Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Dodge City, KS
Issued by NWS Dodge City, KS
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562 FXUS63 KDDC 201731 AFDDDC Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Dodge City KS Issued by National Weather Service Goodland KS 1131 AM CST Thu Nov 20 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Widespread precipitation event today into Friday morning, with 0.5-1" rainfall totals likely for much of the area. - Another, less significant round of rainfall appears probable Sunday/Sunday night. - Cool and dry Monday through the end of the period. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 200 AM CST Thu Nov 20 2025 Widespread precipitation event appears on track to impact southwest KS beginning Thursday morning and continuing into Friday morning. Water vapor satellite imagery and RAP upper air analysis reveal a strong upper level shortwave trough is in place over the far southwestern CONUS, with a secondary wave upstream just offshore of the Pacific Northwest. Overnight into Thursday morning, short range ensembles agree the secondary wave will dig southward, resulting in the primary impulse ejecting rapidly to the northeast, taking on a negative tilt in the process. As forcing for ascent increases across southwest KS, light to moderate rainfall will propagate northward, crossing the KS/OK border by late morning/early afternoon and engulfing the entire CWA by 00Z Friday. Initially, rainfall accumulations will be modest, averaging in the 0.1-0.25" range with locally higher amounts possible. However, latest numerical models consistently indicate a marked increase in frontogenesis within the 900-700mb layer after 00Z, yielding a corresponding rise in precipitation intensity manifesting in a band-like feature that will swing northward during the 00-09Z time frame and deliver the bulk of the event`s total rainfall. This feature will then exit our northern CWA around sunrise Friday morning, and while light rain may persist well into Friday near the I-70 corridor, the precipitation event will largely be over. Once all is said and done, rainfall totals will be in the 0.25-0.5" range across our far southwest zones, and gradually increase with northeastward extent to around or just above 1" near the I-70 corridor. Daytime Friday, following the precipitation event, a combination of evaporative cooling, northerly winds, and predominantly overcast conditions will contribute to a wide variation in afternoon highs. Expected values range from the upper 40s northwest to the mid 60s southeast, contingent upon the presence of potential cloud breaks allowing for increased solar insolation. Skies are projected to clear on Saturday as upper level shortwave ridging builds over the central plains ahead of the aforementioned secondary synoptic wave that is forecast to evolve into a cut-off low centered over the far southwest CONUS by 00Z Sunday. Consequently, substantially more uniform afternoon temperatures are anticipated, with highs ranging from the upper 50s to low 60s. On Sunday, medium range ensembles agree the cut-off low will begin to eject northeastward towards the central plains. While some timing discrepancies exist between ensemble solutions, confidence is at least moderate (~60%) in another round of precipitation Sunday or Sunday night. Translation speed of the wave and the roughly neutral tilt suggests this will not be as prolific as Thursday`s event, but ensemble/model consensus suggests another 0.1-0.2" is a reasonable bet. Monday through the end of the period, ensembles indicate longwave troughing will envelop the entirety of the CONUS at least through next Thursday, with an axis roughly along the High Plains. This synoptic pattern will support generally dry, cool conditions across southwest KS, with some hint of a strong cold front around Tuesday that could knock temperatures well below normal. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 1130 AM CST Thu Nov 20 2025 Light rain is continuing to overspread the TAF sites from southwest to northeast and will reach KHYS by 22z. CIGS will gradually drop as the lower levels moisten from the rain and as upslope northeast winds at 5 to 15 kts develop. This will result in CIGS eventually lowering to IFR/LIFR between 00-05z (later time at KHYS). Rain will continue through the period and taper off from south to north between 09 and 18z as an upper level trough gradually shifts eastward and weakens. However, the rain could linger at KHYS after the TAF period for a few hours. && .DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Springer AVIATION...Finch