Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Wichita, KS
Issued by NWS Wichita, KS
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621 FXUS63 KICT 201148 AFDICT Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS 548 AM CST Thu Nov 20 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Scattered showers and thunderstorms this morning, mainly across southern/southeast KS; widespread rain this afternoon into Friday - Patchy fog possible this morning - Additional shower chances late this weekend into next week && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 140 AM CST Thu Nov 20 2025 As of 130 AM Thursday morning, shortwave midlevel ridging remains across the central and southern Plains ahead of a strong midlevel trough across the southwest US/Baja region. A plume of Pacific moisture continues to overspread the southeastern half of the state. VWP across southern KS and OK reveal modest low-level WAA, resulting in widespread showers and thunderstorms across southeast KS. Additional rounds of showers and thunderstorms are expected across mainly southeast KS through the remainder of the morning hours. An axis of 500-1000 J/kg of elevated instability remains across far southern/southeast KS. Sufficient acceleration and veering from 1-6 km is yielding 30-35 kt of effective shear across southeast KS. Therefore the strongest storms will continue to be capable of hail up to quarter size. WAA will weaken after sunrise with shower/storm coverage likely to decrease through midday. Aside from showers/storms, the increasing low-level moisture is likely to result in at least patchy fog areawide. Visibilities less than 1 mile are possible, especially across central KS. Strong midlevel height falls will overspread the central Plains late this afternoon into tonight, resulting in widespread rainfall spreading north from OK. Additional deformation precipitation is likely into Friday as the midlevel level trough progresses into the MS valley. Latest NBM probabilistic guidance continues to suggest all of central, south-central, and southeast KS stand a 90-100% for receiving more than 0.50" of rain through Friday evening. The potential for more than 1" of rainfall ranges from generally 50-60% across the entire area. Midlevel ridging will slide into the central/southern Plains throughout the weekend with mostly sunny skies and seasonable temperatures in the 50s to near 60 expected. Another midlevel trough will eject into the central Plains late Sunday into Monday, likely producing another round of rainfall (60-70%). Long wave midlevel troughing will settle into the eastern half of the CONUS for midweek. The arrival of this midlevel trough will shunt a strong surface cold front through the central Plains. Much cooler temperatures are expected for Wednesday and beyond with highs in the 40s. Stay tuned. && .AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 542 AM CST Thu Nov 20 2025 The bulk of showers and thunderstorms have moved east of the terminals. While a stray shower cannot be ruled out this morning, the bulk of the morning should remain dry. Patchy fog continues across central KS with VSBY mainly MVFR. There remains uncertainty with cloud cover this morning as MVFR to IFR CIGS may develop across most of the area by late morning. Shower and storm chances will increase throughout the afternoon with widespread showers expected this evening and overnight. VSBY are likely to drop into the 2-4SM range, especially overnight. IFR to LIFR CIGS are likely to accompany the showers as well. These conditions are likely to persist through the end of the period. && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ DISCUSSION...BRF AVIATION...BRF