Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Wichita, KS
Issued by NWS Wichita, KS
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508 FXUS63 KICT 171135 AFDICT Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS 535 AM CST Mon Nov 17 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Continued above normal temperatures through much of this week - Shower and thunderstorm chances return for the latter portions of this week && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 351 AM CST Mon Nov 17 2025 As of 330 AM Monday morning, shortwave midlevel ridging was sliding across the central Plains in-advance of a compact shortwave trough across central Rockies. A lee surface trough across the high Plains continues to deepen with the pressure gradient at 5-7 mb across the eastern half of KS. Modest WAA is ongoing across much of eastern KS in response to a 30-35 kt LLJ. Observations across eastern OK reveal the moisture advection is quite shallow with clouds between 4- 5kft. This is likely to continue to be the trend with very shallow moisture, likely insufficient for widespread shower activity. As we transition into the daytime hours today, the surface pressure gradient is forecast to increase to an additional mb or 2 this afternoon, resulting in southerly wind gusts up to 30 mph. The axis of shallow moisture and associated cloud cover will progress northeast of the forecast area this afternoon as temperatures surge into the low to mid 70s. Record highs across the area remain in the upper 70s to near 80, therefore it seems unlikely any record highs will be broken. The surface trough axis will slide across the forecast area late tonight into Tuesday morning, shifting winds from the northwest at 10-20 mph. A decrease in afternoon temperatures is expected as well with Tuesday`s highs ranging from the low 60s across central KS to the mid 70s across southeast KS. Transitioning into the mid and latter portions of next week, widespread shower and thunderstorm chances continue to increase for Wednesday through Friday as a slow moving midlevel trough advances from the southwest US. Latest GFS and ECMWF runs suggest strong low- level WAA will ensue late Wednesday night into Thursday morning with dew points approaching 60 and PW values ranging from 1-1.5" with the highest values across southeast KS. Midlevel lapse rates will steepen with the approaching southwest US trough. Confidence is increasing for any substantial instability to remain south of our forecast area and across OK and TX. Strong midlevel height falls will overspread the central Plains Thursday into Thursday night, resulting in widespread rainfall, especially across south-central and southeast KS. Additional deformation precipitation is likely Friday into Friday evening as the midlevel level trough slowly progresses into the MS valley. Temperatures will return to near- normal late this week with highs in the 50s. && .AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z TUESDAY/... Issued at 532 AM CST Mon Nov 17 2025 MVFR CIGS have overspread south-central KS including SLN/HUT/ICT. These CIGS may impact GBD and RSL but the best chances will remain southeast of those terminals. The MVFR conditions will arrive at CNU near 13Z. Southerly winds speeds will increase at all sites by 15Z with speeds at 10-15 kt, gusting up to 25 kt. MVFR CIGS are forecast to scatter during the early to mid afternoon hours with VFR conditions expected thereafter. Wind speeds will decrease to 5-10 kt near 00Z. && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ DISCUSSION...BRF AVIATION...BRF