838
FXUS63 KDDC 011700
AFDDDC

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
1200 PM CDT Wed May 1 2024

...Updated Short Term...

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Scattered severe thunderstorms expected eastern half of
  southwest Kansas Wednesday afternoon and evening. Very large
  hail and tornadoes are possible.

- Slightly cooler with strong north winds Thursday.

- Widespread accumulating rainfall most likely Friday night and
  Saturday morning.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Issued at 1200 PM CDT Wed May 1 2024

The ingredients needed for severe thunderstorms were converging
on SW KS at midday. Surface observations showed a pronounced
frontal boundary just north of the KS/OK border, that will be
retreating northward as a warm front through the afternoon.
Exactly how far this warm front advances northward, and exactly
how expansive and unstable the resulting warm sector becomes,
will dictate the severity of the expected storms late this
afternoon/early evening. Mesoanalysis shows strong instability
streaming north from West Texas (rerouted westward around
Oklahoma outflow), and a pronounced triple point (warm
front/dryline intersection) is expected to set up over the SE
DDC CWA at peak heating this afternoon. Strong instability with
CAPE > 3000 J/kg and enhanced storm relative helicity is
expected in this region, with strong convergence near the triple
point helping to overcome convective inhibition. Latest
thinking is thunderstorms will initiate in the vicinity of US
283/DDC after 4 pm, then progress eastward through the southeast
zones into the evening. Most CAMs are aligned along this
scenario, and 12z ARW, which failed to convect previously, now
agrees. Any discrete supercells in the expected environment near
and southeast of DDC will be capable of 2-3" diameter hail and
tornadoes. Storms that parallel the stalled boundary will need
to be watched carefully for locally enhanced tornado potential.
Per SPC coordination, Clark/Comanche/Kiowa counties are some
areas at most risk this afternoon and evening. Shortwave timing
appears favorably timed with a high octane warm sector, the only
question is exactly where the warm sector sets up at max
heating. With questions regarding coverage, kept pops
conservative in the chance category for the eastern zones, but
also included severe wording in the various products.

Strong cold front associated with the passing shortwave is
expected to surge southward after midnight, with north winds
gusting over 30 mph. Additional showers and thunderstorms may
develop in the convergence along this advancing boundary,
preferring the eastern zones again. Consensus of short term
models suggests low stratus will expand in the post frontal
environment, persisting through Thursday morning.

North winds will be strong for much of Thursday, gusting
30-40 mph, ushering in noticeably cooler air. Models show a
net cooling of 6-8C at 850 mb Thursday. With increasing early
May sunshine, temperatures will have no problem warming into
the lower to mid 70s. Winds will veer NEly and diminish quickly
Thursday evening.

&&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/...
Issued at 306 AM CDT Wed May 1 2024

Thursday night and Friday, the upper level trough will lift
north into the Northern Plains, and this will be quickly
followed by our next upper level system. The latest short range
models currently have this upper trough located over the
Central Rockies by 18z Friday. As this next system follows a
similar track as the previous upper wave, there will be another
opportunity for precipitation for all of southwest Kansas as
convection is forecast to develop late day across northeast
Colorado and then spread east into western Kansas along a mid
level baroclinic zone/area of 0-1km thetae advection. This
Friday night system may be of interest measurable precipitation
given that the latest ensemble means were showing a 30-50%
chance of 24-hour precipitation of >0.25 ending at 1 pm
Saturday and a 20-30% chance of 24-hour precipitation of >0.5.
Granted, this chance is not very high, but it is better than
what we have seen over the past 3-4 weeks. Along with this
chance for widespread precipitation the a few of the stronger
storms early Friday night will be capable of producing gusty
winds and hail up to the size of quarters.

Once this Friday night system lifts northeast, some weak
ridging aloft crosses western Kansas as the upper low over the
Northern Plains moves into Canada. This will allow for a brief
break in the precipitation chances, but the chance for
thunderstorms will return Saturday night and then continue through
Monday as our next, more significant, upper level low/trough
exits the eastern Pacific and begins to move across the western
United States towards the Central Plains.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 1022 AM CDT Wed May 1 2024

Widespread MVFR stratus at 15z is expected to improve to VFR
over the next few hours, as a warm front makes progress to near
US Highway 50 by 21z. Elevated winds will gust to near 25 kts
through this time with an easterly component. After 21z,
isolated thunderstorms are expected to develop, most likely in
the vicinity of DDC, between 21-00z. With low confidence of
impacts directly at the airport, only carried VCTS/CB for now.
Probability of convection at the other airports is too low to
warrant a mention in the TAFs. A cold front is expected to bring
a north wind shift 06-09z Thu, with strong north winds gusting
to near 30 kts. Consensus of short term models shows post
frontal MVFR stratus behind the cold frontal passage through
12z Thu. IFR stratus is most likely at HYS; in fact, IFR to MVFR
stratus is expected to hold at HYS through most if not all of
this TAF period.

&&

.DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...Turner
LONG TERM...Burgert
AVIATION...Turner