Wichita, Kansas – Cool showers moved through south-central Kansas early Thursday, but a bigger concern looms for the weekend: isolated thunderstorms could develop Saturday afternoon and linger into the night.
According to the National Weather Service in Wichita, light rain this morning will give way to drier conditions and rising temperatures. Highs will climb from the upper 60s Thursday into the mid-80s by Saturday, setting the stage for potentially stormy weather across central, south-central, and southeast Kansas.
Friday looks dry and mostly sunny with highs between 75 and 80 degrees. But by Saturday, moisture and heat will combine to create instability, increasing the risk for thunderstorms — especially in the afternoon and evening hours. Wichita, Hutchinson, and Winfield are all in the zone where isolated storms could produce lightning, gusty winds, and brief downpours.
Drivers on I-135 and U.S. 400 should be alert for sudden changes in visibility or slick pavement if storms roll in. Outdoor events on Saturday may want to keep backup plans in place, especially after 3 p.m.
Sunday brings partly cloudy skies and continued warmth, but no major storm threat. More updates are expected by Friday evening as storm timing and coverage become clearer.
