Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Wichita, KS
Issued by NWS Wichita, KS
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818 FXUS63 KICT 202016 AFDICT Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS Issued by National Weather Service Topeka KS 216 PM CST Thu Nov 20 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Widespread rain this evening into Friday, with additional rain chances to start next week. - Seasonable high temperatures (50s and 60s) through the beginning of next week. - Seasonably cool high temperatures (40s and low 50s) beginning Wednesday. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 206 PM CST Thu Nov 20 2025 Current water vapor imagery and RAP analysis this afternoon depict strong zonal flow aloft over the Ohio River Valley ahead of a mid/upper trough ejecting out of the Rockies. At the surface, a warm front ahead of this latter feature spans across southern Kansas as a weak cold front stretches from northwest Kansas to the Great Lakes. PRECIPITATION: The aforementioned warm front is progged to continue shifting northward through the forecast area this afternoon and evening. Widespread rainfall is anticipated in the wake of this boundary as the associated surface low tracks through Oklahoma and into southeast Kansas by Friday morning. Additional precipitation in the deformation zone will continue throughout the day as the system moves east into Missouri by late Friday/early Saturday. All told, HREF probabilities hold a majority of the forecast area with high confidence (70-90%) of total rain accumulations greater than a half inch, and reasonable high confidence (50-80%) of totals greater than one inch primarily north of US-56 and especially along/north of I-70. West/northwest flow aloft is expected to resume in the wake of the upcoming system which should keep the area dry through most of the weekend. Mid/long range models highlight the arrival of a mid/upper shortwave Sunday evening that will likely bring additional chances (60-80%) for rainfall through Monday. NBM probabilities at this point highlight southeast Kansas with the highest chances (40-50%) of receiving up to another half inch of rainfall, while areas in central and south central Kansas will likely see no more than a quarter inch with this next system. Mid level ridging is then progged to resume by midweek which should keep the region dry heading into the weekend. TEMPERATURES: Near-normal temperatures are anticipated through early next week with afternoon highs in the 50s and low 60s while overnight lows dip into the 30s and 40s. The arrival of a strong cold front on Wednesday will look to bring chilly temperatures to the area, with below-normal high temperatures in the 40s and lows in the 20s and 30s. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 1211 PM CST Thu Nov 20 2025 Main aviation concerns will be low ceilings increasing along with shower/storm chances overspreading the entire area. Currently have a cold front that stretches from northern MO across north-central KS. Meanwhile an unseasonably moist airmass is slowly working north across OK and far southern KS. MVFR cigs are currently situated across southern KS and will continue to slowly lift north. Widespread showers and a few storms will start to overspread the area from south to north late this afternoon and especially this evening as upper difluence moves over the Plains. Confidence is high that all sites will see showers along with IFR/LIFR cigs this evening into Fri morning. && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ DISCUSSION...JWK AVIATION...TOP