Funnel Clouds in Iowa, May 9, 2024

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
200 PM CDT Thu May 9 2024

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Lingering shower chances into this evening, mainly along and
  east of I-35. Few showers/storms possible again Friday
  afternoon and evening.

- Fantastic spring conditions Saturday. Sunshine and 70s.

- Chances for showers and storms return early next week. Severe
  threat low.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 200 PM CDT Thu May 9 2024

The presence of a broad, decaying trough overhead has sustained
shower activity over the forecast area through the day. The focus
has generally been within a diffuse zone of low level convergence co-
located with mid-level fgen forcing. RAP analysis shows pockets of 0-
3km CAPE pushing 100 J/kg beneath a cool airmass aloft. The enhanced
stretching potential combined with high background vorticity may
support a few funnels or brief landspouts. Dry air has really eaten
into the westward extent of the precip, much more so than suggested
by hires guidance. Thus the rest of the day has trended drier at
many locations, save for about the eastern third of the cwa which
stands the highest chance to see additional measurable
precipitation before the rainfall exits tonight.

Additional precip chances return Friday afternoon and evening
as a compact shortwave slides through the Great Lakes region and
sweeps a surface frontal boundary across the state. Synoptic
forcing contributions are not well phased on the south/west
periphery of the wave, and combined with dry boundary layer
conditions should limit the spatial coverage and depth of the
convection. Soundings show inverted-v profiles and steep low
level lapse rates up to ~800mb so a few brief elevated wind
gusts are possible, but overall the threat of any strong to
severe convection is low.

Make plans to get outside on Saturday as fantastic spring conditions
are forecast. A passing surface ridge axis beneath building heights
aloft will lead to dry conditions and subsidence through much of the
atmospheric column, giving way to plentiful sunshine and highs in
the 70s. Rain chances return early next week as cutoff upper low is
kicked out of the Four Corners region. Forcing mechanisms and
convergence still look rather diffuse, so it is difficult to
pinpoint a particular period for higher PoPs or to provide more
detail on potential precip amounts. The deterministic EC is
also more aggressive with impinging dry air on the northern
periphery of the upper low as it crosses the central Plains, a
trend that is also reflected in the EC ENS guidance with a fair
share of members now advertising no QPF over the northern half
of the forecast area. Flow aloft is very lethargic with 500mb
winds less than 20 kts. Any convection will be highly
disorganized and likely pose little severe threat.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 1226 PM CDT Thu May 9 2024

Bkn to ovc stratus remains draped over much of the area as we head
into the afternoon hours. The stratus varies between MVFR and VFR
cig heights with some isolated pockets of IFR. Shower activity has
been less expansive than previously forecast and confidence has
diminished that we will see -shra activity at most terminals, and
thus have limited or completely removed precip mention from the
forecasts. Cigs gradually improve this evening and into tonight, and
eventually give way to VFR prevailing across the forecast area into
Friday.

&&

.DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

DISCUSSION...Martin
AVIATION...Martin

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
549 AM CDT Thu May 9 2024

IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-033>039-044>050-057>062-070>075-
081>086-092>097-101100-
Emmet-Kossuth-Winnebago-Worth-Palo Alto-Hancock-Cerro Gordo-
Pocahontas-Humboldt-Wright-Franklin-Butler-Bremer-Sac-Calhoun-
Webster-Hamilton-Hardin-Grundy-Black Hawk-Crawford-Carroll-Greene-
Boone-Story-Marshall-Tama-Audubon-Guthrie-Dallas-Polk-Jasper-
Poweshiek-Cass-Adair-Madison-Warren-Marion-Mahaska-Adams-Union-
Clarke-Lucas-Monroe-Wapello-Taylor-Ringgold-Decatur-Wayne-
Appanoose-Davis-
549 AM CDT Thu May 9 2024

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Iowa.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight

Scattered non severe thunderstorms are possible today.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

A few thunderstorms are possible Friday afternoon and again Sunday
afternoon with additional chances possible at times next week. The
severe weather threat for individual time periods will continue to
be assessed over the next several days.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will not be needed today.

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
122 PM CDT Thu May 9 2024

IAZ005>007-016-017-024>028-035>039-047>050-060>062-092100-
Kossuth-Winnebago-Worth-Hancock-Cerro Gordo-Humboldt-Wright-
Franklin-Butler-Bremer-Webster-Hamilton-Hardin-Grundy-Black Hawk-
Boone-Story-Marshall-Tama-Polk-Jasper-Poweshiek-
Including the cities of Algona, Forest City, Lake Mills,
Northwood, Manly, Garner, Britt, Kanawha, Mason City, Clear Lake,
Humboldt, Eagle Grove, Clarion, Belmond, Hampton, Parkersburg,
Clarksville, Shell Rock, Greene, Aplington, Allison, Dumont,
Waverly, Fort Dodge, Webster City, Iowa Falls, Eldora, Ackley,
Grundy Center, Reinbeck, Conrad, Dike, Wellsburg, Waterloo,
Cedar Falls, Boone, Ames, Marshalltown, Tama, Toledo, Traer,
Dysart, Gladbrook, Des Moines, Newton, and Grinnell
122 PM CDT Thu May 9 2024

...CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR FUNNEL CLOUDS AND WEAK TORNADOES...

WHAT...Funnel clouds and brief weak tornadoes are possible due to
current atmospheric conditions.

WHERE...Portions of northern, central, and eastern Iowa.

WHEN...Through the remainder of the afternoon

Preparedness and Precautionary Actions...
If a funnel cloud or tornado is spotted, report it to the
National Weather Service. If a tornado warning becomes necessary,
take appropriate action.

Small