Area forecast discussion
National Weather Service Wichita Kansas
637 PM CDT Wednesday may 22 2013
Short term...(this evening through thursday)
issued at 315 PM CDT Wednesday may 22 2013
A weak pv anomaly will move under the upper ridge tonight
approaching Kansas by Thursday morning. This weak wave will help
to induce some thunderstorm chances. The question comes in where
they will form...and where the moisture will be. The NAM has
backed off on how far north it brings the moisture and think this
is more likely with the surface high between here and the best
moisture. However...a warm front is expected to push northward
overnight into Thursday and surge northward by late Thursday.
While there could be some thunderstorm chances over south central
Kansas tonight/early Thursday...think the best chances will be for
areas south and then west. Although have kept slight chances in
for south central Kansas through Thursday.
Billings
Long term...(friday through wednesday)
issued at 315 PM CDT Wednesday may 22 2013
Upper level ridging takes hold of the area from Thursday
Onward...and continues to stay over the area through the remainder
of the forecast. It does however shift eastward through the
weekend with a broad trough over the West. Lee troughing will
persist through the period with the dryline well west of the area.
As the previous forecaster mentioned...the Gulf will be open...and
low level moisture will be prevalent. Thus inducing ample
instability across the area for multiple chances for thunderstorms
off and on through the remainder of the forecast. Expect
thunderstorms to develop diurnally out west where best surface
features exist and translate eastward some...however...with a lack
of upper level shear...being under the ridge...large complexes of
organized severe weather is not anticipated. With the expected
warm daytime temperatures and abundant instability...some strong
storms are possible with mainly small hail and strong winds as a
threat. Overall confidence in one day being better for storm
chances than another is low. That being said...with this being a
Holiday weekend...the weather should be monitored for any outdoor
events as lightening is always a threat.
Temperatures will warm consistently through the extended from the
middle 70s to the middle to upper 80s across the area.
Billings
&&
Aviation...(for the 00z tafs through 00z Thursday evening)
issued at 636 PM CDT Wednesday may 22 2013
Aviation concerns are expected to remain minimal through this taf
period.
The surface front remains well south of the forecast area with
cooler air continuing to filter-in from the northeast. At this time
it appears the low ceilings will stay just north of the forecast area
tonight. Will run with some some 3-4,000ft ceilings tonight for both
krsl and ksln with high confidence that VFR conditions will remain
at the remainder of the sites. Winds will gradually come around to
the northeast and then east by Thursday morning.
Lawson
&&
Preliminary point temps/pops...
Wichita-kict 54 74 57 76 / 20 20 20 30
Hutchinson 52 73 57 76 / 20 20 20 40
Newton 51 72 56 74 / 20 20 20 30
Eldorado 52 73 56 75 / 20 20 20 30
Winfield-kwld 55 74 57 77 / 20 30 20 30
Russell 49 72 56 77 / 20 20 30 40
Great Bend 50 72 57 76 / 20 20 30 40
Salina 51 73 55 77 / 10 10 20 30
McPherson 51 73 56 75 / 10 20 20 30
Coffeyville 55 75 57 78 / 20 20 20 20
Chanute 53 74 55 76 / 10 20 20 20
Iola 52 74 54 76 / 10 10 20 20
Parsons-kppf 53 75 56 76 / 10 20 20 20
&&
Ict watches/warnings/advisories...
none.
&&
$$
