Day 4-8 Outlook
Day 4-8 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0354 AM CDT Thu May 05 2022
Valid 081200Z - 131200Z
...DISCUSSION...
Medium-range guidance is in good agreement that the overall upper
pattern amplifies significantly on D4/Sunday and D5/Monday as
western CONUS troughing deepens and upper ridging along the MS
Valley builds. Position of the upper trough leads to deep
southwesterly flow aloft across the Plains. At the same time, strong
moisture advection will occur, with mid 60s dewpoints reaching
eastern KS by D4/Sunday and into much of IA by D5/Monday. By
D6/Tuesday, a large area of 70+ dewpoints may exist from the
Arklatex north into IA.
This low-level moisture, coupled with the EML fostered by the deep
southwesterly flow aloft, is forecast to result in strong
instability across at least some portion of the Plains and/or
Upper/Mid MS Valley from D4/Sunday through at least D6/Tuesday. The
somewhat stagnant upper pattern and lack of progressive surface
features leads to dearth of forcing for ascent for D4/Sunday,
leading to predictability issues. Some elevated thunderstorms are
possible across the northern Plains, but uncertainty on location and
overall severity merit precluding any outlook areas. Somewhat more
discernible/predictable surface features are expected on D5/Monday,
with a front moving into the upper MS Valley. Given the forecast
buoyancy and shear, any storms that do develop will likely be
severe.
Some severe potential may persist across the Upper/Mid MS Valley on
D6/Tuesday, but guidance varies crucially on the position of various
surface features, limiting predictability. Additionally, guidance
indicates that upper ridging will build west across more of the
Plains on D6/Tuesday and D7/Wednesday, likely shifting the potential
for storms back west towards the High Plains.
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