FXUS63 KSGF 111711 AFDSGF Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Springfield MO 1111 AM CST Mon Dec 11 2023 Key Messages: 1. Some areas of elevated fire weather this afternoon. 2. Drier and a bit warmer through the week ahead. .SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight) Issued at 1258 AM CST Mon Dec 11 2023 Upper level northwesterly flow will begin to become zonal today and will continue through the coming week. Surface winds will slowly shift from westerly to southerly. However, surface high pressure southeast of the region will only slowly begin to increase low level moisture. With a dry airmass over the area, elevated fire weather conditions will be possible, especially with fine fuels. Afternoon highs today will climb into the upper 40s to middle 50s. The dry air mass will bring afternoon relative humidity values in the 25 to 35% range, though light winds should limit fire weather concerns. Will need to watch areas in the eastern Ozarks this afternoon as models have been slightly to high with dewpoints. this occurred yesterday and have used the NBM 5th percentile for dewpoints today. With southerly winds, temperatures tonight will be slightly warmer in the upper 20s in the Mark Twain National forest areas and the lowers 30 elsewhere. .LONG TERM...(Tuesday through Sunday) Issued at 1258 AM CST Mon Dec 11 2023 The zonal pattern will have established itself and will remain into mid to late week with daily highs in the 50s and lows in the 30s. This is around 5 to 10 degrees above normal heading into mid-December. Dry conditions will persist through the much of the week ahead. Upper level shortwave ridging will move across the area Thursday with an upper low digging into Texas. The track of the upper low will be tied to where precipitation chance develop for Friday into thew weekend. As of the latest model runs, the track continued to be south of the Ozarks. This trend has been persistent, keeping the upper level low south of the area, and thus a drier outlook. Continue to monitor the forecast for updates. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Tuesday afternoon) Issued at 1108 AM CST Mon Dec 11 2023 For the 18z TAFS, a south to southwest wind around 10 kts will diminish to light and variable towards sunset, with the light and variable winds continuing through the remainder of the period. VFR conditions are expected through the period. && .SGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MO...NONE. KS...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...Hatch LONG TERM...Hatch AVIATION...Lindenberg