Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Topeka, KS
Issued by NWS Topeka, KS
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115 FXUS63 KTOP 241719 AFDTOP Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Topeka KS 1119 AM CST Mon Nov 24 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Rain and a few rumbles of thunder expected through the day today. - Breezy on Tuesday behind a cold front that will bring in below- normal temperatures Wednesday through the end of the week. - Chances for precipitation return Friday into the weekend, including the potential for wintry precipitation. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 227 AM CST Mon Nov 24 2025 An occluded mid-latitude cyclone is sliding east across the Plains this morning, bringing widespread cloud cover and an increasing coverage of showers. This system slowly advances east through the day today with persistent lift and saturation generating widely scattered showers through the day. Unimpressive lapse rates do steepen slightly through the day and could allow for a few rumbles of thunder. Rainfall amounts have come up slightly (0.50-0.75") across east central Kansas due to the potential for some embedded storms enhancing rainfall rates in this area. Rainfall amounts drop off with northwest extent; north central Kansas may only see a 0.1-0.2" of rain. High boundary layer moisture lingers into the evening and overnight hours before drier air slowly works in. With light surface winds, think at least patchy fog will develop and hold into Tuesday morning before mixing out. A strong trough diving southeast across the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest will shunt a cold front through the area during the day Tuesday. FROPA is anticipated to be dry, but northwest winds become gusty behind the front, with gusts of 30-35 MPH expected through the day. After highs in the 50s Tuesday, temperatures fall into the 20s by sunrise Wednesday and only warm into the 40s Wednesday afternoon. Surface ridging moves overhead on Thanksgiving, allowing for dry, but cool conditions with morning lows in the 20s and afternoon highs in the 40s. Northwest flow aloft gives way to more zonal flow by the end of the week. Ensembles favor a western CONUS trough setting up this weekend with a strong cold front progged to move through the area sometime Friday-Saturday. Details remain unclear this far out, but confidence is increasing in the passage of this cold front bringing in a reinforcing shot of cold air along with chances for precipitation. Guidance varies widely in key aspect of this system, namely the speed and track of the system and the subsequent temperature profile and precipitation type. Wintry precipitation is possible, especially on the backside of the system as colder air filters into the region. Still seeing some big run-to-run variations leading to high uncertainty at this range. Be sure to keep up with the latest forecast information, especially if you have travel plans this weekend. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY/... Issued at 1111 AM CST Mon Nov 24 2025 Main driver this TAF cycle is ceilings. Intermittent showers and reductions in visibility will pass the terminals through the day before rain dissipates this evening. However cig heights generally forecast to sink from IFR today to just into LIFR tonight and stay there overnight. Should lift/break quickly tomorrow as the stronger west winds and drier air move in, generally in the 15-16z timeframe. && .TOP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Flanagan AVIATION...Craven