Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Topeka, KS
Issued by NWS Topeka, KS
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334 FXUS63 KTOP 091743 AFDTOP Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Topeka KS 1143 AM CST Tue Dec 9 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Warm today. Turning breezy tonight behind cold front. - Up and down temperatures through Friday, then colder for the weekend. - No notable precipitation chances. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 317 AM CST Tue Dec 9 2025 Water vapor imagery this morning shows our persistent eastern trough western ridge still in place. The pattern is shifted a bit east compared to much of the last week, as a potent jet streak moves onto the Pacific Northwest coast. As the aforementioned jet streak quickly moves towards the Plains today, the first in a series of Alberta clippers will move southeast from Alberta (as the name suggests) towards the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest. Strong WAA and downsloping 850-700 mb winds will help temperatures warm to near 60 today, a stark change compared to the past two weeks. As the clipper passes by to our north tonight though, it will push a sharp cold front southward through the area. The core of the cold will stay to our north, but will give us enough of a glancing blow to keep temperatures in the 40s. Also can`t completely rule out a brief sprinkle right along the front, given strong low-level ascent. A perhaps more notable impact will be gusty northwest winds behind the cold front. Gusts 30-40 mph will be common late tonight into tomorrow morning, and could flirt with wind advisory criteria towards the Nebraska border. Northwest flow persists across the Plains through the rest of the week and into the weekend. The strong upper jet will be indicative of the strong baroclinicity across the region, with very cold temperatures to our northeast and very warm temperatures to our southwest. Temperatures have trended slightly warmer each day, as the overall pattern has trended slightly more zonal and less amplified. Still, we should see a shot of colder air for the weekend, with a day or two of temperatures near/below freezing. Similar to today`s system, within the strong jet we`ll see a few more Alberta Clippers passing to our north. Can`t rule out brief flurries with any related frontal passage, but overall the pattern supports continued dry conditions. Beyond the weekend, there are initial hints of ridging building back in over the Plains. Remains to be seen the exact strength and location of this ridge, but it should at least bring somewhat warmer temperatures for early next week. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 1138 AM CST Tue Dec 9 2025 Wind is the main aviation hazard this period. Breezy southwest winds will occur this afternoon ahead of a cold front that is expected to shift winds to the northwest tonight. A period of LLWS is expected along and behind the boundary as a 50 kt LLJ moves overhead. Surface winds will then increase again early Wednesday with gusts to 30 kts possible through Wednesday morning. && .TOP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Reese AVIATION...Teefey