16 February 2024
Much colder northerly winds have taken over today. Flurries and light snow brought a dusting to as much as 4 inches of accumulation across northern Kansas earlier today. This system has exited to the East rather quickly, but the clouds remain.
Clouds will try to break up farther east into the overnight but stay locked in farther west. A shortwave, or quick-moving disturbance, will bring another chance for flurries and light snow to Kansas tonight. This will favor areas west of a line from Norton to Hill City down to Dodge City and Ashland.
A trace to an inch or two will be most common tonight with locally higher amounts to 3″ of snow. Amounts on the higher end of this spectrum will be isolated and have a higher chance of coming to fruition near the Colorado state line. Some counties may be placed under a Winter Weather Advisory where snowfall rates will be more aggressive with a greater chance of seeing slick roads.
Temperatures overnight will be bitter from the teens to the twenties.
Sunshine returns Saturday with highs in the 30s and 40s.
South-southwesterly winds resume Sunday allowing temps to return to the 50s.
The warmth amplifies further Monday through Wednesday. There is another disturbance that tracks through the area on Monday but will be starved for moisture. Highs through midweek will be in the 60s. Ahead of the next cold front, temperatures along the Oklahoma state line could easily surpass 70 degrees on Wednesday.
With the frontal passage Wednesday night into Thursday, scattered rain showers are possible. With cooling temps to the northwest, some snow may be briefly visible before the moisture departs.
We also have some instability in Southeast Kansas to allow for a clap of thunder.
The cooldown behind this front will be brief before warming the following weekend.
KSN Storm Track 3 Forecast from Chief Meteorologist Lisa Teachman:
Wichita:
Tonight: Mostly to partly cloudy. Lo: 21 Wind: N 8-18
Tomorrow: Partly cloudy to mostly sunny, breezy. Hi: 41 Wind: N/W 10-20
Tomorrow Night: Mostly clear. Lo: 24 Wind: W/SW 5-15
Wichita Weekly
Sun: Hi: 56 Lo: 33 Mostly sunny.
Mon: Hi: 62 Lo: 32 Partly cloudy, windy.
Tue: Hi: 65 Lo: 37 Mostly sunny, breezy.
Wed: Hi: 70 Lo: 39 Partly cloudy, breezy.
Thu: Hi: 64 Lo: 37 Partly cloudy, breezy. 20% chance of rain.
Fri: Hi: 57 Lo: 36 Partly cloudy, windy.
-Chief Meteorologist Lisa Teachman