Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Dodge City, KS
Issued by NWS Dodge City, KS
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881 FXUS63 KDDC 302254 AFDDDC Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Dodge City KS 554 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - There is a 20-30% chance for an isolated thunderstorm or two in south central Kansas this evening. - There is a 50-70% chance for strong to severe thunderstorms across south central Kansas and a small portion of southwest Kansas late Wednesday. && .SHORT TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 213 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2024 WV imagery indicates weak ridging aloft transitioning east through the Upper Midwest. Near the surface, a weak cold front is pushing southeast through south central Kansas. Tranquil conditions are forecast during much of the period as the SREF indicates an upper level shortwave trough lifting northeast out of the Western High Plains into the Upper Midwest this evening. An attendant weak cold front already moving southeast into northwest Kansas is projected to move through southwest and south central Kansas before stalling out this evening in the extreme northern Texas Panhandle and northwest Oklahoma. Ample moisture return/instability ahead of the approaching front combined with steepening mid-level lapse rates will set the stage for potential thunderstorm development. However, considering the timing of the front in conjunction with peak diurnal heating, there is only an outside chance (20-30%) for an isolated thunderstorm or two in the extreme southeast portion of the area in south central Kansas early this evening. At this time, the HREF shows no indication of any QPF probability, hinting at low confidence for any activity. Near to a little above normal temperatures are expected tonight despite the aforementioned weak cold front pushing through southwest Kansas into the Texas Panhandle and northwest Oklahoma before stalling. Due to the proximity of the boundary, a developing easterly upslope flow overnight combined with high relative humidity will be conducive to low level stratus development across central/south central Kansas into portions of southwest Kansas, in turn, hindering dropping temperatures. The HREF shows a 40-50% probability of temperatures dropping below 60F in south central Kansas with 70-90% probability of temperatures falling below 55F in west central Kansas and extreme southwest Kansas. High temperatures tomorrow will be dependent on far tonight`s stalled boundary lifts back north as a warm front. The latest HREF paints only a 40-50% probability of highs exceeding 70F in vicinity of the I-70 corridor to a 70-90% probability of highs exceeding 80F in extreme southwest Kansas. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... Issued at 213 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2024 Thunderstorm chances (50-70%) remain the forecast for central Kansas and portions of southwest Kansas very early in the period as medium range ensembles (EPS) show an upper level shortwave trough swinging through the Northern Rockies Wednesday evening, ushering an attendant cold front well through western Kansas by early Thursday morning. Ahead of the approaching system, a surface low is projected to develop in northeast New Mexico by mid-day tomorrow, then move northeast into southeast Colorado, helping lift an initially stalled boundary northward through much of southwest/south central Kansas as a warm front by early Wednesday evening. South-southeasterlies developing behind the front will help draw moisture into central and portions of southwest Kansas with surface dewpoints well up into the 50s(F) to possibly the lower 60s(F) in south central Kansas, increasing instability with MUCAPE values upward of 2000-3000 J/kg. Factors to consider that may hinder convection will be the timing of the scattering out of an expected morning stratus deck along and north of the aforementioned stalled boundary, not to mention the bulk of a strong +100kt upper level subtropical jet remaining well to the northwest of southwest Kansas. Still, potential thunderstorm development exists as H5 vort maxima begin to eject out of the approaching trough axis, interacting with steepening mid-level lapse rates in an area ahead of a sharpening dryline extending southward into the Texas Panhandle and the warm front projected to bisect east-northeastward into central Kansas. The best chance for thunderstorms has shifted slightly southward toward the Oklahoma border in south central Kansas as suggested by CAMs and where the NBM 4.1 indicates a 30-40% probability of 12-hr QPF exceeding one-quarter of an inch by early Thursday morning. Any lingering precip chances early Thursday will give way to drier conditions Friday as a dry air mass associated with surface high pressure spreads into western Kansas. Thunderstorm chances (30-50%) pick back up Friday night as ensembles indicate a weak upper level shortwave trough swinging through the Northern Plains, sending an attendant cold front into western Kansas in wake of a departing surface high. Timing of the upper level system/front and how much moisture return we get on the back side of the high will play large factors into potential thunderstorm development. The latest NBM 4.1 paints the best chance for appreciable rainfall across portions of west central Kansas into possibly central Kansas with a 30-40% probability of 12-hr QPF exceeding one-quarter inch. Fairly seasonal temperatures are forecast Thursday as much cooler air associated with a surface high spreads into western Kansas, lowering H85 temperatures well below 15C in central Kansas to a little above 15C in extreme southwest Kansas. The NBM 4.1 shows A 60- 70% probability of temperatures exceeding 70F in west central Kansas to a 70 to 80% probability of highs exceeding 75F in south central Kansas. Similar temperatures are expected into the early part of the weekend. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z THURSDAY/... Issued at 550 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2024 Cloud ceilings will fall after 06Z as easterly winds will bring in lower level moisture and stratus clouds will form from east to west through 12Z. Cloud ceilings will fall to IFR to MVFR conditions for GCK, LBL, and DDC between 10-12Z and HYS around 14Z. Expect the low clouds and stratus to hang around through the rest of the morning and then clearing skies from west to east will bring VFR flight category for LBL and GCK between 16-18Z and DDC around 20Z. HYS will most likely stay in MVFR flight category through 00Z. && .DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ SHORT TERM...JJohnson LONG TERM...JJohnson AVIATION...Tatro