Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Dodge City, KS
Issued by NWS Dodge City, KS
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951 FXUS63 KDDC 050556 AFDDDC Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Dodge City KS 1156 PM CST Thu Dec 4 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Southwest Kansas will remain dry for the foreseeable future, for the next 10-15 days. - Afternoon temperatures moderate back to near normal early December normals Friday and Saturday. - The next dry cold front will arrive Saturday night with elevated north winds, followed by much colder air Sunday. - Strong warming trend expected Monday and Tuesday. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 200 PM CST Thu Dec 4 2025 Midday satellite imagery depicted the erosion of the stratus across SW KS, a process that will continue through sunset, albeit a slow process with the weakest sunlight of the year. A light southwest wind will prevail this afternoon, but despite the addition of sunshine and a downslope component, afternoon temperatures will remain well below normal in the recirculated continental polar air. With a clear sky and light winds, temperatures will drop rapidly into the 20s at sunset. Temperatures will then hold near normal, in the 20s, through sunrise Friday, held up by light SWly downslope. Temperatures will moderate back to near early December normals, near 50, Friday afternoon, as 850 mb temperatures climb back above 0C. This, despite light winds trending northerly in the afternoon with the passage of another weak dry cold front. Models forecast further warming Saturday, with most locations warming into the lower to mid 50s. With light southwest downslope, Saturday will be the pick day of the weekend. Behind an Alberta clipper, the next dry cold front will race through SW KS Saturday night, with elevated/strong north winds, at least stronger than NBM guidance. North 850 mb winds are forecast near 40 mph, but nocturnal timing should keep much of this momentum above the decoupled boundary layer. Much colder air arrives Sunday, but only seasonably cold, nothing unusual for December, with afternoon temperatures in the 30s, to lower 40s west. Global models and ensemble averages remain consistent forecasting a strong warming trend Monday through Tuesday. With SWly downslope over very dry ground (especially by then), NBM is likely not warm enough Tuesday. Expectation is for temperatures well into the 60s Tuesday afternoon, with 70s possible west. The next dry cold front passage is scheduled for Wednesday morning, with more strong north winds and a cooler Wednesday. Southwest Kansas will remain dry for the foreseeable future. Global models such as ECMWF/EPS have zero QPF in, or even near, SW KS for the next 15 days, through December 18th. This is a high confidence warm/dry forecast, with the 8-14 day outlook from the CPC continuing with a high probability (> 70-80%) of above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation into mid December. && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY/... Issued at 1154 PM CST Thu Dec 4 2025 Light southwest winds will shift to the west and northwest by 15-18z. Before then, patchy ground fog could develop in spite of the downslope winds given the moist air and diurnal cooling. However, widespread fog or LIFR CIGS are not expected. && .DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Turner AVIATION...Finch