Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Wichita, KS
Issued by NWS Wichita, KS
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875 FXUS63 KICT 032016 AFDICT Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS 216 PM CST Wed Dec 3 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Patchy very light snow flurries and/or sprinkles possible through Thursday. Absolutely no accumulation or adverse impacts expected. - Chilly tonight through Thursday, with single digit wind chills early Thursday. - Moderating temperatures Friday through Saturday, with another substantial cool down Saturday night through Sunday night. - Possible light precipitation late Saturday through Sunday. - Above average temperatures probable Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 212 PM CST Wed Dec 3 2025 PRECIPITATION: A deep cold frontal zone moving south through the region amidst weak- modest large scale lift ahead of an approaching western CONUS upper trough could support patchy very light snow flurries and/or sprinkles through Thursday. For tonight, thinking they will be primarily the first half of the night, and focusing mainly over southern Kansas Thursday. Weak to modest lift and very limited moisture will prevent any accumulation or adverse impacts. For late Saturday through Sunday...Could see some light precipitation late Saturday through Sunday, as a shortwave moves southeast through the region along with an associated cold front. The GFS continues to be a tad more bullish with PoPs compared to the ECMWF and CMC, although the latter models are showing a bit more precipitation than yesterday. If trends continue, wouldn`t be surprised if some PoPs are eventually introduced into the forecast, including some light wintry precipitation. Either way, a major storm system looks unlikely, with any potential impacts likely more of a nuisance. Stay tuned as we refine forecast details in the coming days. TEMPERATURES: Arctic high pressure will continue to plunge south into Mid-America tonight and Thursday, supporting chilly well below average temperatures and breezy/gusty northeast winds. Early Thursday morning will likely be the coldest of the next 7-10 days, with single digit and low teens wind chills likely, and Thursday highs in the 30s. Moderating temperatures are likely Friday and Saturday, before another cold front brings temperatures down again Sunday and Monday, but probably not quite as chilly as tonight through Thursday. Taking a look ahead into next week...model consensus supports a return to above average temperatures for Tuesday and Wednesday, as a stout area of upper level high pressure gradually builds east out of the western CONUS. At this time, daytime highs in the 50s and overnight lows in the 30s look probable. Beyond that into late next week and next weekend, model solutions greatly diverge, with a large range in temperatures. Per NBM percentiles, the upper range is in the upper 50s for daytime highs, while the lower range is in the low-mid 30s. The battle is likely between solutions attempting to build the upper level high pressure further east over Mid-America (warmer), and solutions attempting to dig central-eastern CONUS upper troughing (colder). Consequently, forecast uncertainty is high surrounding temperatures, although mostly dry weather looks probable. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/... Issued at 1123 AM CST Wed Dec 3 2025 SCT-BKN MVFR clouds will gradually spread south across the area this afternoon and evening, as cold advection commences in wake of a cold front. Breezy/gusty north-northeast winds will also be common in wake of the front. Thinking the MVFR conditions will gradually give way to VFR conditions from north to south this evening, as drier low-level air moves in. Precipitation-wise, cannot rule out patchy light snow flurries and/or sprinkles, mainly from late this afternoon through the first half of the night areawide, and then again over southern Kansas Thursday, as shortwave energy approaching from the west interacts with the deep cold frontal zone across the Heartland. This activity will be very light, with absolutely no snow accumulation or adverse impacts expected due to weak lift and very limited moisture. && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...ADK AVIATION...ADK