textproduct: Wichita

KEY MESSAGES

- Accumulating snow continues area wide through tonight and into Sunday

- Bitterly cold temperatures continue with wind chill values of 10 to 20 degrees below zero

- Moderating temperatures towards the middle of next week

DISCUSSION

Issued at 210 PM CST Sat Jan 24 2026

As of 2 PM Saturday afternoon, broad midlevel WAA continues to produce widespread light to moderate snowfall across much of the state. A more-persistant band has recently developed across portions of central and south-central KS. Webcams and observations sites have revealed visibilities less than 1 mile within these band of snow which are likely producing snowfall rates as high as 1" per hour. This WAA driven snowfall is likely to continue into evening hours before this axis of WAA shifts east of the area. Increasing midlevel jet dynamics and the approach of a shortwave trough (currently near the Baja) will increase midlevel forcing for ascent and allow for additional snowfall into the overnight hours. Short range guidance has shifted slightly further north with the QPF axis with the highest amounts expected along and southeast of the KS Turnpike. Additional QPF is expected to range from 0.1-0.2" across central KS to 0.3-0.5" across southeast KS. Snow ratios near 15:1 should allow for additional snowfall amounts up to 6" with the greatest additional accumulations across southeast KS. This additional snowfall combined to the snowfall already fallen will produce widespread totals of 5-10". Snowfall will come to an end from west to east during the morning hours of Sunday.

The stretch of bitterly cold temperatures will continue into tonight as lows tumble into negative single digits across central KS and into the positive single digits across southern and southeast KS. Factoring in a gentle north winds will create wind chill values of - 10 to -20. Temperatures will moderate slightly Sunday with highs reaching the teens. Temperatures below zero will be common across the region Sunday night into Monday morning. Again, a gentle north wind will create wind chill values of -10 to -20.

Temperatures will begin to moderate towards midweek as midlevel ridging approaches the Plains. Highs are currently forecast to return to the 30s/near 40 Wednesday afternoon.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 1133 AM CST Sat Jan 24 2026

Areas of snow will continue across the entire area this afternoon and into tonight. Predominate VSBY will be in the 2-6SM range with lower VSBY likely within any banded snowfall. CIGS may lower to MVFR or IFR during any periods of heavier snowfall. This potential appears to be confined to SLN/HUT/ICT/CNU. Snow will begin to taper off from northwest to southeast late tonight into Sunday morning.

ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Cold Weather Advisory until noon CST Monday for KSZ032-033- 047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100. Winter Storm Warning until noon CST Sunday for KSZ032-033- 047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100.