textproduct: Wichita

KEY MESSAGES

- A cold front will sweep across the area today leading to cooler temperatures through Monday. Gusty north winds behind the front have prompted a Wind Advisory across the area.

- Temperatures will rebound for Tue-Thu with above normal values and continued dry weather conditions.

- Another cold front will usher in cooler air for Fri and Sat.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 202 AM CDT Sun Mar 22 2026

Currently, a shortwave trough is beginning to nudge into the northern tier of the U.S. This feature has already managed to suppress the stout ridge that sat over the Four Corners region to the south. At the surface, a low pressure is developing over the Northern Plains. As this low dives across the Plains into the Mississippi Valley today, it will push a cold frontal boundary across the state throughout the early part of the day. This will lead to quite the disparity in temperatures across the forecast area. Behind the front in Central Kansas, high temperatures will only reach into the upper 60s. Whereas ahead of the front in Southeastern Kansas, afternoon highs will top out in the middle to upper 80s. Behind the frontal boundary, strong northerly winds are anticipated leading to another day of elevated fire danger. A Red Flag Warning and a Wind Advisory remain in effect for the entire forecast area through 8pm this evening.

In the wake of the cold front on Monday, temperatures will be near normal for this time of year with highs in the lower to middle 60s for nearly all locations. Northerly winds will turn easterly by the middle part of the day as high pressure over the Plains shifts to our east. Partly to mostly cloudy skies are expected, especially into the afternoon hours, as we see decent moisture return to our west as the high pressure exits the region to the east. While a few sprinkles aren't out of the question for northwest Kansas, the forecast area is expected to remain dry on Monday.

As we move into Tuesday through Thursday, ridging will build back in over the region leading to another warm-up with temperatures reaching into the 70s and lower 80s for Tuesday and the middle to upper 80s for Wednesday. A few lingering clouds are expected on Tuesday, but by Wednesday, mostly clear and dry conditions will prevail. Another frontal boundary looks to sweep across the state on Thursday. However, highs will still manage to reach into the 80s, and close to 90 in southern Kansas, ahead of this boundary. As the front stretches across our area and pushes south, an upper-level shortwave impulse will interact with this feature on Thursday night/Friday morning creating isolated shower/storm chances for eastern Kansas. Precip amounts look minimal with only our southeastern Kansas counties having a chance of up to 0.10". Behind the front on Friday and Saturday, near normal temperatures are expected with highs remaining near 60 degrees.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY/

Issued at 1223 PM CDT Sun Mar 22 2026

VFR conditions are expected at all sites through the end of the period.

Strong northerly winds are expected to continue through the afternoon hours in the wake of a cold front pushing through the region. These are expected to subside after sunset and even moreso after midnight, when sustained speeds should drop into the 7-12 kt range. High pressure tracking eastward will allow for winds to develop more of an easterly component especially after sunrise Monday.

SCT to BKN clouds will linger over the area through the end of the period as well. However, confidence is high in these remaining at VFR levels.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 202 AM CDT Sun Mar 22 2026

A cold front will sweep across the state this morning/early afternoon shifting winds to the north 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 therefore a Red Flag Warning is in effect for all of the area.

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

ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Red Flag Warning until 8 PM CDT this evening for KSZ032-033- 047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100. Wind Advisory until 8 PM CDT this evening for KSZ032-033- 047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100.