textproduct: Wichita

KEY MESSAGES

- Additional thunderstorm chances develop later this afternoon and continue into the overnight hours. Widespread severe weather is not expected, though the strongest storms may be capable of damaging winds and small hail.

- Continued chances for showers and storms through the weekend, especially late overnight into the early morning hours.

- Mid-upper 90s expected today with lower 90s this weekend into early next week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 323 AM CDT Thu Jul 9 2026

Currently, a relatively flat ridge extends across the Western US with a shortwave situated over the Northern Plains. At the surface, a weak frontal boundary is positioned just ahead of this wave across the Upper Midwest and into Nebraska. A stationary boundary is draped just to the north of our forecast area that pushed across the state yesterday as a warm front. Afternoon temperatures yesterday topped out a couple of degrees above normal and similar conditions are expected today before the frontal boundary over Nebraska pushes across the region later tonight. Rain and general thunderstorms developed overnight across the Flint Hills and linger over eastern Kansas early this morning. This activity will gradually shift east out of the area and diminish in intensity through the morning hours.

As the frontal boundary to our north begins to push south into our area later this afternoon/evening, a few diurnally driven storms will fire ahead of the boundary in southern Kansas. More widespread rain and storm chances are expected as an MCS off the High Plains pushes eastward during the late evening and overnight hours. Most guidance is directing this feature across central Kansas, though nearly all locations remain in play at this time. The main threat with this activity will be damaging wind gusts, primarily across western and central Kansas as storms are expected to weaken as they progress eastward.

Scattered rain and storm chances will continue into Friday and Saturday as the frontal boundary stalls across the southern tier of our area. Exact storm position will depend on where this boundary settles. Then, as a strong ridge builds over the central US next week, the forecast area looks to reside under easterly flow. This setup could support a few showers and weak storms as Gulf moisture pushes into the region. With current model placement of the mid/upper high, the southern portion of our area, or even south of Kansas, would be the most likely location of this convective activity next week.

As previously mentioned, temperatures this afternoon will once again reach a couple degrees above normal (mid-upper 90s) ahead of the frontal boundary. Behind the boundary, slightly "cooler" temperatures are forecast with highs reaching into the lower 90s for Friday into early next week. As the ridge builds over the region, temperatures will begin to creep warmer through mid week. It continues to appear that the ridge will build far enough north that the true heat dome will remain north of our region. Even so, high temperatures for the middle of next week look to reach into the middle 90s, with upper 90s possible for far south-central Kansas.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 551 AM CDT Thu Jul 9 2026

A few lingering showers are currently impacting CNU this morning, look for minimal impacts at the site for the next couple hours. Additional rain and storms look to impact central Kansas sites after 03Z, potentially lingering through the end of the forecast period.

Winds will be widely variable around 10 knots today across the region as a weak surface low moves across the state. Northeasterly winds will continue in central Kansas with southerly winds across southern Kansas turning westerly and eventually northeasterly by this evening.

ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.