Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Wichita, KS
Issued by NWS Wichita, KS
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192 FXUS63 KICT 180932 AFDICT Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS 332 AM CST Tue Nov 18 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Continued above normal temperatures through much of the next 7 days - Patchy fog possible this morning and again Wednesday morning - Shower and thunderstorm chances arrive late Wednesday night into (30-60%) Thursday morning; widespread showers (80-90%) Thursday into Friday && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 329 AM CST Tue Nov 18 2025 As of 3 AM Tuesday morning, a compact midlevel shortwave trough was advancing across eastern NE. An axis of low-level WAA extends from northern IA into IL with a secondary axis across southwest MO. Dry conditions are expected for the remainder of today with the WAA axis remaining east of the forecast area. At the surface, an attendant surface trough axis extends from eastern NE through south-central KS. A wind shift from the northwest is evident behind the trough axis with temperatures in the upper 30s/low 40s. This trough axis will slide through the remainder of the area through the morning hours. Ahead of the trough axis, light winds and small dew point depressions were contributing to patchy fog development across the Flint Hills. Transitioning into today and tonight, the aforementioned surface trough will exit the area to the southeast with surface ridging sliding into the area. Light winds and small dew point depressions may result in patchy fog formation once again late tonight into Wednesday morning. The surface ridge will quickly side east through the day Wednesday as lee troughing develops across the high Plains with the approach of a southwest US midlevel trough. The initial impacts from this midlevel trough will arrive late Wednesday night into Thursday morning as strong WAA overspreads portions of south-central and southeast KS. In addition, a steep midlevel lapse rate plume will overspread the Plains with the approach of the midlevel trough. Latest mid-range deterministic and CAM guidance are suggesting strong WAA will extend through 850 mb, especially along and southeast of the KS Turnpike. This results in the erosion of most, if not all, inhibition for elevated instability. MUCAPE up to 1500 J/kg would become realized should this scenario emerge. In addition, hodographs within this elevated environment reveal both veering and acceleration of the wind profile, producing upwards of 30-40 kt of effective shear. All of that to say, large hail would become a possibility in this scenario. Moisture depth trends will need to be monitored over the coming days to reevaluate the strong/severe storm potential. Strong midlevel height falls will overspread the central Plains Thursday into Thursday night, resulting in widespread rainfall, especially across south-central and southeast KS. Additional deformation precipitation is likely Friday into Friday evening as the midlevel level trough slowly progresses into the MS valley. Midlevel ridging will slide into the central/southern Plains throughout the weekend with mostly sunny skies and seasonable temperatures in the 50s to near 60 expected. Another strong midlevel trough will begin its approach the central Plains by late weekend into early next week. Shower chances will once again increase with its approach. Stay tuned. && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 530 PM CST Mon Nov 17 2025 A mixture of VFR and MVFR conditions are expected throughout the next 24 hours, with the highest confidence in MVFR conditions possible along and east of I-135 this morning. There continues to be modest confidence for patchy fog along and east of I-135 this morning and may impact KICT, KCNU, and surrounding sites. Additionally, MVFR ceilings may develop along and east of the Flint Hills this morning and impact KCNU and surrounding sites in southeast Kansas. With a weak cold front sagging across the area this morning, winds will generally be light and variable. Then, winds will increase marginally to around 8-15 knots across the area during the afternoon hours out of the north and northwest. && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ DISCUSSION...BRF AVIATION...JC