26 February 2024
Record high temperatures have been broken in some spots today including Dodge City, Medicine Lodge, Garden City, Goodland and Salina. The heat has been building ahead of our next system. A strong cold front is expected Tuesday.
Fire Weather Warnings are in effect today which coincides with where the strongest wind gusts are pegged.
Gusts from 35 to 45 MPH will be common, especially from western Kansas into the Oklahoma Panhandle. Wind Advisories are in place through 3 AM Wednesday. The wildfire threat will lessen after dark once relative humidity values begin to rise.
Overnight, temps will be mild compared to what is to come.
A potent cold front enters Northwest Kansas Tuesday morning. This front will then drop south across the rest of the state by evening.
Winds will howl from 35 to 45 MPH across southern Kansas in advance of the front. Stronger gusts in excess of 50 MPH are possible ahead of the cold front along the Kansas/Oklahoma state line to the southwest into the Oklahoma Panhandle.
Temperatures will be drastically different ahead of the front compared to behind it. Temps will warm into the upper 70s to near 80 ahead of the boundary and tank behind it.
The fire threat is high across the southern half of our viewing area where Fire Weather Warnings are posted through Tuesday evening.
Moisture is lacking ahead of the front, but snow is possible behind it. There will be a narrow snow band capable of producing a dusting to a half inch of snow.
The snow may try to overproduce near the Kansas/Colorado state line to the tune of an inch or two. Due to warm ground, it will be difficult for much, if any, accumulations to take place.
Temperatures Tuesday night into Wednesday morning will drop to the teens and 20s with wind chills easily in the single digits.
Winds will be briefly gusty behind the cold front and relax Wednesday. Highs Wednesday will be in the 40s which is a huge change! Winds from the south return and become gusty again Thursday.
The fire danger will increase from Friday through the weekend with added warmth and wind.
There is a system traveling to the south of us Thursday. This could pop a few showers near and East of the Turnpike Thursday afternoon into the early overnight. Not much moisture to be had with this system.
Highs will climb back to the 60s and 70s over the weekend with stronger winds gusting from 30-45 MPH. The next cold front arrives late Sunday. Temps are warm enough with an unstable atmosphere for showers and thunderstorms. We will need to watch for an isolated stronger storm East of I-135 into Sunday evening.
Temperatures cool behind this front and there might be a touch of snow. Little, if any, accumulations are expected with a cooler return of highs near average into next week.
KSN Storm Track 3 Forecast from Chief Meteorologist Lisa Teachman:
Wichita:
Tonight: Partly cloudy. Lo: 53 Wind: SW 8-18
Tomorrow: Partly to mostly cloudy, windy. 10% chance of rain. Hi: 77 Wind: SW/N 15-30
Tomorrow Night: Mostly cloudy, windy. 20% chance of rain and snow. Lo: 22 Wind: N/NW 15-30
Wichita Weekly
Wed: Hi: 45 Lo: 25 Mostly to partly cloudy, breezy.
Thu: Hi: 54 Lo: 36 Mostly cloudy, windy. 20% chance of rain.
Fri: Hi: 64 Lo: 45 Mostly sunny, breezy.
Sat: Hi: 75 Lo: 55 Mostly sunny, windy.
Sun: Hi: 77 Lo: 46 Partly cloudy, windy. 20% chance of showers and storms.
Mon: Hi: 56 Lo: 31 Mostly to partly cloudy, windy.
-Chief Meteorologist Lisa Teachman