Wichita, Kansas – Arctic air is expected to remain positioned mainly north of central Kansas late this month, with only limited and short-lived influence possible across the region from Jan. 24 through Jan. 30.
According to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center, central Kansas falls within a roughly 40 percent probability zone for below-normal temperatures during the Jan. 24–30 period. This places the region along the southern fringe of the broader Arctic pattern, where brief cool-downs are possible but sustained cold is not favored.
Across south-central Kansas, including Wichita, Hutchinson, and the Interstate 135 corridor, daytime highs may dip slightly below late-January averages at times, but are expected to rebound during milder stretches. Overnight lows could fall into the upper 20s and 30s on colder nights, allowing for patchy frost and isolated slick spots on bridges and elevated roadways during early morning hours.
Farther north toward Salina and Great Bend, cooler air may linger a bit longer overnight, especially in rural areas. Even so, daytime temperatures should recover enough to limit prolonged cold impacts. Open terrain may allow temperatures to drop quickly after sunset, increasing the chance for refreezing where moisture is present.
The Kansas Department of Transportation advises drivers to remain alert for isolated early morning slick spots during brief cold spells, particularly on rural highways and overpasses. Overall, confidence remains low that below-normal temperatures will dominate central Kansas through the end of the month, with the pattern favoring variable but generally seasonable late-January conditions.
