A potent storm system is tracking from the southwest to the northeast over Kansas today.
Rain has been persistent in portions of our viewing area since late Sunday. A healthy amount so far for many folks, including a new monthly record set for Wichita.
The small window when a few storms could become severe as the low tracks overhead is quickly coming to a close early this evening. With winds already gusting to 45 MPH, it will not take much to transport stronger gusts to the surface.
Outside of any storm, winds will be fierce. Increasing gusts from 45-60 MPH will be possible from central into eastern Kansas as this system crosses our path into the early evening.
Winds should lighten up quite a bit after 10 PM Monday once the core of this system departs to our northeast. A Wind Advisory will remain in effect for a few more hours.
Colder air will ride into the region behind this system. However, it will not be absurdly cold. Temps by Tuesday morning will be just below freezing in the west and 40s farther east.
Tuesday afternoon will be chilly with highs mainly in the 40s and 50s. Arkansas City may be able to get to 60 degrees.
Another piece of energy dives our direction on Tuesday. This may spark a rain or snow shower in the west, but moisture is significantly lacking. The earlier storm system this week picks the bones clean, leaving hardly anything for this colder system to work with in its journey through the area.
The chill keeps flowing southward Wednesday into Thursday before the pendulum swings warmer by Friday. We could bounce back to the 60s in western Kansas with highs in the 50s farther east on Friday afternoon. The weekend looks dry with highs in the 50s and 60s. A weak cold front comes through on Sunday, throttling temps back a touch to kick off the holiday week.
The pattern becomes active again with possibly two systems during Thanksgiving week. Mostly rain is expected with the first system Tuesday into Wednesday, but temps may cool enough to the northwest for some snow. Another impulse could have similar results of mostly rain with a touch of snow to the northwest around Thanksgiving. Please continue to be weather aware and check back for further updates if planning to travel.
KSN Storm Track 3 Forecast from Chief Meteorologist Lisa Teachman:
Wichita:
Tonight: Mostly cloudy to mostly clear, breezy. 10% chance of rain. Lo: 41 Wind: SW/NW 10-20
Tomorrow: Mostly sunny to partly cloudy. Hi: 55 Wind: NW 8-18
Tomorrow Night: Partly cloudy to mostly clear. Lo: 34 Wind: NW 8-18
Wichita Weekly
Wed: Hi: 52 Lo: 31 Mostly sunny, breezy.
Thu: Hi: 51 Lo: 29 Mostly sunny.
Fri: Hi: 53 Lo: 32 Partly cloudy.
Sat: Hi: 55 Lo: 38 Partly cloudy.
Sun: Hi: 59 Lo: 38 Partly cloudy, breezy.
Mon: Hi: 53 Lo: 33 Partly cloudy, breezy.
–Chief Meteorologist Lisa Teachman