May 18, 2009

5/18/09: Off to Rapid City

The basic prognosis remains the same. The wind profiles look marginal to good for the region initially just north of Rapid City, SD (Tuesday), the Nebraska Panhandle into SW SD (Wednesday) and nw KS to sw Nebraska (Thursday).

However, the moisture profiles look poor to marginal initially, to marginal by Thursday. Dew points are expected in the 50s to upper 50s in this region (see graphic for Tuesday).

So, we are on our way north to Rapid City, SD today. With the shear profiles during the period, isolated storms are liable to rotate briefly before being enswirled by their own precipitation plumes.

But, at least there is a risk for rotating storms.