textproduct: Wichita

KEY MESSAGES

- Normal to slightly above normal temperatures expected through the forecast period.

- Slight chance of a few snow flurries or sprinkles with frontal passage on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 235 AM CST Sun Feb 1 2026

Currently, an upper level trough is exiting the region to the east with ridging across the western CONUS, mid/upper level northwesterly flow extends across the Plains. At the surface, high pressure is centered just to our east with a warm frontal boundary draped across the Central High Plains. Overnight low temperatures will only fall a few degrees from afternoon highs into the middle to lower teens with southerly flow at the surface and the approach of the warm front. As the ridge continues to build into the region through the day, a dramatic warmup is expected under mostly clear skies. Highs will top out in the 40s for locations that still have a snowpack in south- central and southeastern Kansas, and temperatures will reach into the lower 50s in portions central Kansas.

For early/mid week, a much more mild pattern is on tap with upper- level ridging attempting to build in over the central part of the country. High temperatures on Mon will reach into the 40s to around 50 degrees in central Kansas. On Monday, a shortwave trough will begin to dive into the Northern Plains dragging with it an associated surface cold frontal boundary that will push through the area on Tuesday. High temperatures on Tuesday will not be markedly cooler, though we will begin to see some cooler air nudge into northeastern Kansas. On Tuesday Night/Wednesday morning, a few light sprinkles or snow flurries are possible in our central Kansas counties. Minimal impacts are expected at this time and this activity will quickly diminish and shift east as the dry, post- frontal air filters into the area on Wednesday morning. The weak trough will then swing across the Plains on Wednesday, settling the cooler air over the region. Highs on Wednesday will top out just below normal in the lower to middle 40s.

For Thursday and Friday, ridging will finally succeed in building over the region and we will see above normal temperatures across the entire forecast area with widespread 50s to close to 60 degrees. A weak back-door cold front looks to swing through the area on Saturday, acting to suppress the warming trend. Temperatures for the weekend will remain above average, but will top out in the upper 40s and 50s. No precipitation is expected with this weak passing system, and only a few clouds are anticipated for Sat/Sun.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z MONDAY/

Issued at 521 AM CST Sun Feb 1 2026

Southwesterly to westerly winds around 10 knots are expected through much of the daytime period. Winds will become light and variable after 00Z. There is currently low confidence in patchy fog developing towards the end of the forecast period for locations along and east of I-135, did not include it at this time due to uncertainty in location and magnitude.

ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.