textproduct: Wichita

KEY MESSAGES

- Cool tonight, then a warming trend begins Sunday. High temperatures in the 70s and 80s are expected through Thursday.

- Chances for showers and storms return late next week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 123 PM CDT Sat Apr 18 2026

Water vapor imagery and RAP analysis early this afternoon highlight strong southwesterly upper flow progressing through the southern CONUS and lifting toward the Ohio River Valley. At the surface, a cold front spans from the Great Lakes into eastern Texas. The airmass associated with this boundary settled in over the Sunflower State today, and brought relatively quiet weather and clear skies to the forecast area. With skies expected to remain mostly clear overnight, radiational cooling is forecast to promote temperatures in the 30s areawide Sunday morning. As such, patchy frost is possible around sunrise on Sunday, especially in south central Kansas.

A mid/upper ridge is expected to build over the western half of the CONUS and slide eastward to begin the upcoming week. With southerly flow returning to the area starting Sunday afternoon, high temperatures in the 70s and even low 80s are forecast to persist through Thursday. Dry weather is expected to persist through Wednesday before a change in the pattern arrives late Wednesday night into Thursday, when the global suite brings a potent wave across the Great Basin into the Rockies and Plains. It still appears that this will bring the best chances for showers and storms Thursday afternoon and evening, though we could see chances as early as Wednesday evening depending on the evolution of the upper wave. Regardless of how early it arrives, this feature may keep low chances for rain across the area heading into next weekend, though details this far out are still unclear. Stay tuned.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z MONDAY/

Issued at 1028 PM CDT Sat Apr 18 2026

VFR conditions will prevail across central and southern Kansas over the next 24hrs with clear skies. Southwest winds will gradually increase for the late morning into the afternoon hours, especially over central Kansas.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 123 PM CDT Sat Apr 18 2026

Breezy southwest winds and RH values in the 10-15% range will result in very high grassland fire danger Sunday afternoon for areas west of K-14. Breezy and dry conditions will support very high grassland fire danger again during the afternoon hours on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday for areas primarily west of I-135.

ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.