693 FXUS63 KDDC 111900 AFDDDCArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Dodge City KS 200 PM CDT Sat Oct 11 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Unseasonably warm temperatures continue through the weekend.
- Strong south winds Saturday afternoon, gusting 40 to 45 mph.
- A strong cold front Sunday evening will be followed by much cooler air on Monday.
- Improving rain chances Monday night.
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.DISCUSSION... Issued at 200 PM CDT Sat Oct 11 2025
Midday surface observations showed south to southwest winds increasing across SW KS. Winds will continue to get stronger through the late afternoon, in response to lee cyclogenesis near 995 mb in eastern Colorado, and a tightening pressure gradient. Gusts near 40 mph are expected, especially northwest of Dodge City, and along the preferred US 83 corridor. Temperatures will again soar this afternoon to unseasonably warm levels in the upper 80s, with several locations touching 90.
Downstream of a longwave trough over the Rockies, a low level jet will establish across the plains tonight, keeping south winds elevated and gusty. This mixing will strongly deter radiational cooling, with most locations remaining in the 60s through sunrise. The NBM forecast minimum temperature at DDC Sunday morning is 67, near the record warmest low temperature record of 66/1975. Normal for mid October is mid 40s.
Continued unseasonably warm to hot Sunday, as SW KS remains in the warm sector ahead of an advancing strong cold front. 12z NAM forecasts the cold front to arrive in the northern zones about 4 pm, then racing south through SW KS Sunday evening, exiting into Oklahoma by 10 pm. SWly prefrontal downslope compression will send temperatures soaring Sunday, and warmed high temperatures 1-2 degrees above NBM guidance. The warmest guidance may be favored, such as 12z MAV showing a high of 93 at DDC (the record high at DDC is 94/1975). Northeast winds will be quite strong Sunday evening as cold advection arrives in a warm mixed boundary layer, and northeast winds will probably be stronger than the NBM.
Clouds will increase Sunday night through Monday, as SWly midlevel flow and warm air advection increase over the much cooler northeast winds at the surface. Afternoon temperatures Monday will be dramatically cooler, with 60s common. Some afternoon temperatures in the 50s are probable where thick cloud cover limits insolation, and feel NBM may not be cool enough for Monday. Rain chances will return Monday night through early Tuesday, best shown by the extended 12z NAM with overrunning rain north of the stalled frontal boundary. MEX/NAM/NBM guidance agree on a relative max of rain probability early Tuesday morning, and that is where the highest pops in the forecast will be. Instability will be limited to nil, so only showers are expected with little/no thunder.
Flow becomes much more amplified Tuesday, with a strong cutoff midlevel cyclone over California, forcing the upper high to strengthen to near 595 dm over Texas. ECMWF and its ensemble members show strong south winds returning through Wednesday, with another strong warming trend, probably stronger/faster than NBM suggests. Afternoon temperatures will rebound back to the 80s, with global model 850 mb wind fields supporting gusts near 45 mph Thursday afternoon. Much cooler air will arrive Friday through next weekend, but models are in disarray regarding frontal timing and strength of cold advection. ECMWF/EPS depicts 850 mb temperatures reduced to 4-5C on strong north winds next Sunday.
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.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY/... Issued at 1100 AM CDT Sat Oct 11 2025
VFR will continue through this TAF period, with varying amounts of cirrus. Strong south winds will impact aviation operations at all airports through 00z Sun, gusting 33-35 kts. South winds will remain elevated and gusty through tonight, in response to a strong low level jet. Included low level wind shear in all TAFs starting at 03z Sun. Winds will trend SWly Sunday, ahead of an expected strong cold front Sunday evening.
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.DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None.
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DISCUSSION...Turner AVIATION...Turner
NWS DDC Office Area Forecast Discussion