Dodge City, Kansas – Southwest Kansas is heading into a period of dramatic temperature swings this week, with a brief burst of springlike warmth giving way to blustery winds and a noticeable chill by Friday.
Wednesday will start the transition, with highs across Dodge City and surrounding communities reaching the mid to upper 40s. Breezy conditions will develop during the day, with wind gusts exceeding 30 mph at times. While temperatures remain relatively mild, the wind will make it feel cooler, especially in open areas and along east–west roadways.
According to the National Weather Service in Dodge City, Thursday will be the warmest day of the week and notably above normal for mid-January. Afternoon highs are expected to climb into the upper 50s to near 60 degrees across much of southwest Kansas, including Garden City, Liberal, and Great Bend. Sunshine and lighter winds will help push temperatures well above seasonal averages, offering a brief break from winter conditions.
That warmth will be short-lived. A stronger cold front is forecast to move through the region late Thursday night into Friday, bringing a sharp cooldown and much stronger winds. Highs on Friday will fall back into the 40s, but gusty north winds will make it feel significantly colder than the thermometer suggests.
Forecasters warn that wind gusts on Friday could exceed 40 mph in some areas, producing afternoon wind chills as low as the mid-20s to mid-30s. These conditions may impact travel for high-profile vehicles and create difficult conditions for outdoor work.
No widespread precipitation is expected with this system, but the combination of falling temperatures and strong winds will mark a clear return to winterlike weather across southwest Kansas.
Residents are encouraged to secure loose outdoor items ahead of the strong winds and dress appropriately for rapidly changing conditions. While Thursday’s warmth may invite outdoor plans, colder and windier weather will follow quickly.
The cooler pattern is expected to persist into the weekend, with temperatures remaining closer to seasonal levels. Additional forecast updates will refine the timing and strength of Friday’s winds, but confidence is high in a noticeable late-week temperature drop for the Dodge City area.
