textproduct: Wichita

KEY MESSAGES

- Showers and storms lingering across southern Kansas today before diminishing this evening/tonight.

- Chances for rain showers and storms will return Tuesday and continue through much of the week.

- More seasonable temperatures are anticipated for Sunday and into next week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 145 AM CDT Sat May 23 2026

A diffuse frontal boundary has become nearly stationary along the Kansas Turnpike during the early morning hours with some isolated shower and storm activity lingering over the area. The pbl is progged to remain uncapped and buoyant across southern Kansas as we move through the day with showers and thunderstorms expected to linger through much of the day for areas along and south of Hwy 50 as another pv anomaly rotates out of the Central High Plains. We continue to see relatively weak flow although some increase in mid- lvl flow was noted while mid-level lapse rates are progged to remain around 6.5 C/km suggesting minimal support for strong or severe storms. We continue to see PWATs hovering around 1.3 inches over southern KS which is between the 75th-90th percentile for late May. We will continue to see the potential for some pockets of heavy rain as showers and storms drift eastward across southern KS today.

Sunday-Monday...Dry conditions are expected to return on Sunday, but low level upslope flow over the Central High Plains may result in isolated or widely scattered showers possibly drifting into our central KS counties late in the period. Confidence remains low at this time with no mention in the forecast. Seasonable temperatures are expected to return with rising heights/increasing thickness and more insolation leading to highs climbing into the 80s. Much of the same is anticipated on Monday as we become under the influence of mid/upper level ridging with highs climbing into the mid and upper 80s, warmest in central KS where we could see highs near 90.

Tuesday-Friday...a series of shortwave troughs are progged to lift out of the Southern Plains and into the Central Plains/Middle Mississippi Valley area through the period. This will bring unsettled weather to the area through much of the period with continued chances for showers and thunderstorms. Given the lack of mid/upper level flow, the probability for widespread hazardous weather appears low at this time. Seasonably mild temperatures are also anticipated with highs in the 80s through the period.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 632 AM CDT Sat May 23 2026

Patchy fog has developed over parts of southeast Kansas this morning with IFR/LIFR confined to southeast KS with low visibility and ceilings while showers have recently dissipated over most of southern Kansas. More showers and storms are expected to develop across southern Kansas by late morning into the afternoon hours while lingering into the early evening hours over southeast Kansas. MVFR/IFR will be possible under the heavier shower and storm activity with VFR and light winds returning by early evening.

ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.