textproduct: Wichita

KEY MESSAGES

- A few strong thunderstorms are possible for central Kansas late this afternoon/evening

- Chances for a few strong to marginally severe storms Thursday/Thursday across central Kansas again

- Strong to possible severe storms will remain in the forecast for Friday through early next week as the weather pattern remains active, storm severity potential looks to increase especially for Sunday and Monday

DISCUSSION

Issued at 332 PM CDT Wed Apr 8 2026

A few high based showers/storms look to develop along a slow southward frontal boundary over central Kansas for late this afternoon/evening. A few strong storm are possible and would be capable of producing gusty downdraft winds given the elevated DCAPE values along with small hail. The storms should dissipate by late evening then we could activity redevelop late tonight, as warm air advection becomes focused into 700mb baroclinic zone over central Kansas. This elevated activity could sink slowly southward and linger into morning hours on Thursday. This is due to models showing persistent moisture transport from low-level jet into the loitering 700mb baroclinic zone aloft. Heading into Thursday afternoon/afternoon the low level moisture/instability gradually increases which would reset the stage for another round of storms across mainly central Kansas. A few strong to marginally severe storms are possible. The more numerous storm coverage will be concentrated along the surface front over northeast Kansas, and this activity looks to shift slowly southward during the night time hours hours on Thursday. This could impact the going forecast for Friday especially if the Thursday night activity becomes a larger more expansive area of convection.

Friday storm coverage will hinge on that positioning of the surface front with showers and storms expected to persist through the day across the area. Wind shear is not as favorable which lowers the severe weather potential, however there is enough environmental support for some strong to marginal severe storms. Models show a upper level short wave ejecting northeast from the Rockies across Kansas Saturday night, as upper level pattern transitions to a southwest flow regime aloft. Additional rounds of showers/storms will be possible through the weekend. Wind shear increase a bit more for Saturday but the more note-worthly increase for the instability/wind shear combination looks to unfold for Sunday into Monday next week. If this signal holds true by the models severe weather chances will be increasing for that period across the region.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 1244 PM CDT Wed Apr 8 2026

A frontal boundary will impact central Kansas sites later this afternoon and into the evening hours. This will lead to diminishing winds becoming variable at times as well as widely scattered showers and storms. Higher confidence for storms across RSL, SLN, and GBD with lower confidence for HUT and locations further south and east. Winds will fall below 10 knots and become southerly during the early morning hours. Additional showers are possible across central Kansas after 09Z.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 332 PM CDT Wed Apr 8 2026

Very High fire danger will affect locations mainly along and west of I-135 Thursday afternoon with combination of gusty southerly winds/drier air. Fire weather risk looks low for Friday into early next week with decent chances of showers/storms with an active weather pattern expected.

ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.