textproduct: Wichita

KEY MESSAGES

- Shower and storm chances increase across southeast KS this afternoon, then again Saturday evening into Sunday morning areawide. A few strong to severe storms are possible, but widespread severe weather is not expected.

- Warming trend through Saturday before a brief cooldown on Sunday.

- Widespread high temperatures in the 80s and even low 90s expected to begin Tuesday.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 203 AM CDT Fri May 8 2026

Currently, a broad trough extends across the Great Lakes and Northern Plains with a shortwave trough developing across the Northern Rockies. At the surface, a frontal boundary extends from the Northern High Plains into the Upper Midwest. Southerly winds prevail this morning across the area ahead of this boundary with a few scattered showers across northern Kansas. As this boundary pushes south through the day, winds will turn northerly, capping temperatures in the lower 70s for our central Kansas locations. Temperatures will reach into the upper 70s and lower 80s across south-central and southeastern Kansas. Ahead of the boundary later this afternoon in southeast Kansas, marginal instability between 1000-1500 J/kg and 40-50 kts of shear will support a few strong to severe storms with large hail and a few gusty winds being the primary threats with the strongest storms.

Temperatures will rebound quickly on Saturday ahead of the next frontal boundary that will sweep across the area on Saturday night. Afternoon highs will reach into the lower to middle 80s areawide. Then, with the approach of the next frontal boundary on Saturday evening, MUCAPE on the order of 1000 J/kg will be limited to locations generally west of K-14 leading to a few strong to severe storms with wind gusts the main concern. Scattered rain chances will continue across much of the area the rest of the night and into Sunday morning with a few locations across south-central Kansas potentially receiving some meaningful rainfall up to 0.50". Rain will exit the forecast area by late Sunday morning with clearing skies through the afternoon. Highs on Sunday will be near normal for this time of year with temperatures topping out in the lower 70s.

Ridging will build in behind the parade of fronts early in the week. The ridge axis will extend across the Rockies placing us solidly under northwest flow for much of the next week. With rising heights, temperatures will rebound into the 80s to around 90 to start the week. A shortwave looks to traverse the northern tier of the country dragging a weak boundary across the forecast area on Tuesday night. This will not offer much in terms of cooler temperatures, but may bring isolated precip chances to portions of the forecast area on Tuesday night. Otherwise, dry conditions, above normal temperatures in the 80s to around 90 degrees, and breezy southerly winds will persist for the mid to late week time frame.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 614 AM CDT Fri May 8 2026

Southerly/southwesterly winds this morning will turn northerly later this morning/early afternoon as a weak frontal boundary moves southeast across the region. A few thunderstorms could impact CNU between 20-23Z as this boundary pushes through. Look for winds to become light and variable between 00-06Z before settling back out of the southwest after 06Z.

ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.