textproduct: Wichita

KEY MESSAGES

- Scattered showers and thunderstorms continue into afternoon across central and south-central KS; severe weather is not expected for the rest of today

- Active weather pattern through the upcoming weekend with daily rain chances; widespread severe weather is not anticipated

- Seasonal temperatures over the next week with highs mainly in the 80s

DISCUSSION

Issued at 232 AM CDT Tue Jun 2 2026

As of 215 AM Tuesday morning, a decaying MCS was making its way across south-central KS. An impressive MCV has developed in its wake and continues to produce an expansive area of stratiform rain from central KS through south-central KS. Further west, broad WAA from 850-700 mb was contributing to additional thunderstorm development from northwest KS into northern KS. This axis of WAA is expected to overspread central KS later this morning with the convection across northwest and northern KS gradually sinking southeastward within the PW axis. The combination of the MCV and WAA should keep scattered showers and thunderstorms across central and south-central KS through much of the morning and early afternoon hours. Midlevel lapse rates around 6.5 C/km will contribute to 1000-1500 J/kg, possibly up 2000 J/kg, of instability by midday across central and south-central KS. Modest veering of the wind profile will produce around 20 kt of effective shear. As such, a strong storm or two cannot be entire ruled out with hail up to quarter size and heavy rainfall.

Transitioning into this evening and tonight, a strengthening LLJ across western KS and NE will focus storm chances mainly west of our forecast area. As the LLJ veers towards dawn Wednesday morning, shower and storm chances may increase across central KS. Meager effective shear below 20 kt will hinder the potential for strong or severe storms. A midlevel shortwave trough is progged to eject from the southern high Plains into western KS/eastern CO late Wednesday night into Thursday morning. This will spread rain chances from west to east across central/south-central KS throughout the morning and afternoon hours. Effective shear will remain generally below 20 kt, minimizing the potential for strong or severe weather.

The active weather pattern looks to continue through weeks-end and into the upcoming weekend. The greatest potential for widespread rainfall appears to arrive late Saturday through Sunday night as a slow moving shortwave trough glides from the southern high Plains through central and eastern KS.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 1213 PM CDT Tue Jun 2 2026

Precipitation continues to wind down across the area with some clearing of cloud cover by late afternoon. Winds will be generally from the east around 8 to 12 knots with the exception of KICT where winds are from the northwest due to recent shower activity. This should be short lived with a return to the east or southeast soon after issuance. Storms are forecast to form over eastern CO late this evening again and move eastward however whether or not they will hold together to impact TAF sites remains questionable and would be late in the period. If storms due maintain they should be below severe limits with just heavy rainfall as the main threat.

ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.