Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Wichita, KS
Issued by NWS Wichita, KS
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927 FXUS63 KICT 052039 AFDICT Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS 239 PM CST Fri Dec 5 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Near normal temperatures forecast for Saturday followed by much colder temperatures on Sunday. - Seasonably warm temperatures returning early next week with highs in the mid to upper 50s on Tuesday. - Dry conditions are expected to continue through the weekend and the upcoming work week. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 238 PM CST Fri Dec 5 2025 Current water vapor imagery shows an upper-level shortwave moving into the Central Rockies with upper ridging over the western CONUS. At the surface, troughing extends from Minnesota through the Central Plains into Texas. Tonight, skies will clear briefly as surface ridging moves into the area. This will lead to radiational cooling along with weak winds into Saturday morning, allowing fog to develop in southeast KS with some areas possible in south-central KS. A surface low will move into western Nebraska by late Saturday morning, increasing winds in our area Saturday afternoon as the low moves southeast. This will mainly impact central KS with sustained winds between 15-20 mph and gusts up to 30 mph. Slightly warmer temperatures are expected on Saturday as low-level WAA brings highs into the lower 50s. Any precipitation chances with this system will stay well north and northeast of our area. The aforementioned surface low will push southeast through Nebraska Saturday afternoon into northeast Kansas by Saturday night. Given southerly surface winds will advect some moisture into southeast Kansas Saturday night, its possible for some low clouds and/or fog to develop late Saturday night. This window would be brief before the surface low pushes a cold front through our area, bringing colder and drier air by Sunday morning. Northerly winds will be breezy on Sunday morning, diminishing into the afternoon as the tighter pressure gradient moves east/southeast from our area. High temperatures will be in the mid to upper 30s on Sunday. Monday and beyond... Northwest flow aloft is forecast to persist in our area through mid-week as upper-level ridging sits over the western CONUS. Confidence remains high that dry conditions will continue through the upcoming work week. A warming trend will start on Monday as close to normal temperatures return with highs in the 40s on Monday afternoon. Warmer than normal 850 mb temperatures are forecast for Tuesday, aiding in the return of above normal surface temperatures. Highs are expected to range from the mid 50s in southeast KS to the upper 50s in central and south-central KS on Tuesday, which is about 10-15 degrees above normal. Given model discrepancy after Tuesday, uncertainty increases on temperatures. The ECMWF continues to trend notably cooler than the GFS especially for Wednesday but these trends will be monitored as we move closer. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/... Issued at 1149 AM CST Fri Dec 5 2025 Stubborn low clouds and patchy fog will gradually dissipate as the afternoon progresses over portions of south-central and southeast Kansas, with some IFR and LIFR conditions likely. The two TAF sites impacted will be ICT and CNU. For late tonight through Saturday morning, another round of IFR to LIFR conditions is likely for locations mainly along/southeast of I-35, as boundary layer moisture advection commences. The TAF site most impacted will be CNU, although patchy fog could flirt with ICT and HUT. && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ DISCUSSION...GC AVIATION...ADK