Dodge City, KS – Southwest Kansas will feel the season’s first true blast of arctic air this weekend, with the coldest temperatures arriving early Monday morning, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Dodge City.
According to the NWS, forecast confidence is high that a strong push of arctic air will settle over the region beginning late this weekend and lasting into early next week. The coldest stretch is expected on Monday morning, December 1, when clear skies and light winds allow temperatures to drop sharply.
Morning lows will fall into the teens, and wind chills will plunge into the single digits across most of southwest Kansas. Cities such as Dodge City, Garden City, Liberal, and Lakin are forecast to see minimum wind chills between 1° and 6°F, while locations farther east and southeast may see slightly warmer but still bitter readings.
Residents are urged to plan ahead for the cold morning commute. The NWS recommends dressing in layers, wearing hats and gloves, and limiting time outdoors during the coldest hours. Frostbite is not expected to be an immediate risk, but prolonged exposure to single-digit wind chills can still be hazardous.
The arctic air mass follows a stretch of milder late-November temperatures and marks a decisive pattern shift as Kansas transitions into an early winter setup. Forecasters say additional reinforcing shots of cold air may follow next week, but details remain uncertain.
Drivers should also be prepared for potential slick spots as temperatures fall below freezing each night, particularly in sheltered or untreated areas.
More forecast updates are expected as the weekend approaches and temperature trends become more defined.
