textproduct: Wichita

KEY MESSAGES

- Isolated strong/severe storms could impact parts of central Kansas this evening.

- Heat will continue to persist over the region with the hottest temperatures/highest heat indices expected for Fri/Sat.

- Next chances for storms looks to affect the region Saturday night into Sunday.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 253 AM CDT Wed Jul 1 2026

Currently, an expansive ridge dominates the eastern US with troughing across the western US. At the surface, a stationary boundary is draped from the Upper Midwest into the Central Plains. An outflow boundary from yesterday evening's storms bisects the forecast area from Salina to Med Lodge and a few weak attempts at showers highlight this feature. As the state continues to be pinched between the anomalous high pressure to our east and the lee trough to the west, breezy southerly winds will persist through the day.

A repeat of yesterday's storms is expected again this evening as another shortwave passes across the Rockies and into the Northern Plains. The deepening lee surface trough will sharpen the associated dry line in western Kansas. Convection will once again develop over the Central High Plains along the dry line and progress eastward through the evening hours. A few storms, some of them strong to severe, could impact our central Kansas counties later this evening/into the overnight. The strongest storms would be capable of some gusty winds and small hail.

Then, a slight pattern change might be in store for the second half of the forecast period. An upper level wave looks to traverse the Dakotas on Saturday night which would support rain/storm chances Saturday evening into Sunday morning. Additional spotty rain and storm chances exist going into next week when upper level flow turns northwesterly as the ridge axis shifts west.

Afternoon highs are expected to reach into the lower to middle 90s the next several days. With highs in the 90s and dewpoints around 70 degrees, heat index values will approach 105 degrees the next couple days. A Heat Advisory remains in effect through Thursday. Heights will increase through the end of the week, indicating heat will continue to build over the Sunflower State. By Friday and Saturday, highs will approach 100 degrees for many across the forecast area. With the pattern shift for the latter half of the forecast period, highs will be closer to normal for Sunday into next week, topping out in the lower 90s.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 1158 PM CDT Tue Jun 30 2026

An outflow boundary has passed through central Kansas, supporting erratic winds for a few hours in vicinity of RSL, GBD, SLN, and possibly HUT. By 08-10z though, expecting breezy southerly winds to commence, and persist through Wednesday.

Can't rule out a few stray showers/thunderstorms for all TAF sites except CNU later tonight through Wednesday evening. Predictability is low with this activity, so did not include mention in 06z TAFs.

ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT Thursday for KSZ032-033-047>053- 067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100.