Kansas wakes up to whipping south winds and a fast-building fire threat this morning, as dry air and unseasonable warmth combine across central and south-central communities. Grass along highways already bends in steady gusts, and any spark could spread quickly by midday.
According to the National Weather Service in Wichita, temperatures climb to 71 degrees with sustained south winds of 16 to 24 mph and gusts reaching 39 mph. Relative humidity continues to drop through early afternoon, pushing much of central and southeast Kansas into extreme fire danger. Areas along and west of a Kingman-to-Hutchinson-to-Salina line face the highest risk.
In Wichita, skies remain mostly cloudy early, then gradually clear with breezy conditions holding through late afternoon. Drivers on I-135 and the Kansas Turnpike should expect crosswinds, especially on elevated overpasses. Secure trailers and avoid outdoor burning. Fire crews remain on alert across Sedgwick, Reno, and Harvey counties.
Warmth lingers into Wednesday with sunshine and highs near 69 degrees. Winds ease slightly but remain active. By Thursday, a west-northwest breeze returns and highs dip to around 59. Cooler air settles in Thursday night with lows falling near 27.
Looking ahead, NOAA’s 6–10 day outlook shows above-normal temperatures building back into Kansas early next week, signaling a steady warming trend into late February. That could reinforce early “Spring Vibes” across the Plains.
Five Day Outlook for Wichita, Kansas:
Wednesday: Sunny, high 69.
Thursday: Sunny and breezy, high 59.
Friday: Mostly sunny, high 47.
Saturday: Slight chance of snow showers early, high 48.
Sunday: Sunny, high 46.
