textproduct: Wichita

KEY MESSAGES

- Patchy fog is possible areawide late tonight into early Saturday morning

- Mild stretch continues through much of next week

- Rain chances (20-30%) return for the mid to latter half of next week

DISCUSSION

Issued at 138 PM CST Fri Feb 6 2026

As of 130 PM Friday afternoon, quiet weather conditions were ongoing across the Plains with mostly sunny skies and mild temperatures in the 50s. A shortwave trough continues to advance through the OH valley with an attendant surface trough extending through the Red River Valley. In the wake of this front, northerly winds have overspread the region with gusts up to 25 mph. Transitioning into tonight, mostly clear skies are likely to continue with an area of surface high pressure translating through the forecast area. Small dew point depression and light winds should allow for the development of patchy fog across much of the area. As the surface high pressure progresses southeastward into Saturday morning, southerly surface winds will increase from west to east and should dissipate any fog formation from west to east as well.

Shortwave midlevel ridging will slide across the region Saturday and will promote another mild day with highs in the 50s to near 60. A shortwave trough will slide through the region late Saturday into Saturday night, shunting a weak cold front through the area. Despite the cold frontal passage, westerly winds by Sunday will foster downslope low-level flow and a warming trend. Sunday afternoon temperatures are likely to approach the mid 60s. Continued low-level WAA into Monday will support even warmer temperatures in the 70s.

A more active pattern will begin to emerge by the middle of next week as zonal midlevel flow becomes established. This midlevel flow transition is likely to allow for multiple shortwave trough passages within the central or southern Plains. As a result, precipitation chances have been introduced (20-30%) for much of the mid to latter half of next week.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 1059 PM CST Fri Feb 6 2026

Patchy fog possible overnight into Saturday morning, then VFR conditions should prevail thereafter.

Patchy fog is possible as a surface translates from northwest to southeast across the area overnight into Saturday morning. Vis could linger in the MVFR categories at some sites for a few hours before conditions improve after 12-14Z Saturday morning.

After 14Z, increasing southerly winds will help to mix out any leftover fog. Winds will generally be in the 10 to 15-knot range during the afternoon hours with gusts up to 25 knots possible across central Kansas.

ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.