Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Wichita, KS

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445 FXUS63 KICT 251732 AFDICT Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS 1232 PM CDT Tue Jun 25 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Hot conditions expected today with heat indices between 105 and 110 expected during the afternoon hours. - Isolated strong to marginally severe storms possible this afternoon through early Wednesday morning. - Not as hot Wednesday & Thursday with low rain chances along I-70 each night. - Hot conditions return on Friday, with more widespread rain chances possible Friday evening through Saturday night. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 302 AM CDT Tue Jun 25 2024 Water vapor satellite and upper air analysis this morning shows a stout mid to upper ridge across southern plains and Desert Southwest. Meanwhile, despite an extreme amount of inhibition, a cluster of showers and storms across portions of western and central Kansas continues ahead of a subtle vort-max embedded in within modest upper flow. There`s low confidence about how long this activity will continues slowly southward considering this activity has already overperformed expectations. The progression of this activity will likely be a key factor in storm chances this afternoon and evening, and perhaps the temperature forecast for this afternoon as well. That being said, expect much of the area to be hot and humid today. Afternoon temperatures are most likely going to rise into the upper 90s to lower 100s with dewpoints ranging from the mid 60s to the low 70s. As a result, heat indices between 105 and 110 are expected this afternoon and early evening provided no precipitation occurs. Meanwhile, a frontal boundary and the associated subtle upper trough embedded in northwest flow should be enough to trigger at least isolated storms late this afternoon/early this evening across northern Kansas and southern Nebraska. Some of 00Z CAMs suggest the ongoing activity this morning will lead behind a remnant boundary or MCV near the Oklahoma/Kansas border, but this aspect of the forecast has low confidence so lower PoPs (20-30%) were kept across southern Kansas. Similarly, other short term models are suggesting a thermal surface trough across central and western Kansas will be enough to trigger some isolated convection. Again, it`s hard to justify any PoPs above 30% given the uncertainty across central Kansas. Forecast soundings indicate copious amounts of DCAPE, and as a result, strong to marginally severe wind gusts are going to be possible with any storms that manage to develop across the area during the afternoon and evening hours. Meanwhile, an organized MCS is expected to develop across northeast Nebraska and progress south-southeastward. As this complex of storms pushes into far eastern Kansas/Missouri overnight tonight, there is some uncertainty about the westward extent. Therefore, it`s difficult to keep higher than 40% PoPs east of the Flint Hills. By Wednesday morning, this complex of storms is expected to exit the region. Temperatures are expected to be closer to average for this time of year behind this frontal passage as weak to modest zonal flow returns to the region. Subtle perturbations should allow for storm development across the High Plains Wednesday and Thursday; however, confidence is low if this activity can make it east enough to impact portions of central and south-central Kansas. Higher chances will generally remain along and north of the I-70 corridor. A stronger frontal boundary will approach the region on Friday, and another day of hot and humid conditions is expected south of the front. This frontal boundary will also increase storm chances from Friday evening through Saturday night. However, there are lots of details to work out between now and then, and the forecast for the beginning of the weekend is subject to change. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/...
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Issued at 1229 PM CDT Tue Jun 25 2024 VFR conditions are expected for the first several hours of this TAF period. The main issue between 22Z and 07Z tonight will be the areal coverage of the shower and thunderstorm activity. At this time, it appears KSLN and KCNU will be the most likely terminals to get the thunderstorm activity. KHUT and KICT have lower chances this evening. Very heavy rain and brief gusty winds are the most likely issue and may bring VSBYs down into the IFR level for periods of time. Confidence on timing is not very good. By 07Z, the thunderstorm activity will diminish and VFR conditions will return to the region for the remainder of the TAF period.
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&& .CLIMATE...
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Issued at 306 AM CDT Tue Jun 25 2024 Record highs for Today: Today (Record) | Today`s Highs Wichita 107 (1911) 101 Salina 114 (1911) 102 Chanute 104 (1933) 98 Russell 108 (2012) 102
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&& .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
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Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT this evening for KSZ032-033- 047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100.
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&& $$ DISCUSSION...JC AVIATION...ELM CLIMATE...ELM