textproduct: Wichita

KEY MESSAGES

- Rain showers depart the area this morning; isolated to scattered thunderstorms possible late tonight into Wednesday morning

- Widespread rainfall possible Friday into Saturday and again early next week

- Near to above normal temperatures expected throughout much of the next 7 days

DISCUSSION

Issued at 308 AM CDT Tue Oct 27 2026

As of 3 AM Tuesday morning, broad southwesterly midlevel flow remains across the central Plains with a shortwave trough lifting northeast from central OK. This was producing an axis of light to moderate rainfall across portions central and south-central KS. Rain rates have been generally less than 0.05" and will keep most rain totals less than 0.25". As the aforementioned shortwave trough lifts into MO later this morning, the axis of rain will move out of the area as well. The other notable weather feature ongoing is a stalled surface boundary from portions of southwest KS into central KS. A drastic temperature gradient is evident with Russell currently at 48 with Hutchinson at 60. This stalled boundary will play a key role in temperatures this afternoon. The temperature forecast today has been heavily weighted to short range guidance with highs expected to range from the upper 50s and 60s across central KS to the mid 70s across southeast KS.

Transitioning into tonight the broad southwesterly midlevel flow will continue across the Plains with lee trough developing across high Plains. This will promote the strengthening of a LLJ from west TX through much of KS. Steepening midlevel lapse rates combined with the WAA should result in isolated to scattered thunderstorms late tonight into Wednesday morning. Elevated instability up to 500 J/kg should limit any potential for strong or severe storms. A shortwave trough will slide across the northern Plains Wednesday, shunting the aforementioned surface trough towards central KS. Ahead of the front, temperatures will rebound into the upper 70s to near 80. Additional WAA driven thunderstorms are possible late Wednesday night into Thursday morning but the best chances may stay across northeast KS into northwest MO.

Rain chances will diminish into the daytime hours Thursday as shortwave ridging slides across the central Plains ahead of the next shortwave trough axis. This shortwave trough is posed to lift from the Baja region late Thursday night into Friday. This should result in widespread rain showers Friday and even Saturday.

Mid to long range guidance continues to bring a strong midlevel trough into the central Plains during the late weekend/early next week time period. This could bring multiple days of rainfall and strong winds. Stay tuned.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 540 AM CDT Tue Oct 27 2026

Scattered rain showers will continue to lift to the northeast across south-central and southeast KS. -SHRA will end at ICT/HUT/SLN by 12Z with VCSH at CNU through 15Z. MVFR to IFR CIGS will gradually lift across central KS to VFR by mid to late afternoon as southerly winds increase to 10-15 kt. A few thunderstorms are possible across south-central and southeast KS late tonight into Wednesday morning but low confidence in timing/coverage precluded any mention at this time.

ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.