textproduct: Wichita

KEY MESSAGES

- A few strong to severe thunderstorms are possible this evening through tonight, especially along/northwest of the KS Turnpike.

- After a period of mostly dry weather, increasing thunderstorm chances are possible once again Sunday Night.

- Near to slightly above average temperatures the next several days, becoming solidly above average this weekend into early next week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 240 PM CDT Tue Aug 25 2026

Currently, the mid/upper level ridge is centered over the Southern High Plains and Desert Southwest leaving the forecast area on the northeast periphery of the ridge. A shortwave trough is located over the southern Canadian Prairies, digging into the Upper Midwest. At the surface, an associated low pressure is just north of the Northern Plains with a frontal boundary draped southward into Nebraska. Some remnant showers are centered over central Kansas with a cloud shield extending over much of the forecast area. For the rest of today, a few locations will see light rainfall, especially across central and far south-central Kansas. Temperatures are being kept in check for now across the area due to the clouds, but temps will rebound by late afternoon, reaching into the lower 90s for most.

Tonight, as the shortwave digs into the Upper Midwest and the approaching front begins to push into southern Nebraska, storms are expected to fire along the boundary late this evening. Simultaneously, diurnal High Plains thunderstorms will push into western Kansas. This thunderstorm cluster will gradually push southeast across Kansas bringing storm chances to central Kansas. Current guidance suggests the marginal severe threat will be confined west of I-35, with the best chances for severe gusts along and west of a line from Salina/Hutch/Pratt. Some showers are expected to linger into the morning across the area, but there's still some uncertainty on the eastward extent.

Temperatures through Friday will remain steady in the upper 80s and lower 90s as the shortwave helps to keep the ridge center well southwest of the Central Plains. Rain chances look minimal through the end of the week behind the frontal boundary. High pressure will build in and overall drier conditions are expected.

By this weekend, as the trough over the Great Lakes shifts eastward, the ridge will be allowed to build in over the Southern and Central Plains. Heights will rise over the region and temperatures will respond accordingly. Highs for Saturday and Sunday will reach into the upper 90s to lower 100s across the forecast area. A shortwave looks to traverse the Northern Plains on Sunday, bringing a boundary and associated rain chances to northern and central Kansas for Sunday night. The shortwave passage will then shunt the ridge ever so slightly south for the tail end of the forecast period. Temperatures on Monday and Tuesday are still expected to reach above normal, with highs in the middle 90s for central Kansas and upper 90s and lower 100s for south-central and southeast Kansas.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 643 PM CDT Tue Aug 25 2026

A few light sprinkles continue to drift eastward over southern Kansas while VFR is expected to prevail through much of the night. There is some concern that widely scattered showers and storms will drift eastward off the High Plains of western Kansas late tonight but confidence remains fairly low at this time. Light winds, mostly easterly are expected through the period.

ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.