textproduct: Topeka

KEY MESSAGES

- Cold and breezy day today with isolated flurries possible early this morning.

- Brief warm-up comes Sunday before another front brings cold air back by MLK Jr. Day.

- Mostly dry forecast with small chances for precipitation next weekend.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 303 AM CST Sat Jan 17 2026

Scattered snow showers have given way to mostly clear skies across northeast Kansas this morning with northwesterly gusty flow remaining in place. The continued CAA will not allow temperatures this afternoon to warm much, topping out in the low 20s. With some scattered Cu coming out of Nebraska this morning, cannot rule out some flurries making their way into north-central and northeastern Kansas over the next several hours, but not expecting any appreciable impacts. By tonight, surface ridging slides across the area and plummets temperatures by Sunday morning into the upper single digits and low teens.

Northwesterly flow remains in place over the next several days with occasional lobes of vorticity advecting within the flow across the central Plains. By Sunday afternoon, low level flow flips to the southwest with the departure of the surface ridge and should provide a brief warm-up into the early afternoon before a weak shortwave pushes another cold front across the area mid-day Sunday. This will flip winds back to the northwest and usher in cold air once again. Monday's high temperatures will reflect the CAA with high temperatures staying below freezing. The roller coaster of temperatures continues over the next week with a warm-up Tuesday and cool downs following weak frontal passages later in the week. That said, there are minimal signs for widespread precipitation across the area through much of the week. The next best chance for precipitation will likely not come until the weekend as some mid- level moisture streams in from the southwest and upper-level flow turns more zonal to southwesterly.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 1138 AM CST Sat Jan 17 2026

VFR conditions expected through the period. Winds remain out of the NW before backing to the the WSW this evening and calming into the overnight period. There is a short window early Sunday morning for the potential for LLWS to set up ahead of the next cold push into the area. Right now, LLWS looks overall marginal so have left mention out of the forecast as well as subsequent wind shift along the cold front likely occurring near the end of the period.

TOP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.