WICHITA, Kan. – Low clouds hang stubbornly over the plains this Thursday morning as a broad shield of moisture slides into central Kansas. Pavement glistens under streetlights, and the air feels heavy—an unmistakable sign that a soaking stretch is about to begin.
According to the National Weather Service in Wichita, showers and a few thunderstorms will spread across south-central Kansas through tonight and intensify by Friday morning. The heaviest rainfall is expected between dawn and midday Friday, when steady downpours may cause brief ponding in low-lying and poorly drained areas, especially near the I-35 and U.S. 400 corridors. While no severe storms are forecast, a couple of cells may produce small hail or gusts over 30 mph.
Residents planning early commutes or high school football travel should watch for reduced visibility and slower traffic. Keep phones charged and wipers in good condition, and never drive through standing water. The pattern remains unsettled through Saturday, with repeated rounds of light to moderate rain and occasional thunder, tapering late in the day.
Behind the wet stretch, a cooler, drier air mass slides in by Sunday. Highs fall back into the lower 60s, and mornings will feel noticeably crisp. Looking ahead to next week, models hint at the season’s first flirtation with frost across rural Kansas as nighttime lows dip toward the mid-30s. For now, it’s a classic late-October shift—wet fields, dropping leaves, and that unmistakable whisper of early winter waiting just around the bend.
Five-Day Forecast for Wichita, KS:
Thu: 71/53 – Increasing clouds; scattered showers by evening.
Fri: 59/52 – Widespread rain; few rumbles of thunder, ponding possible.
Sat: 57/50 – Cloudy with showers; clearing late.
Sun: 62/54 – Mostly cloudy; breezy and cooler.
Mon: 64/47 – Partly cloudy; crisp morning air returns.
