664 FXUS63 KTOP 140751 AFDTOPArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Topeka KS 251 AM CDT Sun Sep 14 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Chances (20-45%) for showers and storms spread west to east across the area today. A couple of storms could be strong to severe across central and north central Kansas this afternoon and evening.
- The pattern remains active Monday through the end of the week with daily chances for showers/storms. Best chances (60-70%) come Tuesday night through Wednesday night.
- Temperatures trend back to near-normal Wednesday through the end of the week with highs in the upper 70s to low 80s.
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.DISCUSSION... Issued at 251 AM CDT Sun Sep 14 2025
Showers and storms are ongoing early this morning across western Kansas as an upper trough approaches the Plains. This trough becomes negatively tilted as it advances northeast through the morning, and precipitation shifts east into the forecast area, although the speed of the wave has slowed. Lapse rates and instability are limited initially, but do slowly increase through the day. Shear is weak and should preclude any severe weather with the leading round of showers and storms, but inverted-V soundings and DCAPE values of around 1000 J/kg could lead to gusty winds. Lapse rates steepen and shear increases to around 30kts across central Kansas where clearing is progged to occur closer to the surface low and frontal boundary. This area continues to be the focus for additional development during the afternoon and evening. While convective initiation will occur west of the forecast area, these storms will track east- northeast during the evening hours, but are expected to weaken as they move into north central Kansas. If these storms are able to maintain themselves as they move into north central Kansas, they could produce wind gusts up to 60 MPH and hail up to quarter size. Showers and storms linger through the overnight hours, but decreasing instability will preclude any severe weather.
Flow becomes southwesterly Monday behind the departing wave. Lingering energy could provide enough ascent in an unstable, uncapped airmass to generate isolated to scattered showers/storms Monday afternoon and evening. CAMs highlight this potential, but vary in location and coverage of storms. Nonetheless, weak shear should limit the intensity of storms, but any storms that do form could produce gusty winds and brief heavy rainfall.
Guidance is coming into better agreement in the overall pattern Tuesday through the end of the week as broad troughing takes control of the central CONUS. Several passing waves of energy along with a stalled boundary will support rounds of showers and storms during this timeframe, with highest chances (60-70%) coming Tuesday night through Wednesday night. Differences in timing and location of subsequent waves keep precipitation chances lower for later in the week. Cooler air is looking more likely to build in by mid-week which, along with cloud cover, will knock highs back into the upper 70s and low 80s Wednesday through Saturday.
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.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z MONDAY/... Issued at 1222 AM CDT Sun Sep 14 2025
Predominantly VFR conditions expected. Winds increase from the south again by mid- morning Sunday with gusts of 20-25kts most likely at KMHK. Confidence in timing and location of storms remains rather low, but have included a PROB30 group for TS at KMHK. Showers and storms could impact KTOP/KFOE from 23z through the end of the period, but confidence is not high enough to include.
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.TOP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None.
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DISCUSSION...Flanagan AVIATION...Flanagan
NWS TOP Office Area Forecast Discussion