Very windy today, stormy tomorrow

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Another very windy day is ahead with highs in the low to mid 80s and wind gusts of 40-50 mph. This will continue this evening, with winds not as strong tomorrow but gusts of 35-40 mph still expected. If a cold front moves through, isolated showers/storms with severe weather will occur in the afternoon/early evening hours.

Take action:

1. There will be 40-50 mph winds tonight: Keep a firm grip on the steering wheel, especially if you are in a high-profile vehicle or driving next to one that is heading east or west. This also means that no burning takes place outdoors, as fires that arise are very difficult to control.
2. Rain is expected on Wednesday: a few strong to severe storms are possible in the afternoon. So you have at least two ways to receive alerts. Hazardous weather may occur between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., when you are driving home from work. We are also monitoring another storm system with storms this weekend into early next week. Too early to give specifics about the weekend's storm system at this time, but be prepared for the rain to impact any outdoor plans you may have, including the Washburn or Emporia State games and even the Chiefs game on Monday night .
3. Daylight saving time ends this weekend: a good time to check and replace the batteries in your smoke detectors and weather radio.
4. Halloween Evening: Clear with temperatures cooling into the 50s, possibly 40s, with winds 5 mph or less.

An active end to the month of October and early November with much needed rain. Over the next 8 days, through next Tuesday evening, many spots could be in the 2 to 4 inch range. The bigger concern will be severe weather tomorrow, with hail and wind being the main concerns, but the threat of tornadoes is not zero and needs to be monitored, particularly for discrete storms. Currently we expect the storms to be more likely to line up, which would result in a higher chance of a wind threat, but storms could be severe at any time during the afternoon and early evening hours.

This afternoon: Mostly cloudy. Highs in the low to mid 80s. Wind force S 20-30, gusts up to 50 miles per hour.

Tonight: It can't be ruled out that a few storms will develop after 3 a.m., but most models keep the area dry until after sunrise. Lows in the upper 60s to low 70s. Wind force S 20-30, gusts around 72 km/h.

Morning: The combination of a cold front and cooling rain temperatures will result in steady/decreasing temperatures for most areas west of HWY 75, where temperatures will be in the 50s and 60s by 5 p.m. Still in the 70s and possibly even near 80° along and east of HWY 75 at 5 p.m. before the storm/cold front moves through. As for the rain and storms, rain will begin in north-central KS around 9 a.m. and become more scattered through the early afternoon, mostly west of a line from Marysville through Manhattan before a more organized line develops and ahead advances eastward especially after 3 p.m. ..Subject to change, so check back tomorrow for an update. Wind force 15-25, gusts around 35 mph.

Between 8 and 10 p.m., storms will subside across the eastern portion of the viewing area, with dry conditions prevailing most of the night and low temperatures climbing back into the 40s as winds eventually weaken to 5 to 10 mph and gusts still at about 20 miles per hour.

Halloween is expected to be fine with winds of 5 to 10 mph and lots of sun, but much cooler and highs around 60 with a seasonal Friday.

Occasional rain is expected this weekend into early next week, with a few T-storms also possible. Therefore, if anything, we will continue to monitor the likelihood of severe weather as we approach the end of the week.

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