textproduct: Goodland

KEY MESSAGES

- Occasional shower chances through the rest of the week.

- Marginal severe risk Thursday afternoon and evening, primarily in Colorado, but could see that into northwest Kansas through the evening hours.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 130 PM MDT Tue May 19 2026

An upper level trough will remain anchored over the western CONUS through Thursday, then will merge with a closed upper low over the northern Rockies on Friday. Shortwaves ejecting eastward from these systems will result in occasional chances for shower and isolated thunderstorms. The first wave moves out of southern Colorado tonight and northeastward into central Nebraska tomorrow. Scattered light rain showers will develop tonight through Wednesday morning, best chances will be north of Interstate 70. Some weak instability does develop along the Front Range Wednesday afternoon where scattered thunderstorms will develop. Deep layer shear around 50kts will be sufficient for supercells as they migrate eastward across the plains, but with rapidly diminishing instability do not think they will impact our area. However, the remnant showers and perhaps an isolated thunderstorm with some weak MUCAPE will be moving across the area Wednesday evening. Not expecting any hazards with this activity other than localized wind gusts of 40-50 mph. Showers should persist into the overnight hours with the upper trough axis still to the west, with best chances south of Interstate 70.

Thursday will see a somewhat similar scenario, but shifted northward as the northern Rockies upper low strengthens and a stronger shortwave trough moves across eastern Colorado at the time of peak heating. The instability axis will shift further east and the REFS has a corridor of 1000-1500 j/kg from Limon to Fort Morgan along with 35kts of deep layer shear. While the surface-based instability will rapidly weaken after 00Z, MUCAPE of at least 500 j/kg as well as deep layer shear of 40kts are forecast as the showers and thunderstorms move in from Colorado Thursday night. The parameters suggest a marginally severe storm or two will be possible with some pockets of MUCAPE up to 1000 j/kg forecast by the NAM through about 06z before weakening. NBM has rain amounts of up to 1" in eastern Colorado Thursday evening with the stronger storms, then around 0.25-0.50" in the rest of the area overnight with rain and isolated storms.

The upper trough axis and associated surface cold front will be slowly moving through the area Friday morning with showers and isolated thunderstorms continuing. This morning activity should limit the afternoon instability, though it is possible some clearing could occur on the western and southern edges of the forecast area. Also will need to see where the front ends up in the afternoon as new convection could develop along it. However, both the GFS and ECMWF currently have the front well to the south, entering Oklahoma, while the NAM is slower and has the front in the southern part of the area. Since this is still a few days out and there will be multiple days of convection which may impact the ultimate timing and location of the front, confidence is low in the details and any potential severe hazards on Friday.

Temperatures through the period show little variation with highs in the 60s and lows in the 30s and 40s.

LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/

Issued at 110 PM MDT Tue May 19 2026

Saturday, our region is forecast to be under a weak southwest flow with a weak trough along the Rocky Mountains. Expect mostly sunny skies and a slight warming trend through the beginning of the work week. High temperatures are forecast in the 70s for Saturday and the 80s for Sunday and Monday. Saturday will have a 25-35% chance for showers and thunderstorms across the county warning area (CWA) from weak shortwave passages.

After Sunday, we transition to more of a ridge pattern, so expect primarily sunny skies and gusts up to 30 mph in the afternoons for our Colorado counties Sunday and Monday. Warm temperatures continue Tuesday with highs forecast in the 80s. Wind gusts up to 40 mph are possible Tuesday for the western CWA. With relative humidity (RH) values overall trending down and forecast in the low 20s for Tuesday, fire weather potential will need to be monitored through the week.

Models are in disagreement on the track and evolution of a surface low off the coast of Baja California that starts to develop late Sunday. If this surface low ends up tracking toward our region, we have potential for an active pattern and severe weather potential late next week.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 1117 AM MDT Tue May 19 2026

VFR expected to prevail at both KGLD and KMCK through the TAF period. Mid and high clouds will gradually increase tonight with scattered light showers in the area by 12z Wednesday morning. No impacts are expected at this time at either terminal.

GLD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

KS...None. CO...None. NE...None.