Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Dodge City, KS

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955 FXUS63 KDDC 162232 AFDDDC Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Dodge City KS 532 PM CDT Sun Jun 16 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - There is a 20-30% chance for strong to marginally severe thunderstorms across west central Kansas and southwest Kansas this evening. - More significant thunderstorm chances (40-60%) are forecast late Tuesday into early Wednesday. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 200 PM CDT Sun Jun 16 2024 WV imagery indicates a westerly flow aloft prevailing across the Western High Plains well downstream of an upper level trough of low pressure pushing southeast off the Pacific into the Pacific Northwest. Near the surface, a lee side trough of low pressure remains anchored in extreme southeast Colorado. There is a minimal chance (20-30%) for isolated strong to marginally severe thunderstorms across portions of southwest Kansas this evening as the SREF indicates a southwest flow aloft developing across the Western High Plains downstream of the upper level trough digging southeast through the Pacific Northwest. Near the surface, prevailing southerlies continue to help reinforce a deep pool of moisture ahead of an anchored lee side trough in southeast Colorado, pushing surface dewpoints well up into the mid/upper 60s(F). Steepening mid-level lapse rates from strong daytime heating combined with more than sufficient instability with MUCAPE values well above 2000-3000 J/kg will set the stage for potential thunderstorm development late this afternoon as H5 vort maxima eject out of the southern Rockies, interacting with an axis of increased low level convergence associated with the aforementioned lee side trough. Dynamic support aloft looks less than robust with a rather weak field of southwesterlies spreading east through the high plains, limiting the coverage of any convective development, as well as severe potential. Any storms that do develop could fester/redevelop during the overnight hours as a strong +50kt low level jet kicks in across southwest Kansas. The latest HREF supports the lower precip chances and isolated nature indicating only a 10-20% probability of a more miss than hit 6-hr QPF exceeding a tenth of an inch. After a similar set up with a 20% chance of isolated storms across a small portion of western Kansas late Monday afternoon/evening, more significant thunderstorm chances (40-60%) arrive late Tuesday into early Wednesday as medium range ensembles show an upper level trough swinging east through the Northern Rockies into the Northern High Plains, ushering an attendant cold front southeastward into northern Kansas before stalling out by Tuesday evening. Considering the ample amount of moisture/instability present, thunderstorm development is likely in vicinity of the frontal boundary in conjunction with peak heating. Taking in the projected location of the stalled boundary, the NBM paints a 40-50% probability of 12-hr QPF exceeding one-quarter inch across portions of west central and central Kansas, including the vicinity of the I-70 corridor, by early Wednesday morning. Above normal temperatures are forecast tonight as prevailing southerlies reinforce a warmer air mass across western Kansas. The latest HREF indicates a 50-70% probability of temperatures dropping below 70F, so look for lows generally in the upper 60s(F)/lower 70s(F). The trend of unseasonably warm days continues Monday and Tuesday with little change to the general air mass across western Kansas, so widespread afternoon highs in the 90s(F) can be expected. Cooler air arrives Wednesday with below normal temperatures forecast in west central Kansas behind the stalled frontal boundary with much warmer temperatures still expected in south central Kansas. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z MONDAY/...
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Issued at 530 PM CDT Sun Jun 16 2024 Isolated strong to severe thunderstorms developing in extreme southwest Kansas will drift slowly northeast this evening, potentially affecting the vicinity of KGCK and KLBL generally after 02-04Z. Otherwise, widespread VFR conditions are expected to continue through early Monday. Southerly winds around 15 to 25kt with gusts up to 30kt are expected to persist throughout much of the period as a strong lee side trough of low pressure remains anchored in extreme southeast Colorado.
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&& .DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ DISCUSSION...JJohnson AVIATION...JJohnson