208
FXUS63 KICT 272244
AFDICT

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Wichita KS
544 PM CDT Wed Aug 27 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Well-below normal temperatures continuing into this weekend
  and early next week.

- Shower and storm chances increasing tonight through Thursday
  with heavy rainfall and flooding as the main concerns.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 246 PM CDT Wed Aug 27 2025

Currently, there is an expansive surface high pressure covering
eastern Kansas with low pressure in eastern Colorado. Ongoing
showers and storms in central to south-central Kansas will shift
east into the evening affecting eastern to southeast Kansas where a
broad area of low-level WAA persists. Tonight, showers and storms
are expected to increase in coverage and intensity. A strengthening
low-level jet will set up in southern Kansas, leaving an axis of mid-
level convergence from central KS to the Flint Hills. Additionally,
an upper-level jet will move towards the Lower/Middle Mississippi
Valley leaving our area in a zone of upper-level diffluence. These
coupled together will lead to an area of heavy rainfall rates as
PWATS are generally around 2". Generally between 500-1000 J/kg of
MUCAPE is likely, making isolated occurrences of small hail possible
especially with 30-40 kts of effective shear forecast. Storm motion
is expected to be to the southeast along the axis of convergence of
the low-level jet making training storms possible overnight.
Ensembles continue to have >75% chance of most of the area seeing
over 1" of rainfall with about a 75% chance that central KS through
the Flint Hills into southeast KS observes more than 2". In some of
these areas, there is a 15-30% chance of more than 4" mainly in the
Flint Hills and southeast KS. The bulk of this precip is expected to
fall overnight into Thursday morning. Some short range deterministic
models such as the HRRR and RAP position the band of heavy rain
farther south bringing the Wichita metro into the flooding
threat, giving some uncertainty with exact positioning. Given
the concern for heavy rainfall and flooding risks, a Flood Watch
has been issued as rain totals are generally between 2-5" with
locally higher amounts possible.

By Thursday afternoon, showers and storms should shift
south/southeast of our area. Given expansive cloud cover, high
temperatures will remain in the low to mid 70s. Weak mid-level
ridging will move in, allowing temperatures to slowly rise back into
the mid to upper 70s on Friday. As we transition into the weekend,
weak southerly/southeasterly flow should return at the surface
helping temperatures to warm towards 80 on Saturday and Sunday.
There is a chance for precip Saturday night into Sunday as a weak
ripple moves into the Plains. The timing and location of this precip
on Saturday night will need to be refined as we get closer. Precip
chances may continue into early next week as northwesterly flow
aloft persists with weak ripples riding the upper-level ridge.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 544 PM CDT Wed Aug 27 2025

Showers currently observed over the area will gradually expand in
coverage later tonight, with thunderstorms possible as well. Heavy
rainfall reducing visibilities is expected with the strongest
activity. Still thinking the most likely corridor for impacts will
lie primarily from SLN to CNU, though a slight shift to the
south and west could take place depending on how low-level
features set up.

A mixture of MVFR and IFR ceilings currently observed over the area
will gradually build in later this evening into tonight, with model
guidance indicating high confidence in IFR ceilings potentially
transitioning into LIFR later tonight especially in central KS. Stay
tuned to upcoming cycles as additional information becomes
available.

&&

.ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Flood Watch through Thursday afternoon for KSZ048>053-067>072-
083-093>096-098>100.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...GC
AVIATION...JWK