Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Goodland, KS
Issued by NWS Goodland, KS
Versions:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
687 FXUS63 KGLD 170718 AFDGLD Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Goodland KS 1218 AM MST Mon Nov 17 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Above normal temperatures and gusts around 30 MPH are forecast today. - Above normal temperatures continue into the mid-week. - An active/unsettled weather pattern will return to the region by the end of the work week (Thu-Fri), when a complex storm system will bring precipitation to portions of the area possibly including a 15% chance for snow for some areas. && .SHORT TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/... Issued at 1216 AM MST Mon Nov 17 2025 This morning, we are starting out with a 500 mb low moving over the Rockies with a corresponding 850 mb low coming out of northern Colorado. Combined with a ridge over the Mid-Mississippi River Valley, we`ve had a strong LLJ this morning. Gusts ranging from 20 to 35 kts have been mixing to the surface overnight. As we get closer to sunrise and the low moves eastward, the LLJ will push off and gusts will gradually cease. Additionally, with the low, we could see some light showers this morning, mainly in Yuma and bordering counties, forced from the 500 mb vorticity. Today, as the low sweeps through the CWA, expect a cold front to move through and for winds to become northwesterly. While there is not a lot of cold air behind the front, the northwesterly winds will become gusty. Gusts of 20-30 kts are forecast today, but locations along and south of U.S. 40 west of U.S. 83 could see some 35 kts gusts. Temperatures will warm into the low 60s in the northwestern CWA, and near 70 in the southeastern CWA. With these warmer temperatures in the windier section, drier dew points may also mix down and lower RH values to the mid teens. If this occurs, briefly critical fire weather conditions are possible in Greeley and Wichita counties this afternoon. Overnight tonight, northwesterly winds will continue, but weaken. Lows will drop into the mid 30s for most of the area, but eastern Colorado could dip below freezing. We are forecasting the surface to become saturated, but with northwesterly, downsloping winds, fog is unlikely. There is a 5% chance the winds go calm and fog starts forming, especially along and east of a line from Haigler, NE to Gove, KS. Tuesday, a weak 500 mb ridge will move over the Plains while an 850 mb high over eastern Colorado drives more northern air into the CWA. Temperatures look to top out in the low 60s. Heavier cloud cover will move in later in the day as the high moves off to the east. The mostly cloudy skies Tuesday night will work to keep lows in the mid 30s. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... Issued at 100 PM MST Sun Nov 16 2025 The next upper low will move into the Texas panhandle on Thursday with the associated precipitation shield moving north, reaching the local area as early as Thursday afternoon but more likely Thursday night. Some model discrepancies have developed in today`s model runs. The GFS has shifted south in the track of the low, moving it across southern Kansas, while the ECMWF takes it on more of a northeast track into north central Kansas. Both models show plenty of QPF, an inch or more will be possible, mostly in the form of rain. The ECMWF, with the more northerly track, still wants to change over to snow on Friday, but the GFS does not. This system does not have much in the way of cold air to work with and any changeover would probably have to be rate-driven. Any potential accumulating snow would also have warm antecedent ground temperatures, leading to considerable melting on contact. Consequently, overall confidence in measurable snow is low at this time. Any precipitation looks to end Friday night as the low moves off to the east. The weekend looks to be dry as ridging tries to redevelop ahead of the next system approaching the southwest CONUS. However, the ridge appears to be a bit weaker this time around with a northwest flow component tapping into somewhat cooler air. Weekend highs will be in the 50s with lows in the 20s and 30s. && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z TUESDAY/... Issued at 1012 PM MST Sun Nov 16 2025 VFR conditions are expected to prevail for GLD through the period. Until about 10Z, LLWS will be screaming just a few hundred feet above the ground. Expect gusts around 25 kts to mix to the surface, but this will become less common as we get closer to 10Z. Around sunrise, a cold front will move through the area, and throughout most of the day northwesterly winds gusting up around 20-30 kts are forecast. Around sunset, winds will weaken. KMCK will see mostly VFR conditions, but the potential for MVFR stratus this morning is slightly increasing. It currently looks like the cloud deck will be around 1,500 feet AGL, but will be scattered for the most part, with brief periods of broken coverage between 12-15Z. LLWS will also impact KMCK until about 10-11Z, but persistent gusts are not expected to reach the surface early this morning. Around 16Z, the cold front will hit KMCK and winds will fairly quickly become northwesterly and be gusting around 20-25 kts until 0Z. && .GLD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KS...None. CO...None. NE...None. && $$ SHORT TERM...CA LONG TERM...024 AVIATION...JTL