Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Wichita, KS
Issued by NWS Wichita, KS
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211 FXUS63 KICT 020552 AFDICT Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS 1252 AM CDT Fri Oct 2 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Showers and storms will linger into the evening hours with heavy rain and flooding possible. - If we see some clearing in parts of south central KS near the OK state line this afternoon, there may be a brief window where we could see a strong storm or two, including a low tornado potential. - Dry week ahead with seasonably mild temperatures. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 147 PM CDT Thu Oct 1 2026 A mid/upper trough was situated over the Oklahoma Panhandle area early this afternoon and it is progged to shear eastward while filling as we move into the evening hours. Meanwhile, a cold front bisecting central KS will gradually move south and east across the area this evening and tonight. Widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop ahead of the mid/upper trough targeting south central KS this afternoon and evening. We continue to see a very moist airmass with PWATs at or above 1.75 inches which is roughly 200% of normal for early Oct. REFS/HREF neighborhood probabilities of exceeding 2 inches of rain in 6 hours have increased considerably (>80%) for those along and south of Hwy 56, across much of south central KS and the flood watch was expanded for much of the area along and west of the Flint Hills through midnight. Some breaks in the clouds on the eastern periphery of weak sfc low could allow for some local heating leading to a strong storm or two near the OK state line. Considerable cloud cover remains, so confidence remains fairly low but a locally strong storm or two could be possible. A stable post-frontal airmass will gradually build southward across the region tonight with rain chances diminishing as we move through the overnight hours. Friday--Thursday...a stable post-frontal regime will be in place Fri- Sat with breezy winds gradually subsiding as we move through the day on Friday. The mid/upper flow will transition to a NW flow regime as we move through the week with mild and dry weather anticipated. An extended period of dry and warm conditions are anticipated with above normal temperatures returning to the area Tuesday- Thursday. && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY/... Issued at 1219 AM CDT Fri Oct 2 2026 MVFR ceilings remain across all terminal sites except RSL. These ceilings will continue to lift during the overnight hours, likely becoming VFR between 08z-11z. Breezy northerly winds at ICT and HUT will start to diminish towards 12z, then northerly to northeasterly winds around 10 kts will persist at all sites through the late afternoon. After 00z, northeasterly winds will decrease to around 5kts. && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ DISCUSSION...MWM AVIATION...GC