textproduct: Wichita

KEY MESSAGES

- Additional periodic storm chances this afternoon through Sunday morning. A few strong storms are possible.

- Heat index values will reach to around 100 degrees for far southern Kansas this afternoon.

- Mostly dry and seasonably warm conditions forecast for next week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 328 AM CDT Fri Jul 10 2026

Currently, primarily zonal flow is established over the CONUS with a noticeable shortwave extending over the Northern and Central Plains. At the surface, a frontal boundary has pushed south across the state and is currently draped from northeast to southwest across the forecast area. A decaying MCS is located along and just north of this boundary with gusty northwesterly winds associated with the outflow of the system in south-central KS. Storms have vacated the forecast area at this hour, though a few lingering showers could impact portions of central and south-central Kansas through the early morning hours. Winds across south-central Kansas will diminish over the next couple hours with light northeasterly/easterly winds expected for much of the area through the rest of the day.

Scattered rain and storm chances are expected again today and Saturday as the frontal boundary stalls across the forecast area. For today, that means diurnally driven storms are expected to fire along and south of generally Hwy 50. For Saturday, as the boundary sinks further south, storms will be focused along the KS/OK state line. Both today and Saturday, a few strong to severe storms can't be ruled out. By Sunday, the boundary will be located across the Southern Plains leading to the return of mostly dry weather to our area for Sunday into early next week. Then, as a strong ridge builds over the central US by mid week, the forecast area looks to reside under easterly flow. This setup could support a an isolated shower or weak storm as Gulf moisture pushes into the region. However, with current model placement of the mid/upper high, the most likely placement of this convective activity next week would be south of our area.

North of the boundary, slightly "cooler" temperatures are forecast this afternoon with highs reaching into the upper 80s to lower 90s. For the southern tier of counties that will reside just to the south of the boundary, highs this afternoon will still manage to reach into the middle 90s with heat indices reaching to around 100 degrees. For this weekend into early next week, highs areawide will hover around the 90 degree mark. As the ridge builds over the region by mid week, temperatures will begin to warm slightly. It continues to appear that the ridge will build far enough north that the true heat dome will remain north of our region. Even so, high temperatures for the latter part of next week look to reach into the middle 90s, with upper 90s possible for far south-central Kansas.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 543 AM CDT Fri Jul 10 2026

Winds remain slightly variable across the region this morning as outflows from overnight storms exit the region. Winds will become east/southeast for all locations between 14-16Z and will remain primarily easterly through the end of the forecast period. Additional rain and storms will develop this evening across south-central and southeast Kansas, potentially impacting ICT, HUT, and CNU. Overall coverage and placement of storms remains uncertain at this time.

ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.