Hail in Kansas, June 13, 2019

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
619 PM CDT Thu Jun 13 2019

...Updated aviation discussion...

.SHORT TERM...(This afternoon through Friday night)
Issued at 1200 PM CDT Thu Jun 13 2019

South winds will become strong this afternoon. With pressure
gradients increasing to 10-11 mb across the CWA, south wind gusts
of 30-40 mph will be common through 7 pm. Moisture and instability
will as a result be on a gradual increase through this afternoon,
but with the lack of a triggering mechanism, feel SW Kansas will
remain mostly quiet (and perhaps completely quiet) with regards to
convection through this evening. Models remain consistent
developing an instability axis along the CO/KS border by 7 pm,
with modest CAPE values to near 2000 J/kg. Any convective
initiation would be favored in the far western zones through this
evening. The latest HRRR iterations show convection originating
east of the Raton Mesa, ending up near Elkhart by 6-7 pm, before
an MCS evolves across the Texas panhandle this evening. Model
guidance has been consistent with this solution for days, and am
confident most if not all storms will be south of SW Kansas
through tonight. Out of respect for a strong low level jet and
associated elevated instability, kept slight chance (20%) pops for
most zones tonight, with 30% pops across the southern border
nearest the expected MCS. South winds will remain elevated
tonight, gusting 20-25 mph, and with a well mixed boundary layer,
temperatures through Friday morning will be much warmer than
recent nights (and much closer to normal), holding near 60.

Friday will be noticeably warmer, as 850 mb temperatures warm to
the mid 20s C range. Expect highs in the upper 80s east to the
lower 90s west. Feel with lush vegetation, moisture advection,
and lack of downslope, many locales will fall short of 90. Still,
one of the warmest days we've had this season. South winds will
not be as strong Friday, adding to the warm and humid feel to the
air. Strong instability will build through the afternoon with
CAPE to near 4000 J/kg. Most of daylight Friday will be dry for
most of SW Kansas, as this instability builds. Am confident that
strong to severe convection will impact portions of SW Kansas
Friday evening, but mode and placement are still somewhat muddled.
GFS has shown an MCS tracking across the northern zones Friday
evening for many runs now. CAMs show good agreement with
convection in the western zones by 7 pm Friday. Focused scattered
category pops in the Friday evening time frame. Slow moving
supercells with a primary threat of large hail are possible, per
the 15% slight risk from SPC, but damaging winds are likely from
any MCS. Active convective operations are expected Friday PM.

.LONG TERM...(Saturday through Thursday)
Issued at 150 PM CDT Thu Jun 13 2019

Another round of strong to severe convection is expected Saturday
afternoon and Saturday night. 12z ECMWF as well as many other
models depict a discernible shortwave trough arriving in SW
Kansas, well-timed with peak heating Saturday afternoon. Models
continue to focus the strongest instability across the SE 1/2 of
the zones, with extreme CAPE values of over 5000 J/kg possible.
12z ECMWF shows convective initiation in this high instability
environment Saturday afternoon. Shear values will be augmented by
the approaching shortwave, such that supercells are likely within
the first several hours of convective evolution. Very large hail
is the primary threat, again primarily east and south of Dodge
City as a first approximation. 12z ECMWF maintains continuity from
its previous runs, showing a strong MCS along the Kansas/Oklahoma
border Saturday evening.

Sunday through Tuesday, the details remain unknown, but the trend
is clear. Thunderstorm chances will continue throughout this time
range, as weak shortwaves interact with moisture and instability.
Location, coverage and severity will need to be determined
essentially on a day-by-day basis. Pop grids in the 20-50% range
are spread out nicely Sunday through Tuesday by the NBM, and that
will suffice for now. There are indications that drier air from
the west will shut down the thunderstorm machine late next week.

Temperatures will change little day-to-day, with highs in the
upper 70s to mid 80s common, and lows in the 50s NW to 60s SE.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Friday evening)
Issued at 619 PM CDT Thu Jun 13 2019

Isolated thunderstorms in southeast Colorado will move east and
southeast early this evening. Most of the convective activity is
expected to move into the OK/TX panhandles but a few storms could
stray into far southwest Kansas this evening. The storms should be
weakening with the loss of daytime heating but will carry at least
a mention of VCSH at the Liberal terminal. Late this evening into
tonight, a low level jet is expected to develop. In addition to
LLWS at the terminals, this feature could result in some nocturnal
convection over central Kansas. Do not have real high confidence
in this but will carry a period of VCTS at Hays for that
possibility.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
DDC  60  88  61  87 /  20  10  30  20
GCK  60  88  58  87 /  20  20  30  30
EHA  60  93  58  86 /  50  10  10  40
LBL  59  91  60  87 /  30  10  20  20
HYS  61  89  62  87 /  30  20  50  20
P28  62  87  66  90 /  30  10  30  10

&&

.DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.
&&

SHORT TERM...Turner
LONG TERM...Turner
AVIATION...Gerard

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
259 AM CDT Thu Jun 13 2019

KSZ030-031-043>046-061>066-074>081-084>090-141200-
Trego-Ellis-Scott-Lane-Ness-Rush-Hamilton-Kearny-Finney-Hodgeman-
Pawnee-Stafford-Stanton-Grant-Haskell-Gray-Ford-Edwards-Kiowa-
Pratt-Morton-Stevens-Seward-Meade-Clark-Comanche-Barber-
259 AM CDT Thu Jun 13 2019 /159 AM MDT Thu Jun 13 2019/

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of central...south
central...southwest and west central Kansas.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Day 1 Discussion
----------------

There is a chance of afternoon and evening storms from the Colorado
border to just west of Highway 283. Some of these storms may be strong
to severe. The main threats are 1 to 2 inch hail and outflow winds
of 50 to 60 mph. This activity may remain very isolated as well.

Day 1 Hazards
-------------
* Hail: Limited risk
* Thunderstorm wind damage: Limited risk
* Lightning: Limited risk
* Non-thunderstorm wind: Limited risk

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

Days 2-7 Discussion
-------------------

There will be bouts of storm activity during this period. Some of the
storms may be strong to severe with hail and wind as the primary threats.
Exact storm specifics will be not be resolvable until the day of said
activity.

Days 2-7 Hazards
----------------
* Friday
  - Lightning: Limited risk
  - Severe thunderstorm: Elevated risk
  - Excessive heat: Limited risk
  - Non thunderstorm wind: Limited risk

* Saturday
  - Lightning: Limited risk
  - Severe thunderstorm: Elevated risk

* Sunday
  - Lightning: Limited risk

* Monday
  - Lightning: Limited risk

* Tuesday
  - Lightning: Limited risk

* Wednesday
  - Lightning: Limited risk

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be need lated this afternoon and evening west
of Highway 283.

&&

For more details visit our webpage http://weather.gov/ddc/ehwo