982
FXUS63 KDDC 031049
AFDDDC

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
449 AM CST Wed Dec 3 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Dry weather will prevail for most of southwest Kansas for the
  next 7-10 days, through at least December 11th.

- Windy and much colder, with low clouds behind a strong cold
  front Wednesday.

- Scattered snow flurries Wednesday night, especially in far
  western Kansas. Minor snow accumulations are possible near
  the Colorado border, with little impact expected.

- Temperatures return to early December normals Thursday
  afternoon and for the rest of the week.

- A series of dry cold front passages will continue this weekend
  and early next week, with temperature and wind fluctuations.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 202 AM CST Wed Dec 3 2025

Currently the northern half of the CWA is experiencing some Virga
along an axis of roughly La Cross to Syracuse. The observations,
including at Hays, have yet to register anything hitting the ground.
The expansiveness of the Virga has begun to erode with it expected
to be gone by sunrise. Current surface analysis places a weak low
pressure system into the Texas panhandle. Aloft, the deep and
positively tilted trough came to fruition as progged and is now
dipping into the four corner states. This system will be the most
notable aspect of the entire forecast period.

As the system approaches Kansas on Wednesday, the presently light
and variable winds will increase significantly up to 25 mph with
gusts potentially exceeding 30 mph out of the north/northwest. Along
with winds and plenty of cloud cover, snow chances return to SW
Kansas. The model/ensemble runs have been very consistent in
location (limited to near the Kansas and Colorado border), but with
moderate fluctuations in chances and amounts. The previous forecasts
have been pretty resilient to previous changes in guidance. Areas
along the border have the best chance for snow (up to 75% chance via
ensembles). Those same areas, and as far east as Ulysses have over a
40% probability to exceed 0.5" of snow. Confidence continues to grow
will little divergence of previous forecasts. While the far western
Kansas` forecast has held pat, the remaining uncertainty it largely
the rest of the area. Some CAM runs have snow reaching much of the
area, including east of Highway 283, although accumulation are near
zero (<15% via ensembles). That said a couple stray snowflakes can
not be ruled out. Regardless, even in western areas that could see
meaningful accumulations impacts are expected to be minimal. Modeled
precipitable water continues to be low at around 0.5". With a more
subtle forcing and less moisture to work with, snow is expected to
be fairly light and not be too impactful. The Winter Storm Severity
Index only has a 20% for minor winter weather impacts. While travel
precautions are advised, transportation and commerce are not forecast
to be too heavily impacted. Lowered ceilings will likely be the most
impactful aspect of the system.

By Thursday the system will be largely evacuated. A weak front is
expected Thursday morning, but winds will be largely light enough to
not warrant notable temperature advection. Ensembles have the
synoptic pattern shift to a primarily zonal flow. This pattern shift
will kick off a very dry and seasonal period. Precipitation chances
through the rest of the forecast period are very low with ensemble
chances <5%. After Thursday warms up from a cooler Wednesday, high
temperatures will be in the 40-50s primarily which is typical for SW
Kansas in early December. Relative humidities will be high even to
quell fire weather risk. No precipitation, normal temperatures, and
pleasant winds with clear skies will culminate in a very quiet and
insignificant stretch of weather for the next 7-10 days.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 449 AM CST Wed Dec 3 2025

The start of the period will see mostly clear skies/high ceilings
and lighter (around 10KTs) winds. Later in the period, around 14Z,
stronger winds and low cloud cover is expected to move across into
all terminals with a near-surface low pressure system as winds
strengthen out of the north/northwest of up to 20 KTs and gusts up
to 30 KTs. Low ceilings, and lowered flight conditions are forecast
for all TAF sites by 18Z. The ceilings will begin to recover near
the end of the TAF period, but VFR conditions are not expected to
return until near the end of the period if at all. Winds will also
weaken somewhat as the cloud cover erodes around 6Z.

&&

.DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...KBJ
AVIATION...KBJ