Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Topeka, KS

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515
FXUS63 KTOP 181702
AFDTOP

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Topeka KS
1202 PM CDT Sat Oct 18 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Fog impacts the area this morning, including some locally
  dense fog. Any fog should burn off by 9 AM or so.

- A strong cold front moves through the area today with
  northwest winds gusting at 30-40 MPH behind the front this
  afternoon and evening.

- Feeling more like Fall behind the front starting Sunday and
  continuing through next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 317 AM CDT Sat Oct 18 2025

Southwest flow aloft is present across the Central Plains this
morning with a southern stream shortwave near the TX/OK panhandles
and a more vigorous trough over the Northern Plains. A surface
trough has stalled across the forecast area with the stronger
cold front still well north of the area across southern South
Dakota. Light winds, clearing skies, and high boundary layer
moisture ahead of the aforementioned surface trough has allowed
for some fog to develop. Uncertainty remains in how dense and
widespread fog will become, but the potential is there for at
least some patchy dense fog until after sunrise when mixing
ensues.

The Northern Plains trough dives southeast through the day today,
shunting a strong cold front through the area during the afternoon.
As the southern stream wave pushes east-northeast, moisture and lift
across east central Kansas will likely be sufficient for some
showers and storms to develop through the day before the front
shunts all activity to the east by this evening. Northwest winds
become gusty as the front moves through with winds gusts at 30-40
MPH this afternoon and evening before relaxing overnight as surface
high pressure builds in. The passage of the front ushers in cooler
and drier air for Sunday with morning lows falling into the 40s,
with the potential for some upper 30s near the KS/NE stateline. It
will feel more like Fall on Sunday with highs only reaching the mid
60s to near 70 degrees.

Southerly low-level flow increases late Sunday into Monday before
another cold front moves through during the day Monday. A lack of
moisture favors a dry frontal passage. Temperatures warm back into
the 70s Monday afternoon before cooling back down into the 60s on
Tuesday under Northwest flow aloft. Dry conditions continue until a
closed low ejects across the Central and Southern Plains Thursday
into Friday with confidence increasing in more widespread
precipitation impacting the region during this timeframe.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 1159 AM CDT Sat Oct 18 2025

VFR at all TAF sites through the TAF period. A strong cold front
will move through around 22z today. This will bring a sharp wind
shift out of the northwest and gusty wind around 30 knots for
the late afternoon and evening. Wind speeds should begin to
diminish after 06z. Some light showers are possible following
shortly behind the frontal passage, but confidence in these
materializing and impacting the terminals is too low at this
point to mention anything in the TAF.

&&

.TOP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...Flanagan
AVIATION...Jones