Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Dodge City, KS
Issued by NWS Dodge City, KS
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456 FXUS63 KDDC 110609 AFDDDC Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Dodge City KS 109 AM CDT Mon May 11 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - High temperatures in the 90s ahead of two cold fronts this week: Tuesday and Thursday/Friday - Dry cold fronts this week due to the fast-moving nature of storm systems, unfavorable for bringing gulf moisture far enough northwest into southwest Kansas - Record or near record highs Thursday along with increased fire weather risk (critical or near-critical) && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 105 AM CDT Mon May 11 2026 The synoptic scale pattern across the mid-section of the CONUS was characterized by northwest flow thanks to a building upper level high across southern California and Arizona and a large scale trough across the Great Lakes region. This pattern, more reminiscent of a summer upper level pattern (absent the deep monsoonal moisture), will prevail today and Tuesday, resulting in a continued dry scenario for western Kansas with temperatures on the increase. Monday will be the transition day toward very warm temperatures Tuesday when latest NBM has highs well into the lower to mid 90s (along and south of the Arkansas River) ahead of the next cold front. The cold front timing on Tuesday will result in a more difficult temperature forecast north of the Arkansas River, but the air mass behind the front will not be all that much cooler given the progressive nature of the shortwave trough passing across the Northern Plains and Midwest. Looking ahead to Thursday and Friday, hot temperatures are likely Thursday and possibly Friday. Confidence is high on the Thursday hot temperatures with solid model/ensemble agreement (and thus NBM) with NBM 25-75th percentile spread of 4 to 6 degrees (i.e. 94 to 99F at DDC for a high Thursday). The same cannot be said for Friday with much larger 25-75th spread of 9 to 11 degrees, largely due to differences in model timing of the next cold front Friday. A slower front on Friday would likely result in highs closer to NBM 75th or even 90th percentile (75th percentile high of 100F at DDC Friday). Given the fairly progressive nature of the large scale pattern through next weekend, each of these frontal passages are likely to be dry for western Kansas given unfavorable moisture transport ahead of each front (south/southwest winds). Thus, whatever small POPs we have in the forecast will be confined to the far eastern portion of the DDC CWA. && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z TUESDAY/... Issued at 1131 PM CDT Sun May 10 2026 Quiet aviation weather is forecast Monday and Monday evening as surface high pressure moves east across southern Kansas. A light and variable wind early in the period will give way to an increasing south-southwesterly wind, which will be in the 12 to 18 knot range from late morning through the afternoon hours. Dry air in place will keep flight category VFR through this period. && .DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Umscheid AVIATION...Umscheid