580 FXUS63 KLSX 251918 AFDLSXArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Saint Louis MO 218 PM CDT Thu Sep 25 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Dry weather with seasonably warm daytime temperatures are expected over the next 7 days.
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.SHORT TERM... (Through Late Friday Afternoon) Issued at 218 PM CDT Thu Sep 25 2025
A weak surface ridge of high pressure is expected to build into the mid-Mississippi Valley tonight with a mid/upper level trough moving further away into the mid south. Any diurnal cumulus/stratocumulus should dissipate quickly this evening, leaving a mostly clear sky for the remainder of the night. A clear sky with light/variable winds will be very favorable for radiational cooling. Lows in the low to mid 50s are forecast, or a degree or two below normal for the date. River valleys in parts of east central and southeast Missouri should be a bit cooler, with some spots dropping down into the upper 40s. Speaking of river valleys, we should see some more steam fog late tonight into Friday morning given water temperatures observations are currently in the mid to upper 70s. Any fog should then quickly evaporate within about 2 hours after sunrise.
Highs on Friday should be at least a couple of degrees warmer than this afternoon given weak low-level warm air advection and a lack of any diurnal cumulus/stratocumulus clouds. Readings should top out right near the 80 degree mark, or about 3-5 degrees above seasonal averages.
Gosselin
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.LONG TERM... (Friday Night through Next Thursday) Issued at 218 PM CDT Thu Sep 25 2025
There remains high confidence in a prolonged dry stretch of weather through next week given a quasi-omega block across the CONUS. The center of the mid/upper level ridge moves more over the Mississippi Valley by late this weekend and remains there next week. There is some uncertainty with how the cutoff low across the southeast CONUS interacts with the possible tropical cyclone near the southeast coast, but regardless, our area should remain dry. Probabilities from the LREF for measurable precipitation over any 24-hour period through next Thursday never get above 10%.
Daytime temperatures are expected to reach into the low to mid 80s each day, or about 6-10 degrees above normal. Nighttime lows are expected to be mostly in the mid 50s, or closer to normal due to a lack of cloud cover, light winds, and low humidity. Similar to the chances (or lack thereof) of rainfall, there is also high confidence in high and low temperatures through at least Tuesday. This is illustrated well by the very low inter-quartile ranges seen on the 13Z NBM (2-5 degrees). The spread increases for Wednesday and next Thursday as spread in ensemble guidance increases with respect to the strength of the surface ridging across the Great Lakes. A stronger (weaker) ridge could lead to at least slightly cooler (warmer) temperatures than currently forecast.
Gosselin
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.AVIATION... (For the 18z TAFs through 18z Friday Afternoon) Issued at 1200 PM CDT Thu Sep 25 2025
Light northwest winds are forecast to become light/variable this evening with diurnal cumulus/stratocumulus dissipating. Steam fog is expected in river valleys late tonight into early Friday morning. KJEF should be most heavily impacted, followed by KSUS. Any fog should dissipate by ~1400 UTC.
Gosselin
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.LSX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MO...None. IL...None. &&
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WFO LSX
NWS LSX Office Area Forecast Discussion