Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Wichita, KS

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784 FXUS63 KICT 181127 AFDICT Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS 627 AM CDT Tue Jun 18 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Strong south winds expected again today across mainly south central Kansas. - Storms expected to develop along a cold front after 21z this afternoon and will become more widespread this evening as they slowly track south. Large hail, damaging winds and heavy rain will be the main threats. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 317 AM CDT Tue Jun 18 2024 Currently have a shortwave trough tracking across the Northern Rockies with upper ridging over the Eastern CONUS. At the surface, cold front extends from southern MN and into far northwest Nebraska with strong return flow remaining across the southern/central Plains. Shortwave energy will track into the Northern Plains today which will allow the cold front to push south and by 21z will extend from eastern Nebraska into north central Kansas and finally into far sw KS. Storms are expected to develop along the front after 21z and should become more numerous after 00z as low level jet impinges on the front. Will be plenty of instability for severe storms with CAPE values in the 2,000-3,000J/KG range. In addition, DCAPE values will be more than high enough for some damaging downburst winds. The main limiting factor for high end/widespread severe storms will be lack of decent shear with 0-6km shear in the 20-25kt range. With slow storm movement and high rainfall rates expected, confidence is increasing that heavy rain and associated flooding may end up being the more significant threat this evening/overnight. One of the main challenges with this event will be how far south convection makes it tonight into Wed morning. Current thinking is that locations along and especially north of Highway 50 will have the highest rainfall chances. Confidence is also increasing that showers and storms will linger through the morning hours Wed and likely into the afternoon for central KS as the front slowly lifts back to the north and washes out. By Thu morning, some shortwave energy will be coming onshore over central CA with a broad area of upper ridging from the Mid Atlantic States into the Ozark Region. This setup will shut-off storm chances for the remainder of the work week. Between Fri and Sat a series of upper impulses are expected to track out of the Great Basin and across the Central Plains. The more substantial of these waves will track over the Central Plains Sat and will allow a weak cold front/surface trough to move through the area Sat evening/overnight. After Wed, this will bring our next storm chances. This far out, confidence in these storms is low with the ECMWF holding the upper upper dynamics further north compared to the GFS. After wet and cool conditions on Wed, above normal temps will return for Fri and especially through the weekend with highs in the mid 90s. && .AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z WEDNESDAY/...
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Issued at 621 AM CDT Tue Jun 18 2024 Aviation concerns will remain strong south winds today and then storms late this afternoon and especially tonight. A few showers and storms developed out near Pratt-Medicine Lodge a couple hours ago and are very slowly tracking east but look to be dying off as they do. So not expecting these to make it to any of our TAF sites this morning. Strong south winds will once again be on tap today, with KICT-KHUT likely seeing the strongest winds, with gusts around 40kts likely. Storms still looking to develop after 21z along and north of I-70 and slowly working their way south tonight. KRSL-KGBD-KSLN-KHUT look to be the sites most likely affected by storms, generally after 00z. Confidence is low on them making it down to KICT.
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&& .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory from noon today to 7 PM CDT this evening for KSZ067>069-082-083-091>093. && $$ DISCUSSION...RBL AVIATION...RBL