textproduct: Wichita

KEY MESSAGES

- Below normal temperatures will continue all week, with a more substantial cool-down expected for Friday and Saturday.

- Snow chances will increase for Thursday evening into Friday but confidence is low on how this will pan out due to it being produced by such a subtle wave.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 234 AM CST Mon Jan 26 2026

Currently have a shortwave trough that extends from the Western Great Lakes through Southern CO with water vapor showing a compact vort lobe sliding south across eastern CO. At the surface, high pressure encompasses all of the Plains and is centered over northern KS. An Arctic airmass remains in place across the Central and Northern Plains with current temps in the 0 to -15 range.

Light snow has been occurring over western KS overnight in response to the upper impulse tracking south across the area. Most of this activity is expected to stay west of our forecast area tonight with mainly just some flurries possible early this morning over Harper and Sumner counties. After a very cold start to the day, we will finally see highs climb back into the 20s, which will be the warmest since Friday, although still around 15 to 20 degrees below normal. Gusty southwest winds today will still make it feel quite cold. Northwest flow aloft will remain very active with yet another upper impulse set to track out of southern SK/southern MB and into the Western Great Lakes region by Tue morning. This will keep below blow normal temps in place across the Mississippi Valley and not allow for much warming across the Central and Southern Plains.

There is good agreement between the GFS and ECMWF in a small/fast moving upper impulse tracking over the Northern Rockies on Wed and across the Central Plains for Wed night into Thu. At the same time, a much more robust piece of energy is then forecast to rotate out of southwest Ontario and across the Upper/Mid Mississippi Valley for Thu into Fri. The initial wave on Thu should bring some snow to areas of Nebraska into northeast KS with this area shifting west through Fri morning, generally following the mid level baroclinic zone. So theres a chance we see some snow Thu night into Fri with the higher chances west of our forecast area. However, the bigger story will likely be another shot of very cold air moving-in for Fri and remaining through Sat, with highs in the teens and low 20s likely.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z TUESDAY/

Issued at 528 AM CST Mon Jan 26 2026

Aviation concerns are expected to remain on the low side through the next 24 hours.

Upper impulse is quickly tracking into the TX/OK Panhandle and has been generating light snow overnight across western KS. This activity is now moving into OK and is not expected to affect any TAF sites. Mostly clear skies are anticipated through the remainder of the day with winds backing around to the southwest by late this morning. We will start to see gusts in the 20-25kt range by 17z at most sites with these speeds decreasing around or shortly after sunset.

ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Cold Weather Advisory until noon CST today for KSZ032-033- 047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100.