textproduct: Dodge City

KEY MESSAGES

- A beautiful fall day is ahead today with afternoon highs in the 50s amidst light winds.

- Warming trend will commence tomorrow as afternoon highs rise into the 60s and subsequently into the low 70s by Monday.

- No precipitation is forecast throughout the entire forecast period.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1120 AM CST Fri Nov 6 2026

Water vapor satellite imagery and RAP upper air analysis at midday reveal shortwave ridging is in place across the High Plains, with a modest shortwave trough upstream over the far southwestern CONUS. At the surface, southwest KS resides on the southwest periphery of high pressure, with a very weak pressure gradient resulting in nearly calm winds across our area. These calm winds amidst a moist airmass have supported a stratus deck/fog over our eastern zones through much of the morning that is only recently showing signs of erosion from west to east. Given the shortened solar insolation window, max temperature grids within areas along and east of US-183 and near the I-70 corridor were lowered into the low/mid 50s while elsewhere will see afternoon highs in the upper 50s/near 60. Overnight, surface high pressure and its attendant calm winds will likely foster another low stratus deck and fog to develop roughly over the same areas as today, potentially requiring another dense fog advisory. Otherwise, lows will drop into the mid/upper 30s.

Daytime Saturday, short range ensembles agree the aforementioned shortwave trough will dig further southeast into northern Mexico, becoming largely split from the stronger westerly flow over the northern CONUS. With 500-mb heights rising over the central plains, 850-mb temperatures will increase by 3-4 degrees C, which will translate to afternoon highs in the mid 60s.

Sunday through the end of the period, medium range ensembles suggest longwave ridging will dominate much of the central CONUS for the foreseeable future. Consequently, southwest KS will enjoy a prolonged period of above normal temperatures with highs in the 60s to low 70s along with anomalously weak winds. The flip side is no precipitation is forecast as NBM pops are less than 5% during this entire period.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 1120 AM CST Fri Nov 6 2026

Surface observations across southwest KS reveal the morning fog and low stratus deck at HYS are finally beginning to dissipate, and HYS should join the other terminals in VFR within the next 1-2 hours. No aviation impacts and VFR should prevail through the rest of the day and into the overnight period, but another round of low stratus and fog are expected at HYS, and perhaps DDC as well, after 03Z, bringing LIFR/VLIFR cigs and vis that will again persist well into the morning tomorrow. Otherwise, winds will remain light and variable through this TAF cycle.

DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.