653 FXUS63 KICT 141952 AFDICTArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS 252 PM CDT Tue Oct 14 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- A few showers continue across central KS; diminishing by early evening - Dry and mild conditions for midweek
- Rain chances return for late week into Saturday and possibly early next week
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.DISCUSSION... Issued at 250 PM CDT Tue Oct 14 2025
As of 230 PM, midlevel heights continue to amplify as a ridge axis retrogrades across the lower Plains. Despite that, broad midlevel WAA and subtle perturbations within the southwest flow continue to produce scattered showers from eastern NM through central KS. As the ridge axis continues to amplify and shift west, the potential for showers will shift west as well with dry conditions expected this evening and overnight. Dry conditions are expected Wednesday and Thursday as the ridge axis remains overhead.
An intense midlevel shortwave trough will eject into the northern Rockies/Plains late Thursday into Thursday night. This will shunt a surface trough axis towards central KS by Friday morning/afternoon. This frontal passage may be accompanied by a few showers/storms across central KS Friday morning/afternoon. The better storm chances arrive late Friday into Friday night as a secondary shortwave trough ejects into the central Plains, drastically increasing rain chances (60-70%) for areas generally along and southeast of the KS Turnpike. GFS and ECMWF solutions are in general agreement with the frontal location Friday afternoon/evening (near the KS Turnpike) and the background wind profiles. Each produces a modestly veered profile through 3-4 km with acceleration through 6 km, producing 35-40 kt of effective shear. The main discrepancy is the quality of moisture return. ECMWF advects dew points in the low/mid 60s, whereas the GFS holds dew points in the 50s. As a result, uncertainty remains with the magnitude of instability ahead of the trough axis. A few lingering showers/storms are possible Saturday morning across southeast KS, as the shortwave trough exits to the east. Mid/long range guidance (ECMWF/GFS) continue to suggest another potent shortwave trough will emerge from the southern Rockies early next week (Monday-Tuesday timeframe).
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.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 1218 PM CDT Tue Oct 14 2025
VFR conditions have returned at all sites and VFR conditions are expected through the remainder of the period. A few showers are ongoing across the OK and TX Panhandles. These may impact GBD or RSL this afternoon and have added a PROB30 to account for this potential. Otherwise, winds will remain from the south at 6-12 kt.
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.ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None.
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DISCUSSION...BRF AVIATION...BRF
NWS ICT Office Area Forecast Discussion