Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Topeka, KS
Issued by NWS Topeka, KS
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636 FXUS63 KTOP 201102 AFDTOP Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Topeka KS 502 AM CST Thu Nov 20 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Patchy fog again this morning, some locally dense fog is possible. - Widespread showers and a few embedded thunderstorms build from south to north across the area this evening into Friday. - Dry and seasonable this weekend before another round of widespread rain builds in Sunday night into early Tuesday. - Colder air builds in Wednesday through the end of next week, accompanied by low (15-20%) precipitation chances. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 314 AM CST Thu Nov 20 2025 Southwesterly mid-level flow stretches from northern Mexico into the Central Plains this morning ahead of a closed low located over western Arizona. A shortwave moving through the mean flow along with some isentropic ascent generated showers and a few storms across east central and southeast Kansas overnight, but this activity is waning and conditions become dry before sunrise this morning. High boundary layer moisture and calm surface winds will again favor some fog development including some locally dense fog. Uncertainty remains in how widespread and dense fog will become, but thinking conditions will be similar to the past few nights with just some patchy dense fog before mixing out later this morning. Mostly dry conditions are expected through the morning into the afternoon before the aforementioned closed low lifts northeast across the Central and Southern Plains this evening and overnight. Widespread showers and a few thunderstorms will build into the area from south to north this evening and continue into the day on Friday. Rain may be more scattered by Friday afternoon, especially along and south of Interstate 70 before coming to an end Friday evening. PWATs of 1.25" along with some weak instability will allow for some heavier downpours, although not expecting any flooding issues. The majority of HREF members produce at least 1" of rainfall for most areas across northeast Kansas with localized amounts close to 2". Shortwave mid-level ridging builds overhead this weekend ahead of yet another closed low that tracks from the Desert Southwest into the Plains Sunday into Monday. Guidance has trended faster with the progression of this wave, but still expecting another widespread round of showers starting Sunday evening/night and continuing into early Tuesday. Temperatures remain seasonable with highs primarily in the 50s. A strong cold front will push through the area by Wednesday, bringing in a cold Canadian high pressure. Below-normal temperatures are favored Wednesday through the end of next week. Ensembles remain mixed on precipitation chances Wed-Fri, but even those that do develop some precipitation only show minor amounts. Plenty of uncertainty remains, but with temperatures cold enough to support some snow around a busy travel time, it is worth staying up to date with the latest forecast information. && .AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 502 AM CST Thu Nov 20 2025 Messy TAF period expected. Higher than normal uncertainty exists in regards to when fog lifts and when/for how long cigs remain MVFR/IFR. Thinking fog should lift by mid-morning with eventual scattering of the low cloud deck. Guidance suggests low cigs hold through much of the morning, but there is a chance these restrictions persist through most of the day. Went more optimisticwith VFR conditions early this afternoon. Showers and embedded storms approach terminals around 03z, bringing back MVFR/IFR cigs and VSBY through the remainder of the TAF period. && .TOP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Flanagan AVIATION...Flanagan