textproduct: Wichita

KEY MESSAGES

- Warm temperatures and gusty winds expected through the end of the week.

- Isolated rain chances later tonight, then again Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Severe weather is not expected at this time.

- A Heat Advisory remains in effect this afternoon through Thursday.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 312 AM CDT Mon Jun 29 2026

Current water vapor imagery and RAP analysis highlight a mid/upper low situated over the Northern Intermountain as ridging continues over Ohio River Valley and Great Lakes. At the surface, a deepening low in northeast Colorado has promoted continued gusty south winds across the forecast area. A dryline spans from this low southward into the Oklahoma Panhandle.

TEMPERATURES/WINDS:

Increasing heights and thicknesses from upper ridging across the eastern CONUS will promote warm temperatures across the region today with highs once again in the low to upper 90s. Dewpoints near/above 70 degrees areawide by this afternoon will combine with this heat to result in heat index values in the 100-105 degree range this afternoon into the early evening. Theta-e advection in the low/mid levels is expected to promote increased cloud coverage for Tuesday and Wednesday which will keep highs and associated heat indices a bit lower than previously anticipated (near/below 100). Heat index values in excess of 100 degrees will then return to south central and southeast Kansas beginning Thursday and lasting through the end of the week. Highest values to this point appear likely to reside in southeast Kansas where dewpoints in the low to middle 70s will persist.

Regarding winds, a tightened surface pressure gradient arising from continued lee troughing will promote gusty south winds across the area through week's end. This afternoon's setup appears similar to that of Sunday's, with sustained winds around 20-30 mph and gusts in the 35-40 mph range likely especially across portions of central and south central Kansas. Gusty south winds will likely last through the end of the week with little anticipated change to the surface pattern.

RAIN CHANCES:

Latest guidance continues to indicate embedded ripples in mid/upper flow that will allow for isolated to scattered shower and thunderstorm chances across portions of central Kansas (generally west of K-14) during the evening hours tonight, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Per the prior discussion, inverted-v soundings indicate the potential for a handful of strong wind gusts later this evening should activity manage to develop. On the whole, however, capping concerns raise doubts about extent of coverage this far east over the next several days. Better rain chances to this point appear to our west where convergence along the aforementioned dryline may allow for storm development. As such, still thinking most of the area will remain dry through the end of the week.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z TUESDAY/

Issued at 557 AM CDT Mon Jun 29 2026

VFR conditions are expected to prevail at all terminals through the end of the period.

LLWS at 1.5 kft this morning is anticipated to dissipate by 14Z. Otherwise, primary impact for the period will be strong south winds sustained near/above 20kts and gusts in excess of 30 kts. These should die down slightly after 00Z, though LLWS will return to all terminals by 03Z as the LLJ picks back up this evening.

ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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