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000
FXUS63 KDDC 240526
AFDDDC

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
1226 AM CDT Thu May 24 2018

...Updated Aviation Section...

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Thursday)
Issued at 115 PM CDT Wed May 23 2018

Main forecast challenge today is thunderstorm development this
afternoon/evening. Mid-level low pressure over northeastern Idaho
will continue to lift northeast this afternoon, bringing upper-
level ridging over the High Plains. An embedded shortwave in the
southwest flow over western Kansas is increasing storm chances
this afternoon, with CAM agreement on two main areas of
thunderstorm development. The first, visible satellite imagery
this afternoon is showing storm growth in a line from roughly
just east of Meade State park to east of Dodge City, with cirrus
clouds lingering north and west of this line. With 1500 to 2000
J/kg MLCAPE and little MLCIN along the line, there is enough
instability to support marginal thunderstorm development, but the
environment is lacking shear to sustain upscale growth. CAMs do
agree on storm development in this area lasting a short time this
afternoon. How far they move north and east will be determined if
the cirrus clouds can burn off to allow for instability. The
second area of thunderstorms development is in far southwest
Kansas roughly after 6pm. This is the same area that received the
beneficial rain this morning. Currently, visible satellite shows
the area with cirrus clouds. Storms have already developed in
northwestern New Mexico/northeastern Texas, and CAMs show these
storms moving east into far Southwest Kansas, and extending
through Texas. How much they affect Southwestern Kansas will be
determined if cirrus clouds can burn off over that area to allow
instability to build, and if the storms can tap into the low level
jet that develops this evening. Have left low pops in through the
evening due to uncertainty. Thunderstorms that develop may be
marginally severe, with 60 mph wind gusts and up to quarter size
hail, especially in the storms that may develop in far Southwest
Kansas. Temperatures overnight will stay in the 60s.

Thursday, lee troughing in eastern Colorado continues, bringing
another gusty day to Southwest Kansas. Another shortwave moves
through Thursday night, bringing yet another afternoon for storm
chances. With weak flow aloft and therefore weak shear, storms
that develop should not be severe. Highs on Thursday will reach
the upper 80s/lower 90s.

.LONG TERM...(Thursday night through Wednesday)
Issued at 115 PM CDT Wed May 23 2018

On Friday, a cold front moves through the region, though the
airmass behind the front won`t feel much different as temperatures
Friday will still reach into the mid to upper 90s. Wind will
finally subside as the trough axis moves through the region. There
is a chance for storms to develop behind the front Friday evening.

Upper level ridging builds into the region for Memorial Day
Weekend, which will limit storm chances on Saturday. However, we
will be battling the heat on both Saturday and Sunday with
temperatures into the mid-90s and possibly 100s near the Oklahoma
border. Storm chances return Sunday night due to a shortwave ahead
of an upper level low.

The upper level low begins moving northeast on Monday, bringing
southwest flow over western Kansas once again for the beginning of
the week, with embedded shortwaves offering storm chances each
day.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Thursday night)
Issued at 1221 AM CDT Thu May 24 2018

Ongoing mesoscale convective system (MCS) at the beginning of
this TAF period is expected to remain south and east of all the
terminals (DDC, GCK, HYS, LBL) through the remainder of the
overnight hours. Strong southeast outflow winds from the MCS will
be problematic for the short term forecast, but are expected to
settle down to the 12-16 knot range after 08-09Z time frame
(mainly of impact to DDC and LBL). On Thursday, winds will remain
out of the south at 14 to 17 knots in the afternoon with VFR
prevailing. There is a chance for thunderstorms toward the end of
this TAF period, moving out of northwest or west central KS, but
probability of impact at any of the terminals is too low to
include in TAF at this time.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
DDC  64  90  64  95 /  20  20  10  10
GCK  63  91  62  94 /  30  20  20  10
EHA  61  91  62  94 /  30  20   0  10
LBL  63  92  64  96 /  30  20  10  10
HYS  66  90  64  92 /  20  20  30  10
P28  67  90  66  96 /  90  20  10  10

&&

.DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.
&&

$$

SHORT TERM...Reynolds
LONG TERM...Reynolds
AVIATION...Umscheid