465 FXUS63 KICT 181727 AFDICTArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS 1227 PM CDT Thu Sep 18 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Continued showers/storms today, gradually exiting to the east this evening and tonight. Locally heavy rainfall and isolated flooding concerns possible. A few strong to marginally severe storms possible this afternoon-evening.
- Active pattern continues Friday night through mid to late next week with periodic shower/storm chances. A handful of strong to severe storms possible Friday night through Monday night.
- Chances are increasing for a decent cool down by Tuesday of next week.
&&
.DISCUSSION... Issued at 300 AM CDT Thu Sep 18 2025
PRECIPITATION:
TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT...A strong shortwave trough moving in from the west will support off-and-on scattered to numerous showers/thunderstorms across the region areawide today, and over mostly eastern and southeast Kansas this evening and tonight. Strong forcing in concert with cooling temperatures aloft, steepening lapse rates, moderate instability and 25-35 kts of deep layer effective shear may support a handful of strong to marginally severe thunderstorms, especially this afternoon and evening. Locally heavy rainfall is likely as well, which could support isolated flooding concerns. Model consensus supports widespread additional rainfall amounts of roughly 0.25 to 0.50 inches through tonight, with additional localized 1-2+ inch amounts possible.
FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH MID TO LATE NEXT WEEK...While there remains quite a bit of uncertainty, deterministic consensus continues to support periodic shower/thunderstorm chances Friday night through mid to late next week, as various shortwaves progress over the region within progressive west-northwest flow aloft. The combination of forecast buoyancy/shear suggests a handful of strong to severe thunderstorms are possible from Friday night through Monday night, along with locally heavy rainfall and isolated flooding concerns.
Per deterministic consensus, could even be looking at some steady stratiform rainfall periodically from Tuesday through Thursday, with a deep slow-moving upper trough dropping southeast over Mid-America. Severe weather chances look much lower with this activity. Stay tuned as we refine forecast details in the coming days.
TEMPERATURES:
A cool down into mostly the 70s is expected today, due to increased clouds and precipitation chances and decreased atmospheric thickness. For Friday through Monday, temperatures should get back closer to seasonal normals in the 80s, as both thickness and southerly flow increase across the region.
By Tuesday and persisting through Thursday or Friday, a slow-moving deep upper trough dropping southeast over Mid-America and an associated strong cold front should support a decent cool down into at least the 70s for daytime highs and 50s for overnight lows. However, the latest GFS and ECMWF supports high temperatures in the 60s with widespread clouds/precipitation. Stay tuned as we continue to refine forecast details in the coming day.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 1226 PM CDT Thu Sep 18 2025
Scattered showers and weak thunderstorms will continue moving to the east throughout the afternoon. Could see a bit of development on the back side of this feature later this afternoon in central KS, so decided to introduce a TEMPO for -SHRA at SLN at this time.
Light and variable winds are anticipated to commence at all sites after 00Z. Short-range ensembles indicate solid chances for MVFR visibilities in central KS around sunrise due to low temp/dew spread. As such, also decided to introduce a TEMPO group at SLN around 10-13Z to highlight this. Could see expansion to other sites, but confidence is too low for more mentions at this time.
&&
.ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None.
&&
$$
DISCUSSION...ADK AVIATION...JWK
NWS ICT Office Area Forecast Discussion