Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Wichita, KS
Issued by NWS Wichita, KS
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759 FXUS63 KICT 010457 AFDICT Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS 1057 PM CST Sun Nov 30 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Snow will develop early Mon over central Kansas spreading south and east through the day before diminishing from west to east. - Snowfall totals of 2-4 inches are anticipated in parts of central KS on Monday with 1-2 inches possible further south over parts of south central and southeast KS. -Moderating temperatures on Tue before another shot of cold air arrives late Wed into Thu. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 1241 PM CST Sun Nov 30 2025 A modified arctic airmass remains in place across the Northern and portions of the Central Plains with snow evident on visible satellite imagery as far south as northern Kansas (northern Lincoln county). The next storm system that is expected to arrive on Monday was situated over the Northern Intermountain/Northern Rockies region this morning. This shortwave trough is progged to dig over the Rockies through tonight before emerging over the Central Plains on Monday. We continue to see some differences in exactly where this system will track leading to some uncertainty in exactly where the heaviest band of snowfall will occur. Model consensus generally supports areas along and north of Highway 50 for the highest snowfall potential (2-4 inches). Some of the short range model data suggests a subtle shift southward in the track of the system and the Winter Weather Advisory for parts of south central and southeast Kansas was expanded southward only slightly. A subtle trend southward would lend more support the recent runs of the ECMWF/EPS which has maintained a slightly further south solution when compared to the GFS/GEFS with further support from the CMCE. Snow is expected to develop late tonight while becoming more widespread during the morning hours on Monday. The best lift through the depth of the dendritic snow growth zone is expected to shift from our central Kansas counties early on Monday south and eastward to around the Kansas Turnpike toward midday before shifting into southeast KS during the early afternoon hours. Relatively high SLRs are anticipated for late November, especially across our central KS counties where a deep isothermal layer is progged. Minimal fracturing due to relatively weak winds in the dendritic growth zone and steep lapse rates above this layer is expected to result in a brief window for efficient snowfall production. The biggest limiting factor may be the shorter duration of the event as the progressive trough axis is progged to be east of area by late afternoon. The bottom line: snowfall totals were increased along the I-70 corridor where 2-4 inches are now anticipated. Further south, a general 1-2 inches is anticipated before the activity diminishes from west to east on Monday afternoon. Temperatures may struggle to reach freezing over much of the area with values topping out in the upper 20s. Tue-Thu..moderating temperatures are anticipated on Tue although for those areas where a greater snow depth materializes, we may be too aggressive with maximum temperatures. Most areas are expected to see highs climb into the low to mid 40s. Another cold front is progged to arrive late Wednesday, keeping below normal temperatures entrenched across the area. Highs on Thu are expected to remain 15- 20 degrees below average for early Dec. Thu Night-Sunday...Another shortwave trough is progged to sweep over the area late Thu into Friday. There remains low probabilities (20%) for a light wintry mix with this system although confidence in the details remains fairly low. Moderating temperatures are expected Fri- Sat with highs reaching the mid and upper 40s on Sat. This warm-up will be short-lived as another cold front arrives on Sunday keeping below average temperatures in place across the area. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z TUESDAY/... Issued at 1056 PM CST Sun Nov 30 2025 Snow continues to be anticipated to impact all sites at some point during this period, with the primary impacts to cigs and vsbys remaining in central KS. Short-term models highlight development in central KS beginning around 08Z and expanding in coverage to impact RSL and GBD within the 10-12Z window. Ensemble consensus supports vsbys reduced to IFR/LIFR with the heaviest snow in the early/mid morning hours at these sites. Snow rates will aid in vsby reduction as the system shifts to the east and impacts SLN/HUT/ICT, though confidence is lower in impacts making it to ICT and further east to CNU. As such, decided to hold these sites at IFR for now and will have to AMD as obs and model trends become available. Snow will gradually end from west to east throughout the day. Lingering MVFR cigs will dissipate shortly thereafter and give way to VFR by late in the period. && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory from 3 AM to 6 PM CST Monday for KSZ032-033-047>053-067>071-082-083. && $$ DISCUSSION...MWM AVIATION...JWK