780 FXUS63 KTOP 221726 AFDTOPArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Topeka KS 1226 PM CDT Mon Sep 22 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Thunderstorms are possible late tonight into Tuesday. A few strong to severe storms are possible.
- Mild and dry conditions likely Wednesday night through the weekend.
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.DISCUSSION... Issued at 113 AM CDT Mon Sep 22 2025
A complex forecast is taking shape for later today and into Tuesday. An upper-level trough is developing across the Rockies. This trough is expected to deepen and slowly move into the central Plains by Tuesday night. Ahead of the main trough, a weak mid-level wave and inverted surface trough will develop. Most models have the mid-level wave and associated lift remaining to our north in Nebraska as it moves through this afternoon. A few thunderstorms may make it into far northern Kansas though. Any thunderstorms during the late afternoon would have the potential of being strong/severe with 1,500 joules of ML CAPE and 30 knots of shear. In the wake of this wave, mid- level height rises are forecast to move into our area, which should keep a lid on further convective development through at least the early evening.
Another wave is forecast to push into central Kansas during the late evening and coincide with a developing low-level jet. Most CAMs have activity associated with these features remaining across southern Kansas but even a slight northern deviation in the track of this wave could lead to a complex of thunderstorms making it into central Kansas. With an unstable airmass in place and increasing shear with the developing low-level jet, storms Monday night into Tuesday morning could be strong to severe with damaging wind the main threat as a complex of storms is favored over isolated cells. Monday into Tuesday is the best chance of precipitation we will have over the next week. Some could see some stronger storms with wind up to 60 mph and some could see rainfall amounts around an inch. However, some will only see lighter showers and amounts of a quarter inch or so. Each progressive wave and complex of storms will depend largely on how the prior wave/complex evolves.
As the main trough swings through the Plains Tuesday into Wednesday, additional showers are possible, but rainfall amounts would likely be rather light, only a few tenths of an inch. After the upper-level trough passes we will be in a dry and mild pattern for the rest of the week as an upper-level ridge builds in.
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.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY/... Issued at 1226 PM CDT Mon Sep 22 2025
VFR conditions expected through this evening before showers and storms move into terminals early Tuesday morning. Input a best guess for timing this activity with reduction to VSBY and MVFR cigs likely in the heaviest rain. Think storm coverage decreases by late morning Tuesday with lingering showers through the end of the period.
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.TOP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None.
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DISCUSSION...Jones AVIATION...Flanagan
NWS TOP Office Area Forecast Discussion