textproduct: Wichita

KEY MESSAGES

- Lingering showers and thunderstorms will exit southeast KS this afternoon

- Additional storm chances, especially at night, tonight into next week

- Temperatures remain near or above normal

DISCUSSION

Issued at 126 PM CDT Sat Aug 22 2026

As of 130 PM Saturday afternoon, the amplified midlevel pattern remains across the CONUS with troughing across the east and ridging across the west. This places the central Plains within a northwest midlevel flow regime. A cluster of showers and thunderstorms continue to move southeast with a remnant MCV. Behind this cluster, a wake low has developed across portions of eastern KS, yielding northerly winds at 20-30 kt with gusts near 35 kt. As the afternoon progresses, these showers and storms will depart southeast KS with mostly sunny skies returning area wide. Temperatures will quickly rebound into the 90s. An area of surface high pressure, currently from ND through northern NE, will slide into eastern KS this evening into tonight. This will result in easterly (upslope) low-level flow across much of the central high Plains. Scattered thunderstorm development is expected across eastern CO and WY this evening. Thunderstorms may gradually grow upscale and move east/southeast into the nighttime hours. Considerable uncertainty remains with the the eastern extent these storms will progress. Instability greatly decreases within the area of surface high pressure across eastern KS. In addition, the low/midlevel WAA is quite weak. Combining those two together suggest any storm activity will be on a weakening and decreasing coverage trend upon reaching central/eastern KS. The greatest potential for rainfall late tonight into Sunday morning appears to be along and north of I-70.

Transitioning into Sunday, the area of surface high pressure will remain across eastern KS, yielding light easterly winds. Temperatures will also be notably cooler with highs ranging from the mid 80s to the low 90s. The forecast area will remain within a northwest midlevel flow regime into next week, as subtle perturbations eject into Plains on a near-daily occurrence. This will support at least small rain chances almost every night next week.

In regards to the temperatures, the core of the midlevel ridge will remain southwest of the forecast area over the next 7 days. This should keep the hottest temperatures southwest of the state with highs generally in the low to mid 90s each afternoon.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z MONDAY/

Issued at 1031 PM CDT Sat Aug 22 2026

VFR conditions expected over the next 24hrs across much of the area. There could a period of scattered showers and a few storms affecting central Kansas during the morning hours on Sunday. Light easterly winds will switch to the southeast.

ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.