textproduct: Wichita

KEY MESSAGES

- Extreme heat will continue through at least Friday and possibly Saturday for at least south central and southeast KS.

- Slightly cooler temperatures for Sunday into Monday with readings still be above average.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 323 AM CDT Wed Aug 12 2026

Currently have a stationary front extending from southeast Nebraska into north central and far northwest KS. Large complex of storms over north central/northeast NE has kicked out some outflow that may help reinforce the front and push it a bit more south. Front is expected to make it to just north of I-70 today which will keep all of the area in extreme heat again, with highs very close to where they were yesterday. May even see locations near and just south of I-70 get higher with compressional heating near the front. Unfortunately we are not expecting much in the way of storms along the front due to extreme mid mid level temps providing enough capping. Still looking for an impressive low level jet to develop tonight across the Plains as upper troughing digs from the Pacific Northwest into Central CA. At the same time, an upper impulse over the Great Basin lifts out across the Central Plains. This will result in an MCS tracking across Nebraska tonight.

The main question for Thursday will be how far south outflow from the MCS to the north makes it. There are a couple models that push it as far south as Salina to just north of Hutchinson. However, the majority of the models keep it further north and at this time will go with the thinking it may make it to just south of I-70. So there is a chance that highs could be a bit cooler Thu for places like Russell and Great Bend with high confidence the remainder of the area has another day with extreme heat. There will be a chance for a few storms late Thu afternoon over central KS along the front with better chances Thu evening as a weak piece of energy lifts out of NM. Extreme heat will be likely Fri area wide as the front lifts back to the north. Just like for Thursday, there will be uncertainty Saturday as the front will try to sink into northern KS again. GFS takes it further south compared to the ECMWF but at this time feel that keeping things warm is the way to go.

There is good model agreement that a more substantial monsoonal impulse will lift into the Central Rockies and across Nebraska Sat night. This will shove the upper ridge slightly south and flatten out the upper flow across the central/northern Plains. This will hopefully knock down highs a bit for Sun into the start of the work week, so instead of highs in the 102-108 range they will be in the mid to upper 90s.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 619 AM CDT Wed Aug 12 2026

Main aviation concern will be wind shift this morning across central KS.

Large complex of storms tracked across central and eastern Nebraska and pushed an outflow boundary south that is now moving through northern KS. It is expected to move through KRSl-KGBD- KSLN in the 13-14z time frame and flip winds around to the northeast for a couple hours. By the early afternoon they are expected to come back around to the south. Wind speeds are forecast to be slightly lighter than they were yesterday. Confidence remains high that VFR conditions will remain in place through this TAF period.

CLIMATE

Issued at 323 AM CDT Tue Aug 12 2026

------------------- Wednesday August 12 -------------------

Location Forecast High Record High ------------------------------------------------ Wichita 106 114-1936 Salina 106 117-1936 Chanute 103 109-1934 Russell 108 105-2021

------------------- Thursday August 13 -------------------

Location Forecast High Record High ------------------------------------------------ Wichita 106 110-1936 Salina 103 118-1936 Chanute 103 109-1936 Russell 101 104-1978

------------------- Friday August 14 -------------------

Location Forecast High Record High ------------------------------------------------ Wichita 103 110-1936 Salina 101 110-1936 Chanute 102 110-1936 Russell 100 106-1952

ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Extreme Heat Warning until 7 PM CDT Friday for KSZ032-033- 047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100.