textproduct: Wichita

KEY MESSAGES

- Extreme heat likely lingering for much of southern and eastern KS on Friday and possibly into Saturday.

- Widely scattered showers and storms are possible late this afternoon and evening for central and parts of south central Kansas.

- Scattered showers and storms may return on Saturday evening for central KS and parts of south central Kansas.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 124 PM CDT Thu Aug 13 2026

The mid/upper ridge continues to influence the weather across eastern Kansas while a sfc trough is bisecting central Kansas. A warm front extended ENE from the sfc trough across northeast KS/SE NE. South of this front, hot conditions within a deeply mixed pbl are progged to persist into Fri-Sat although the front may settle a bit further south leading to low confidence in the temperature forecast as we move into Friday. Subtle convergence within the sfc trough axis could allow for or isolated or widely scattered thunderstorms this afternoon and evening with the highest probabilities across our central KS counties. Any storm that develops may be capable of producing strong/damaging winds given the deeply mixed pbl/inverted-v profiles. Some storm activity could fester overnight along the I-70 corridor in central KS as the LLJ develops tonight but most locations across southern and southeast KS are expected to remain dry.

Another round of storms is expected on Friday evening and Friday night along and north of the effective front/trough axis which may be forced south of the anticipated location in central KS. Areas south of the effective front will see highs in the 100-105 degree range with more seasonable temperatures in it's wake. This frontal zone may shift northward on Saturday with another hot day anticipated for much of the area. Showers and thunderstorms will remain possible, especially during the evening and overnight hours along and north of this boundary.

By late Saturday night into Sunday, the frontal zone is expected shift southward once again ushering in more seasonable air for Sunday-Monday with continued chances for showers and thunderstorms.

The mid/upper ridge is progged to amplify over the Southern Rockies early in the week before translating eastward into the Southern/Central Plains by midweek. Hot and dry weather may return although some low pops were maintained through the period as we see a couple of decent shortwave troughs racing eastward across the Northern Plains which may shift the frontal zone further south than progged.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 1200 AM CDT Fri Aug 14 2026

VFR conditions are expected to prevail at all sites through the end of the period. Ongoing showers and storms currently observed across central KS are expected to continue for the next several hours before dissipating before sunrise. Next chances for showers and storms will look to arrive Friday afternoon and evening. Best chances at this point appear to reside at ICT/HUT/SLN, though this may change as additional information becomes available. PROB30 groups were maintained at these sites to account for this uncertainty.

Otherwise, look for breezy south winds across south central and southeast KS while central KS sites see lighter and more variable winds behind the stationary boundary draped across the area.

CLIMATE

Issued at 124 PM CDT Thu Aug 13 2026

------------------- Friday August 14 -------------------

Location Forecast High Record High ------------------------------------------------ Wichita 104 110-1936 Salina 100 110-1936 Chanute 102 110-1936 Russell 96 106-1952

------------------- Saturday August 15 -------------------

Location Forecast High Record High ------------------------------------------------ Wichita 104 107-1956 Salina 99 112-1936 Chanute 101 110-1936 Russell 98 109-1983

ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Extreme Heat Warning until 7 PM CDT Friday for KSZ032-033- 047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100.