Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Dodge City, KS
Issued by NWS Dodge City, KS
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061 FXUS63 KDDC 012229 AFDDDC Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Dodge City KS 529 PM CDT Sat Jun 1 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - A severe thunderstorm complex is expected to roll across roughly the southwest 2/3rds of our area this afternoon and evening, posing mainly a damaging wind gust threat. - Another chance of severe storms exists on Sunday, however coverage is expected to be much lower. - Precipitation chances persist into early next work week, but begin to diminish by Wednesday as upper level ridging builds out west. && .SHORT TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/... Issued at 200 PM CDT Sat Jun 1 2024 Water vapor satellite imagery and RAP upper air analysis reveal a rather low-amplitude synoptic pattern is in place, with a weak shortwave trough over the far western CONUS and a weak shortwave ridge over the southern plains, resulting in mostly zonal flow across the central Rockies into the central plains. As these features continue to shift east this afternoon and evening, weak vorticity lobes cresting the shortwave ridge will aid in thunderstorm initiation from far southeast CO to the Syracuse/Johnson City area by 21Z. Latest guidance/HREF indicate this activity will expand in coverage and intensity, and organize into a severe linear convective system within an environment characterized by at least 1500-2000 J/Kg of SBCAPE and 30-40 kts of bulk shear as it rolls across roughly the southwestern 2/3rds of our CWA. Given dewpoint temperatures in the 50s and temperatures in the upper 80s/low 90s, DCAPE will increase into the 1200-1600 J/Kg range, suggesting the primary severe hazard will be damaging wind gusts. However, large hail will also be possible, especially during the early stages of convection. Thunderstorm activity may linger well into the overnight hours as a few CAMs depict back-building, but should clear southwest KS by sunrise Sunday morning. Daytime Sunday, short range guidance suggest the weak upper level trough out west will dampen as it emerges onto the central plains. Ahead of this weak wave, a lee cyclone in far southeast CO will deepen to around 996-mb, supporting southerly winds to increase across southwest KS into the 20-30 mph range with gusts of 35-40 mph. Concurrently, 850-mb temperatures will rise by 3-5 degrees C, translating to afternoon high reaching the upper 80s to mid 90s. Another round of thunderstorms is possible Sunday afternoon and evening, especially west of US-283. Although, weak shear and even larger dewpoint depressions will limit overall coverage. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... Issued at 200 PM CDT Sat Jun 1 2024 At the beginning of the long term period, medium range ensembles indicate nearly zonal flow will be in place atop the central plains, with the main belt of the subtropical jet spread out across the northern CONUS. Chances for precipitation will exist for much of the area Monday and Tuesday as weak vorticity lobes emanating from the Desert Southwest combine with a strong upper level trough moving east across the northern plains, supporting GEFS/ECMWF EPS probability of QPF > 0.01" generally in the 50-80% range. But by Wednesday, ensembles suggest the first sign of the summertime upper level ridge over the Desert Southwest/Intermountain West will appear and continue to build through the end of the long term period. This pattern will effectively eliminate all precipitation chances owing to strong DNVA overspreading the central and southern plains. Otherwise, afternoon temperatures will mainly be above normal, with highs reaching the 90s. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/... Issued at 504 PM CDT Sat Jun 1 2024 Convection,and possibly severe, should be an immediate threat at the LBL terminals for the 00z TAF set. At 22 UTC several supercells are already mature over extreme southeast Colorado. These storms are forecast by several of the HREF members, included the HRRR to develop into one or more multi-cell clusters with widespread severe thunderstorm wind risk. It is likely each terminal will see some period of convection for around and hour or two over the next 3 to 5 hours. The southwest terminals are almost certain to see heavy rain low vsby (around 1 mile in +TSRA) and lowered ceilings this evening. The development of low level status is not particularly high && .DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ SHORT TERM...Springer LONG TERM...Springer AVIATION...Russell