274 FXUS63 KGLD 080849 AFDGLDArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Goodland KS 249 AM MDT Mon Sep 8 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Warm today with highs in the 80s and maybe low 90s. There is a chance for severe storms to form in the afternoon, mainly impacting Northwest Kansas. Large hail would be the main threat.
- Temperatures are forecast to warm into the 80s and 90s through much of the week ahead. Daily storm chances are forecast, with the possibility for severe storms as well.
&&
.SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Issued at 246 AM MDT Mon Sep 8 2025
During the early morning hours, showers and a few storms have made their way across the area as a 500mb shortwave moves through the Plains. The showers and storms have stayed sub-severe with instability slowly lowering as the night has gone on. The showers could persist through the remainder of the night and a few hours past sunrise with a fairly moist profile through 500mb and the shortwave moving slowly. The precipitation has largely hindered fog development and kept temperatures in the 60s with the additional cloud cover. That being said, those along and south of Highway 40 have been clearer, and could lower into the 50s and see some fog if clear skies remain. There is also a chance that those along the Nebraska border could clear and see similar conditions.
For the daytime hours, the forecast currently calls for a dryline to sweep through most of the area as the low pressure system broadens in the Plains. With this, the area would see any early cloud cover burn off and temperatures would warm into the 80s and near 90 underneath sunny skies. Winds would also become more northerly and lighter. That being said, there is an important caveat. Most guidance suggests that the dryline stalls somewhere in our area, likely in Northwest Kansas in a northeast to southwest orientation. Those behind the dryline would be the ones who are warm and dry with relatively lighter winds. Those ahead of the dryline would actually have a chance for storms, with the potential for severe storms. The consensus is that locales ahead of the dry line could see supercells develop in an environment with almost 3000 J/kg of MUCAPE, mid-level lapse rates around 8 C/km, and 0-6km shear around 30-40 kts. The main inhibitor is that the drier air may move in faster above 850mb, both reducing instability and capping things a bit. This seems to be why most guidance does not want to fire storms off, in spite of the good surface convergence boundary and the shortwave diving south through the Plains. If storms did fire, be alert for large hail generally around an inch, with hail up to 2.75 inches in any longer lived supercells. With the current placement of the dryline in the mid afternoon, roughly from McCook, NE to Leoti, KS, it is unlikely that a storm would form and be in the area long enough for a supercell to really get going (especially with downshear vectors of 40-45kts). Wind gusts could reach 50-60 mph, maybe stronger if a supercell can form and have a good RFD surge. Continuing along with discussing possibilities, if the dryline shoots farther west like the HRRR is suggesting, then we are clear for today. If the dryline manages to lag further west, our storm and severe chances will increase, especially for eastern portions of the area. Would be a good day to keep an eye out for updates.
For the evening and overnight hours, if the forecast holds and the dryline moves through most of the area, we are looking at a mostly clear night. Some showers and storms are forecast to dry and develop west of us like they have been, but the drier air should really lower the chances that they make it to the area. Winds are forecast to try and hold around 10-15 mph for most of the night, but the pressure gradient should weaken enough as the low shifts that some areas go calm. For those who keep the winds up most of the night, lows should drop to around 60. The rest of the area should cool into the 50s. If the dryline does not push completely through the area, then there will be a chance for fog for those along east of Highway 83 as low level moisture would remain in place.
&&
.LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... Issued at 142 PM MDT Sun Sep 7 2025
Tuesday, as the northwestern low breaks down the ridge over the Rockies, the low looks to slow to a crawl over the northern Rockies and potentially Fujiwara if the center of the low splits. This pattern will dominate the majority of the workweek: 500 mb high shifts its axis over the central Great Plains and the slow moving 500 mb low over the Northern Rockies, with the 850 mb level seeing a high pressure system over the mid and southern Mississippi River Valley regions as weak lows eject off the Northern Rockies. This will allow a southerly LLJ to funnel mid and low-level moisture into the CWA as well as warmer temperatures. Due to the heat, moisture, and weak cold fronts, there will be a nearly daily 20-35% chance of showers and weak storms across the area. If a stronger low and cold front can eject off the the Northern Rockies, all the ingredients will be in place for severe storms. The NBM is starting to come around with PoPs for the workweek, but still does not accurately reflect the precipitation potential well. This means the PoPs shown in the local forecasts on our web page are lower than what forecaster confidence in precipitation is. Overall, forecaster confidence in: daily showers and weak storms forming is 20-30%; at least one day (Tues-Fri) seeing showers and weak storms is 70-75%; confidence in severe weather occurring at least one day Tuesday- Friday is 10-15%. Friday is slowing becoming the favored day for the column to support organized convection, but there is a lot of uncertainty.
Temperatures throughout the next week will warm into the mid to upper 80s with a few places seeing low 90s. Low temperatures will cool into the upper 50s to mid 60s as low level moisture and cloud cover will keep us fairly warm.
Over next weekend, the northwestern low looks to move over the Great Plains, which could lead to some slightly cooler temperatures and higher PoPs.
&&
.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z TUESDAY/... Issued at 1055 PM MDT Sun Sep 7 2025
***Update: Further upstream development of showers and storms across northeast Colorado into the southern portion of the Nebraska panhandle has led to the addition of a tempo for -tsra for MCK as well. Some guidance indicates another potential round of showers and storms moving through between 09-11Z. ***
GLD: Thunderstorms in Washington County, CO (at 0340Z) will track east toward the KS border late this evening. If the aforementioned storms persist long enough to progress into northwest KS (~06-08Z), current observational trends suggest that said storms would largely remain north of the Goodland terminal. Low confidence with regard to storm coverage and longevity. Sub-VFR conditions associated with fog are possible a few hours on either side of sunrise Monday morning. Otherwise, VFR conditions will prevail. South winds at 12-17 knots this evening will decrease to 7-12 knots early Monday morning. Winds will veer to the SW by sunrise and shift to the NW during the late morning. Light (~7-12 knot) NW winds are likely to prevail through the remainder of the TAF period.
MCK: Sub-VFR conditions associated with fog are possible a few hours on either side of sunrise Monday morning (similar to the past few days). Otherwise, VFR conditions will prevail. S to SSE winds at 10-15 knots will prevail this evening and overnight. Winds will veer to the SW during the late morning or early afternoon.. further veering to the WSW or W during the mid- afternoon. Light WSW or W winds are expected to prevail through the remainder of the TAF period.
&&
.GLD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KS...None. CO...None. NE...None.
&&
$$
SHORT TERM...KAK LONG TERM...CA AVIATION...Vincent/Trigg
NWS GLD Office Area Forecast Discussion