765 FXUS63 KLSX 121852 AFDLSXArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Saint Louis MO 152 PM CDT Sun Oct 12 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Near to above normal temperatures stay in place through the upcoming week.
- Mostly dry conditions are expected until the upcoming weekend, when the best chances (40-50%) of appreciable rain arrive.
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.SHORT TERM... (Through Late Monday Night) Issued at 150 PM CDT Sun Oct 12 2025
Between two amplified upper-level troughs, one centered across the Northwest U.S. and the other stalled along the eastern seaboard under a larger ridge, high surface pressure and dry conditions persist in the Mid-Mississippi Valley. Southerly winds are beginning to strengthen across western and central Missouri in advance of a slowly-advancing cold front currently draped across the northern Plains. The continued southerly flow is keeping temperatures slightly above mid-October normals, while gradually drawing low- level moisture poleward. The front is still forecast to approach the region overnight tonight, but all indications are that the upper- level support will stay north of us. Without the upper-level wave, the front will stall and weaken drastically in northern Missouri and west-central Illinois.
For most in central/northeast Missouri and west-central Illinois, the only impact will be increased cloud cover that help keep lows a few degrees warmer than last night. A few sprinkles or periods of light rain are possible, but the lack of mid-level lift, weak low- level forcing from the front, and absent low-level jet will make any appreciable rain very hard to come by. Further south and east, skies will be clear most of the night and no impacts from the front are expected. The clear skies will likely result in another night of efficient radiational cooling in these areas, causing river valley fog that will be locally-dense. Fog will gradually dissipate by around sunrise as clouds continue to progress east, and by mid- morning diurnal mixing will scour out any lingering visibility restrictions. If the front still exist by then, it will be north of the forecast area and abnormal warmth will persist for Columbus Day. The one change will be lingering cloud cover, which will stunt further warming for most of the region.
MRB
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.LONG TERM... (Tuesday through Next Sunday) Issued at 150 PM CDT Sun Oct 12 2025
All available guidance continues to depict a building ridge aloft from Tuesday onward, setting up what can only be described as a summer-like pattern in mid-October. Temperatures do cool into the low 70s in the northern tier of Missouri and western Illinois Tuesday into Wednesday thanks to a cool northeasterly wind on the backside of a surface ridge over the Great Lakes. Further south, easterly to southeasterly winds combined with rising heights aloft, will keep temperatures in the upper 70s to low 80s. This warm and dry pattern continues on through the week, and while it will make for nothing short of a fantastic week to be outside, it is not welcomed news to those with drought or fire weather interests. The saving grace for the latter group is a general lack of sustained wind above 10-12mph until at least Friday. If there is any threat of warm, dry, and windy conditions, it would be Friday.
We continue to eye the upcoming weekend as the next best chance for beneficial rain. By then, a more amplified trough-ridge pattern will materialize over the CONUS. The resultant deep southwest flow aloft is a favorable synoptic pattern for more active sensible weather. For this reason, the CIPS Extended Analog guidance from Saint Louis University, which relies on large-scale pattern recognition, is very bullish on above-normal rainfall for the bi-state region. As one drills down into the full ensemble envelope, however, there are important timing and amplitude differences in the pattern that will affect the amount and areal extent of the rain. There is a good deal of confidence that we`ll see a front drop through the region, and much of the ensemble guidance does paint some higher integrated water vapor transport along that front. The combination of those two leads to a promising recipe for rain, but how the cyclone itself evolves will be an important factor.
If the wave is less amplified and quicker, the surface low may stay further north and widespread rain will be harder to achieve. The slower, more amplified solution brings more forcing (and rain) to the region. This scenario may also allow for a second round of rain to end the weekend, but most solutions do not suggest that. It`s also important to keep in mind that existing drought may adversely impact the low-level moisture profile in the quicker, weaker scenario. While this feature represents our best chance for widespread rain in the last few weeks, we`re far from certain on how beneficial it will be.
MRB
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.AVIATION... (For the 18z TAFs through 18z Monday Afternoon) Issued at 1203 PM CDT Sun Oct 12 2025
Dry, VFR conditions will persist through the evening at all terminals. A weak cold front is slowly approaching the region from the northwest, which will increase cloud cover this evening and overnight in central Missouri through west-central Illinois. While I can`t rule out a stray shower at KUIN and the central Missouri terminals, the chances are lower than 30% and I expect no impacts.
The cloud cover will keep river fog that`s plagued the low-lying terminals at bay, particularly at KJEF. KSUS, and possibly KCPS, will likely still be mostly clear overnight and prone to efficient radiational cooling. I`ve added MVFR fog at KSUS, but left it out of KCPS for the time being as they`re not usually as prone. If trends continue to suggest a mostly-clear night at KSUS, IFR (and probably LIFR) VSBYs would be warranted. Any impacts will end around sunrise, if not an hour or two later, with the arrival of clouds or daytime mixing.
MRB
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.LSX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MO...None. IL...None. &&
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WFO LSX
NWS LSX Office Area Forecast Discussion