textproduct: Wichita

KEY MESSAGES

- Arctic air will arrive on Friday afternoon ushering in much colder air and dangerous wind chills on Saturday morning.

- A few flurries may be possible tonight into early Friday with a brief window for snow showers/snow squalls as the arctic front arrives on Friday afternoon.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 224 PM CST Thu Jan 29 2026

Northwest mid/upper flow prevails over the central CONUS with some subtle shortwave troughs progged to sweep south and east across the area tonight and early Friday. We could see a few flurries through the period. A brief but more pronounced period of snow could arrive with the arrival of the arctic front on Friday afternoon. Steep low level lapse rates are progged in the wake of the front with a 1-2 hour window of snow possible across much of the area, especially along and west of the Kansas Turnpike where a dusting to around 1/2 inch may be possible in places. Any snow shower activity is expected to quickly dissipate by early evening. Surface high pressure is progged to settle over the area resulting in another very cold night with lows in the zero to 5 below range. Light northerly winds will result in wind chills of 10-15 below and a cold weather advisory has been issued.

Another shortwave trough is progged to arrive late Sat and Sat night bringing a slight chance for snow to parts of central KS. Higher probabilities for accumulating snow are expected to remain north and east of the area. Low level southerly flow is progged to return Sat night into Sunday allowing temperatures to quickly moderate. Highs on Sunday are expected to climb to around 50 in central KS while far eastern KS lags a bit.

Mon-Thu...Seasonable temperatures will return as we move into the work week as northwest mid/upper flow prevails over the central CONUS. Highs on Monday are expected to range from the mid to upper 40s for most locations. A progressive shortwave trough digging over the Upper Mississippi Valley area on Tuesday may usher in some cooler air but impacts to sensible weather could remain north and east of the area. Seasonable temperatures are still expected on Wed although highs will top out in the lower 40s for most areas. Rising heights/increasing thickness may result in above average temperatures as we move into Thu with highs around 50 for most areas.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 531 PM CST Thu Jan 29 2026

Low clouds will begin to spread into the area for late tonight into the morning hours on Friday. Cloud heights will drop into the MVFR category during the morning and afternoon hours on Friday, as an upper level wave moves through the region. This could also bring some scattered light snow showers to central and south central Kansas, mainly during the afternoon hours. The snow showers could briefly drop the visibility below 4SM along with a light dusting of accumulation.

ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Cold Weather Advisory from midnight Friday night to 10 AM CST Saturday for KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096- 098>100.