textproduct: Wichita

KEY MESSAGES

- Mild, record or near record high temperatures today and Saturday.

- Widely scattered showers(20-30%) and an isolated storm or two may be possible late Saturday night into early Sunday, mainly across southeast Kansas.

- Much colder air arriving in the wake of a cold front on Sunday.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 201 AM CST Fri Dec 26 2025

A surface trough extended south/southwest from a shortwave trough racing eastward over the Northern Plains. This trough will allow light westerly winds to advect drier air over the area limiting the recent fog we've been dealing with. We still see a transient area of fog within the trough axis that is slowly spreading south and east across portions of central and eastern Kansas early this morning.

Today-Saturday...the region will continue to remain under the influence of a persistent mid/upper ridge resulting in a continuation of above average temperatures. Record high temperatures will remain possible across much of the area today and again on Saturday with maximum temperatures around 30 degrees above normal anticipated. As we move into Saturday night, we could see some elevated showers or perhaps a brief thunderstorm along the nose of the developing LLJ. The highest probabilities (20-30%) will remain over southeast KS.

A vigorous mid/upper trough is progged to dig over the Northern Plains on Sunday driving a strong cold front south across the Central Plains. A brief wintry mix could develop along the frontal zone but higher probabilities for impactful conditions are expected to remain across the high plains of western Kansas. Much colder air will overspread the area late Sunday into Monday with highs on Monday struggling to rise above freezing in some areas.

This cooldown will be short-lived with moderating temperatures returning by Tue. Seasonably mild conditions and dry weather is expected to persist through the upcoming work week.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 522 AM CST Fri Dec 26 2025

Areas of fog, some dense were impacting southeast Kansas this morning. This fog will be short-lived as a weak cold front ushers in drier air over the next couple of hours. Meanwhile, VFR will prevail in the wake of the boundary with light and variable winds.

CLIMATE

Issued at 201 AM CST Fri Dec 26 2025

Record high temperatures in jeopardy Friday-Saturday:

FRIDAY DECEMBER 26...

Site Forecast High Record High (Year) Wichita 71 69 (2021) Salina 70 67 (2008) Chanute 72 75 (2021) Russell 69 72 (2021)

SATURDAY DECEMBER 27...

Site Forecast High Record High (Year) Wichita 72 68 (1946) Salina 70 68 (1928) Chanute 74 74 (1946) Russell 69 66 (1956)

ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.