textproduct: Wichita

KEY MESSAGES

- Windy with very high to extreme grassfire danger Thursday.

- Much cooler late Thursday through Monday.

- Light snow and flurries mainly central Kansas late Friday into Friday night. Accumulation less than one-half inch.

- Warming trend by Tuesday of next week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 312 PM CST Wed Feb 18 2026

TEMPERATURES/WIND:

A strong cold front will move south through the region Thursday, with falling temperatures in its wake. Thinking central Kansas will see morning highs in the 40s, with readings dropping into the 30s by afternoon.

Stout gusty west/southwest winds are expected ahead of the cold front over southern and southeast Kansas, with gusty northwest winds behind the cold front. Gusts in both locations may approach 40 mph at times.

Near to below average temperatures are expected Friday through Monday, as chilly Canadian high pressure influences Mid- America. Daytime highs will be coolest Friday with 30s-40s, with slightly moderating temperatures Saturday and Sunday into the 40s to low 50s. Overnight through early morning wind chills in the single digits and teens are likely.

There is a high probability for a return to above average temperatures by Tuesday, as upper ridging builds east over Mid- America. Increasing lee troughing should also support increasing stout/gusty southerly winds.

PRECIPITATION:

A quick-hitting low-amplitude shortwave acting on a deep frontal zone draped across the region should support areas of light snow and flurries from late Friday afternoon through about midnight Friday night, especially along and north of the Highway 56 corridor. Moisture availability is rather meager, and lift isn't terribly strong, so we are not expecting a major winter event, with snow accumulations likely less than one-half inch for most areas.

Otherwise, building upper ridging should support an extended period of dry weather by late Friday night and persisting through at least next Wednesday.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 530 PM CST Wed Feb 18 2026

VFR, but breezy conditions expect through the TAF period.

Winds from this afternoon are decreasing this evening to around 10 to 15 knots out of the south. Early Thursday morning, winds will gradually shift to westerly, then after sunrise, winds will begin to increase across the area. Portions of central Kansas will see west to northwest winds around 15 to 20 knots with gusts up to 30 knots at time. Meanwhile, portions of southern and southeast Kansas will see west to southwest winds around 20 to 25 knots with gusts up to 35 knots possible.

Towards sunset on Thursday, winds will gradually begin to decrease across the area.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 312 PM CST Wed Feb 18 2026

REST OF TODAY...Very high grassland fire danger will persist through about 5-6 PM this evening mainly along and west of the Flint Hills. The greatest potential for RED FLAG/CRITICAL conditions will remain over western to southwest Kansas.

THURSDAY...A cold front will bring a wind shift to the area, with stout/gusty west-southwest winds ahead of the front over southern and southeast Kansas, and gusty northwest winds behind the front. Gusts up to around 40 mph are expected at times. This combined with low humidity and above average temperatures will result in a very high grassland fire danger areawide, with extreme fire danger over southeast Kansas, where a red flag warning has been issued.

ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Red Flag Warning from 11 AM to 8 PM CST Thursday for KSZ072- 093>096-098>100.