WICHITA, Kan. – Kansas skies may put on a rare show tonight as the Northern Lights could stretch into the Midwest through Tuesday morning. The glow may be visible from Wichita to Salina if clouds break long enough, adding a dramatic start to meteorological fall.
According to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, a coronal mass ejection from the sun is fueling geomagnetic storms that could make aurora displays visible as far south as Kansas, Missouri, and Kentucky. Residents are urged to head outside after sunset, away from city lights, for the best chance of catching the display.
Back on the ground, drivers should watch for fog this morning west of Interstate 135. Visibility may drop below one mile, and patchy dense fog could slow the commute. Scattered storms are expected later today, some bringing heavy rainfall capable of localized flooding, especially in south-central Kansas.
The National Weather Service in Wichita reports that storms may redevelop by Wednesday afternoon, with strong winds and hail possible. Those planning holiday travel should keep an eye on updates, charge devices in case of outages, and avoid flooded roads. Spotter activation is not expected tonight, but conditions could shift quickly midweek.
Storm chances ease by Thursday as sunshine returns, but another round of unsettled weather may push in by the weekend. Warnings remain possible as the week unfolds.
Five-Day Forecast for Wichita, Kansas
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, high near 77. Light winds.
- Wednesday: Slight storm chance late, high near 85. Evening showers possible.
- Thursday: Sunny and dry, high near 86. Calm winds.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, high near 78. Cooler nights.
- Saturday: Slight chance of showers, high near 78. Partly sunny.
