textproduct: Wichita

KEY MESSAGES

- Hot with record or near record highs possible through Saturday.

- A cold front on Sunday will bring a brief cool-down Sun & Mon with continued dry conditions.

- Warmer air will quickly return after a brief cooldown with above normal values anticipated through Thursday.

- Another cold front will usher in much cooler air late Thursday into Friday.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 120 PM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026

A sprawling mid/upper ridge over the Southwest continues to dominate the weather over the area. Record or near record highs are expected through Saturday before a cold front arrives, shifting winds to the northwest and ushering in more seasonable temperatures for late Sunday into Monday. Meanwhile, elevated fire weather is anticipated Sat-Sun as we continue to dry out with breezy and mild conditions (see the fire weather section for more details).

As the sfc high pressure translates eastward over the Mississippi/Ohio Valley, low level southeast winds are progged to return to the area on Monday. A more subtle shortwave trough could result in a wind shift on Tue but mild and dry weather is expected to prevail through Thursday before another cold front arrives. This front will pack a bigger punch ushering in more seasonable air late in the week and into the upcoming weekend. We continue to see some timing differences leading to lower confidence in how long this cooler more seasonable pattern will linger.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 641 PM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026

VFR conditions will prevail across the region over the next 24hrs. Winds will switch around to the southwest on Saturday and increase over central Kansas during the afternoon hours.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 120 PM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026

Breezy southwest winds will combine with a very dry low level airmass leading to extreme fire danger over parts of central, south central and southeast Kansas on Saturday. A cold front will arrive on Sunday shifting winds to the northwest and ushering in some cooler, more seasonable air. Northwest winds may gust to around 40 mph at times, resulting in extreme grassland fire danger for much of the area and a fire weather watch remains in effect on Sunday.

As temperatures rebound toward the middle of the week, we could see a resurgence of elevated fire danger during the afternoon hours with breezy winds and continued dry conditions.

CLIMATE

Issued at 103 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026

Record highs are likely on Friday, and possible Saturday.

Saturday (3/21): Wichita: Forecast - 93, Record - 92 (1916) Salina: Forecast - 93, Record - 96 (1907) Chanute: Forecast - 92, Record - 95 (1916) Russell: Forecast - 94, Record - 85 (1997)

ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Red Flag Warning from noon to 10 PM CDT Saturday for KSZ032- 033-047>053-067>070-082-083-091>094-098. Fire Weather Watch from Saturday evening through Sunday evening for KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100.