579 FXUS63 KARX 060657 AFDARXArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service La Crosse WI 157 AM CDT Sat Sep 6 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Scattered showers developing this afternoon (30-40% chance), especially north of I-90, before diminishing this evening.
- Remaining unseasonably cool this weekend. Maybe some patchy frost in spots tonight and Sunday night, depending on cloud/fog trends.
- Shower/storm chances return late Monday-Tuesday (50-60%), with much more seasonable September temperatures next week.
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.DISCUSSION... Issued at 156 AM CDT Sat Sep 6 2025
Scattered showers (30-40% chance) this afternoon-evening:
Cool temperatures persist today with high temperatures likely a smidge warmer than Friday, ranging from mid 50s to low 60s. A potent shortwave trough will plunge into the Upper Midwest today, dropping through the forecast area this afternoon. This will coincide with favorable diurnal timing for steep lapse rates to develop from the surface to at least 700mb, allowing for 200-300 J/kg of 0-3km MUCAPE. Forecast soundings show the depth of the saturated layer decreasing from north to south across the forecast area, so scattered showers will likely be most prevalent this afternoon north of I-90. Drier low levels will be more of a limiting factor further south. Main timeframe will be roughly 2-8pm, with activity diminishing quickly after sunset. All in all, the setup for showers this afternoon looks much more favorable than it was for Friday afternoon, but for those areas that do get wet it should only amount to around 1/10" or less.
Patchy frost potential in some spots tonight and Sunday Night?
Attention then turns to low temperatures and potential patchy frost development late tonight as skies clear out and winds die off beneath a building surface ridge/high. There is some question regarding potential late night development of fog or low stratus particularly along and north of I-94, which should preclude frost in those typical cold areas. Not all short-term guidance supports this, but of the HREF ensemble members, both the current and time-lagged HRW ARW and HRW NSSL members do, as does the latest NAMnest. Our western counties, which will clear out earliest and are unlikely to see any fog, may end up with the most efficient radiational cooling. Later shifts will need to assess tonight`s fog and frost potential, but for now low temperatures in the upper 30s to lower 40s seem reasonable.
The surface high then shifts off to the southeast late Sunday, which will initiate some weak warm advection over the area -- a trend that will continue into the new work week. Sunday night therefore does not look to pose much threat for frost, but the area to watch will be north of I-94 where skies will be clearest and winds lightest.
Shower/storm chances later Monday-Tuesday, otherwise much more seasonable temperatures:
As 500mb flow turns more zonal over the Midwest on Monday, moisture return will increase over the Plains and eventually shift into the Upper Midwest late Monday into Tuesday on a robust low level jet. A shortwave trough looks to drop through the area Monday night into Tuesday with an increasing likelihood (50-60+% chance) for showers and storms. Ensemble guidance shows a large spread in potential rainfall amounts from this system, with 10th-90th ranging from under 1/10 inch to greater than 1 inch, so while confidence is increasing in rainfall potential, rainfall amounts remain less certain. Amplified upper ridging will progressively build into the region from Wednesday through Friday, providing mainly dry conditions and much more seasonable temperatures.
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.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY/... Issued at 1221 AM CDT Sat Sep 6 2025
Main taf concern through the taf period is potential for showers to impact the LSE/RST taf sites this afternoon/evening. Next wave embedded in the northerly flow aloft will move across the Great Lakes Region today into this evening. With daytime heating and lift associated with the wave will allow for isolated to scattered showers to develop across the area. Instability is very limited and expect only an isolated storm or two. Mainly VFR conditions will prevail at both RST/LSE taf sites through the taf period. However...if a stronger shower impacts one of the taf sites...a brief period of MVFR conditions less than an hour could occur. For now will introduce VCSH this afternoon into the early evening hours.
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.CLIMATE... Issued at 156 AM CDT Sat Sep 6 2025
Record cool maximum temperatures for today and current forecast.
La Crosse, WI
Date Record Cold High Forecast High ----- ----------- ----------- 9/6 60F(1965) 63F
Rochester, MN
Date Record Cold High Forecast High ----- ----------- ----------- 9/6 58F(1965) 59F
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.ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WI...None. MN...None. IA...None.
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DISCUSSION...Kurz AVIATION...DTJ CLIMATE...Falkinham
NWS ARX Office Area Forecast Discussion