textproduct: Wichita

KEY MESSAGES

- Above normal temperatures continue through Saturday

- Light rain possible this evening into tonight; rain amounts less than 0.10"

- A strong cold front late Saturday ushers in cooler temperatures and precipitation chances for Sunday into next week

DISCUSSION

Issued at 126 AM CST Wed Feb 25 2026

As of 115 AM Wednesday morning, northwest midlevel flow remains across the Plains with troughing across the Great Lakes and ridging across the southwest US. A plume of Pacific moisture continues to stream across the Plains as midlevel cloud cover. This cloud cover has kept temperatures mild in the 30s and 40s thus far. Temperatures will continue to fall a few more degrees with morning lows in the mid 30s to lower 40s. An area of surface high pressure from the northern Plains into northern KS will slide east later today with a weak surface pressure pattern in it's wake, resulting in light winds generally less than 15 mph. Afternoon temperatures will remain mild in the 60s to near 70.

The next potential for precipitation arrives late this evening into tonight as a midlevel shortwave trough and associated speed max translates across the state. The best forcing for ascent will extend from portions of central KS into northeast KS as the left exit region of the aforementioned speed max progresses overhead. Short range guidance remains aligned with prior forecasts and overall rain amounts will be quite light with most locations receiving a few hundredths at best. An area of surface high pressure will settle into the region for Thursday before southwesterly winds return for Friday, returning temperatures into the 60s and 70s. The midlevel pattern is expected to become quasi-zonal by weeks-end. Mid to long range guidance continue to suggest the next cold front will slowly sink across the area in the Saturday/Saturday night timeframe. This frontal passage will return temperatures closer to normal (near 50 degrees). This frontal zone may stall just south of the area for Sunday into early next week and may result in additional precipitation chances, especially across eastern KS.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 1100 PM CST Tue Feb 24 2026

Generally, VFR conditions should prevail through the TAF period, but a few showers could impact areas along and northeast of a KSLN-KCNU line late tonight.

Winds are quite variable across the region due to a weak cold front draped across Kansas while wind speeds are remaining between 5 and 10 knots. Throughout the day, winds should become more uniform out of the south as speeds stay around 10 knots.

Another cold front will sag it's way into the area late tonight bringing another northerly wind shift behind it along with low chances for light rain showers. Most of the showers will be along and northeast of a KSLN-KCNU line, but a few could sneak further south and west overnight. Little to no impact to TAF sites are expected from this activity.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 126 AM CST Wed Feb 25 2026

Very high fire danger may return Friday afternoon across the Flint Hills as warm temperatures (70s) overlap southwesterly winds up to 20 mph.

ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.