Area forecast discussion National Weather Service Springfield MO 1231 PM CDT Sat may 25 2013 ..aviation update... Short term...(today through sunday) issued at 233 am CDT Sat may 25 2013 High pressure continues to pull east across the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley this morning...with southerly flow increasing across the region in response...especially over the western half or so of the County Warning Area. This increase in low level flow/warm air advection has resulted in rather mild conditions for western Missouri and southeastern Kansas...with readings only dropping to the low to middle 60s as of 2 am. Further east...where high pressure remains the dominate feature...morning lows dropped into the 40s. Another warm and overall pleasant day is expected across the region today...as high temperatures warm into the low 80s. Most locations look to remain dry...but a few isolated thunderstorms may develop during the day today. The best potential for isolated to scattered storms will be across central Missouri...where the convective remnants/mesoscale convective vortex associated with elevated convection currently over eastern Nebraska/western Iowa may clip the area. Again though...most places should remain dry. A few scattered storms will remain possible over central Missouri tonight...before more widespread thunderstorm potential develops for Sunday. The convective scenario for Sunday is somewhat complex...as two distinct features will be in play. The first will be the potential for a mesoscale convective vortex to drop south from northern Kansas/southern Nebraska during the daytime hours Sunday. While model guidance is in surprisingly good agreement regarding this feature...such mesoscale convective system-induced features are notoriously fickle in "model world". The other feature of note will be the broad subtropical vorticity that has been moving slowly across Texas the last day or two. It is prognosticated to move east-northeast with time into Arkansas...and the resulting increase in moisture and lift with this vorticity should be enough to set off scattered storms during the day Sunday. Still don't think rainfall will be widespread enough to wash out most Holiday weekend plans...but anyone with outdoor plans should remain aware of the rain/lightning risk. Long term...(monday through friday) issued at 233 am CDT Sat may 25 2013 Temperatures Sunday and again Monday will be in the low to middle 80s...just a few degrees above normal for this time of year. As the main upper level ridge axis lifts a bit northeast on Monday...thunderstorm chances should decrease as the potential is shunted to the north of the forecast area. A several day long stretch of generally dry and seasonably warm weather is expected for the first few days of the shortened workweek...as southwest flow is established over much of the nation's middle section. Despite an increase in low level moisture...capping aloft will limit thunderstorm potential. The next chance of widespread rainfall looks to arrive in the day 6/7 timeframe...as the western trough begins to translate east and height falls start to overspread the region. Some significant differences remain among the various members of the extended guidance suite...especially with the strength/timing of various shortwaves and associated frontal boundaries. That said...there does seem to be broad agreement in a relatively active end to the month of may and start to June...with several chances for rain && Aviation... Pilots flying in and out of the southwest Missouri can expect fair weather VFR conditions over the next 24 hours. A ridge of high pressure was passing over the nations middle section today...maintaining nice weather for the Holiday weekend. South breezes at the surface will persist through the entire night and into tomorrow. Shower and thunderstorm chances will start to increase Sunday afternoon in response to increasing moisture returning to the Ozarks. Safe travels...and have a great Memorial Day weekend ! Cramer && Sgf watches/warnings/advisories... MO...none. Kansas...none. && $$ Short term...boxell long term...boxell aviation...Cramer