Apr 27, 2025 1630 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook
Updated: Sun Apr 27 16:30:09 UTC 2025 (20250427 1630Z Day 1 shapefile | 20250427 1630Z Day 1 KML)
Probabilistic to Categorical Outlook Conversion Table
Categorical Graphic
20250427 1630 UTC Day 1 Outlook Graphic
Day 1 Risk Area (sq. mi.) Area Pop. Some Larger Population Centers in Risk Area
SLIGHT 180,377 2,043,002 Lubbock, TX...Amarillo, TX...Midland, TX...Odessa, TX...Rapid City, SD...
MARGINAL 288,921 8,569,477 Minneapolis, MN...St. Paul, MN...Lincoln, NE...Sioux Falls, SD...Billings, MT...
Probabilistic Tornado Graphic
20250427 1630 UTC Day 1 Tornado Probabilities Graphic
Probability of a tornado within 25 miles of a point.
Hatched Area: 10% or greater probability of EF2 - EF5 tornadoes within 25 miles of a point.
Day 1 Tornado Risk Area (sq. mi.) Area Pop. Some Larger Population Centers in Risk Area
5 % 81,721 1,096,639 Lubbock, TX...Amarillo, TX...Garden City, KS...Dodge City, KS...North Platte, NE...
2 % 102,736 1,135,250 Midland, TX...Salina, KS...Grand Island, NE...Hutchinson, KS...Kearney, NE...
Probabilistic Damaging Wind Graphic
20250427 1630 UTC Day 1 Damaging Wind Probabilities Graphic
Probability of damaging thunderstorm winds or wind gusts of 50 knots or higher within 25 miles of a point.
Hatched Area: 10% of greater probability of wind gusts 65 knots or greater within 25 miles of a point.
Day 1 Wind Risk Area (sq. mi.) Area Pop. Some Larger Population Centers in Risk Area
15 % 88,107 1,302,068 Lubbock, TX...Amarillo, TX...Midland, TX...Odessa, TX...North Platte, NE...
5 % 281,085 4,050,849 Lincoln, NE...Sioux Falls, SD...Sioux City, IA...Rapid City, SD...Bismarck, ND...
Probabilistic Large Hail Graphic
20250427 1630 UTC Day 1 Large Hail Probabilities Graphic
Probability of hail 1" or larger within 25 miles of a point.
Hatched Area: 10% or greater probability of hail 2" or larger within 25 miles of a point.
Day 1 Hail Risk Area (sq. mi.) Area Pop. Some Larger Population Centers in Risk Area
SIG SEVERE 93,222 1,476,315 Lubbock, TX...Amarillo, TX...Midland, TX...Odessa, TX...Garden City, KS...
15 % 180,174 2,042,500 Lubbock, TX...Amarillo, TX...Midland, TX...Odessa, TX...Rapid City, SD...
5 % 288,751 8,567,348 Minneapolis, MN...St. Paul, MN...Lincoln, NE...Sioux Falls, SD...Billings, MT...
   SPC AC 271630

   Day 1 Convective Outlook  
   NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
   1130 AM CDT Sun Apr 27 2025

   Valid 271630Z - 281200Z

   ...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR MUCH OF THE
   GREAT PLAINS...

   ...SUMMARY...
   Isolated to scattered severe thunderstorms are possible mainly this
   evening into early morning Monday across parts of the Great Plains.
   Large hail to very large hail, severe gusts, and a few tornadoes are
   all possible.

   ...Synopsis...
   Water-vapor imagery this morning shows a mid- to upper-level low
   over NV.  A belt of strong southwesterly mid to high-level flow will
   extend from the base of the western U.S. trough through the
   southern/central High Plains later today into tonight.  A pair of
   smaller-scale disturbances are forecast to eject east-northeastward
   into the central High Plains and Black Hills vicinity during the
   mid-late evening.  Concurrently, an upper ridge over the eastern
   half of the Great Plains states will shift eastward over the MS
   Valley towards daybreak Monday.  

   Late morning surface analysis shows a developing low centered over
   southeast WY with a lee trough/dryline extending southward through
   the southern High Plains.  The cyclone will deepen near the WY/NE/CO
   border through early evening before developing northeast into
   central SD late tonight.  

   ...Southeast MT...Western Dakotas...
   A sharpening lee trough is forecast by late this afternoon amidst
   appreciable heating and moistening, especially across western SD. 
   Model guidance shows a narrow plume of 500-2000 J/kg MLCAPE (highest
   over SD) developing by mid-late afternoon as large-scale ascent
   begins to overspread the region.  Isolated to widely scattered
   thunderstorms are forecast to develop from the northern NE Panhandle
   to the Black Hills, and north of the developing low over southeast
   MT by late afternoon.  The stronger storms will gradually move into
   richer moisture with an accompanying risk for mainly large hail and
   severe gusts.  Gradual cooling during the evening will favor a
   transition to elevated storms evolving with time as a LLJ
   strengthens tonight.  A severe risk will probably develop farther
   east in association with WAA into parts of the eastern Dakotas and
   MN late.

   ...Central/Southern High Plains...
   Visible-satellite imagery indicates a very moist boundary layer with
   a mix of a cumulus field across central and north TX and eastern
   NM/CO and stratus from the TX Caprock northward through OK to NE. 
   The depth and quality of moisture sampled by the 12z Midland,
   Amarillo, and Dodge City raobs is considered seasonably moisture
   rich, and is located beneath an elevated mixed layer.  Additional
   moistening through advection and evaporation will contribute to 60s
   dewpoints east of a dryline/lee trough by late afternoon.  Strong
   heating is forecast near the dryline from western NE southward
   through West TX, which will result in a weakly capped but moderate
   to very unstable airmass by 21z.  Large-scale forcing for ascent
   across the region will be nebulous, but low-level convergence along
   the dryline amid little to no convective inhibition may result in
   convective initiation. 

   With dryline convergence as the mechanism for convective initiation,
   predictability is low.  Dryline circulations will likely be
   strongest across the TX Panhandle/West TX where temperatures west of
   the dryline will be warmest, but low-level convergence will likely
   maximize in the CO/NE/KS border intersection vicinity near a
   developing surface low.  As a result, these two areas may have a
   greater risk for thunderstorms (isolated, widely spaced storm
   coverage) late this afternoon into the evening. 

   The overall environment will be very supportive of supercells with
   any storms that do form, with large to very large hail as the
   primary risk initially. If any storms manage to develop and become
   sustained, a strengthening low-level jet will support a tornado
   threat during the evening with any storms that persist (or develop
   along the retreating dryline).  Nocturnal cooling and increased CINH
   by mid to late evening will act to eventually weaken storm activity
   in this region.

   ..Smith/Wendt.. 04/27/2025

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