textproduct: Wichita

KEY MESSAGES

- Snow will be exiting southeast Kansas this morning with dangerous cold remaining in place through Monday morning.

- Below normal temperatures are expected through all of next week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 244 AM CST Sun Jan 25 2026

Water vapor imagery currently shows two upper level southern stream impulses. One sliding across southern TX with another digging over the Desert Southwest. Further north, one vort lobe is tracking south across the Northern Rockies with additional energy tracking southeast across the Northern/Central Plains. At the surface, Arctic air remains through all of the Plains into the Mississippi Valley.

Widespread precip remains across the Southern Plains ahead of a mid level trough that extends from central MO into the TX Panhandle. This trough will continue to slide southeast, taking the snow chances with it. So currently expecting snow to be out of our southeast KS counties by 15z at the latest. So for the first time in a few days, we should finally see some sunshine today. Although with plenty of snow on the ground, highs today will still be 25 to 30 degrees below normal. With mostly clear skies in place along with snow cover, lows Mon morning are expected to fall to below zero for the entire area with most readings falling to around 5 below. A couple low temp records will also be in jeopardy Mon morning, most notably Wichita(-6) and Chanute(-4). By 00z Mon, models continue to agree on one last vort lobe sinking south across the Central Rockies/High Plains with any snow associated with this feature staying west of our forecast area.

To start the work week we will remain in northwest flow aloft with a sharp upper ridge developing over the Great Basin. Pattern will remain active with an upper impulse tracking across the Upper Mississippi Valley and into the Western Great Lakes on Tue with the same scenario playing out for Wed. Even though temps will be warmer than they are now, this setup will allow below normal temps to remain in place. There are some hints at some snow on Fri across the High Plains in an area of 850-700mb warm advection but models have not been very consistent in this signal, so confidence is low at this time. However, models do agree well on another surge of cold air moving-in Fri and remaining through Sat with highs likely not making it out of the 20s.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z MONDAY/

Issued at 1125 PM CST Sat Jan 24 2026

Snow has moved out of central KS with cigs returning to VFR at RSL, SLN, and GBD. Light snow continues in south-central KS, with conditions expected to improve and return to VFR between 10-12z. CNU will be the last to return to VFR with snow expected to end around 15z. Northerly to northwesterly winds will continue through this period around 10 kts.

ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Cold Weather Advisory until noon CST Monday for KSZ032-033- 047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100. Winter Storm Warning until noon CST today for KSZ049>053- 067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100.