textproduct: Dodge City

KEY MESSAGES

- Dangerously cold wind chills possible this morning, as low as -15 degrees.

- Additional light snow flurries possible this afternoon near I-70, but no accumulations are expected.

- Generally quiet weather through the long term with above normal temperatures.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 200 AM CST Sat Jan 31 2026

Surface observation across southwest KS early this morning show temperatures are beginning to crater, especially east of US-283 and north of US-50, as surface high pressure sags into the central plains allowing radiational cooling to be optimized. This trend will continue through sunrise with morning lows in the +5 to -5 degree range along and east of US-283. Despite light winds, wind chills could still dip as low as -15 at times, and therefore a Cold Weather Advisory remains in effect for the eastern 2 columns of counties within our area. After sunrise Saturday morning, short range ensembles agree the high pressure center will continue equatorward into the southern plains, allowing winds to flip to southerly across our area. However, with plenty of cloud cover east of US-83 and little to no westerly component to the winds, afternoon temperatures will stay below normal with highs ranging from the mid 20s east to the mid 40s west. Also of note, a non-zero chance for additional light snow flurries appears possible along and near I-70 as an upper level shortwave trough digs southeastward on the western periphery of longwave troughing over the central and eastern CONUS. NBM probability of snowfall greater than or equal to 0.1" is in the 20-30% range, and as a result, slight chance pops (15-24%) were introduced into the grids. Saturday night, light westerly winds will aid in holding morning lows in the teens to mid 20s despite clear skies.

Daytime Sunday, short range ensembles suggest the upper level ridge over the western CONUS will dampen as it creeps eastward, but still provide enough synoptic-scale subsidence to support dramatically warmer temperatures on Sunday, with afternoon highs jumping into the 60s for most locations while areas from Hays to Medicine Lodge stay in the upper 50s. This will also translate into a warmer night as Monday morning lows hold in the 20s.

Monday through the end of the period, medium range ensembles agree the upper level ridge will rebuild farther west above the west coast before resuming its slow eastward crawl. The outcome of this synoptic evolution will be larger quiescent conditions across southwest KS through the week. Shortwave troughs diving southeast through the High Plains will send a series of cold fronts through our area, but will carry little fanfare and fail to drop temperatures below normal.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 1125 PM CST Fri Jan 30 2026

VFR flying conditions this TAF cycle for all terminals. Current light and variable winds will begin to increase out of the south by mid-morning, becoming sustained in the 15-20 kt range gusting to 30 kts during the 16-23Z time frame before gradually weakening back to light and variable by 03-04Z.

DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Cold Weather Advisory until 10 AM CST this morning for KSZ031- 046-065-066-079>081-089-090.