textproduct: Wichita

KEY MESSAGES

- Hot and humid conditions continue this afternoon and Saturday

- Strong to severe storms possible Saturday afternoon and night along with locally heavy rainfall

- Cooler temperatures expected for next week across the entire region

DISCUSSION

Issued at 230 PM CDT Fri Sep 18 2026

Currently, ridging remains centered over the Southern Plains and the Lower Mississippi Valley with a trough located over the Pacific Northwest slowly marching eastward. At the surface, a low pressure is developing ahead of this trough across the Central High Plains into Nebraska. Anomalous heights over the region are leading to near record warmth over the forecast area as highs reach into the upper 90s to around 100 degrees in central Kansas. As the pressure gradient tightens across the state in response to the deepening low to our northwest, strong southwesterly winds are being observed across the region. Sustained winds between 15-25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph are expected through the early evening hours with the highest winds across central Kansas. Breezy conditions will continue into the overnight hours with the approaching low.

For Saturday, as the frontal boundary moves into the hot and humid environment ahead of it, storms are expected to fire across central Kansas during the afternoon and move southeastward into the evening hours. Afternoon highs on Saturday will reach into the middle to upper 90s across the area before the front moves through Modest instability (MLCAPE around 2000 J/kg) and decent shear of around 30 kts will lead to a few severe storms developing. Strong winds and isolated large hail will be the primary threats, along with locally heavy rainfall. Storms will gradually diminish in intensity on Saturday evening/night, though the heavy rain threat will continue across portions of Kansas. By early Sunday morning, the front will be draped across far eastern/southeastern Kansas. Some showers and storms will linger throughout the day on Sunday, but any strong to severe storm potential will be confined to the far southeast corner of the state. Highs on Sunday will range widely as the cooler temperatures will lag behind the front some. Highs in the 70s are expected for central Kansas with highs in the lower 90s will be seen for far southern and southeast Kansas.

For next week, cooler temperatures will overspread much of the center part of the country and highs will actually top out slightly below normal for the beginning of the week. Highs in the 70s and lower 80s are expected with lows in the 50s and low 60s. Mostly dry conditions are expected in the wake of the frontal boundary as high pressure sets up over the region. The next rain chances look to arrive towards the middle to end of next week as a weak wave traverses the Plains.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 1250 PM CDT Fri Sep 18 2026

Breezy southwest winds gusting to around 30 knots at times will be common across central KS this afternoon. Wind speeds will diminish and back to a southerly direction this evening. VFR is expected to prevail through the TAF period. Looking ahead, a strong cold front will arrive toward early afternoon on Sat across central Kansas and during the evening and overnight hours across south central and southeast KS. This front will shift winds to the north and bring increasing chances for showers and thunderstorms.

ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.