20 February 2024
Sunshine is plentiful right now with an abundance of above average temperatures. Highs in the 60s and 70s will carry over into Wednesday before a brief drop due to the next cold frontal passage. The extreme southwest corner of Kansas could reach 80 degrees Wednesday afternoon!
Elevated fire weather concerns are in place for Southwest Kansas and the Oklahoma Panhandle tomorrow. With winds picking up as temperatures climb during the afternoon, any spark that starts could easily spread.
There will be two zones pinpointed for a higher chance for a few rain showers. One is in Northwest Kansas after 8 PM Wednesday.
The other is across Southcentral and Southeast Kansas Wednesday night. Areas farther to the southeast will have more moisture and instability to work with out of the approaching cold front.
There is a Marginal Risk of severe weather circled for a few of our counties to the southeast into Wednesday night, including Greenwood, Elk, and Chautauqua counties. A storm could briefly pulse up and produce hail before departing. More of a miss than hit situation with rain on this round.
Winds will be briefly gusty Thursday which could create high fire danger. Going forward, Fire Weather Season is here, so any warm, windy, and dry days are suspect for heightened fire concerns.
Temperatures take a good 5-10 degree hit behind the front Thursday into Friday, but temps will still trend well above average. The warmth ramps up further this weekend and early next week.
There is a strong cold front set to track to the south next Tuesday. Winds will be strong ahead and behind this feature. Winds could gust more than 40 MPH, enhancing fire danger.
There is a chance for rain to snow this this system moving through the region to close out February, beginning Tuesday and exiting by Wednesday morning.
KSN Storm Track 3 Forecast from Chief Meteorologist Lisa Teachman:
Wichita:
Tonight: Mostly clear to partly cloudy. Lo: 40 Wind: S 5-15
Tomorrow: Partly cloudy. Hi: 73 Wind: S 5-15
Tomorrow Night: Partly cloudy. 20% chance of showers and storms. Lo: 44 Wind: S/N 8-18
Wichita Weekly
Thu: Hi: 63 Lo: 37 Partly cloudy, windy.
Fri: Hi: 64 Lo: 36 Mostly sunny, breezy.
Sat: Hi: 68 Lo: 44 Mostly sunny, breezy.
Sun: Hi: 72 Lo: 45 Mostly sunny, breezy.
Mon: Hi: 75 Lo: 47 Partly cloudy, windy.
Tue: Hi: 73 Lo: 34 Partly to mostly cloudy, windy. 10% chance of rain.
-Chief Meteorologist Lisa Teachman