY MORNING INTO THE  
AFTERNOON HOURS. RESULT WILL BE GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS AT TIMES,  
ESPECIALLY FROM K2WX-KRCA WHERE NBM PROBABILITY OF >45MPH WIND  
GUSTS IS 40-70%. HAVE HOISTED A WIND ADVISORY TO ACCOUNT. BAND OF  
800-600MB FRONTOGENESIS WILL SUPPORT SCATTERED SHOWERS  
POTENTIALLY ENHANCING DOWNWARD MOMENTUM TRANSFER. TEMPERATURES  
WILL BE COOLER/NEAR GUIDANCE.  
 
MEAN NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT CONTINUES FOR TUESDAY THROUGH NEXT  
WEEKEND WITH A PARADE OF SHORTWAVES/SURFACE FRONTS. RESULT WILL BE  
ISOLATED/SCATTERED SHOWERS AT TIMES. TEMPERATURES WILL BE 5-10F  
BELOW NORMAL TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY, BUT THEN RISE TO 5-10F ABOVE  
NORMAL FOR THE WEEKEND. CONFIDENCE IS FAIRLY HIGH UNTIL NEXT  
WEEKEND WHEN TYPICAL ENSEMBLE GUIDANCE SPREADS COME INTO PLAY.  
 
 
   
AVIATION  
(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY)  
ISSUED AT 1132 AM MDT SUN MAY 3 2026  
 
ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON INTO  
EARLY EVENING FROM NORTHEASTERN WYOMING INTO THE BLACK HILLS AREA  
AND SOUTHWESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA. A FEW THUNDERSTORMS MAY DEVELOP  
THIS AFTERNOON AS WELL. BRIEF MVFR CONDITIONS MAY BE POSSIBLE IN  
HEAVIER SHOWERS/STORMS, OTHERWISE VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED  
THROUGH THE FORECAST PERIOD.  
 
 
   
UNR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES  
 
SD...WIND ADVISORY FROM 9 AM TO 6 PM MDT MONDAY FOR SDZ001-002-012-  
013-073-078.  
WY...NONE.  
 
 
 
 
DISCUSSION/KEY MESSAGES...HELGESON  
AVIATION...DYE  
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